Section 220.02. Definitions.

  In addition to those terms defined in s. 106.50 , Stats., the following are definitions for terms used in this chapter:

(1)  "Act" means s. 106.50 , Stats., unless the context requires otherwise.

(2)  "Administrative law judge" means the examiner appointed to conduct hearings under s. 106.50 , Stats.

(3)  "Conciliation agreement" means a written agreement setting forth the resolution of the issues in conciliation.

(4)  "Day", when used in time computations in this chapter, means a calendar day, except that if the last day of the time period is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the last day shall be the next business day.

(5)  "Department" means the department of workforce development.

(6)  "Division" means the equal rights division of the department.

(7)  "Filing" means the physical receipt of a document at any division office.

(8)  "Lawful source of income" includes, but is not limited to, lawful compensation or lawful remuneration in exchange for goods or services provided; profit from financial investments; any negotiable draft, coupon or voucher representing monetary value such as food stamps; social security; public assistance; unemployment compensation or worker's compensation payments.

(9)  "Licensing or chartering agencies" means those regulatory agencies established under state law to license persons to perform activities which are covered by the act.

(10)  "Person" includes, but is not limited to, one or more individuals, partnerships, associations, corporations, joint-stock companies, trusts, unincorporated organizations, legal representatives, trustees, or trustees or receivers in bankruptcy.

(11)  "Probable cause" means a reasonable ground for belief, supported by facts and circumstances strong enough in themselves to warrant a prudent person to believe, that discrimination probably has been or is being committed. In making a determination of probable cause, the department shall consider whether the facts concerning the alleged discrimination are sufficient to warrant the initiation of a civil action.

(12)  "Reasonable cause," when used in s. 106.50 (6m) (d) , Stats., means probable cause, as defined in sub. (11) .

(13)  "Receipt of service" means either the date that a document is delivered by certified mail or the date that the division is notified by the U.S. postal service that it was unable to deliver the document by certified mail.

(14)  "Test" means a simulation of any transaction covered by the act for the purpose of comparing the responses given by persons such as landlords, sellers of real estate, and lenders of money for real estate to individuals such as renters or buyers of real estate or borrowers of money for real estate, to determine whether housing discrimination as defined under s. 106.50 (2) , (2m) or (2r) , Stats., is being or has been committed.

History: Cr. Register, September, 1994, No. 465 , eff. 10-1-94; corrections in (intro.), (1), (2), (12) and (14) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, December, 2000, No. 540 ; CR 06-062 : am. (11) Register November 2006 No. 611 , eff. 12-1-06 .