Wis. Stat. § 321.60 — WI Code / Chapter 321 / Section 321.60
Extension of licenses for service members.
Status: in_force

(1) In this section:

(a) “License” means any of the following that is issued to an individual and applies to that individual:

1. A license issued under s. 13.63 or a registration issued under s. 13.64 .

2. An approval specified in s. 29.024 (2g) .

3. A license issued under s. 48.66 and 48.69 .

4. A license, certificate of approval, provisional license, conditional license, certification, certification card, registration, permit, training permit, or approval specified in s. 49.45 (2) (a) 11. , 51.42 (7) (b) 11. , 51.421 (3) (a) , 97.33 (2) , 97.605 (1) (a) or (b) , 254.176 , 254.178 (2) (a) , 254.20 (2) , (3) , or (4) , 256.15 (5) (a) or (b) , (6g) (a) , (7) , or (8) (a) or (f) , or 343.305 (6) (a) or a license for the operation of a campground specified in s. 97.67 (1) .

5. A business tax registration certificate issued under s. 73.03 (50) .

6. A license, registration, registration certificate, or certification specified in s. 93.135 (1) .

6m. A license, certification, or permit issued under s. 89.06 or 89.072 .

7. An occupational license, as defined in s. 101.02 (1) (a) 2.

8. A license issued under s. 102.17 (1) (c) , 104.07 , or 105.05 .

10. A certificate issued under s. 103.275 , 103.34 , 103.91 , or 103.92 .

11. A license or permit granted by the department of public instruction.

12. A license or certificate of registration issued by the department of financial institutions, or a division of it, under ss. 138.09 , 138.12 , 138.14 , 202.13 , 202.14 , 217.05 , 218.0101 to 218.0163 , 218.02 , 218.04 , 218.05 , 224.72 , 224.725 , or 224.93 or subch. IV of ch. 551 .

13. A permit issued under s. 170.12 .

14. A certification under s. 165.85 .

15. A license, permit, or registration issued under ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163 , 218.11 , 218.12 , 218.22 , 218.32 , 218.41 , 218.51 , 341.51 , 343.305 (6) , 343.61 , or 343.62 .

16. A license, registration, or certification specified in s. 299.08 (1) (a) .

18. A credential, as defined in s. 440.01 (2) (a) .

19. A license issued under ch. 562 or s. 563.24 .

20. A license issued under s. 628.04 , 632.69 (2) , or 633.14 or a temporary license issued under s. 628.09 .

21. A license to practice law in this state.

22. A certificate granted by the technical college system board.

(b) “Licensing agency” means a board, examining board, affiliated credentialing board, office, commissioner, department, or division within a department that grants or issues a license.

(c) “Service member” means a member of the U.S. armed forces, a member of a reserve unit of the U.S. armed forces, a member of the state defense force, or a member of a national guard unit of any state who is a resident of Wisconsin.

(2) Any license that a service member holds, the expiration date of which is after September 11, 2001, except a license to practice law, does not expire on the expiration date of the license if, on the expiration date, the service member is on active duty. If the supreme court agrees, a license to practice law that a service member holds, the expiration date of which is after September 11, 2001, does not expire on the expiration date of the license if, on the expiration date, the service member is on active duty. A license extended under this subsection expires 180 days after the service member is discharged from active duty.

(2m) Any license that the spouse of a service member holds, the expiration date of which is after September 11, 2001, except a license to practice law, does not expire on the expiration date of the license if the service member is on active duty on the expiration date of the spouse’s license and the spouse does not practice under the license while the service member is on active duty because the service member is on active duty. If the supreme court agrees, a license to practice law that the spouse of a service member holds, the expiration date of which is after September 11, 2001, does not expire on the expiration date of the license if the service member is on active duty on the expiration date of the spouse’s license and the spouse does not practice under the license while the service member is on active duty because the service member is on active duty. A license extended under this subsection expires 180 days after the service member is discharged from active duty.

(3) The licensing agency or the supreme court shall extend or renew a license extended under sub. (2) or (2m) until the next date that the license expires or for the period that such license is normally issued, at no cost to the service member or the spouse under sub. (2m) , if all of the following conditions are met:

(a) The service member or spouse, as appropriate, requests an extension or renewal of the license within 180 days after the service member is discharged from active duty.

(b) The service member or spouse, as appropriate, provides the licensing agency or supreme court with a copy of a federal or state document that specifies when the service member was called into active duty and when the service member was discharged from active duty.

(d) In the case of a license to practice law, the supreme court agrees to granting the extension or renewal.

(4) If a service member’s license or the license of a service member’s spouse is renewed or extended under sub. (3) no more than 180 days before the next date that the license would normally expire, the licensing agency, or supreme court if it agrees, shall allow the service member or spouse, as appropriate, to renew or extend the license without complying with any continuing education or training requirements if complying with such requirement in the period before the license expires would cause the service member or spouse, as appropriate, undue hardship. If a service member’s license or the license of a service member’s spouse is renewed or extended under this subsection, the licensing agency or supreme court may require the service member or spouse, as appropriate, to comply with any continuing education or training requirements within a reasonable time after receipt of the license.

(5) The department shall assist any service member or spouse of a service member who needs assistance to renew or extend a license under this section.

(6) The department shall prepare and distribute to appropriate agencies and persons, at no cost to those agencies or persons, a brochure explaining the provisions of this section.

History: 2001 a. 22 ; 2003 a. 69 ; 2005 a. 25 ; 2007 a. 130 , 196 ; 2007 a. 200 s. 142 ; Stats. 2007 s. 321.60; 2009 a. 2 , 3 , 344 , 405 ; 2011 a. 210 ; 2013 a. 20 ; 2015 a. 55 ; 2017 a. 331 ; 2023 a. 267 .