Heads of departments and independent agencies; powers and duties
Wis. Stat. § 15.04
in effect(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 agency.
(b) Budget. Biennially compile a comprehensive program budget which reflects all fiscal matters related to the operation of the department or independent agency and each program, subprogram and activity therein.
(c) Advisory bodies. In addition to any councils specifically created by law, create and appoint such councils or committees as the operation of the department or independent agency requires. Members of councils and committees created under this general authority shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties and, if such reimbursement is made, such reimbursement in the case of an officer or employee of this state who represents an agency as a member of such a council or committee shall be paid by the agency which pays the officer’s or employee’s salary.
(d) Biennial report. On or before October 15 of each odd-numbered year, submit to the governor and the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2), a report on the performance and operations of the department or independent agency during the preceding biennium, and projecting the goals and objectives of the department or independent agency as developed for the program budget report. The secretary of administration may prescribe the format of the report and may require such other information deemed appropriate. Each department or independent agency shall provide a copy of its biennial report to legislators upon request. Any department or independent agency may issue such additional reports on its findings and recommendations as its operations require. A department or independent agency may, on or before October 15, submit an annual report prepared by it, in place of the biennial report required under this paragraph, if the submission of the annual reports is approved by the secretary of administration or is otherwise required by law.
(e) Seal. Have authority to adopt a seal for the department or independent agency.
(f) Bonds. Have authority to require that any officer or employee of the department or independent agency give an official bond under ch. 19, if the secretary of administration agrees that the position held by such officer or employee requires bonding.
(g) Discrimination review. In order to determine whether there is any arbitrary discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, marital status or sexual orientation as defined in s. 111.32 (13m), examine and assess the statutes under which the head has powers or regulatory responsibilities, the procedures by which those statutes are administered and the rules promulgated under those statutes. If the department or agency head finds any such discrimination, he or she shall take remedial action, including making recommendations to the appropriate executive, legislative or administrative authority.
(i) Records and forms management program. Establish and maintain a records and forms management program.
(j) Records and forms officer. Appoint a records and forms officer, who shall be responsible for compliance by the department or independent agency with all records and forms management laws and rules and who may prevent any form from being put into use.
(k) Form numbering and filing system. Establish a numbering and filing system for forms.
(m) Notice on forms. See that each form used by the department or independent agency to seek information from municipalities, counties or the public contains on the first page of the form, or in the instructions for completing the form, a conspicuous notice of the authorization for the form, whether or not completing the form is voluntary, if it is not voluntary, the penalty for failure to respond and whether or not any personally identifiable information, as defined under s. 19.62 (5), requested in the form is likely to be used for purposes other than for which it is originally being collected. This paragraph does not apply to state tax forms.
(2) Deputy. Each secretary of a department or head of an independent agency under s. 230.08 (2) (L) may appoint a deputy who shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary or agency head outside the classified service. The deputy shall exercise the powers, duties and functions of the secretary or head in the absence of the secretary or head, and shall perform such other duties as the secretary or head prescribes. The adjutant general may appoint 3 deputies as described in s. 321.10 (1) (b), (c), and (cm). In this subsection “secretary” includes the attorney general and the state superintendent of public instruction.
(3) Deputy approvals. Positions for which appointment is made under sub. (2) may be authorized only under s. 16.505.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/15.04Fetched: 10/7/2026