(1) LOCAL ASSESSMENT PERSONNEL. The department of revenue shall establish by rule the level of certification under sub. (3), the continuing education requirements under sub. (4), examinations under sub. (5), and the requirements for and responsibilities associated with temporary certification under sub. (6) for all assessors and assessment personnel of each local unit of government and for county assessor systems under s. 70.99. (2) DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE ASSESSMENT PERSONNEL. The requirements established for local assessment personnel under sub. (1) shall also apply to department of revenue assessment personnel. The division of personnel management in the department of administration with the assistance of the department of revenue shall determine the position classifications for which certification shall apply within the department of revenue. The first level of certification shall be obtained within a timeframe consistent with the department of revenue’s employment practices. The department of revenue in consultation with the division of personnel management shall establish requirements for obtaining higher levels of assessor certification. (3) LEVELS OF CERTIFICATION. The levels of certification for assessors and assessment personnel shall be commensurate with the degree of complexity of the various classes of property within each taxation district. (4) RECERTIFICATION. (a) All certifications issued prior to January 1, 1981, are valid for 10 years from the date of issuance. All certifications issued on or after January 1, 1981, but before August 15, 1991, expire on the 6th June 1 following the date of issuance. All certifications issued on or after August 15, 1991, expire 5 years after the date on which they are issued. (b) Persons may be recertified by attending at least 4 of the previous 5 annual meetings called by the department of revenue under s. 73.06 (1) and by meeting continuing education requirements determined by the department of revenue. The department of revenue may revoke a person’s certification if the person fails to attend more than one annual meeting or fails to meet the continuing education requirements in any recertification cycle. The department may reinstate a certification revoked under this paragraph after a revocation period of no less than one year has expired if the person whose certification was revoked requests reinstatement, attends the next annual meeting under s. 73.06 (1) following the date on which the department revoked the certification, and passes an examination under sub. (5). (c) Recertification is contingent upon submission of an application for renewal, at least 60 days before the expiration date of the current certificate, attesting to the completion of the requirements specified in par. (b). Persons applying for renewal on the basis of attendance at the meetings called by the department under s. 73.06 (1) and by meeting continuing education requirements shall submit a recertification fee, in an amount determined by the department not to exceed $75, with their applications. (5) EXAMINATIONS. As provided in subs. (1) and (2), the department of revenue shall prepare and administer examinations for each level of certification. A person applying for an examination under this subsection shall submit an examination fee with the person’s application. If the department administers and grades the examinations, the fee shall be the amount equal to the department’s best estimate of the actual cost to administer and grade the examinations, but no greater than $75. If a test service provider administers and grades the examinations, the fee shall be the amount equal to the department’s best estimate of the provider’s actual cost to administer and grade the examinations, but no greater than $75. The department shall grant certification to each person who passes the examination for that level. (6) TEMPORARY CERTIFICATION. As provided in subs. (1) and (2), the department of revenue shall promulgate rules for the temporary certification of the first level of certification and designate the functions that those persons may perform. The department of revenue may grant an individual a temporary certification that is valid for 90 days. (6m) SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS. Each applicant for certification or recertification under this section shall provide the applicant’s social security number on the application. The department of revenue may not disclose a social security number that it obtains under this subsection, except to the department of workforce development for the purpose of requesting certifications under s. 108.227. The department of revenue may not certify or recertify any person who fails to provide his or her social security number on his or her application. (7) REVOCATION OF CERTIFICATION. (a) The secretary of revenue or a designee may revoke or suspend the certification of any assessor, assessment personnel, or expert appraiser for the practice of any fraud or deceit in obtaining certification, or any negligence, incompetence, or misconduct, including making a fraudulent change in the assessment roll after it is opened for examination under s. 70.47 (3). The secretary of revenue or the secretary’s designee may require any assessor, assessment personnel, or expert appraiser to take corrective action in order to avoid the revocation or suspension of that person’s certification for the activities described under this paragraph. (b) Charges of fraud, deceit, negligence, incompetence or misconduct may be made against any assessor, assessment personnel or expert appraiser by the department of revenue. Such charges shall be in writing, stating the specific acts, and submitted to the secretary of revenue. All charges shall be heard by the secretary within 3 months after their filing. (c) The time and place for such hearing shall be fixed by the secretary of revenue and a copy of the charges, together with a notice of the time and place of hearing, shall be given by personal service or by registered letter with return receipt requested, mailed to the last-known address of such expert appraiser, at least 30 days before the hearing. The expert appraiser so charged shall have the right to appear personally and by counsel, to cross-examine witnesses appearing against him or her, and to produce evidence and witnesses in his or her own defense. (d) If, after such hearing, the secretary of revenue determines that there is just cause for revocation, the secretary shall revoke the certificate of registration of the expert appraiser and notify the expert appraiser to that effect. The expert appraiser shall return his or her certificate to the secretary of revenue immediately on receipt of the notice. The action of the secretary of revenue may be reviewed under ch. 227. (e) The secretary of revenue, for reasons sufficient, may reinstate a certificate of registration that has been revoked under this subsection, after one year upon formal application for reinstatement. (7m) LIABILITY FOR DELINQUENT TAXES. (a) If the department of revenue determines that an applicant for certification or recertification under this section or a person who holds a certificate issued under this section is liable for delinquent taxes, as defined in s. 73.0301 (1) (c), the department of revenue may deny the application or revoke the certificate. Except as provided in par. (c), a denial or revocation under this paragraph is not subject to judicial review. (b) If the department of revenue denies an application or revokes a certificate under par. (a), the department shall mail a notice of denial or revocation to the applicant or certificate holder. The notice shall include a statement of the facts that warrant the denial or revocation and a statement that the applicant or certificate holder may, within 30 days after the date on which the notice of denial or revocation is mailed, file a written request with the department to have the determination that he or she is liable for delinquent taxes reviewed at a hearing under s. 73.0301 (5) (a). (c) If, after a hearing under s. 73.0301 (5) (a), the department of revenue affirms a determination under par. (a) that an applicant or certificate holder is liable for delinquent taxes, the department shall affirm its denial or revocation. An applicant or certificate holder may seek judicial review under ch. 227 in the circuit court for Dane County of an affirmation by the department of a denial or revocation under this paragraph. (d) If, after a hearing under s. 73.0301 (5) (a), the department of revenue determines that a person whose certificate is revoked under par. (a) is not liable for delinquent taxes, as defined in s. 73.0301 (1) (c) , the department shall reinstate the certificate. The department may not charge a fee for reinstatement of a certificate under this paragraph. (8) LIABILITY FOR DELINQUENT UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS. If the department of workforce development certifies under s. 108.227 that an applicant for certification or recertification under this section is liable for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions, the department of revenue shall deny the application for certification or recertification or revoke the certificate. A person subject to a denial or revocation under this subsection for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions is entitled to a notice under s. 108.227 (2) (b) 1. b. and hearing under s. 108.227 (5) (a) but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this chapter.
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