(1)    There is created a public body politic and corporate to be known as the “Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority”. The authority shall consist of 7 members nominated by the governor, and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed for staggered 7-year terms. Members shall be residents of the state, and not more than 4 may be members of the same political party. The terms of the members of the authority expire on June 30, one in each succeeding year. Each member’s appointment remains in effect until a successor is appointed. Annually, the governor shall appoint one member as chairperson and the authority shall elect one member as vice chairperson.

   (2)   The authority shall appoint an executive director and associate executive director who shall not be members of the authority and who shall serve at the pleasure of the authority. They shall receive such compensation as the authority fixes, except that the compensation of the executive director shall not exceed the maximum of the salary range established under s. 20.923 (1) for positions assigned to executive salary group 6 and the compensation of each other employee of the authority shall not exceed the maximum of the salary range established under s. 20.923 (1) for positions assigned to executive salary group 3. The executive director or associate executive director or other person designated by resolution of the authority shall keep a record of the proceedings of the authority and shall be custodian of all books, documents, and papers filed with the authority, the minute book or journal of the authority, and its official seal. The executive director or associate executive director or other person may cause copies to be made of all minutes and other records and documents of the authority and may give certificates under the official seal of the authority to the effect that such copies are true copies, and all persons dealing with the authority may rely upon such certificates.

   (3)   Four members of the authority shall constitute a quorum. The affirmative vote of a majority of all the members of the authority shall be necessary for any action taken by the authority. A vacancy in the membership of the authority shall not impair the right of a quorum to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the authority. Each meeting of the authority shall be open to the public. Notice of meetings, or waivers thereof, shall be as provided in the bylaws of the authority. Resolutions of the authority need not be published or posted. The authority may delegate by resolution to one or more of its members or its executive director such powers and duties as it deems proper.

   (5)   The members of the authority shall receive no compensation for the performance of their duties as members, but each such member shall be reimbursed for the member’s actual and necessary expenses while engaged in the performance of the member’s duties.

   (6)   

      (a)    Any member, officer, agent or employee of the authority who, directly or indirectly, has any financial interest in any bond issue or in any loan or any property to be included in, or any contract for property or materials to be furnished or used in connection with, any project of the authority, may be fined not less than $50 nor more than $1,000, or imprisoned not more than 30 days or both.

      (b)    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, it is not a conflict of interest or violation of this section or of any other law for a trustee, director, officer, or employee of a participating health institution, participating educational institution, participating nonprofit institution, or participating research institution or for a person having the required favorable reputation for skill, knowledge, and experience in state and municipal finance or for a person having the required favorable reputation for skill, knowledge, and experience in the field of health facility, educational facility, nonprofit facility, or research facility architecture to serve as a member of the authority; if in each case to which par. (a) is applicable, the trustee, director, officer, or employee of the participating health institution, participating educational institution, participating nonprofit institution, or participating research institution abstains from discussion, deliberation, action, and vote by the authority in specific respect to any undertaking pursuant to this chapter in which his or her participating health institution, participating educational institution, participating nonprofit institution, or participating research institution has an interest, or the person having the required favorable reputation for skill, knowledge, and experience in state and municipal finance abstains from discussion, deliberation, action, and vote by the authority in specific respect to any sale, purchase, or ownership of bonds of the authority in which any business of which such person is a participant, owner, officer, or employee has a past, current, or future interest, or such person having the required favorable reputation for skill, knowledge, and experience in the field of health facility, educational facility, nonprofit facility, or research facility architecture abstains from discussion, deliberation, action, and vote by the authority in specific respect to construction or acquisition of any project of the authority in which any business of which such person is a participant, owner, officer, or employee has a past, current, or future interest.