Chapter 15 — STRUCTURE OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

15.01 Definitions. In this chapter: (1g) “Affiliated credentialing board” means a part-time body that meets all of the following conditions: (a) Is attached to an examining board to regulate a profession that does not practice independently of the profession regulated by the exam…

15.02 Offices, departments and independent agencies. The constitutional offices, administrative departments and independent agencies which comprise the executive branch of Wisconsin state government are structured as follows: (1) SEPARATE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES. The governor, lie…

15.03 Attachment for limited purposes. Any division, office, commission, council or board attached under this section to a department or independent agency or a specified division thereof shall be a distinct unit of that department, independent agency or specified division. Any d…

15.04 Heads of departments and independent agencies; powers and duties. (1) DUTIES. Each head of a department or independent agency shall: (a) Supervision. Except as provided in s. 15.03, plan, direct, coordinate and execute the functions vested in the department or independent a…

15.05 Secretaries. (1) SELECTION. (a) If a department is under the direction and supervision of a secretary, the secretary shall be nominated by the governor, and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed, to serve at the pleasure of the governor. (b) Except as provided…

15.07 Boards. (1) SELECTION OF MEMBERS. (a) If a department or independent agency is under the direction and supervision of a board, the members of the board, other than the members serving on the board because of holding another office or position, shall be nominated by the gove…

15.08 Examining boards and councils. (1) SELECTION OF MEMBERS. All members of examining boards shall be residents of this state and shall, unless otherwise provided by law, be nominated by the governor, and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed. Appointments shall b…

15.09 Councils. (1) SELECTION OF MEMBERS. (a) Unless otherwise provided by law, the governor shall appoint the members of councils for terms prescribed by law. Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c), fixed terms shall expire on July 1 and shall, if the term is for an even number…

15.10 Department of administration; creation. There is created a department of administration under the direction and supervision of the secretary of administration. The secretary of administration shall be appointed on the basis of recognized interest, administrative and executi…

15.105 Same; attached boards, commissions, bureaus, and offices. (1) TAX APPEALS COMMISSION. There is created a tax appeals commission which is attached to the department of administration under s. 15.03. Members shall be appointed solely on the basis of fitness to perform the du…

15.107 Same; councils. (2) COUNCIL ON SMALL BUSINESS, VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS AND MINORITY BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES. There is created in the department of administration a council on small business, veteran-owned business and minority business opportunities consisting of 13 members,…

15.13 Department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection; creation. There is created a department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection under the direction and supervision of the board of agriculture, trade and consumer protection. The board shall consist of 7 membe…

15.135 Same; attached boards and commissions. (1) LIVESTOCK FACILITY SITING REVIEW BOARD. (a) There is created a livestock facility siting review board which is attached to the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection under s. 15.03. The board consists of the foll…

15.137 Same; councils. (1) AGRICULTURAL PRODUCER SECURITY COUNCIL. (a) There is created in the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection an agricultural producer security council consisting of the following members appointed by the secretary of agriculture for 3-ye…

15.14 Department of corrections; creation. There is created a department of corrections under the direction and supervision of the secretary of corrections. History: 1989 a. 31.

15.145 Same; attached boards, commissions, and councils. (1) PAROLE COMMISSION. There is created in the department of corrections a parole commission consisting of 4 members. Members shall have knowledge of or experience in corrections or criminal justice. The members shall inclu…

15.16 Department of employee trust funds; creation. There is created a department of employee trust funds under the direction and supervision of the employee trust funds board. (1) EMPLOYEE TRUST FUNDS BOARD. The employee trust funds board shall consist of the governor or the gov…

15.165 Same; attached boards. (1) BOARD MEMBERS. (a) Any member of a board created under this section who loses the status upon which the appointment or election was based shall cease to be a member of the board upon appointment or election to the board of a qualified successor. …

15.185 Same; attached boards, offices, and councils. (1) BANKING INSTITUTIONS REVIEW BOARD. There is created in the department of financial institutions a banking institutions review board consisting of 5 persons, appointed for staggered 5year terms. At least 3 members shall be e…

15.19 Department of health services; creation. There is created a department of health services under the direction and supervision of the secretary of health services. History: 1975 c. 39; 1995 a. 27 s. 9126 (19); 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a).

15.193 Same; specified divisions. (1) OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL. There is created in the department of health services an office of the inspector general. History: 2013 a. 20.

15.194 Same; offices. (1) OFFICE OF CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH. There is created an office of children’s mental health in the department of health services. The director of the office shall be appointed by the governor to serve at the pleasure of the governor. History: 2013 a. 20.

15.195 Same; attached boards and commissions. (8) EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES BOARD. (a) There is created an emergency medical services board, which is attached to the department of health services under s. 15.03. The board shall consist of 13 voting members, appointed for 3-year …

15.197 Same; councils. (1) COUNCIL ON MENTAL May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 17 Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats. STRUCTURE OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH HEALTH. There is created in the department of health services a council on mental health consisting of not less t…

15.204 Same; offices. (1) OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL. There is created an office of the inspector general in the department of children and families. The inspector general shall be appointed by, and report directly to, the secretary of children and families. History: 2013 a.…

15.207 Same; councils. (16) COUNCIL ON DOMESTIC ABUSE. There is created in the department of children and families a council on domestic abuse. The council shall consist of 13 members appointed for staggered 3-year terms. Of those 13 members, 9 shall be nominated by the governor …

15.22 Department of workforce development; creation. There is created a department of workforce development under the direction and supervision of the secretary of workforce development. History: 1977 c. 29; 1995 a. 27 s. 9130 (4); 1997 a. 3.

15.223 Same; specified divisions. (1) DIVISION OF EQUAL RIGHTS. There is created in the department of workforce development a division of equal rights. History: 1995 a. 27 ss. 144, 9130 (4); 1997 a. 3, 27; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16.

15.225 Same; attached boards and commission. (2) EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION. There is created an employment relations commission which is attached to the department of workforce development under s. 15.03, except the budget of the employment relations commission shall be tra…

15.227 Same; councils. (3) COUNCIL ON UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE. There is created in the department of workforce development a council on unemployment insurance appointed by the secretary of workforce development to consist of 5 representatives of employers and 5 representatives of …

15.25 Department of justice; creation. There is created a department of justice under the direction and supervision of the attorney general.

15.253 Same; specified divisions. (2) DIVISION OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. There is created in the department of justice a division of criminal investigation. (3) OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY. There is created an office of school safety. The director of the office shall be appointed by…

15.31 Department of military affairs; creation. There is created a department of military affairs under the direction and supervision of the adjutant general who shall be appointed by the governor for a 5-year term. The adjutant general may be reappointed to successive terms. Not…

15.315 Same; councils. (1) INTEROPERABILITY COUNCIL. (a) There is created an interoperability council, attached to the department of military affairs under s. 15.03. (b) The council consists of all of the following: 1. The attorney general, the adjutant general, the secretary of …

15.34 Department of natural resources; creation. (1) There is created a department of natural resources under the direction and supervision of the natural resources board. (2) (a) The natural resources board shall consist of 7 members appointed for staggered 6-year terms. (b) At …

15.345 Same; attached boards and commissions. (1) WISCONSIN WATERWAYS COMMISSION. There is created a Wisconsin waterways commission which is attached to the department of natural resources under s. 15.03. (a) The commission shall be composed of 5 members appointed for staggered 5…

15.347 Same; councils. (2) DRY CLEANER ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE COUNCIL. There is created in the department of natural resources a dry cleaner environmental response council consisting of the following members appointed for 3-year terms: (b) Three members representing dry cleaning …

15.348 Conservation congress. The conservation congress shall be an independent organization of citizens of the state and shall serve in an advisory capacity to the natural resources board on all matters under the jurisdiction of the board. Its records, budgets, studies and surve…