775.06 Payment toward state employee judgments.

(1) The claims board shall hear petitions from law enforcement officers employed by the state who have judgments against them for damages caused while in their line of duty where they acted in good faith and who have incurred charges for counsel fees and costs in defending said action.

(2) Any such judgment debtor may petition the claims board, setting forth the amount of the judgment, fees and costs which the debtor must pay, the facts and circumstances causing the damages resulting in the judgment and the reasons for claiming relief under this section.

(3) Upon receipt of such petitions the claims board shall fix a time and place for hearing the matter and give notice thereof to the petitioner.

(4) Upon the hearing the record of the trial in which the judgment was had may be presented to the claims board but the findings, conclusions and determination and the award of, or the denial thereof by the claims board, shall be based on all the evidence and circumstances submitted to it which bear on the petition.

(5) If from its findings of fact the claims board concludes that the petitioner was in line of duty as a law enforcement officer of the state and acted in good faith at the time of the transaction in question, the claims board shall award and certify to the petitioner the amount of the judgment which the petitioner must pay; if the claims board further finds that the counsel fees and costs claimed by the petitioner are reasonable and that the contract of employment was in accordance with law and was not made with any other state officer, employee, or agent, the claims board shall further award and certify to the petitioner the amount of said counsel fees and costs; the entire award shall be from the appropriation made by s. 20.505 (4) (d), but not to exceed $5,000.

(6) If the claims board shall find that the amount it is able to award will not be adequate it shall submit a report of the amount of the difference to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2), for action by the legislature.

(7) The claims board shall keep a complete record of its proceedings in each case and of all the evidence. The findings, conclusions, determination and award shall be subject to review as provided in ch. 227.

History: 1979 c. 32 s. 53; 1979 c. 34 s. 2102 (1) (c); 1979 c. 176; Stats. 1979 s. 775.06; 1981 c. 20 s. 2202 (1) (b); 1987 a. 186.

Cross-reference: See s. 895.46 for general provision for payment of judgments against public officers or employees.