Department of administration; powers, duties

Wis. Stat. § 16.85
in effect
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The department of administration shall exercise the powers and duties prescribed by ss. 16.85 to 16.91: (1) To take charge of and supervise all engineering or architectural services or construction work, as defined in s. 16.87 (1) (a), performed by, or for, the state, or any department, board, institution, commission, or officer of the state, including nonprofit-sharing corporations organized for the purpose of assisting the state in the construction and acquisition of new buildings or improvements and additions to existing buildings as contemplated under ss. 13.488, 36.09, and 36.11, except work to be performed for a project specified in s. 13.48 (10) (c), and except the engineering, architectural, and construction work of the department of transportation; and the engineering service performed by the department of safety and professional services, department of revenue, public service commission, department of health services, and other departments, boards, and commissions when the service is not related to the maintenance, and construction and planning, of the physical properties of the state. (2) To furnish engineering, architectural, project management, and other building construction services whenever requisitions therefor are presented to the department by any agency. The department may deposit moneys received from the provision of these services in the account under s. 20.505 (1) (kc) or in the general fund as general purpose revenue — earned. In this subsection, “agency” means an office, department, independent 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, which is entitled to expend moneys appropriated by law, including the legislature and the courts, but not including an authority created in subch. II of ch. 114 or in ch. 231, 233, 234, 237, 238, or 279. (3) To act and assist any department, board, commission or officer requesting such cooperation and assistance, in letting contracts for engineering or architectural work authorized by law and in supervising the work done thereunder; (4) To approve the appointment of a chief operating engineer for each state-owned or operated heating, cooling or power plant and pumping station, to provide for the methods of operating the plants and stations and to design records and forms for reporting accurately the cost per unit of product or service. The superintendent or other person having charge of each plant or station shall not only report to the agency which operates the plant or station but to the secretary in the manner and at such times as the secretary determines. In this subsection, “agency” has the meaning given under sub. (2). (5) To promote the use of energy conservation methods in state-owned facilities, to implement and refine a statewide energy monitoring system and to develop and implement initiatives of replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy fuels. (6) To approve the appointment of a principal engineer or architect for departments, boards and commissions and when such continuous service is needed. No such engineer or architect shall be employed without the written approval of the secretary. (7) To rebuild and repair discarded machinery of the several state institutions when found feasible, and put the same back into service in the same department or in any other state department, and upon requisition to furnish services and material and loan equipment at fair rentals based on the cost thereof, in connection with the construction, operation and maintenance of heating and power plants, utilities and equipment. (10) To prepare in cooperation with the state agencies concerned, plans for the future growth and development of various state institutions and to serve as technical adviser to the building commission in connection with the development of the state long-range building program provided in ss. 13.48 and 13.482. (12) To review and approve plans and specifications for any building or structure that is constructed for the benefit of the University of Wisconsin System or any institution thereof, and to periodically review the progress of any such building or structure during construction to assure compliance with the approved plans and specifications. This subsection does not apply to projects specified in s. 13.48 (10) (c). (13) To assist, upon request, any local exposition district under subch. II of ch. 229 in the preparation of the statement required under s. 229.46 (5) (a) or the specifications required under s. 229.46 (5) (b). (14) To review and approve the design and specifications of any construction or improvement project of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority on state-owned land, to approve the decision to construct any such construction or improvement project and to periodically review the progress of the project during construction to assure compliance with the approved design and specifications. This subsection does not apply to any construction or improvement project of the authority that costs less than the amount that is required to be specified in the lease agreement between the authority and the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System under s. 233.04 (7) (d). (15) To provide or contract for the provision of professional engineering, architectural, project management and other building construction services on behalf of school districts for the installation or maintenance of electrical and computer network wiring. The department shall assess fees for services provided under this subsection and shall credit all revenues received to the appropriation account under s. 20.505 (1) (im). (16) To review and approve the design and specifications of any rehabilitation or repair project of the Fox River Navigational System Authority on state-owned land, to approve the decision to proceed with the project, and to periodically review the progress of the project during construction to assure compliance with the approved design and specifications.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/16.85Fetched: 10/7/2026