State official authority to grant variances to statutes and rules for a disaster
Wis. Stat. § 323.19
in effect(1) The secretary of health services may grant a hospital a variance to or a waiver from a requirement for hospitals as provided in s. 50.36 (6m).
(2) The pharmacy examining board may grant a variance to ch. 450 or a rule promulgated under ch. 450 in response to a disaster as provided in s. 450.02 (3m).
(3) Based on guidance provided by the secretary of health services, the head of each state agency and each local health department shall determine which public employee positions within the respective state agency or local government are critical during the public health emergency declared on March 12, 2020, by executive order 72, for the purposes of s. 40.26 (5m) and (6) (b).
(4)
(a) In this subsection, “state entity” means any state agency, institution of higher education, association, society, or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law that is entitled to expend moneys appropriated by law, including the legislature, the courts, and any authority.
(b) During the public health emergency declared on March 12, 2020, by executive order 72, the head or governing body of a state entity may waive a requirement imposed, administered, or enforced by the state entity that an individual appear in person if the head or governing body finds that the waiver assists in the state’s response to the public health emergency or that enforcing the requirement may increase the public health risk.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/323.19Fetched: 10/7/2026