Amendment SSA1-AB68

AB68-SSA1,464,22 40.06 (8) For periods during which a protective occupation participant who is a participating employee is on a deployment, training, or readiness exercise with an urban search and rescue task force under a contract under s. 323.72 (1), all of the following shall apply:

AB68-SSA1,464,24 (a) The employer remits required contributions to the department under s. 40.05 (1) (a) and (2) (a).

AB68-SSA1,465,3 (b) The employer reports to the department service and earnings that are at least the same rate the employee would have received if the employee had not been on the deployment, training, or readiness exercise.

AB68-SSA1,743 Section 743 . 40.08 (12) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,465,12 40.08 (12) Court review. Notwithstanding s. 227.52, any action, decision, or determination of the board, the Wisconsin retirement board, the teachers retirement board, the group insurance board, or the deferred compensation board in an administrative proceeding shall be reviewable only by an action for certiorari in the circuit court for Dane County that is commenced by any party to the administrative proceeding, including the department, within 30 days after the date on which notice of the action, decision, or determination is mailed to that party, and any party to the certiorari proceedings may appeal the decision of that court.

AB68-SSA1,744 Section 744. 40.22 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,465,18 40.22 (1) Except as otherwise provided in sub. (2) and s. 40.26 (6) and (7), 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.

AB68-SSA1,745 Section 745. 40.22 (2m) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,466,2 40.22 (2m) (intro.) Except as otherwise provided in s. 40.26 (6) and (7), 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:

AB68-SSA1,746 Section 746. 40.22 (2r) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,466,10 40.22 (2r) (intro.) Except as otherwise provided in s. 40.26 (6) and (7), 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:

AB68-SSA1,747 Section 747 . 40.22 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,466,14 40.22 (3) (intro.) Except as otherwise provided in s. 40.26 (6) and (7), 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:

AB68-SSA1,748 Section 748 . 40.23 (1) (bm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,466,22 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 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.

AB68-SSA1,749 Section 749. 40.26 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

AB68-SSA1,467,4 40.26 (7) 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 15 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 with any school district that is a participating employer if all of the following conditions are met:

AB68-SSA1,467,8 (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.

AB68-SSA1,467,10 (b) The participant elects on a form provided by the department to not become a participating employee.

AB68-SSA1,750 Section 750 . 40.27 (2) (d) of the statutes is repealed.

AB68-SSA1,751 Section 751. 40.51 (2m) (a) of the statutes is repealed.

AB68-SSA1,752 Section 752. 40.51 (2m) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 40.51 (2m) and amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,467,18 40.51 (2m) If an eligible employee is divorced or was a domestic partner in a dissolved domestic partnership, the eligible employee may not enroll a new spouse or domestic partner in a group health insurance plan under this subchapter until 6 months have elapsed since the date of the divorce or dissolved domestic partnership.

AB68-SSA1,753 Section 753. 40.51 (7) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,468,6 40.51 (7) (a) Any employer, other than the state, including an employer that is not a participating employer, may offer to all of its employees a health care coverage plan through a program offered by the group insurance board. Notwithstanding sub. (2) and ss. 40.05 (4) and 40.52 (1), the department may by rule establish different eligibility standards or contribution requirements for such employees and employers. Beginning on January 1, 2012, except as otherwise provided in a collective bargaining agreement under subch. IV of ch. 111 that covers public safety employees, frontline workers, or transit employees, and except as provided in par. (b), an employer may not offer a health care coverage plan to its employees under this subsection if the employer pays more than 88 percent of the average premium cost of plans offered in any tier with the lowest employee premium cost under this subsection.

AB68-SSA1,754 Section 754 . 40.51 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,468,12 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), 632.729, 632.746 (1) to (8) and (10), 632.747, 632.748, 632.798, 632.83, 632.835, 632.85, 632.853, 632.855, 632.862, 632.867, 632.87 (3) to (6), 632.871, 632.885, 632.89, 632.895 (5m) and (8) to (17), and 632.896.

AB68-SSA1,755 Section 755 . 40.51 (8) of the statutes, as affected by 2021 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), section 754, is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,468,19 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, 632.729, 632.746 (1) to (8) and (10), 632.747, 632.748, 632.798, 632.83, 632.835, 632.85, 632.853, 632.855, 632.862, 632.867, 632.87 (3) to (6), 632.871, 632.885, 632.89, 632.895 (5m) and (8) to (17), and 632.896.

AB68-SSA1,756 Section 756 . 40.51 (8m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,468,24 40.51 (8m) Every health care coverage plan offered by the group insurance board under sub. (7) shall comply with ss. 631.95, 632.729, 632.746 (1) to (8) and (10), 632.747, 632.748, 632.798, 632.83, 632.835, 632.85, 632.853, 632.855, 632.862, 632.867, 632.871, 632.885, 632.89, and 632.895 (11) to (17).

AB68-SSA1,757 Section 757 . 40.51 (8m) of the statutes, as affected by 2021 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), section 756, is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,469,6 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, 632.729, 632.746 (1) to (8) and (10), 632.747, 632.748, 632.798, 632.83, 632.835, 632.85, 632.853, 632.855, 632.862, 632.867, 632.871, 632.885, 632.89, and 632.895 (11) (8) and (10) to (17).

AB68-SSA1,758 Section 758 . 40.51 (15m) of the statutes is repealed.

AB68-SSA1,759 Section 759. 40.513 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,469,10 40.513 (3) (b) The employee's spouse or domestic partner is receiving health care coverage under s. 40.51 (6).

AB68-SSA1,760 Section 760. 40.52 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,469,24 40.52 (2) Health insurance benefits under this subchapter shall be integrated, with exceptions determined appropriate by the group insurance board, with benefits under federal plans for hospital and health care for the aged and disabled. Exclusions and limitations with respect to benefits and different rates may be established for persons eligible under federal plans for hospital and health care for the aged and disabled in recognition of the utilization by persons within the age limits eligible under the federal program. The plan may include special provisions for spouses, domestic partners, and other dependents covered under a plan established under this subchapter where one spouse or domestic partner is eligible under federal plans for hospital and health care for the aged but the others are not eligible because of age or other reasons. As part of the integration, the department may, out of premiums collected under s. 40.05 (4), pay premiums for the federal health insurance.

AB68-SSA1,761 Section 761. 40.55 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,470,7 40.55 (1) Except as provided in sub. (5), the state shall offer, through the group insurance board, to eligible employees under s. 40.02 (25) (bm) and to state annuitants long-term care insurance policies which have been filed with the office of the commissioner of insurance and which have been approved for offering under contracts established by the group insurance board. The state shall also allow an eligible employee or a state annuitant to purchase those policies for his or her spouse, domestic partner, or parent.

AB68-SSA1,762 Section 762 . 40.61 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,470,25 40.61 (2) Except as provided in sub. (4), any an eligible employee may become covered by income continuation insurance by electing coverage within 30 days of initial eligibility, to be effective as of the first day of the month that first occurs during the 30-day period, or by electing coverage within 60 days of initially becoming eligible for a higher level of employer contribution towards the premium cost to be effective as of the first day of the month following the date of eligibility for teachers employed by the university and effective as of the following April 1 for all other employees. Any An employee who does not so elect at one of these times, or who subsequently cancels the insurance, may not thereafter become insured unless the employee furnishes evidence of insurability under the terms of the contract, or as otherwise provided by rule for employees under sub. (3), at the employee's own expense or obtains coverage subject to contractual waiting periods if contractual waiting periods are provided for by the contract or by rule for employees under sub. (3). An employee who furnishes satisfactory evidence of insurability under the terms of the contract shall become insured as of the first day of the month following the date of approval of evidence. The method to be used shall be determined by the group insurance board under sub. (1).

AB68-SSA1,763 Section 763. 40.61 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,471,8 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.

AB68-SSA1,764 Section 764. 40.62 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,471,17 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 eligible for benefits upon exhaustion of accumulated sick leave and completion of the elimination period established by the group insurance board.

AB68-SSA1,765 Section 765 . 40.63 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,472,12 40.63 (5) The department shall make a report based on the evidence prescribed in subs. (1) to (4) as to whether a disability benefit shall be granted and the department shall submit the report to the teachers retirement board for teacher participants and to the Wisconsin retirement board for participants other than teachers. A copy of the report and notice of the date that the report was presented, or will be presented, to the appropriate board and the board's name, shall be mailed to the applicant and to the applicant's former employer. Either the applicant or the employer may request a hearing under s. 227.44 to contest the department's determination by filing a timely appeal with the appropriate board. If a request for a hearing is not timely filed, and the appropriate board does not disapprove the department's determination or request additional information within the time allowed for filing appeals, the report shall be final. If the board requests additional information, the report shall be final 30 days after the board's receipt of the requested information unless the board disapproves the report. If the report is disapproved, notice of the board's action shall be sent to the applicant and the applicant's former employer. Either the applicant or the employer may contest the board's action by submitting a written request for a hearing under s. 227.44 to the appropriate board within 30 days following the date on which the notice of the board's action was mailed to the applicant or the employer.

AB68-SSA1,766 Section 766 . 40.63 (9) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,473,2 40.63 (9) (d) If the department terminates a disability annuity under this subsection, the department shall make a report which shall include the department's determination and the reasons for the determination. The department shall submit the report to the teachers retirement board for teacher participants and to the Wisconsin retirement board for participants other than teachers. A copy of the report and notice of the date that the report was presented, or will be presented, to the appropriate board, and the board's name, shall be mailed to the affected annuitant. An annuitant may request a hearing under s. 227.44 to contest the department's determination by filing a timely appeal with the appropriate board. If a request for a hearing is not timely filed, and the appropriate board does not disapprove the department's determination or request additional information within the time allowed for filing appeals, the report shall be final. If the board requests additional information, the report shall be final 30 days after the board's receipt of the requested information unless the board disapproves the department's determination.

AB68-SSA1,767 Section 767 . 40.64 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68-SSA1,473,5 40.64 Long-term disability insurance coverage. The board may establish a long-term disability insurance plan.

AB68-SSA1,768 Section 768 . 40.65 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,473,17 40.65 (3) The Wisconsin retirement board shall determine the amount of each monthly benefit payable under this section and its effective date. The board shall periodically review the dollar amount of each monthly benefit and adjust it to conform with the provisions of this section. The board may request any income or benefit information, or any information concerning a person's marital status, which it considers to be necessary to implement this subsection and may require a participant to authorize the board to obtain a copy of his or her most recent state or federal income tax return. The board may terminate the monthly benefit of any person who refuses to submit information requested by the board, who refuses to authorize the board to obtain a copy of his or her most recent state or federal income tax return, or who submits false information to the board.

AB68-SSA1,769 Section 769 . 40.65 (5) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,474,2 40.65 (5) (b) (intro.) The Wisconsin retirement board shall reduce the amount of a participant's monthly benefit under this section by the amounts under subds. 1. to 6., except that the board may determine not to reduce a participant's benefit because of income related to therapy or rehabilitation. The Wisconsin retirement board may assume that any benefit or amount listed under subds. 1. to 6. is payable to a participant until it is determined to the board's satisfaction that the participant is ineligible to receive the benefit or amount, except that the department shall withhold an amount equal to 5 percent of the monthly benefit under this section until the amount payable under subd. 3. is determined.

AB68-SSA1,770 Section 770 . 40.65 (6) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,474,6 40.65 (6) (intro.) The Wisconsin retirement board shall adjust the monthly salary of every participant receiving a benefit under this section using the salary index for the previous calendar year as follows:

AB68-SSA1,771 Section 771. 40.65 (7) (am) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,474,15 40.65 (7) (am) 1. To the surviving spouse or surviving domestic partner until the surviving spouse remarries, or the surviving domestic partner enters into a new domestic partnership or marries, if the surviving spouse was married to the participant on the date that the participant was disabled under sub. (4), or the surviving domestic partner was in a domestic partnership on the date that the participant was disabled under sub. (4), 50 percent of the participant's monthly salary at the time of death, but reduced by any amount payable under sub. (5) (b) 1. to 6.

AB68-SSA1,772 Section 772. 40.65 (7) (am) 1g. of the statutes is repealed.

AB68-SSA1,773 Section 773. 40.65 (7) (am) 1m. of the statutes is repealed.

AB68-SSA1,774 Section 774. 40.65 (7) (am) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,474,22 40.65 (7) (am) 3. The total monthly amount paid under subds. 1., 1g., 1m., and 2. may not exceed 70 percent of the participant's monthly salary at the time of death reduced by any amounts under sub. (5) (b) 1. to 6. that relate to the participant's work record.

AB68-SSA1,775 Section 775. 40.65 (7) (ar) 1. a. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,475,6 40.65 (7) (ar) 1. a. To the surviving spouse or the surviving domestic partner until the surviving spouse remarries, or the surviving domestic partner enters into a new domestic partnership or marries, if the surviving spouse was married to the participant on the date that the participant was disabled under sub. (4), or the surviving domestic partner was in a domestic partnership with the participant on the date that the participant was disabled under sub. (4), 70 percent of the participant's monthly salary at the time of death, but reduced by any amount payable under sub. (5) (b) 1. to 6.

AB68-SSA1,776 Section 776. 40.65 (7) (ar) 1. ag. of the statutes is repealed.

AB68-SSA1,777 Section 777. 40.65 (7) (ar) 1. am. of the statutes is repealed.

AB68-SSA1,778 Section 778. 40.80 (2r) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,475,11 40.80 (2r) (a) 1. Relates to a marriage or domestic partnership that terminated after December 1, 2001.

AB68-SSA1,779 Section 779. 40.80 (2r) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,475,16 40.80 (2r) (a) 2. Assigns all or part of a participant's accumulated assets held in a deferred compensation plan under this subchapter to a spouse, former spouse, domestic partner, former domestic partner, child, or other dependent to satisfy a family support or marital property obligation.

AB68-SSA1,780 Section 780. 41.41 (4) (d) of the statutes is repealed.

AB68-SSA1,781 Section 781. 41.53 (1) (k) of the statutes is created to read:

AB68-SSA1,475,25 41.53 (1) (k) From the appropriation under s. 20.380 (3) (cm), provide a grant to a Native American artist through the program described in par. (fm) for the design, production, and installation of a permanent marker on the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point campus in recognition of the Native Americans who died due to a scarlet fever epidemic. Notwithstanding pars. (f) and (fm), a grantee may receive funds distributed as a grant under this paragraph regardless of whether the grantee has provided at least 50 percent of the estimated total cost of the project.

AB68-SSA1,782 Section 782. 42.105 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 42.105.

AB68-SSA1,783 Section 783. 42.105 (2) of the statutes is repealed.

AB68-SSA1,784 Section 784 . 45.01 (6) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,476,6 45.01 (6) (c) The biological natural or adoptive parent or a person who acts in the place of a parent and who has so acted for not less than 12 months prior to the veteran's entrance into active service.

AB68-SSA1,785 Section 785. 45.20 (2) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,476,14 45.20 (2) (a) 1. The department shall administer a tuition reimbursement program for eligible veterans enrolling as undergraduates in any institution of higher education in this state, enrolling in a school that is approved under s. 45.03 (11), enrolling in a proprietary school that is approved under s. 440.52, enrolling in a public or private high school, enrolling in a tribal school, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m), in any grade from 9 to 12, or receiving a waiver of nonresident tuition under s. 36.27 (2r) or 39.47.

AB68-SSA1,786 Section 786. 45.20 (2) (c) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,477,3 45.20 (2) (c) 1. A veteran who meets the eligibility requirements under par. (b) 1. may be reimbursed upon satisfactory completion of an undergraduate semester in any institution of higher education in this state, or upon satisfactory completion of a course at any school that is approved under s. 45.03 (11), any proprietary school that is approved under s. 440.52, any public or private high school, any tribal school, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m), that operates any grade from 9 to 12, or any institution from which the veteran receives a waiver of nonresident tuition under s. 36.27 (2r) or 39.47. Except as provided in par. (e), the amount of reimbursement may not exceed the total cost of the veteran's tuition minus any grants or scholarships that the veteran receives specifically for the payment of the tuition, or, if the tuition is for an undergraduate semester in any institution of higher education, the standard cost of tuition for a state resident for an equivalent undergraduate semester at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, whichever is less.

AB68-SSA1,787 Section 787. 45.20 (2) (d) 1. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,477,11 45.20 (2) (d) 1. (intro.) Subject to subd. 1m., a veteran's eligibility for reimbursement under this subsection at any institution of higher education in this state, at a school that is approved under s. 45.03 (11), at a proprietary school that is approved under s. 440.52, at a public or private high school, at a tribal school, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m), that operates any grade from 9 to 12, or at an institution where he or she is receiving a waiver of nonresident tuition under s. 36.27 (2r) or 39.47 is limited to the following:

AB68-SSA1,788 Section 788. 45.48 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB68-SSA1,477,18 45.48 (1m) The department shall expend at least $100,000 annually under sub. (1) to promote suicide prevention and awareness by providing outreach, mental health services, and support to individuals who are members of a traditionally underserved population, including minority groups and individuals who reside in rural areas of the state. The department may enter contracts to provide services under this subsection.

AB68-SSA1,789 Section 789 . 45.51 (3) (c) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-SSA1,477,21 45.51 (3) (c) 2. The department may deviate from this sequence upon order of the board to prevent the separation of a husband and wife spouses.