AB56: Bill Text

AB56,390 Section 390. 39.435 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 39.435 (2) (a) and amended to read:

AB56,451,3 39.435 (2) (a) The board shall award talent incentive grants to uniquely needy students enrolled at least half-time as first-time freshmen at public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education located in this state and to sophomores, juniors, and seniors who received such grants as freshmen. No grant under this subsection paragraph may exceed $1,800 for any academic year. The board may award a grant under this subsection paragraph to the same student for up to 10 semesters or their equivalent, but may not award such a grant to the same student more than 6 years after the initial grant is awarded to that student. A student need not maintain continuous enrollment at an institution of higher education to remain eligible for a grant under this subsection paragraph. The board shall promulgate rules establishing eligibility criteria for grants under this subsection paragraph.

AB56,391 Section 391. 39.435 (2) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB56,451,10 39.435 (2) (b) Before the end of a fiscal biennium, the board may make supplemental talent incentive grants to students to whom the board has awarded talent incentive grants under par. (a) in that fiscal biennium, but only if the board determines that, after the board makes all of the grants under par. (a) in that fiscal biennium, moneys are available in the appropriation account under s. 20.235 (1) (fd) for grants under this paragraph.

AB56,392 Section 392. 39.435 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,451,18 39.435 (5) The board shall ensure that grants under this section are made available to students attending private or public institutions in this state who are deaf or hard of hearing or visually handicapped impaired and who demonstrate need. Grants may also be made available to such handicapped students attending private or public institutions in other states under criteria established by the board. In determining the financial need of these students special consideration shall be given to their unique and unusual costs.

AB56,393 Section 393. 40.01 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,452,5 40.01 (2) Purpose. The public employee trust fund is a public trust and shall be managed, administered, invested and otherwise dealt with solely for the purpose of ensuring the fulfillment at the lowest possible cost of the benefit commitments to participants, as set forth in this chapter, and shall not be used for any other purpose. Revenues collected for and balances in the accounts of a specific benefit plan shall be used only for the purposes of that benefit plan, including amounts allocated under s. 20.515 (1) (um) or (ut) or 40.04 (2), and shall not be used for the purposes of any other benefit plan. Each member of the employee trust funds board shall be a trustee of the fund and the fund shall be administered by the department of employee trust funds. All statutes relating to the fund shall be construed liberally in furtherance of the purposes set forth in this section.

AB56,394 Section 394 . 40.03 (1) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB56,452,8 40.03 (1) (cm) Shall appoint an internal auditor. The internal auditor shall report directly to the board.

AB56,395 Section 395. 40.03 (1) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,452,14 40.03 (1) (i) May determine that some or all of the disability annuities and death benefits provided from the Wisconsin retirement system shall instead be provided through group insurance plans to be established by the group insurance board either as separate plans or as integral parts of the group life and income continuation insurance plans established under this chapter.

AB56,396 Section 396. 40.03 (1) (p) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,452,19 40.03 (1) (p) May, upon the recommendation of the actuary, transfer in whole or in part the assets and reserves held in any account described in s. 40.04 (9) to a different account described in s. 40.04 (9), for the purpose of providing any group insurance benefit offered by the group insurance board.

AB56,397 Section 397. 40.03 (1) (q) of the statutes is created to read:

AB56,452,23 40.03 (1) (q) For the purpose of the group income continuation insurance plan established under ss. 40.61 and 40.62 and the group long-term disability insurance plan established under s. 40.64:

AB56,453,3 1. May, on behalf of the state, enter into a contract or contracts with one or more insurers authorized to transact insurance business in this state for the purpose of providing the plans.

AB56,453,5 2. May, wholly or partially in lieu of subd. 1., on behalf of the state, provide the plans on a self-insured basis.

AB56,453,8 3. May take any action as trustees that is considered advisable and not specifically prohibited or delegated to some other governmental agency to carry out the purpose and intent of the plans.

AB56,453,15 4. May apportion all excess moneys becoming available to the board through operation of the plans to reduce premium payments in following contract years or to establish reserves to stabilize costs in subsequent years. If the board determines that the excess became available due to favorable experience of specific groups of employers or specific employee groups, the board may make the apportionment in a manner designated to benefit the specific employers or employee groups only, or to a greater extent than other employers and employee groups.

AB56,453,17 5. Shall take prompt action to liquidate any actuarial or cash deficit that occurs in the accounts and reserves maintained in the fund for the plans.

AB56,453,19 6. Shall accept timely appeals of determinations made by the department affecting any right or benefit under the plans.

AB56,398 Section 398 . 40.03 (2) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,454,8 40.03 (2) (i) Shall Except as provided under pars. (ig) and (ir), shall promulgate, with the approval of the board, all rules, except rules promulgated under par. (ig) or (ir), that are required for the efficient administration of the fund or of any of the benefit plans established by this chapter. In addition to being approved by the board, and shall promulgate rules as necessary for a long-term disability insurance plan established under s. 40.64. All rules promulgated under this paragraph are subject to board approval under sub. (1) (m). Except rules promulgated under s. 40.30 (6), the rules promulgated under this paragraph relating to teachers must be approved are subject to approval by the teachers retirement board and under sub. (7) (d). Except rules promulgated under s. 40.30 (6), the rules promulgated under this paragraph relating to participants other than teachers must be approved are subject to approval by the Wisconsin retirement board, except rules promulgated under s. 40.30 under sub. (8) (d).

AB56,399 Section 399. 40.03 (2) (ig) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,454,13 40.03 (2) (ig) Shall promulgate, with the approval of the group insurance board, all rules required for the administration of the group health, long-term care, income continuation or life insurance plans established under subchs. IV to and VI and health savings accounts under subch. IV.

AB56,400 Section 400. 40.03 (2) (x) of the statutes is repealed.

AB56,401 Section 401. 40.03 (6) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,454,20 40.03 (6) Group insurance board. (intro.) The With respect to the group insurance plans provided for by this chapter other than the group income continuation insurance plan established under ss. 40.61 and 40.62 and the group long-term disability insurance plan established under s. 40.64, the group insurance board:

AB56,402 Section 402. 40.03 (6) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,454,25 40.03 (6) (a) 1. Except as provided in par. (m), shall, on behalf of the state, enter into a contract or contracts with one or more insurers authorized to transact insurance business in this state for the purpose of providing the group insurance plans provided for by this chapter; or.

AB56,403 Section 403. 40.03 (6) (d) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,455,6 40.03 (6) (d) (intro.) May take any action as trustees which that is deemed considered advisable and not specifically prohibited or delegated to some other governmental agency, to carry out the purpose and intent of the group insurance plans provided under this chapter, including, but not limited to, provisions in the appropriate contracts relating to:

AB56,404 Section 404. 40.03 (6) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,455,11 40.03 (6) (i) Shall accept timely appeals of determinations made by the department affecting any right or benefit under any the group insurance plan provided for under this chapter plans that are overseen by the group insurance board.

AB56,405 Section 405. 40.03 (6) (n) of the statutes is created to read:

AB56,455,16 40.03 (6) (n) Notwithstanding par. (L), may contract with any entity to provide health and wellness services to any individual who is covered under a group health insurance plan under subch. IV at health clinics that are established within state facilities.

AB56,406 Section 406 . 40.04 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,455,23 40.04 (2) (a) An administrative account shall be maintained within the fund from which administrative costs of the department shall be paid, except charges for services performed by the investment board, costs of medical and vocational evaluations used in determinations of eligibility for benefits under ss. 40.61, 40.63 and 40.65 and costs of contracting for insurance data collection and analysis services under s. 40.03 (6) (j).

AB56,407 Section 407. 40.04 (2) (e) of the statutes is repealed.

AB56,408 Section 408 . 40.22 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,456,5 40.22 (1) Except as provided in sub. (2) and s. 40.26 (6), each employee currently in the service of, and receiving earnings from, a state agency or other participating employer shall be included within the provisions of the Wisconsin retirement system as a participating employee of that state agency or participating employer.

AB56,409 Section 409 . 40.22 (2m) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,456,13 40.22 (2m) (intro.) An Except as otherwise provided in s. 40.26 (6), an employee who was a participating employee before July 1, 2011, who is not expected to work at least one-third of what is considered full-time employment by the department, as determined by rule, and who is not otherwise excluded under sub. (2) from becoming a participating employee shall become a participating employee if he or she is subsequently employed by the state agency or other participating employer for either of the following periods:

AB56,410 Section 410 . 40.22 (2r) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,456,21 40.22 (2r) (intro.) An Except as otherwise provided in s. 40.26 (6), an employee who was not a participating employee before July 1, 2011, who is not expected to work at least two-thirds of what is considered full-time employment by the department, as determined by rule, and who is not otherwise excluded under sub. (2) from becoming a participating employee shall become a participating employee if he or she is subsequently employed by the state agency or other participating employer for either of the following periods:

AB56,411 Section 411 . 40.22 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,456,25 40.22 (3) (intro.) A Except as otherwise provided in s. 40.26 (6), a person who qualifies as a participating employee shall be included within, and shall be subject to, the Wisconsin retirement system effective on one of the following dates:

AB56,412 Section 412. 40.23 (1) (bm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,457,8 40.23 (1) (bm) If an application by a participant age 55 or over, or by a protective occupation participant age 50 or over, for long-term disability insurance benefits under s. 40.64 is disapproved under rules promulgated by the department, the date which that would have been the effective date for the insurance benefits shall be is the retirement annuity effective date if requested by the applicant within 60 days of the disapproval or, if the disapproval is appealed, within 60 days of the final disposition of the appeal.

AB56,413 Section 413 . 40.26 (6) (intro.), (a) and (b) of the statutes are created to read:

AB56,457,15 40.26 (6) (intro.) Subsections (1) to (5) do not apply to a participant who applies for an annuity or lump sum payment during the period in which at least 30 days have elapsed between the participant's termination of employment as a teacher with a school district that is a participating employer, and becoming a teacher as an employee or contractor providing employee services as a teacher with any school district that is a participating employer if all of the following conditions are met:

AB56,457,19 (a) At the time the participant terminates his or her employment as a teacher with a school district, the participant does not have an agreement with any school district that is a participating employer to return to employment as a teacher or enter into a contract to provide employee services as a teacher for the school district.

AB56,457,21 (b) The participant elects on a form provided by the department to not become a participating employee.

AB56,414 Section 414. 40.51 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,458,2 40.51 (8) Every health care coverage plan offered by the state under sub. (6) shall comply with ss. 631.89, 631.90, 631.93 (2), 631.95, 632.72 (2), 632.728, 632.746 (1) to (8) and (10), 632.747, 632.748, 632.798, 632.83, 632.835, 632.85, 632.853, 632.855, 632.867, 632.87 (3) to (6), 632.885, 632.89, 632.895 (5m) and (8) to (17), and 632.896.

AB56,415 Section 415. 40.51 (8m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,458,7 40.51 (8m) Every health care coverage plan offered by the group insurance board under sub. (7) shall comply with ss. 631.95, 632.728, 632.746 (1) to (8) and (10), 632.747, 632.748, 632.798, 632.83, 632.835, 632.85, 632.853, 632.855, 632.867, 632.885, 632.89, and 632.895 (11) (8) and (10) to (17).

AB56,416 Section 416. 40.513 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,458,11 40.513 (3) (a) The employee was eligible for an employer contribution under s. 40.05 (4) (ag) during the 2015 calendar year and elected not to receive health care coverage in that calendar year or in any succeeding calendar year.

AB56,417 Section 417. 40.61 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,458,19 40.61 (3) Any An employer under s. 40.02 (28), other than the state, may offer to all of its employees an a group income continuation insurance plan through a program offered by the group insurance board. Notwithstanding sub. (2) and ss. 40.05 (5) and 40.62, the department may by rule establish different eligibility standards or contribution requirements for such those employees and employers and may by rule limit the categories of employers which that may be included as participating employers under this subchapter.

AB56,418 Section 418. 40.62 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,459,3 40.62 (1) The group insurance board shall establish an a group income continuation insurance plan providing for full or partial payment of the financial loss of earnings incurred as a result of injury or illness with separate provisions for short-term insurance with a benefit duration of no more than one year and long-term insurance covering injury or illness of indefinite duration. Employees An employee insured under the plan shall be is eligible for benefits upon exhaustion of accumulated sick leave and completion of the elimination period established by the group insurance board.

AB56,419 Section 419 . 40.64 of the statutes is created to read:

AB56,459,6 40.64 Long-term disability insurance coverage. The board may establish a group long-term disability insurance plan.

AB56,420 Section 420. 40.65 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,459,22 40.65 (2) (a) This paragraph applies to participants who first apply for benefits before May 3, 1988. Any person desiring a benefit under this section must apply to the department of workforce development, which department shall determine whether the applicant is eligible to receive the benefit and the participant's monthly salary. Appeals from the eligibility decision shall follow the procedures under ss. 102.16 to 102.26. If it is determined that an applicant is eligible, the department of workforce development shall notify the department of employee trust funds and shall certify the applicant's monthly salary. If at the time of application for benefits an applicant is still employed in any capacity by the employer in whose employ the disabling injury occurred or disease was contracted, that continued employment shall not affect that applicant's right to have his or her eligibility to receive those benefits determined in proceedings before the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration department of workforce development or the labor and industry review commission or in proceedings in the courts. The department of workforce development may promulgate rules needed to administer this paragraph.

AB56,421 Section 421. 40.65 (2) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,460,3 40.65 (2) (b) 3. The department shall determine whether or not the applicant is eligible for benefits under this section on the basis of the evidence in subd. 2. An applicant may appeal a determination under this subdivision to the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration department of workforce development.

AB56,422 Section 422. 40.65 (2) (b) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,460,7 40.65 (2) (b) 4. In hearing an appeal under subd. 3., the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration department of workforce development shall follow the procedures under ss. 102.16 to 102.26.

AB56,423 Section 423. 41.51 of the statutes is renumbered 41.51 (intro.) and amended to read:

AB56,460,11 41.51 Definitions. (intro.) In this subchapter, unless the context requires otherwise, “board":

AB56,460,12 (1) “Board” means the arts board.

AB56,424 Section 424 . 41.51 (2) of the statutes is created to read:

AB56,460,17 41.51 (2) “State building" means a permanent structure normally occupied by state employees that is wholly or partially enclosed and that is used for performing or facilitating the performance of the functions of a state agency as defined in s. 20.001 (1).

AB56,425 Section 425 . 41.51 (3) of the statutes is created to read:

AB56,460,21 41.51 (3) “Work of art" means an original creation of visual art or a reproduction of an original creation of visual art if the reproduction is controlled by the artist of the original work as part of a limited edition.

AB56,426 Section 426 . 41.58 of the statutes is created to read:

AB56,460,24 41.58 Art in state buildings. (1) Applicability. This section does not apply to any of the following:

AB56,461,2 (a) A contract for the construction, reconstruction, remodeling of, or addition to a state building if the total construction cost of the project is $250,000 or less.

AB56,461,4 (b) A state building or space within a state building that is not open to the general public in its normal use.

AB56,461,6 (c) Game farms, fish hatcheries, nurseries, and other production facilities operated by the department of natural resources.

AB56,461,12 (2) Minimum expenditure required. (a) Except as provided in par. (b), at least two-tenths of 1 percent of the appropriation for the construction, reconstruction, remodeling of, or addition to a state building shall be expended to acquire one or more works of art to be incorporated into the state building or to be displayed in or on the grounds of the state building, and to fund all administrative costs that the board incurs in acquiring the works of art.

AB56,461,18 (b) If a state building to which this section applies is located contiguous to other state buildings, the board, after reviewing the recommendations of the advisory committee appointed under sub. (3), may apply the funds set aside under par. (a) to the acquisition, including all associated administrative costs, of one or more works of art to be incorporated into one or more of the contiguous buildings or to be displayed in or on the grounds of one or more of the contiguous buildings.

AB56,461,23 (3) Advisory committee. (a) For a building project requiring an expenditure under sub. (2) and after selection of the architect for the project, the board shall appoint an advisory committee for the purpose of reviewing and recommending one or more works of art to be incorporated into the state building or displayed in or on the grounds of the state building.