Wisconsin Statutes > Chapter 54 – Guardianships and conservatorships

		Sections
Subchapter I	Definitions	54.01
Subchapter II	Appointment of Guardian	54.10 – 54.12
Subchapter III	Nomination of Guardian; Powers and Duties; Limitations	54.15 – 54.26
Subchapter IV	Procedures	54.30 – 54.54
Subchapter V	Post-Appointment Matters	54.60 – 54.75
Subchapter VI	Voluntary Proceedings; Conservators	54.76
Subchapter VII	Uniform Guardianship Acts	54.850 – 54.988

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Terms Used In Wisconsin Statutes > Chapter 54 - Guardianships and conservatorships

Access service: includes unbundled local service provided to telecommunications providers. See Wisconsin Statutes 196.01
Adjourn: A motion to adjourn a legislative chamber or a committee, if passed, ends that day's session.
Advice and consent: Under the Constitution, presidential nominations for executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by the Senate, and international treaties become effective only when the Senate approves them by a two-thirds vote.
Aeronautics: means the science and art of aircraft flight and including but not limited to transportation by aircraft; the operation, construction, repair or maintenance of aircraft, aircraft power plants and accessories, including the repair, packing and maintenance of parachutes; the design, establishment, construction, extension, operation, improvement, repair or maintenance of airports or other air navigation facilities; and instruction in flying or ground subjects pertaining thereto. See Wisconsin Statutes 114.002
Aeronautics instructor: means any individual who for hire or reward engages in giving instruction or offering to give instruction in flying or ground subjects pertaining to aeronautics; but excludes any instructor in a public school, university or institution of higher learning duly accredited and approved for carrying on collegiate work, who instructs in flying or ground subjects pertaining to aeronautics, only in the performance of his or her duties at such school, university or institution. See Wisconsin Statutes 114.002
Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
Affirmed: In the practice of the appellate courts, the decree or order is declared valid and will stand as rendered in the lower court.
agency: means an office, department, independent agency, authority, institution, association, society or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, including the legislature and the courts. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.32
Aircraft: means any contrivance invented, used, or designed for navigation of or flight in the air, but does not include spacecraft. See Wisconsin Statutes 114.002
Airman: means any individual who engages, as the person in command, or as pilot, mechanic or member of the crew, in the navigation of aircraft while under way, and any individual who is directly in charge of the inspection, maintenance, overhauling or repair of aircraft engines, propellers or appliances, and any individual who serves in the capacity of aircraft dispatcher, or air-traffic control-tower operator; but does not include any individual employed outside the United States, or any individual employed by a manufacturer of aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers or appliances to perform duties as inspector or mechanic in connection therewith, or any individual performing inspection or mechanical duties in connection with aircraft owned or operated by the individual. See Wisconsin Statutes 114.002
Airport: means any area of land or water which is used, or intended for use, for the landing and take-off of aircraft, and any appurtenant areas which are used, or intended for use, for airport buildings or other airport facilities or rights-of-way, together with all airport buildings and facilities located thereon. See Wisconsin Statutes 114.002
All-union agreement: means an agreement between an employer and the representative of the employer's employees in a collective bargaining unit whereby all or any of the employees in such unit are required to be members of a single labor organization. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.02
Allegation: something that someone says happened.
Alternative telecommunications utility: means any of the following:

Amateur built aircraft: means an aircraft the major portion of which has been fabricated and assembled by a person who undertook the construction project solely for education or recreation. See Wisconsin Statutes 114.002

Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.

Amortization: Paying off a loan by regular installments.

Annuity: A periodic (usually annual) payment of a fixed sum of money for either the life of the recipient or for a fixed number of years. A series of payments under a contract from an insurance company, a trust company, or an individual. Annuity payments are made at regular intervals over a period of more than one full year.

Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.

Antique aircraft: means an aircraft which has a date of manufacture of 1955 or earlier and which is used solely for recreational or display purposes. See Wisconsin Statutes 114.002

Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.

Appraisal: A determination of property value.

Arbitrators: refers to the arbitrators provided for in this subchapter. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.51

Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.

Arrest record: includes , but is not limited to, information indicating that an individual has been questioned, apprehended, taken into custody or detention, held for investigation, arrested, charged with, indicted or tried for any felony, misdemeanor or other offense pursuant to any law enforcement or military authority. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.32

Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.

Astronautics: means the science and art of spacecraft flight and all activities related thereto. See Wisconsin Statutes 114.002

Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.

Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.

Bankruptcy: Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.

Baseline: Projection of the receipts, outlays, and other budget amounts that would ensue in the future without any change in existing policy. Baseline projections are used to gauge the extent to which proposed legislation, if enacted into law, would alter current spending and revenue levels.

Basic local exchange service: includes extended community calling and extended area service. See Wisconsin Statutes 196.01

Basic message telecommunications service: means long distance toll service as provided on January 1, 1994, on a direct-dialed, single-message, dial-1 basis between local exchanges in this state at tariff rates. See Wisconsin Statutes 196.01

Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. ^{Source: OCC}

board: means the board of directors of a municipal power district selected as provided in this chapter, duly constituted and organized and acting as a board. See Wisconsin Statutes 198.01

Board: means the board of directors of the corporation. See Wisconsin Statutes 199.03

Broadcast service: means the one-way transmission to the public of video or audio programming regulated under 47 U. See Wisconsin Statutes 196.01

Cable service: has the meaning given in 47 U. See Wisconsin Statutes 196.01

Campaign contribution: means a gift, subscription, loan, advance or deposit of money or anything of value, made for the purpose of electing a candidate to the board; or a contract, promise or agreement, express or implied, whether or not legally enforceable, to make any campaign contribution; but does not include the value of services provided without compensation by individuals who volunteer a portion or all of their time on behalf of a candidate or political committee, or the use of real or personal property and the cost of invitations, food, and beverages, voluntarily provided by an individual to a candidate in rendering voluntary personal services on the individual's residential premises for candidate-related activities if the cumulative value of the activities to the individual on behalf of any candidate does not exceed $100 for any election. See Wisconsin Statutes 199.03

Campaign expenditure: means a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit, or gift of money or anything of value, made for the purpose of electing a candidate to the board; or a contract, promise, or agreement, express or implied, whether or not legally enforceable, to make any campaign expenditure; but does not include the use of real or personal property and the cost of invitations, food, and beverages, voluntarily provided by an individual to a candidate in rendering voluntary personal services on the individual's residential premises for candidate-related activities if the cumulative value of the activities by the individual on behalf of any candidate does not exceed $100 for any election. See Wisconsin Statutes 199.03

Charity: An agency, institution, or organization in existence and operating for the benefit of an indefinite number of persons and conducted for educational, religious, scientific, medical, or other beneficent purposes.

Chief executive: means mayor or city manager, village president, or chairperson of the town. See Wisconsin Statutes 198.01

Chiropractor: means a person holding a license issued by the chiropractic examining board. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01

Civil forfeiture: The loss of ownership of property used to conduct illegal activity.

Clerk of court: An officer appointed by the court to work with the chief judge in overseeing the court's administration, especially to assist in managing the flow of cases through the court and to maintain court records.

Codicil: An addition, change, or supplement to a will executed with the same formalities required for the will itself.

Collective bargaining: means the negotiation by an employer and a majority of the employer's employees in a collective bargaining unit, or their representatives, concerning representation or terms and conditions of employment of such employees, in a mutually genuine effort to reach an agreement with reference to the subject under negotiation. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.02

Collective bargaining: means collective bargaining of or similar to the kind provided for by subch. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.51

Collective bargaining: means the performance of the mutual obligation of a municipal employer, through its officers and agents, and the representative of its municipal employees in a collective bargaining unit, to meet and confer at reasonable times, in good faith, with the intention of reaching an agreement, or to resolve questions arising under such an agreement, with respect to wages, hours, and conditions of employment for public safety employees or transit employees and with respect to wages for general municipal employees, and with respect to a requirement of the municipal employer for a municipal employee to perform law enforcement and fire fighting services under…. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.70

Collective bargaining unit: means all of the employees of one employer, employed within the state, except that where a majority of the employees engaged in a single craft, division, department or plant have voted by secret ballot as provided in…. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.02

Collective bargaining unit: means a unit consisting of municipal employees that is determined by the commission under sub. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.70

Commercial mobile radio service provider: means a telecommunications provider that is authorized by the federal communications commission to provide commercial mobile service. See Wisconsin Statutes 196.01

Commercial mobile service: has the meaning given in 47 U. See Wisconsin Statutes 196.01

Commission: means the public service commission. See Wisconsin Statutes 196.01

Commission: means the public service commission and any other body, commission or agency of the state which may at any time hereafter succeed to the general powers and jurisdiction of said commission. See Wisconsin Statutes 198.01

Commission: means the employment relations commission. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.02

Commission: means the labor and industry review commission. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.32

Commission: means the employment relations commission. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.51

Commission: means the employment relations commission. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.70

Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.

Common motor carrier: means any person who holds himself or herself out to the public as willing to undertake for hire to transport passengers or property by motor vehicle upon the public highways. See Wisconsin Statutes 194.01

Constituent group: includes a civic association, community group, social club, fraternal society, mutual benefit alliance, or labor organization. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.32

Consumer price index change: means the average annual percentage change in the consumer price index for all urban consumers, U. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.70

Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.

Contract motor carrier: means any person engaged in the transportation by motor vehicle over a regular or irregular route upon the public highways of property for hire, including the transportation of buildings, as defined in…. See Wisconsin Statutes 194.01

Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.

Conviction record: includes , but is not limited to, information indicating that an individual has been convicted of any felony, misdemeanor or other offense, has been adjudicated delinquent, has been less than honorably discharged, or has been placed on probation, fined, imprisoned, placed on extended supervision or paroled pursuant to any law enforcement or military authority. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.32

Corporation: means the citizens utility board. See Wisconsin Statutes 199.03

Counterclaim: A claim that a defendant makes against a plaintiff.

County board: means the county board of supervisors. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01

County clerk: means the clerk of the county containing the largest number of voters within a district or proposed district. See Wisconsin Statutes 198.01

Credit report: A detailed report of an individual's credit history prepared by a credit bureau and used by a lender in determining a loan applicant's creditworthiness. ^{Source: OCC}

Credit Score: A number, roughly between 300 and 800, that measures an individual's credit worthiness. The most well-known type of credit score is the FICO score. This score represents the answer from a mathematical formula that assigns numerical values to various pieces of information in your credit report. ^{Source: OCC}

Creed: means a system of religious beliefs, including moral or ethical beliefs about right and wrong, that are sincerely held with the strength of traditional religious views. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.32

Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.

Decedent: A deceased person.

Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.

Dentist: means a person who is licensed as a dentist under subch. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01

Department: means the department of transportation. See Wisconsin Statutes 194.01

Department: means the department of workforce development. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.32

Deposition: An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery, or to be used later in trial.

Devise: To gift property by will.

Director: means any member of the board. See Wisconsin Statutes 199.03

Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.

Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. ^Source:

district: means a municipal power district organized under this chapter, either as originally organized or as the same may be from time to time altered or amended. See Wisconsin Statutes 198.01

District: means a corporation district, the boundaries of which are congruent with the boundaries of the congressional districts in the state. See Wisconsin Statutes 199.03

Division of hearings and appeals: means the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration. See Wisconsin Statutes 194.01

Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.

Donee: The recipient of a gift.

Donor: The person who makes a gift.

election: shall mean a proceeding in which the employees in a collective bargaining unit cast a secret ballot for collective bargaining representatives or for any other purpose specified in this subchapter and shall include elections conducted by the commission, or, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, by any tribunal having competent jurisdiction or whose jurisdiction was accepted by the parties. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.02

Election: means a proceeding conducted by the commission in which the employees in a collective bargaining unit cast a secret ballot for collective bargaining representatives, or for any other purpose specified in this subchapter. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.70

Electronic funds transfer: The transfer of money between accounts by consumer electronic systems-such as automated teller machines (ATMs) and electronic payment of bills-rather than by check or cash. (Wire transfers, checks, drafts, and paper instruments do not fall into this category.) ^{Source: OCC}

Embezzlement: In most states, embezzlement is defined as theft/larceny of assets (money or property) by a person in a position of trust or responsibility over those assets. Embezzlement typically occurs in the employment and corporate settings. ^{Source: OCC}

Employee: as used in this chapter means:

(1)

(a) Every person, including all officials, in the service of the state, or of any local governmental unit in this state, whether elected or under any appointment or contract of hire, express or implied, and whether a resident of the state or employed or injured within or without the state. See Wisconsin Statutes 102.07

Employee: shall include any person, other than an independent contractor, working for another for hire in the state of Wisconsin in a nonconfidential, nonmanagerial, nonexecutive and nonsupervisory capacity, and shall not be limited to the employees of a particular employer unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.02

Employer: means a person who engages the services of an employee, and includes a person acting on behalf of an employer within the scope of his or her authority, express or implied. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.02

Employer: means the state and each agency of the state and, except as provided in par. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.32

Employment agency: means any person, including this state, who regularly undertakes to procure employees or opportunities for employment for any other person. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.32

Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. ^{Source: U.S. Courts}

Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.

Essential service: means furnishing water, light, heat, gas, electric power, public passenger transportation or communication, or any one or more of them, to the public in this state. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.51

Executive session: A portion of the Senate's daily session in which it considers executive business.

Executor: A male person named in a will to carry out the decedent

Fair-share agreement: means an agreement between a municipal employer and a labor organization that represents public safety employees or transit employees under which all or any of the public safety employees or transit employees in the collective bargaining unit are required to pay their proportionate share of the cost of the collective bargaining process and contract administration measured by the amount of dues uniformly required of all members. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.70

Farm premises: means areas used for operations herein set forth, but does not include other areas, greenhouses or other similar structures unless used principally for the production of food and farm plants. See Wisconsin Statutes 102.04

Farmer: means any person engaged in farming as defined. See Wisconsin Statutes 102.04

farming: means the operation of farm premises owned or rented by the operator. See Wisconsin Statutes 102.04

Fee simple: Absolute title to property with no limitations or restrictions regarding the person who may inherit it.

Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.

Finance charge: The total cost of credit a customer must pay on a consumer loan, including interest. The Truth in Lending Act requires disclosure of the finance charge. ^{Source: OCC}

For hire: means for compensation, and includes compensation obtained by a motor carrier indirectly, by subtraction from the purchase price or addition to the selling price of property transported, where the purchase or sale thereof is not a bona fide purchase or sale. See Wisconsin Statutes 194.01

Foreclosure: A legal process in which property that is collateral or security for a loan may be sold to help repay the loan when the loan is in default. ^{Source: OCC}

Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.

General municipal employee: means a municipal employee who is not a public safety employee or a transit employee. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.70

Genetic testing: means a test of a person's genes, gene products or chromosomes, for abnormalities or deficiencies, including carrier status, that are linked to physical or mental disorders or impairments, or that indicate a susceptibility to illness, disease, impairment or other disorders, whether physical or mental, or that demonstrate genetic or chromosomal damage due to environmental factors. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.32

Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.

Grantor: The person who establishes a trust and places property into it.

Grantor: includes every person from or by whom any freehold estate or interest passes in or by any deed; and "grantee" includes every person to whom any such estate or interest passes in like manner. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01

Gross weight: when applied to a motor vehicle used for the transportation of passengers, shall mean the actual weight of the motor vehicle unloaded plus 150 pounds for each person capable of being seated in the motor vehicle. See Wisconsin Statutes 194.01

Gross weight: means the gross or maximum takeoff weight for an aircraft make and model as designated by the manufacturer. See Wisconsin Statutes 114.002

Guarantor: A party who agrees to be responsible for the payment of another party's debts should that party default. ^{Source: OCC}

Heretofore: means any time previous to the day on which the statute containing it takes effect; "hereafter" means the time after the statute containing such word takes effect. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01

Highway: includes all public ways and thoroughfares and all bridges upon the same. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01

Incumbent local exchange carrier: has the meaning given in 47 U. See Wisconsin Statutes 196.01

Indeterminate permit: means any grant, directly or indirectly, from the state to any public utility of power, right or privilege to own, operate, manage or control any plant or equipment or any part of a plant or equipment within this state for the production, transmission, delivery or furnishing of any public utility service. See Wisconsin Statutes 196.01

Individual with a disability: means an individual who:

(a) Has a physical or mental impairment which makes achievement unusually difficult or limits the capacity to work;

(b) Has a record of such an impairment; or

Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.

Institution of higher education: means an institution within the University of Wisconsin System, a technical college, a tribally controlled college controlled by an Indian tribe that has elected under…. See Wisconsin Statutes 102.07

Intangible property: Property that has no intrinsic value, but is merely the evidence of value such as stock certificates, bonds, and promissory notes.

Interconnection agreement: means an interconnection agreement that is subject to approval by the commission under 47 U. See Wisconsin Statutes 196.01

Interest rate: The amount paid by a borrower to a lender in exchange for the use of the lender's money for a certain period of time. Interest is paid on loans or on debt instruments, such as notes or bonds, either at regular intervals or as part of a lump sum payment when the issue matures. ^{Source: OCC}

Interlata: means between local access and transport areas. See Wisconsin Statutes 196.01

Interstate commerce: includes foreign commerce. See Wisconsin Statutes 194.01

Intestate: Dying without leaving a will.

Intralata: means within the boundaries of a local access and transport area. See Wisconsin Statutes 196.01

Irrevocable trust: A trust arrangement that cannot be revoked, rescinded, or repealed by the grantor.

Joint resolution: A legislative measure which requires the approval of both chambers.

Joint tenancy: A form of property ownership in which two or more parties hold an undivided interest in the same property that was conveyed under the same instrument at the same time. A joint tenant can sell his (her) interest but not dispose of it by will. Upon the death of a joint tenant, his (her) undivided interest is distributed among the surviving joint tenants.

jurisdictional strike: shall mean a strike growing out of a dispute between 2 or more employees or representatives of employees as to the appropriate unit for collective bargaining, or as to which representative is entitled to act as collective bargaining representative, or as to whether employees represented by one or the other representative are entitled to perform particular work. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.02

labor dispute: means any controversy between an employer and the majority of the employer's employees in a collective bargaining unit concerning the right or process or details of collective bargaining or the designation of representatives. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.02

Labor dispute: means any controversy concerning wages, hours and conditions of employment, or concerning the representation of persons in negotiating, maintaining, changing or seeking to arrange wages, hours and conditions of employment. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.70

Labor organization: means any employee organization in which employees participate and that exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of engaging in collective bargaining with any employer concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, hours, benefits, or other terms or conditions of employment. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.02

Labor organization: means :

(a) Any organization, agency or employee representation committee, group, association or plan in which employees participate and which exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with employers concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay, hours or other terms or conditions of employment; or

(b) Any conference, general committee, joint or system board or joint council which is subordinate to a national or international committee, group, association or plan under par. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.32

Labor organization: means any employee organization in which employees participate and which exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of engaging in collective bargaining with municipal employers concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, hours or conditions of employment. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.70

License: means the whole or any part of any permit, certificate, approval, registration, charter or similar form of permission required by a state or local unit of government for the undertaking, practice or continuation of any occupation or profession. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.32

Licensed practical nurse: includes a licensed practical/vocational nurse who holds a multistate license, as defined in…. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01

Licensing agency: means any board, commission, committee, department, examining board, affiliated credentialing board or officer, except a judicial officer, in the state or any city, village, town, county or local government authorized to grant, deny, renew, revoke, suspend, annul, withdraw or amend any license. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.32

Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.

Majority leader: see Floor Leaders

Marital status: means the status of being married, single, divorced, separated or widowed. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.32

Markup: The process by which congressional committees and subcommittees debate, amend, and rewrite proposed legislation.

Member: means any person who satisfies the requirements for membership under…. See Wisconsin Statutes 199.03

Military service: means service in the U. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.32

Minority leader: See Floor Leaders

Mortgage loan: A loan made by a lender to a borrower for the financing of real property. ^{Source: OCC}

Mortgagee: The person to whom property is mortgaged and who has loaned the money.

Motor vehicle: means any automobile, truck, trailer, semitrailer, tractor, motor bus, or any self-propelled or motor driven vehicle, except a motorcycle, moped, motor bicycle, electric bicycle, electric scooter, electric personal assistive mobility device, personal delivery device, or vehicle operated on rails. See Wisconsin Statutes 194.01

Municipal employee: means any individual employed by a municipal employer other than an independent contractor, supervisor, or confidential, managerial or executive employee. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.70

Municipal employer: means any city, county, village, town, metropolitan sewerage district, school district, long-term care district, local cultural arts district created under subch. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.70

Municipality: means a town, village, or city. See Wisconsin Statutes 194.01

Municipality: means any town, village or city wherein property of a public utility or any part thereof is located. See Wisconsin Statutes 196.01

Municipality: means any town, city, or village. See Wisconsin Statutes 198.01

Municipality: means any county, city, town or village of this state. See Wisconsin Statutes 114.002

Municipality: includes cities and villages; it may be construed to include towns. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01

Museum aircraft: means an aircraft designated under…. See Wisconsin Statutes 114.002

National Bank: A bank that is subject to the supervision of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is a bureau of the U.S. Treasury Department. A national bank can be recognized because it must have "national" or "national association" in its name. ^{Source: OCC}

Oath: A promise to tell the truth.

Oath: includes affirmation in all cases where by law an affirmation may be substituted for an oath. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01

Optical disc: means a rotating circular plate on which information or images are placed in storage, and which is recorded and read by laser beams focused on the plate. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01

Original bill: A bill which is drafted by a committee. It is introduced by the committee or subcommittee chairman after the committee votes to report it.

Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.

Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.

Periodic customer billing: means a notice required by law or an invoice listing charges submitted to a residential utility customer on a monthly or other regular basis by a public utility to whom the corporation furnishes an enclosure under…. See Wisconsin Statutes 199.03

Person: means and includes any individual, firm, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, company, association, including express and forwarding companies or agencies and railroad companies, or their lessees, trustees or receivers. See Wisconsin Statutes 194.01

Person: means any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, joint stock association or body politic; and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee or other similar representative thereof. See Wisconsin Statutes 114.002

person: includes one or more individuals, partnerships, associations, corporations, limited liability companies, legal representatives, trustees or receivers. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.02

Person: means one or more individuals, labor organizations, associations, corporations or legal representatives. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.70

Personal property: All property that is not real property.

Personal property: includes money, goods, chattels, things in action, evidences of debt and energy. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01

Personal representative: means a person, however denominated, who is authorized to administer a decedent's estate. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01

Physician assistant: means a person who is licensed as a physician assistant under subch. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01

Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.

Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.

Police department: includes a department under…. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01

Police officer: includes a person serving under…. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01

Political committee: means any committee, club, association or other group of persons which makes campaign expenditures or receives campaign contributions during the year before an election of the board. See Wisconsin Statutes 199.03

Political matters: means political party affiliation, a political campaign, an attempt to influence legislation, or the decision to join or not to join, or to support or not to support, any lawful political group, constituent group, or political or constituent group activity. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.32

Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. ^{Source: OCC}

Presiding officer: A majority-party Senator who presides over the Senate and is charged with maintaining order and decorum, recognizing Members to speak, and interpreting the Senate's rules, practices and precedents.

Private motor carrier: means any person who provides transportation of property or passengers by commercial motor vehicle, as defined in 49 C. See Wisconsin Statutes 194.01

Private school: has the meaning given in…. See Wisconsin Statutes 102.07

Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.

Probate: Proving a will

Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.

Professional employee: means :

1. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.70

Prohibited practice: means any practice prohibited under this subchapter. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.70

Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.

Psychologist: means a psychologist who is licensed under…. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01

Public defender: Represent defendants who can't afford an attorney in criminal matters.

Public highway: means every public street, alley, road, highway or thoroughfare of any kind, except waterways, in this state while open to public travel and use. See Wisconsin Statutes 194.01

Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.

public safety employee: include such a supervisor. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.70

Public school: means a school described in…. See Wisconsin Statutes 102.07

Public utility: includes all of the following:

1. See Wisconsin Statutes 196.01

Public utility: includes any person engaged in the transmission or delivery of natural gas for compensation within this state by means of pipes or mains. See Wisconsin Statutes 199.03

Public utility employer: means any employer, other than the state or any political subdivision thereof, engaged in the business of furnishing water, light, heat, gas, electric power, public passenger transportation or communication, or any one or more of them, to the public in this state; and shall be considered to include a rural electrification cooperative association engaged in the business of furnishing any one or more of such services or utilities to its members in this state. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.51

Public-use airport: means any of the following as provided in 49 U. See Wisconsin Statutes 114.002

Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.

Railroad: has the meaning given under…. See Wisconsin Statutes 196.01

railroad company: include any person managing, maintaining, operating or in possession of a railroad, whether as owner, contractor, lessee, mortgagee, trustee, assignee or receiver. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01

Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.

real property: includes lands, tenements and hereditaments and all rights thereto and interests therein. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01

Referendum: means a proceeding conducted by the commission in which public safety employees or transit employees in a collective bargaining unit may cast a secret ballot on the question of authorizing a labor organization and the employer to continue a fair-share agreement. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.70

Registered nurse: includes a registered nurse who holds a multistate license, as defined in…. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01

Religious association: means an organization, whether or not organized under ch. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.32

Religious matters: means religious affiliation or the decision to join or not to join, or to support or not to support, any bona fide religious association. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.32

Remand: When an appellate court sends a case back to a lower court for further proceedings.

Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).

representative: includes any person chosen by an employee to represent the employee. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.02

Rescission: The cancellation of budget authority previously provided by Congress. The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 specifies that the President may propose to Congress that funds be rescinded. If both Houses have not approved a rescission proposal (by passing legislation) within 45 days of continuous session, any funds being withheld must be made available for obligation.

Residential utility consumer: includes , but is not limited to, an individual engaged in farming as defined under…. See Wisconsin Statutes 199.03

Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.

Right of survivorship: The ownership rights that result in the acquisition of title to property by reason of having survived other co-owners.

seal: includes the word "seal" the letters "L S" and a scroll or other device intended to represent a seal, if any is affixed in the proper place for a seal, as well as an impression of a seal on the instrument. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01

secondary boycott: shall include combining or conspiring to cause or threaten to cause injury to a person with whom no labor dispute exists in order to bring that person, against that person's will, into a concerted plan to coerce or inflict damage upon another, whether by:

(a) Withholding patronage, labor or other beneficial business intercourse;

(b) Picketing;

(d) Any other unlawful means. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.02

Secretary: means the secretary of transportation. See Wisconsin Statutes 194.01

Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.

Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.

Sexual harassment: includes conduct directed by a person at another person of the same or opposite gender. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.32

Sexual orientation: means having a preference for heterosexuality, homosexuality or bisexuality, having a history of such a preference or being identified with such a preference. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.32

Small telecommunications utility: means any telecommunications utility or a successor in interest of a telecommunications utility that provided landline local and access telecommunications service as of January 1, 1984, and that has less than 50,000 access lines in use in this state. See Wisconsin Statutes 196.01

Spacecraft: means any contrivance invented, used, or designed for navigation or flight beyond the earth's atmosphere, including rockets, missiles, capsules, modules, and other vehicles, whether with or without passengers. See Wisconsin Statutes 114.002

Spacecraft launch or landing area: means any area used, or intended for use, for launching or landing spacecraft or for surface maneuvering, positioning, or preparation of spacecraft for imminent launching or immediately after landing, including any launch pad, landing area, or launch or landing control center. See Wisconsin Statutes 114.002

Spaceport: means any area of land or water that is used, or intended for use, as a spacecraft launch or landing area and any appurtenant areas that are used, or intended for use, for spaceport buildings or other spaceport facilities or rights-of-way, together with all spaceport buildings and facilities located thereon. See Wisconsin Statutes 114.002

Statute of limitations: A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights.

Strike: includes any strike or other concerted stoppage of work by municipal employees, and any concerted slowdown or other concerted interruption of operations or services by municipal employees, or any concerted refusal to work or perform their usual duties as municipal employees, for the purpose of enforcing demands upon a municipal employer. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.70

Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.

Supervisor: means :

1. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.70

Switched access rates: means the rates, rate elements, and rate structure, including all applicable fixed and traffic sensitive charges, that a telecommunications provider charges for the provision of switched access services. See Wisconsin Statutes 196.01

Switched access service: means the offering of switched access to a local exchange network for the purpose of enabling an entity to originate or terminate telecommunications service within the local exchange. See Wisconsin Statutes 196.01

Sworn: includes "affirmed" in all cases where by law an affirmation may be substituted for an oath. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01

Telecommunications carrier: means any person that owns, operates, manages or controls any plant or equipment used to furnish telecommunications services within the state directly or indirectly to the public but does not provide basic local exchange service, except on a resale basis. See Wisconsin Statutes 196.01

Telecommunications provider: means any person who provides telecommunications services. See Wisconsin Statutes 196.01

Telecommunications service: includes switched access service. See Wisconsin Statutes 196.01

Telecommunications utility: means any person, corporation, company, cooperative, unincorporated cooperative association, partnership, association and lessees, trustees or receivers appointed by any court that owns, operates, manages or controls any plant or equipment used to furnish telecommunications services within the state directly or indirectly to the public. See Wisconsin Statutes 196.01

Testate: To die leaving a will.

Testator: A male person who leaves a will at death.

Testify: Answer questions in court.

Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.

Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.

Town: may be construed to include cities, villages, wards or districts. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01

Town board: means the town board of supervisors. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01

Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.

Transit employee: means a municipal employee who is determined to be a transit employee under sub. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.70

Unairworthy aircraft: means an aircraft that is in a severely damaged condition or in a state of major deterioration as determined under…. See Wisconsin Statutes 114.002

Unfair genetic testing: means any test or testing procedure that violates…. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.32

Unfair honesty testing: means any test or testing procedure which violates…. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.32

unfair labor practice: means any unfair labor practice as defined in…. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.02

Unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature: includes but is not limited to the deliberate, repeated making of unsolicited gestures or comments of a sexual nature; the deliberate, repeated display of offensive sexually graphic materials which is not necessary for business purposes; or deliberate verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, whether or not repeated, that is sufficiently severe to interfere substantially with an employee's work performance or to create an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment. See Wisconsin Statutes 111.32

utility: means the plant, equipment, materials, supplies and any other or different property, including contract rights, used and useful primarily for the production, transmission or furnishing of electric power to or for the public for any purpose by a person, firm, association, corporation or a municipality and whether operated by a person, firm, association, corporation, a municipality or by trustees or by receivers appointed by any court. See Wisconsin Statutes 198.01

Utility service: means electricity, natural gas, water and telecommunications service supplied by a public utility. See Wisconsin Statutes 199.03

Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.

Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.

Veto: The procedure established under the Constitution by which the President/Governor refuses to approve a bill or joint resolution and thus prevents its enactment into law. A regular veto occurs when the President/Governor returns the legislation to the house in which it originated. The President/Governor usually returns a vetoed bill with a message indicating his reasons for rejecting the measure. In Congress, the veto can be overridden only by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House.

Video service: has the meaning given in…. See Wisconsin Statutes 196.01

Video service provider: has the meaning given in…. See Wisconsin Statutes 196.01

Village: means incorporated village. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01

Voters: means vote for governor at the last general election. See Wisconsin Statutes 198.01

Wholesale telecommunications service: means , except as provided in par. See Wisconsin Statutes 196.01

Wide-area telecommunications service: means the offering of message-based telecommunications service using a single, dedicated access line at the originating end of the call at a significant volume-based discount. See Wisconsin Statutes 196.01