Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Correctional system
Death of an inmate
Under current law, if an individual dies while he or she is in the legal custody
of the Department of Corrections and confined to a correctional facility located in this
state, an autopsy on the deceased individual must be performed. Under this bill,
until the conclusion of a national emergency declared by the U.S. president under
50
USC 1621 in response to the 2019 novel coronavirus, if an individual who has been
diagnosed with COVID-19 dies, the coroner or medical examiner may perform a
limited examination of the deceased individual instead of a full autopsy, which may
include an external examination of the body of the deceased individual, a review of
the deceased individual's medical records, or a review of the deceased individual's
radiographs. These changes were enacted in
2019 Wisconsin Act 185 but applied
only during the state of emergency related to public health declared on March 12,
2020.
Courts
Civil liability exemption for certain entities relating to COVID-19 claims
The bill establishes a civil liability exemption for entities for any act or failure
to act resulting in or relating to a person's exposure to the novel coronavirus
identified as SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 in the course of or through the performance
or provision of the entity's functions or services. Under the bill, entities are defined
to include any legal entity, including businesses, associations, tribal governments or
entities, governmental entities, schools, institutions of higher education, or
nonprofit organizations, as well as employers or business owners, employees, agents,
or independent contractors of the entity, regardless of whether they are paid or
volunteers. Under the bill, immunity does not apply if the act or omission involves
reckless or wanton conduct or intentional misconduct. The bill provides that an
entity's noncompliance with any applicable national, state, or local order requiring
entities to close or limit capacity does not constitute reckless or wanton conduct or
intentional misconduct for purposes of immunity under the bill. The immunity
granted in the bill applies retroactively to claims accruing on or after March 1, 2020,
except that it does not apply to actions filed before the bill goes into effect.
education
Students' use of certain hours to satisfy course requirements
The bill requires University of Wisconsin institutions and technical colleges to
offer students an opportunity to use hours engaged in an eligible activity to satisfy
related course requirements to the extent appropriate. An “eligible activity” means
volunteering or working, for at least one semester, to assist Wisconsin in responding
to the COVID-19 pandemic.
School board reports on virtual instruction provided during the 2020-21 and
2021-22 school years
Under the bill, by 30 days after the end of each semester in the 2020-21 and
2021-22 school years, each school board must submit a report to the Department of
Public Instruction that contains various information related to virtual instruction
provided during the semester, including the amount of certain expenditure
reductions or increases related to providing virtual instruction. A school board is not
required to include information about virtual instruction provided by a virtual
charter school in the report. Under the bill, DPI must compile and report to the
legislature the information it receives from school boards for the first semester by the
following April 1 and for the second semester by the following September 1. For the
2021-22 school year, a school board does not have to submit a report for a semester
during which the school board does not provide virtual instruction in lieu of
in-person instruction.
School boards were required to report similar information to DPI related to
virtual instruction and school board operations while schools were closed by the
Department of Health Services in the 2019-20 school year.
Waiver of laws and rules related to parental choice programs, the Special
Needs Scholarship Program, and independent charter schools
During the period beginning on March 12, 2020, and ending on October 31,
2020,
2019 Wisconsin Act 185 granted DPI the authority to waive state education
statutes, and rules promulgated under those statutes, related to 1) a parental choice
program or the Special Needs Scholarship Program, 2) private schools participating
in a parental choice program or the SNSP, and 3) independent charter schools. This
bill extends the period that DPI is authorized to waive these state statutes and rules
to October 31, 2021. Under the bill, DPI's waiver authority does not apply to
requirements to administer pupil assessments.
During the period beginning on March 12, 2020, and ending on October 31,
2020,
2019 Wisconsin Act 185 also allowed DPI to establish alternate deadlines for
requirements related to parental choice programs or the SNSP if the original
deadline occurred between March 12, 2020, and October 31, 2020, or the original
deadline related to another event that occurred between the same dates. The bill
extends the period that DPI has the authority to establish such alternate deadlines
to October 31, 2021, and extends DPI's authority to deadlines that would otherwise
occur or are related to events that would otherwise occur on or before October 31,
2021.
employment
Unemployment insurance; claims backlog
The bill requires the Department of Workforce Development to address the
backlog of UI claims by publishing, within 30 days of the effective date of the bill, a
plan to address the backlog of UI claims to reduce the number of weekly claims for
benefits in process, adjudication, and appeals to levels comparable to those in
January and February 2020.
Unemployment insurance; call center
The bill requires DWD to extend the hours of the unemployment insurance call
center to 12 hours per day, seven days per week, until the number of weekly claims
in process, adjudication, and appeals are at levels comparable to those in January
and February 2020.
Unemployment insurance; waiting period
Currently, a claimant must generally wait one week after becoming eligible to
receive UI benefits before the claimant may receive benefits for a week of
unemployment, but the application of the one-week waiting period is temporarily
suspended for benefit years that began after March 12, 2020, and before February
7, 2021. This bill extends the end date for suspending the one-week waiting period
to March 14, 2021.
Unemployment insurance; benefit charging
Current law, as enacted in
2019 Wisconsin Act 185, requires DWD, when
processing claims for UI benefits and evaluating work-share plans, to determine
whether a claim or plan is related to the public health emergency declared by the
governor under Executive Order 72. If a claim is so related, current law provides that
the regular benefits for that claim for weeks occurring after March 12, 2020, and
before December 31, 2020, not be charged to the employers' accounts in the
unemployment trust fund or to the employers directly, as is normally provided.
Instead, the benefits for those weeks are, subject to numerous exceptions, to be
charged to other accounts. This bill provides for this noncharging of benefits to
continue through March 13, 2021, and requires DWD to presume that an initial
claim for benefit years beginning on or after March 15, 2020, through March 13,
2021, relates to the public health emergency declared on March 12, 2020, by
Executive Order 72 unless one of certain exceptions applies. The bill provides that
an employer is not required to submit a request for charging relief for initial claims
filed through March 13, 2021.
Work-share programs
Current law allows an employer to create a work-share program within a work
unit of the employer. Under a work-share program, the working hours of all of the
full-time employees in the program are reduced in an equitable manner in lieu of a
layoff of some of the employees and a continuation of full-time employment by the
other employees. A claimant for UI benefits who is included in a work-share
program may receive UI benefits during his or her continued employment with the
work-share employer in an amount equal to the claimant's benefit for total
unemployment multiplied by the same percentage reduction in normal working
hours that the claimant incurs under the program. Current law also provides for the
temporary modification of certain requirements that apply to work-share plans with
respect to work-share plans submitted on or after April 17, 2020, and before
December 31, 2020. This bill extends the applicability of these modifications until
the earlier of the conclusion of a national emergency declared by the U.S. president
in response to the 2019 novel coronavirus or July 4, 2021.
Limited term employees
Under the bill, the director of the Bureau of Merit Recruitment and Selection
in the Division of Personnel Management in DOA may adjust the number of hours
a state employee in a limited term appointment may work during the period
beginning on March 12, 2020, and ending on June 30, 2021. Under current law, a
limited term appointment may not exceed 1,040 hours per year.
health and human services
Medical Assistance payment for hospitals for nursing facility care
The bill requires the Department of Health Services to provide reimbursement
or a supplemental payment to hospitals under the Medical Assistance program for
providing nursing-facility-level custodial care. To receive reimbursement or a
supplemental payment, the hospital must notify DHS that it is participating as a
swing bed hospital under the Medical Assistance program and providing custodial
care for which federal financial participation is approved to an individual who is
eligible for discharge after receiving inpatient care in the hospital, who needs
nursing-facility-level care, and for whom the hospital is unable to locate a nursing
facility that accepts the individual for admission. If providing reimbursement
instead of a supplemental payment, DHS must pay the hospital the statewide
average per-diem rate paid to nursing facilities. DHS must use the same standards
and eligibility criteria as the federal Medicare program uses to determine
reimbursement for swing beds or, for hospitals that are not critical access hospitals,
the terms of a federal waiver issued during the federally declared national
emergency related to the 2019 novel coronavirus. This requirement to reimburse
hospitals for providing nursing facility care applies until June 30, 2021, or until the
termination of any public health emergency declared by the secretary of the federal
Department of Health and Human Services related to the 2019 novel coronavirus,
whichever is earlier.
Payment for outpatient services provided by hospitals
The bill requires DHS to provide reimbursement or a supplemental payment
through the Medical Assistance program to a hospital for services provided on an
outpatient basis that are usually reimbursed when provided at the hospital's
inpatient facility but are provided at the hospital's outpatient facility due to the 2019
novel coronavirus pandemic. To receive reimbursement or supplemental payment
under the bill, the outpatient services must be approved for federal financial
participation and must be provided in a facility that is operated by the hospital and
is certified for outpatient services under the federal Medicare program, including
under the terms of a federal waiver issued during the federally declared national
emergency related to the 2019 novel coronavirus. DHS must seek any federal
approval necessary to provide the reimbursement or supplemental payment. The
payment requirement applies until the conclusion of a public health emergency
declared by the secretary of the federal Department of Health and Human Services
in response to the 2019 novel coronavirus or until June 30, 2021, whichever is earlier.
Medical Assistance reimbursement for COVID-19 vaccines and tests
administered by pharmacies
The bill requires DHS to ensure that vaccines against SARS-CoV-2
coronavirus and tests for COVID-19 that are otherwise covered and reimbursed
under the Medical Assistance program are covered and reimbursed when
administered by a pharmacy. DHS must certify pharmacies as Medical Assistance
providers as necessary to cover and reimburse pharmacies for administering
COVID-19 vaccines and tests as the bill requires. Current law requires DHS to
reimburse pharmacists for administering vaccines to children if the federal
Department of Health and Human Services has approved the request by DHS to
amend the state's Medical Assistance plan to allow such reimbursement and if the
pharmacist enrolls in the federal Vaccines for Children Program.
Coverage of vaccinations under SeniorCare
DHS administers the SeniorCare program, which provides assistance to
individuals who are elderly in the purchase of prescription drugs.
2019 Wisconsin
Act 185 requires DHS to include under the SeniorCare program coverage of
vaccinations that are recommended for administration to adults by the federal
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices and approved by DHS. DHS must also provide payments to health care
providers that administer the vaccinations and submit claims for payment in the
manner required. SeniorCare is operated under a waiver of federal Medicaid laws,
but DHS is required to operate the program regardless of whether a waiver is
received from the federal government. The bill clarifies that DHS must cover and
reimburse vaccinations under SeniorCare as required under
2019 Wisconsin Act 185 by January 15, 2021, regardless of whether a federal waiver is received.
Prescription order extensions
Current law allows a pharmacist to extend a prescription order under certain
circumstances in the event that the prescription cannot otherwise be refilled, subject
to certain criteria and limitations. However, current law also includes an alternative
authorization for a pharmacist to extend a prescription during the public health
emergency declared on March 12, 2020, by executive order 72, and for 30 days after
the conclusion of that public health emergency. Under this alternative
authorization, a pharmacist is exempt from having to contact the prescribing
practitioner or his or her office, the pharmacist may extend the prescription by up
to a 30-day supply, and certain other requirements also do not apply. The bill
provides that this alternative authorization to extend a prescription order also
applies beginning on the bill's effective date and continuing until June 30, 2021.
Cremation permits and electronic signature of death certificates
Under current law, a coroner or medical examiner must view the corpse of a
deceased person before issuing a cremation permit, and the corpse may not be
cremated within 48 hours after the death unless the death was caused by a
contagious or infectious disease. Under this bill, until the conclusion of a national
emergency declared by the U.S. president under
50 USC 1621 in response to the 2019
novel coronavirus, if a physician, coroner, or medical examiner has signed the death
certificate of a deceased person and listed COVID-19 as the cause of death, a coroner
or medical examiner must issue a cremation permit without viewing the corpse of a
deceased person and a coroner or medical examiner must issue the permit within 48
hours after the time of death. The bill also requires that if the underlying cause of
a death is determined to be COVID-19, the person required to sign the death
certificate shall provide an electronic signature on the death certificate within 48
hours after the death occurs. These changes to the requirements were enacted in
2019 Wisconsin Act 185, but applied only during the state of emergency related to
public health declared on March 12, 2020.
Child Care and Development Fund block grant funding
Under this bill, federal Child Care and Development Fund block grant funds
received by the state under the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 are
credited to federal block grant appropriations, and the purposes for the expenditure
of those funds are subject to passive review by the Joint Committee on Finance.
Immunity for health care providers during COVID-19 response
2019 Wisconsin Act 185 provided immunity from civil liability for health care
professionals and providers and employees, agents, or contractors of those
professionals or providers for death, injury, or damages caused by actions or
omissions taken during the state of emergency related to public health declared by
the governor in response to COVID-19 on March 12, 2020, and for 60 days following
the termination of the state of emergency, which ended July 10, 2020. To be immune
from civil liability, the actions or omissions must not involve reckless or wanton
conduct or intentional misconduct and must relate to health services provided or not
provided in good faith or be substantially consistent with either a direction,
guidance, recommendation, or other statement made by a federal, state, or local
office or any published guidance of DHS or the federal Department of Health and
Human Services relied upon in good faith. The bill continues the immunity from civil
liability beginning on July 10, 2020, during any public health emergency declared
by the secretary of the federal Department of Health and Human Services, and until
90 days after the termination of the emergency declared by the federal secretary. The
circumstances under which this immunity applies are the same as under Act 185.
The immunity extended under the bill does not apply to actions filed before the bill
goes into effect.
Nursing home or assisted living facility visitation by essential visitors
The bill allows a nursing home or assisted living facility resident, or his or her
guardian or health care agent, to designate an essential visitor to visit and provide
support for the resident. The resident's guardian or health care agent under a power
of attorney is also considered an essential visitor. A nursing home or assisted living
facility must allow at least one essential visitor, who agrees to comply with the public
health policies of the nursing home or assisted living facility, to enter the nursing
home or assisted living facility to visit the resident in compassionate care situations.
The nursing home or assisted living facility may refuse access to an essential visitor
who refuses to comply with those public health policies. If the federal Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services issues guidance that restricts visitation more than
this bill does, a nursing home or assisted living facility is allowed to comply with that
guidance instead of the bill. The requirement to allow visitation of an essential
visitor in this bill applies when the nursing home or assisted living facility limits
visitors to the nursing home or assisted living facility due to an outbreak or epidemic
of communicable disease in the community.
Insurance
Coverage limits on certain prescription drugs
The bill prohibits insurers that offer health insurance, self-insured
governmental health plans, and pharmacy benefit managers from requiring, until
June 30, 2021, prior authorization for early refills of a prescription drug or otherwise
restricting the period in which a prescription drug may be refilled and from imposing
a limit on the quantity of prescription drugs that may be obtained if the quantity is
no more than a 90-day supply. These prohibitions do not apply if the prescription
drug is a controlled substance. The bill reinstates the prohibitions that were enacted
in
2019 Wisconsin Act 185 but that expired with the termination of the state of
emergency related to public health declared on March 12, 2020, by the governor.
Liability insurance for physicians and nurse anesthetists
The bill specifies that, until the earlier of the conclusion of a national emergency
declared by the U.S. president in response to the 2019 novel coronavirus or June 30,
2021, a physician or nurse anesthetist for whom Wisconsin is not a principal place
of practice but who is temporarily authorized to practice in Wisconsin may fulfill
financial responsibility requirements by filing with the commissioner of insurance
a certificate of insurance for a policy of health care liability insurance issued by an
insurer authorized in a certain jurisdiction specified in the bill. Additionally, under
those same circumstances, the physician or nurse anesthetist may elect to be covered
by Wisconsin's health care liability laws. These liability insurance provisions were
enacted in
2019 Wisconsin Act 185 but expired with the expiration of the state of
emergency related to public health declared on March 12, 2020, by the governor.
Out-of-network costs related to health coverage
The bill prohibits, until the conclusion of a national emergency declared by the
U.S. president in response to the 2019 novel coronavirus or June 30, 2021, whichever
is earlier, a defined network plan, including a health maintenance organization, or
preferred provider plan from requiring an enrollee of the plan to pay more for a
service, treatment, or supply provided by an out-of-network provider than if the
service, treatment, or supply is provided by an in-network provider. This prohibition
applies to any service, treatment, or supply that is related to the diagnosis of or
treatment for COVID-19 and that is provided by an out-of-network provider
because a participating provider is unavailable due to the emergency. For a service,
treatment, or supply provided under those circumstances, the bill requires the plan
to reimburse the out-of-network provider at 225 percent of the federal Medicare
program rate. Also, under those circumstances, any health care provider or facility
that provides a service, treatment, or supply to an enrollee of a plan but is not a
participating provider of that plan shall accept as payment in full any payment by
a plan that is at least 225 percent of the federal Medicare program rate and may not
charge the enrollee an amount that exceeds the amount that the provider or facility
is reimbursed by the plan. Similar prohibitions and requirements to these were
created in
2019 Wisconsin Act 185, but those prohibitions and requirements applied
only during the state of emergency related to public health declared on March 12,
2020, by the governor and for 60 days following the termination of that state of
emergency.
Coverage of COVID-19 testing without cost sharing
Current law, as created in
2019 Wisconsin Act 185, requires health insurance
policies and self-insured governmental health plans to cover, until March 13, 2021,
testing for COVID-19 without imposing any copayment or coinsurance. A health
insurance policy is referred to in the bill as a disability insurance policy. The bill
extends the Act 185 coverage requirement for testing and adds a requirement to
cover vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19 until the earlier of
the conclusion of a national emergency declared by the U.S. president in response to
the 2019 novel coronavirus or June 30, 2021.
legislature
Transfer of moneys from sum sufficient appropriations
JCF may currently transfer moneys between sum certain and continuing
appropriations if JCF finds that unnecessary duplication of functions can be
eliminated, more efficient and effective methods for performing programs will result,
or legislative intent will be more effectively carried out because of the transfer.
The bill authorizes JCF to transfer moneys from sum sufficient appropriations
until the conclusion of a national emergency declared by the U.S. president in
response to the 2019 novel coronavirus or until June 30, 2021, whichever is earlier.
The total amount that may be transferred from all sum sufficient appropriations may
not exceed $100,000,000.
Public utilities
Loans to assist municipal utilities in maintaining liquidity
Under current law, the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands manages the
common school fund, the normal school fund, the university fund, and the
agricultural college fund (trust funds). Current law authorizes BCPL to manage and
invest moneys belonging to the trust funds in good faith and with the care an
ordinary prudent person in a like position would exercise under similar
circumstances.
This bill authorizes BCPL to loan moneys belonging to the trust funds to cities,
villages, and towns to ensure that a municipal utility under the control of the city,
village, or town is able to maintain liquidity. A municipal utility is a public utility
that is a city, village, or town or that is wholly owned or operated by a city, village,
or town. Each trust fund loan BCPL awards to a city, village, or town under the bill
is secured in the same manner as other trust fund loans BCPL awards to cities,
villages, and towns under current law. BCPL may not award a loan under the bill
after April 15, 2021.
retirement and group insurance
WRS annuities for critical workers
Under current law, certain people who receive a retirement or disability
annuity from the Wisconsin Retirement System and who are hired by an employer
that participates in the WRS must suspend that annuity and may not receive a WRS
annuity payment until the person is no longer in a WRS-covered position. This
suspension applies to a person who 1) has reached his or her normal retirement date;
2) is appointed to a position with a WRS-participating employer, or provides
employee services as a contractor to a WRS-participating employer; and 3) is
expected to work at least two-thirds of what is considered full-time employment by
the Department of Employee Trust Funds.
This bill creates an exception to this suspension if 1) the person is either hired
or provides employee services as a contractor in a critical position before the end of
the national emergency declared by the U.S. president in response to the 2019 novel
coronavirus or June 30, 2021, whichever is earlier; 2) at the time the person initially
retires from covered employment with a participating employer, the person does not
have an agreement with any participating employer to return to employment; and
3) the person elects to not become a participating employee at the time the person
is rehired or enters into a contract after retirement. In other words, the bill allows
a WRS annuitant who is either hired or provides employee services as a contractor
in a critical position before the earlier of the end of the national emergency declared
by the U.S. president in response to the 2019 novel coronavirus or June 30, 2021, to
return to work with an employer that participates in the WRS and continue to receive
his or her annuity.
safety and professional services
Optional licensure of third-party logistics providers
This bill creates an optional license for third-party logistics providers that are
located in the state or are located outside the state but provide third-party logistics
provider services in the state. A third-party logistics provider is defined under
current law as a person that contracts with a prescription drug manufacturer to
provide or coordinate warehousing, distribution, or other services on behalf of the
manufacturer but that does not take title to the manufacturer's prescription drug or
have general responsibility to direct the prescription drug's sale or disposition.
The bill requires an applicant for a third-party logistics provider license to
submit certain information prior to licensure, including proof of a recent facility
inspection, and a personal statement relating to a designated representative of the
facility. The license created by this bill will no longer apply if the federal Food and
Drug Administration establishes a licensing program for third-party logistics
providers under federal law and the Pharmacy Examining Board determines that
state licensure is not required for a resident third-party logistics provider to provide
third-party logistics services in another state.
The bill also directs the Pharmacy Examining Board to promulgate rules that
regulate third-party logistics providers and out-of-state third-party logistics
providers consistent with federal law. The authority of the Pharmacy Examining
Board to promulgate rules is restricted to only rules that are equivalent to
requirements under federal law, and only rules that do not mandate licensing under
state law.
This bill requires the Pharmacy Examining Board to issue interim licenses for
third-party logistics providers and out-of-state third-party logistics providers
between the date of enactment until permanent or emergency rules take effect,
whichever is sooner, if, in the opinion of the board, the applicant is currently in
compliance with federal law relating to third-party logistics providers. An interim
license to act as a third-party logistics provider or out-of-state third-party logistics
provider expires 90 days after the date that emergency rules take effect, or 90 days
after the date that permanent rules take effect, whichever is sooner. No fee is
required for an interim license to act as a third-party logistics provider or an
out-of-state third-party logistics provider.
Finally, the bill requires third-party logistics providers, whether or not
licensed under the bill, to cooperate with inspections of their facilities and delivery
vehicles.
Practice by health care providers from other states
The bill authorizes, in certain situations, health care providers licensed in
another state or territory to provide services for which they are licensed or certified.
Under the bill, a person who satisfies certain requirements and holds a valid,
unexpired credential in another state or territory as any of the following may provide
services in this state: 1) a physician, physician assistant, or perfusionist; 2) a nurse;
3) a dentist; 4) a pharmacist; 5) a psychologist; 6) a social worker, marriage and
family therapist, professional counselor, or clinical substance abuse counselor; 7) a
chiropractor; 8) a physical therapist; 9) a podiatrist; 10) a dietitian; 11) an athletic
trainer; 12) an occupational therapist; 13) an optometrist; 14) an acupuncturist; 15)
a speech-language pathologist or audiologist; or 16) a massage or bodywork
therapist. Generally, these practitioners may practice in this state and the
Department of Safety and Professional Services must grant them a temporary
credential if they apply for a temporary credential within 30 days of beginning to
practice for a health care employer.
The bill also specifies that a health care provider granted a temporary
credential under the bill may provide services through telehealth to a patient located
in this state.
Current law generally prohibits a person from engaging in certain health
care–related practices without holding a required credential.
Authorizing first- and second-year pharmacy students to administer
COVID-19 vaccines
Current law authorizes pharmacy students who have completed two years of
pharmacy school to administer vaccines under the supervision of a pharmacist. The
bill authorizes pharmacy students in their first or second year of pharmacy school
to administer vaccines under the supervision of a pharmacist. A first- or
second-year pharmacy student must complete 12 hours of training in vaccine
storage, protocols, administration technique, emergency procedures, and record
keeping to administer COVID-19 vaccines under the bill.
state government
Transfer of employees between executive branch agencies
This bill authorizes the secretary of administration to transfer employees from
any executive branch agency to another executive branch agency to provide services
for that agency. The transfer remains in effect until rescinded by the secretary of
administration or June 30, 2021, whichever is earlier. Under the bill, the agency to
which an employee is transferred must pay all salary and fringe benefit costs of that
employee.
This proposal may contain a health insurance mandate requiring a social and
financial impact report under s. 601.423, stats.
