WISCONSIN BLUE BOOK 1989-1990


were created, and 3 boards were transferred to the department from the Department
of Health
and Social Services.
   Legislation enacted in 1979 eliminated the Watchmaking and Athletic Examining
Boards;
transferred the Pharmacy Internship Board to the University of Wisconsin;
eliminated licensing
of peddlers, transient merchants, and public showmen; and transferred boxing
regulation to the
department.
   The 1987 Legislature enacted Wisconsin Act 265, which replaced the separate
barbers and
cosmetology examining boards with a combined Barbering and Cosmetology Examining
Board;
WisAct 264, which changed the eligibility criteria for nurses appointed to
the Board of Nursing;
WisAct 316, which changed the eligibility criteria for the dental hygienist
member of the Den-
tistry Examining Board; and WisAct 399, which created an Occupational Therapy
Examining
Council.
  The department's responsibilities have changed significantly since its
creation. Initially, it
performed routine housekeeping functions for the examining boards, which
functioned as inde-
pendent agencies. Subsequently, a series of laws centralized within the department
additional
administrative functions previously performed by the boards.
   Legislation enacted in 1975 permitted the department to hire all staff
except 5 executive secre-
taries and the administrator of the Division of Nurses. The 1977 budget modified
funding ar-
rangements by creating a single appropriation funded by standard fees charged
to licensees of all
boards.
  The 1979 budget permitted the department to change its structure by grouping
similar func-
tions into discrete staff units and eliminating both the 5 executive secretary
positions and the
position of administrator of the Division of Nurses. The 1985 budget created
a variable exami-
nation and renewal fee structure.
  Organization: The governor, with the advice and consent of the senate,
appoints the depart-
ment secretary to serve at the governor's pleasure. The secretary appoints
a deputy secretary, an
executive assistant, and the heads of various subunits.
  The boards attached to the department consist primarily of members of the
professions and
occupations they regulate. In 1975, the legislature added at least one public
member to each
board. In 1984, it added another public member to most boards. Public members
may have no
ties with the profession they regulate. The governor appoints all board members
with the advice
and consent of the senate.
  The Board of Nursing appoints Examining Councils on Registered Nurses and
Licensed Prac-
tical Nurses.
  The Medical Examining Board appoints all 5 members of the Occupational
Therapy Examin-
ing Council, 3 professional members of the Physical Therapist Examining Council,
3 profes-
sional members of the Podiatrists Examining Council, and 3 professional members
of the Coun-
cil on Physician's Assistants. The governor appoints the public members of
all these councils
except the Occupational Therapist Examining Council.
  The Examining Board of Architects, Professional Engineers, Designers, and
Land Surveyors
consists of 4 separate sections that regulate their respective professions.
  Agency Responsibility: The department provides administrative services
and, to some extent,
policy coordination for state occupational licensing boards. Policy coordination
occurs in areas
such as helping the legislative and executive branches evaluate and establish
new licensing pro-
grams, creating routine procedures for legal proceedings, and advising the
boards about chang-
ing policies in response to public needs.
  Its administrative services include preparation, administration, and evaluation
of examina-
tions; custody of records; license renewal; and legal counsel. The department
also investigates
and prosecutes complaints against licensees and assists with drafting statutes
and administrative
rules.
  The department provides direct regulation and licensing of certain occupations
and activities:
real estate brokers and salespersons, mortgage bankers, loan originators,
loan solicitors, time-
share salespersons, charitable organizations, professional fund-raisers and
solicitors, private
detectives, crane games, boxing, bingo, and raffles. The department also
regulates schools of
barbering and cosmetology, aesthetics, electrology, and manicuring.
  Boards attached to the department have independent responsibility to regulate
the professions
to which they pertain. Within statutory limits, they determine education
and experience require-


476