Restoration of DNR Independence and the Public Intervenor's Office
Three bills are working their way through the Wisconsin Legislature:

AB 71 --- This assembly bill would restore both the DNR and Public Intervenor's Office to the status they had prior to the 1995-96 State Budget of two years ago. The DNR Secretary would once again be controlled by the 7-member Natural Resources Board, which consists of independent citizens appointed to 6 year terms. The Public Intervenor's Office would be restored to an independent office of 2 attorney's housed within the Dept.of Justice, controlled by an independent Citizen Advisory Committee, and with the power to legally intervene at the local, state and federal level to protect public rights in the natural resources of Wisconsin.

Status --- AB 71 has been referred to the Joint Committee on Finance, and no hearings, votes or other actions have been scheduled, as yet.


SB 5 --- This senate bill would restore only the DNR Secretary's independence.

Status --- SB 5 has been passed by the Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee, and it could be considered for a full legislative vote in either the spring or fall session. (The spring session, which runs from May 13 to the end of June is dominated mostly by the Budget debate and approvals which must be completed by July 1. The fall session runs from September 16 thru 30, with additional sessions possible the first and third weeks in November.)


SB 8 --- This senate bill would restore only the Public Intervenor's Office.

Status --- SB 8 is currently being considered by the Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee, with hearings and vote likely at any time this spring.

What Citizens Can Do:
Write a brief letter and call your state legislators --- and tell them your opinion of these bills. 
If you don’t know who your legislators are, call the toll-free legislative hotline on weekdays, 
and the operator can give you their name, phone numbers and address --- 1-800-392-9472.