Local water safety patrols; state aids
Wis. Stat. § 30.79
in effect(1) Definitions. In this section:
(a) “Local governmental unit” means a municipality, a public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district or a lake sanitary district.
(am) “State aid” means payment by the state to a local governmental unit for or toward the cost of the operation or maintenance of a water safety patrol unit.
(b) “Water safety patrol unit” means one of the following:
1. A unit within an existing municipal law enforcement agency or a separate municipal agency, created by a municipality or by a number of municipalities riparian to a single body of water for the purpose of enforcing ss. 30.50 to 30.80 and any rules promulgated and ordinances enacted under ss. 30.50 to 30.80 and for the purpose of conducting search and rescue operations.
2. A unit created by a public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district, by a lake sanitary district or by a number of local governmental units riparian to a single lake, at least one of which is a lake district or a lake sanitary district, for the purposes specified in subd. 1.
(2) State aid. In order to protect public rights in navigable waters and to promote public health, safety and welfare and the prudent and equitable use of the navigable waters of the state, a system of state aids for local enforcement of ss. 30.50 to 30.80 and ordinances enacted under ss. 30.50 to 30.80 and for conducting search and rescue operations is established.
(2m) Rules for eligibility.
(a) The department shall promulgate rules that restrict the costs eligible for state aid under this section. The rules shall establish the following:
1. A method for calculating the maximum number of hours spent on enforcement activities or on search and rescue operations by a water safety patrol unit that will be eligible for state aid.
2. The maximum number of crew members on a boat operated by a water safety patrol unit whose compensation will be eligible for state aid.
3. The types and location of navigable waters on which a water safety patrol unit may operate for the local governmental unit operating the water safety patrol unit to be eligible for state aid.
(b) In establishing the method of calculation under par. (a) 1., the department shall include the amount of boating activity and the size of the navigable water as factors to be used in making these calculations.
(c) In addition to the rules promulgated under par. (a) the department may promulgate rules that relate to making the operation or maintenance of a water safety patrol unit more cost-effective.
(3) Enforcement powers. Officers patrolling the waters as part of a water safety patrol unit may stop and board any boat for the purpose of enforcing ss. 30.50 to 30.80 or any rules promulgated or ordinances enacted under ss. 30.50 to 30.80 and for conducting search and rescue operations, if the officers have reasonable cause to believe there is a violation of the sections, rules or ordinances or the stopping and boarding of any boat is essential to conduct a search and rescue operation.
(4) Jurisdiction. Upon petition by any local governmental unit or group of local governmental units operating or intending to operate a water safety patrol unit, the department shall, if it finds that it is in the interest of efficient and effective enforcement to do so, by rule define the waters which may be patrolled by the unit, including waters lying within the territorial jurisdiction of some other town, village or city if the town, village or city consents to the patrol of its waters. Such consent is not required if the petitioner is a local governmental unit containing a population of 5,000 or more, bordering upon the waters to be affected by the rule in counties having a population of less than 750,000. Officers patrolling the waters as part of the water safety patrol unit shall have the powers of sheriff in enforcing ss. 30.50 to 30.80, or rules promulgated or ordinances enacted under ss. 30.50 to 30.80 and in conducting search and rescue operations, on any of the waters so defined, whether or not the waters are within the jurisdiction of the local governmental unit for other purposes.
(5) Payment of aids. On or before January 31 of the year following the year in which a local governmental unit operated a water safety patrol unit, it shall file with the department on the forms prescribed by it a detailed statement of the costs incurred by the local governmental unit in the operation of the water safety patrol unit during the past calendar year and of the receipts resulting from fines or forfeitures imposed upon persons convicted of violations of ordinances enacted under s. 30.77. The department shall audit the statement and determine the net costs that are directly attributable to the operation and maintenance of the water safety patrol unit, including a reasonable amount for depreciation of equipment. In calculating the net costs, the department shall deduct any fines or forfeitures imposed on persons convicted of violations of ordinances under s. 30.77 and any costs that do not comply with the rules promulgated under sub. (2m). The department shall compute the state aids on the basis of 75 percent of these net costs and shall cause the aids to be paid on or before April 1 of the year in which the statements are filed. If the state aids payable to local governmental units exceed the moneys available for such purpose, the department shall prorate the payments. No local governmental unit may receive state aid amounting to more than 20 percent of the funds available.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/30.79Fetched: 10/7/2026