Senate Bill 800 proposes the establishment of the office of board counsel in counties that employ a corporation counsel and have a county executive or county administrator. This new position will be appointed by the county board and will operate independently from the corporation counsel, providing legal advice and services specifically to the county board. The bill stipulates that both the board counsel and any deputy board counsels must be licensed attorneys in the state of Wisconsin. Additionally, the county board has the discretion to leave the office of board counsel unfilled if they choose.

The bill introduces a new section, 59.42 (4), to the statutes, which outlines the creation and responsibilities of the board counsel. This legislative change aims to enhance the legal support available to county boards while maintaining a clear separation from the corporation counsel's role. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Transportation and Local Government for further consideration.