Assembly Bill 866 proposes significant changes to the administration of county sheriff offices in Wisconsin. Key provisions include a new procedure for temporarily filling sheriff vacancies when there is no undersheriff, which will now be appointed by the presiding judge of the county's circuit court instead of the coroner. The bill also establishes procedural requirements for appointing an undersheriff, who will assume the sheriff's duties during vacancies or incapacitation. Additionally, the bill removes the prohibition on suspending or dismissing deputy sheriffs without pay until disciplinary matters are resolved, and it mandates reinstatement with back pay if charges are not sustained.

Furthermore, the bill repeals and recreates existing statutes related to the sheriff's office, including the removal of the county board's authority to establish traffic officer positions outside the sheriff's office. It also clarifies that the county clerk will handle service of process duties when the sheriff is a party to an action, a responsibility previously held by the coroner. The appointment of county medical examiners will now be the responsibility of the county executive or board, with the ability to remove them at will. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the operations of the sheriff's office and enhance the accountability and procedural clarity surrounding appointments and disciplinary actions.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 20.505(1)(ic), 20.505, 48.06(2)(a), 48.06, 59.26