AB68: Bill Text

AB68,1806 Section 1806 . 111.335 (3) (ag) of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,1062,24 111.335 (3) (ag) 1. Employment discrimination because of conviction record includes a prospective employer requesting an applicant for employment, on an application form or otherwise, to supply information regarding the conviction record of the applicant, or otherwise inquiring into or considering the conviction record of an applicant for employment, before the applicant has been selected for an interview by the prospective employer.

AB68,1063,4 2. Subdivision 1. does not prohibit a prospective employer from notifying applicants for employment that, subject to this section and ss. 111.321 and 111.322, an individual with a particular conviction record may be disqualified by law or under the employer's policies from employment in particular positions.

AB68,1807 Section 1807. 111.335 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1063,10 111.335 (4) (b) It is employment discrimination because of conviction record for a licensing agency to refuse to license any individual under sub. (3) (a) (ar) 1. or to bar or terminate an individual from licensing under sub. (3) (a) (ar) 1. because the individual was adjudicated delinquent under ch. 938 for an offense other than an exempt offense.

AB68,1808 Section 1808. 111.335 (4) (c) 1. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1063,14 111.335 (4) (c) 1. (intro.) If a licensing agency refuses to license an individual under sub. (3) (a) (ar) 1. or bars or terminates an individual from licensing under sub. (3) (a) (ar) 1., the licensing agency shall, subject to subd. 2., do all of the following:

AB68,1809 Section 1809. 111.335 (4) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1063,20 111.335 (4) (e) A state licensing agency that may refuse to license individuals under sub. (3) (a) (ar) 1. or that may bar or terminate an individual from licensure under sub. (3) (a) (ar) 1. shall publish on the agency's Internet site a document indicating the offenses or kinds of offenses that may result in such a refusal, bar, or termination.

AB68,1810 Section 1810. 111.335 (4) (f) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1064,2 111.335 (4) (f) 1. A state licensing agency that may refuse to license individuals under sub. (3) (a) (ar) 1. or that may bar or terminate individuals from licensing under sub. (3) (a) (ar) 1. shall allow an individual who does not possess a license to, without submitting a full application and without paying the fees applicable to applicants, apply to the agency for a determination of whether the individual would be disqualified from obtaining the license due to his or her conviction record.

AB68,1811 Section 1811 . 111.35 (2) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1064,6 111.35 (2) (e) Conflicts with any federal or state statute, rule or regulation. This paragraph does not apply with respect to violations concerning marijuana or tetrahydrocannabinols under 21 USC 841 to 865.

AB68,1812 Section 1812. 111.36 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1064,9 111.36 (title) Sex, sexual orientation , gender expression, gender identity; exceptions and special cases.

AB68,1813 Section 1813. 111.36 (1) (br) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1064,21 111.36 (1) (br) Engaging in harassment that consists of unwelcome verbal or physical conduct directed at another individual because of that individual's gender, gender expression, or gender identity, other than the conduct described in par. (b), and that has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment or has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with that individual's work performance. Under this paragraph, substantial interference with an employee's work performance or creation of an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment is established when the conduct is such that a reasonable person under the same circumstances as the employee would consider the conduct sufficiently severe or pervasive to interfere substantially with the person's work performance or to create an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment.

AB68,1814 Section 1814. 111.36 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1065,2 111.36 (1) (c) Discriminating against any woman individual on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, maternity parental leave or related medical conditions by engaging in any of the actions prohibited under s. 111.322, including, but not limited to, actions concerning fringe benefit programs covering illnesses and disability.

AB68,1815 Section 1815. 111.36 (1) (d) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1065,10 111.36 (1) (d) 1. For any employer, labor organization, licensing agency or employment agency or other person to refuse Refusing to hire, employ, admit or license, or to bar or terminate any individual; barring or terminating from employment, membership, or licensure any individual ,; or to discriminate discriminating against an any individual in promotion, in compensation , or in the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of the individual's sexual orientation,; or gender expression, or gender identity.

AB68,1816 Section 1816. 111.36 (1) (d) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1065,17 111.36 (1) (d) 2. For any employer, labor organization, licensing agency or employment agency or other person to discharge Discharging or otherwise discriminate discriminating against any person because he or she the person has opposed any discriminatory practices under this paragraph or because he or she the person has made a complaint, testified or assisted in any proceeding under this paragraph.

AB68,1817 Section 1817. 111.36 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,1065,23 111.36 (4) Notwithstanding s. 111.322, it is not employment discrimination for an employer to require an employee to adhere to reasonable workplace appearance, grooming, and dress standards not precluded by other provisions of state or federal law, provided that an employer shall allow an employee to appear or dress consistently with the employee's gender identity or gender expression.

AB68,1818 Section 1818. 111.39 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1066,17 111.39 (4) (b) If the department finds probable cause to believe that any discrimination has been or is being committed, that unfair honesty testing has occurred or is occurring or that unfair genetic testing has occurred or is occurring, it may endeavor to eliminate the practice by conference, conciliation or persuasion. If the department does not eliminate the discrimination, unfair honesty testing or unfair genetic testing, the department shall issue and serve a written notice of hearing, specifying the nature of the discrimination that appears to have been committed or unfair honesty testing or unfair genetic testing that has occurred, and requiring the person named, in this section called the “respondent", to answer the complaint at a hearing before an examiner. The notice shall specify a time of hearing not less than 30 days after service of the complaint, and a place of hearing within either the county of the respondent's residence or the county in which the discrimination, unfair honesty testing or unfair genetic testing appears to have occurred. The department shall designate the place of hearing, which may include a remote, web-based, or in-person hearing in a location accessible and in proximity to the parties. The testimony at the hearing shall be recorded or taken down by a reporter appointed by the department.

AB68,1819 Section 1819 . 111.39 (4) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1067,7 111.39 (4) (d) The department shall serve a certified copy of the findings and order on the respondent, the order to have the same force as other orders of the department and be enforced as provided in s. 103.005. The department shall also serve a certified copy of the findings and order on the complainant, together with a notice advising the complainant about the right to seek, and the time for seeking, review by the commission under sub. (5); about the right to bring, and the time for bringing, an action for judicial review under s. 111.395; and about the right to bring, and the time for bringing, an action under s. 111.397 (1) (a). Any person aggrieved by noncompliance with the order may have the order enforced specifically by suit in equity. If the examiner finds that the respondent has not engaged in discrimination, unfair honesty testing, or unfair genetic testing as alleged in the complaint, the department shall serve a certified copy of the examiner's findings served on the complainant, together with shall be accompanied by an order dismissing the complaint.

AB68,1820 Section 1820 . 111.39 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1067,19 111.39 (5) (b) If no petition is filed the respondent or complainant does not file a petition under par. (a) within 21 days from the date that a copy of the findings and order of the examiner is mailed to the last-known address of the respondent served on that party, the findings and order shall be considered final for purposes of enforcement under sub. (4) (d). If a timely petition is filed, the commission, on review, may either affirm, reverse, or modify the findings or order in whole or in part, or set aside the findings and order and remand to the department for further proceedings. Such actions shall be based on a review of the evidence submitted. If the commission is satisfied that a respondent or complainant has been prejudiced because of exceptional delay in the receipt of a copy of any findings and order it, the commission may extend the time another 21 days for filing the petition with the department.

AB68,1821 Section 1821 . 111.39 (5) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,1068,2 111.39 (5) (d) The commission shall serve a certified copy of the commission's decision on the respondent. The commission shall also serve a certified copy of the commission's decision on the complainant, together with a notice advising the complainant about the right to bring, and the time for bringing, an action for judicial review under s. 111.395 and about the right to bring, and the time for bringing, an action under s. 111.397 (1) (a).

AB68,1822 Section 1822 . 111.397 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,1068,15 111.397 Civil action. (1) (a) Except as provided in this paragraph, the department or an individual alleged or found to have been discriminated against or subjected to unfair honesty testing or unfair genetic testing may bring an action in circuit court requesting the relief described in sub. (2) (a) against an employer, labor organization, or employment agency that is alleged or found to have engaged in that discrimination, unfair honesty testing, or unfair genetic testing. The department or an individual alleged or found to have been discriminated against or subjected to unfair honesty testing or unfair genetic testing may not bring an action under this paragraph against a local governmental unit, as defined in s. 19.42 (7u), or against an employer, labor organization, or employment agency that employs fewer than 15 individuals for each working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding year.

AB68,1068,19 (b) If a petition for judicial review of the findings and order of the commission concerning the same violation as the violation giving rise to the action under par. (a) is filed, the circuit court shall consolidate the proceeding for judicial review and the action under par. (a).

AB68,1068,23 (c) An individual alleged or found to have been discriminated against or subjected to unfair honesty testing or unfair genetic testing is not required to file a complaint under s. 111.39 or seek review under s. 111.395 in order for the department or the individual to bring an action under par. (a).

AB68,1068,25 (d) An action under par. (a) shall be commenced within 300 days after the alleged discrimination, unfair honesty testing, or unfair genetic testing occurred.

AB68,1069,16 (2) (a) Subject to pars. (b) and (c), in an action under sub. (1) (a), if the circuit court finds that discrimination, unfair honesty testing, or unfair genetic testing has occurred, or if such a finding has been made by an examiner or the commission and not been further appealed, the circuit court may order any relief that an examiner would be empowered to order under s. 111.39 (4) (c) after a hearing on a complaint filed under s. 111.39. In addition, the circuit court shall order the defendant to pay to the individual discriminated against or subjected to unfair honesty testing or unfair genetic testing any other compensatory damages, and punitive damages under s. 895.043 that the circuit court or jury finds appropriate, plus reasonable costs and attorney fees incurred in the action. If any relief was ordered under s. 111.39 or 111.395, the circuit court shall specify whether the relief ordered under this paragraph is in addition to or replaces the relief ordered under s. 111.39 or 111.395. The sum of the amount of compensatory damages for future economic losses and for pain and suffering, emotional distress, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and other noneconomic losses and the amount of punitive damages that a circuit court may order may not exceed the following:

AB68,1069,19 1. In the case of a defendant that employs 100 or fewer employees for each working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding year, $50,000.

AB68,1069,22 2. In the case of a defendant that employs more than 100 but fewer than 201 employees for each working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding year, $100,000.

AB68,1069,25 3. In the case of a defendant that employs more than 200 but fewer than 501 employees for each working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding year, $200,000.

AB68,1070,3 4. In the case of a defendant that employs more than 500 employees for each working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding year, $300,000.

AB68,1070,6 (b) If the circuit court orders a payment under par. (a) because of a violation of s. 111.321, 111.37, or 111.372 by an individual employed by an employer, the employer of that individual is liable for the payment.

AB68,1070,9 (c) 1. In this paragraph, “consumer price index" means the average of the consumer price index for all urban consumers, U.S. city average, as determined by the bureau of labor statistics of the federal department of labor.

AB68,1070,22 2. Except as provided in this subdivision, beginning on July 1, 2022, and on each July 1 after that, the department shall adjust the amounts specified in par. (a) 1., 2., 3., and 4. by calculating the percentage difference between the consumer price index for the 12-month period ending on December 31 of the preceding year and the consumer price index for the 12-month period ending on December 31 of the year before the preceding year and adjusting those amounts by that percentage difference. The department shall publish the adjusted amounts calculated under this subdivision in the Wisconsin Administrative Register, and the adjusted amounts shall apply to actions commenced under sub. (1) (a) beginning on July 1 of the year of publication. This subdivision does not apply if the consumer price index for the 12-month period ending on December 31 of the preceding year did not increase over the consumer price index for the 12-month period ending on December 31 of the year before the preceding year.

AB68,1823 Section 1823. 111.70 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1071,14 111.70 (1) (a) “Collective bargaining" means the performance of the mutual obligation of a municipal employer, through its officers and agents, and the representative of its municipal employees in a collective bargaining unit, to meet and confer at reasonable times, in good faith, with the intention of reaching an agreement, or to resolve questions arising under such an agreement, with respect to wages, hours, and conditions of employment for public safety employees or, for transit employees and, or for municipal employees in a collective bargaining unit that contains a frontline worker; with respect to wages for general municipal employees, who are in a collective bargaining unit that does not contain a frontline worker; and with respect to a requirement of the municipal employer for a municipal employee to perform law enforcement and fire fighting services under s. 60.553, 61.66, or 62.13 (2e), except as provided in sub. (4) (mb) and (mc) and s. 40.81 (3) and except that a municipal employer shall not meet and confer with respect to any proposal to diminish or abridge the rights guaranteed to any public safety employees under ch. 164. Collective bargaining includes the reduction of any agreement reached to a written and signed document.

AB68,1824 Section 1824. 111.70 (1) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1071,23 111.70 (1) (f) “Fair-share agreement" means an agreement between a municipal employer and a labor organization that represents public safety employees or, transit employees , or a frontline worker under which all or any of the public safety employees or transit employees in the collective bargaining unit or all or any of the employees in a collective bargaining unit containing a frontline worker are required to pay their proportionate share of the cost of the collective bargaining process and contract administration measured by the amount of dues uniformly required of all members.

AB68,1825 Section 1825. 111.70 (1) (fd) of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,1072,2 111.70 (1) (fd) “Frontline worker” means a municipal employee who is determined to be a frontline worker under sub. (4) (bm) 2.

AB68,1826 Section 1826. 111.70 (1) (fm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1072,5 111.70 (1) (fm) “General municipal employee" means a municipal employee who is not a public safety employee or, a transit employee, or a frontline worker.

AB68,1827 Section 1827. 111.70 (1) (n) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1072,11 111.70 (1) (n) “Referendum" means a proceeding conducted by the commission in which public safety employees or transit employees in a collective bargaining unit or municipal employees in a collective bargaining unit containing a frontline worker may cast a secret ballot on the question of authorizing a labor organization and the employer to continue a fair-share agreement.

AB68,1828 Section 1828. 111.70 (1) (p) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1072,14 111.70 (1) (p) “Transit employee" means a municipal employee who is determined to be a transit employee under sub. (4) (bm) 1.

AB68,1829 Section 1829. 111.70 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 111.70 (2) (a) and amended to read:

AB68,1073,24 111.70 (2) (a) Municipal employees have the right of self-organization, and the right to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in lawful, concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection. Municipal employees have the right to refrain from any and all such activities. A general municipal employee may not be covered by a fair-share agreement unless the general municipal employee is in a collective bargaining unit containing a frontline worker. Unless the general municipal employee is covered by a fair-share agreement, a general municipal employee has the right to refrain from paying dues while remaining a member of a collective bargaining unit. A public safety employee or, a transit employee, however, or a municipal employee in a collective bargaining unit containing a frontline worker may be covered by a fair-share agreement and be required to pay dues in the manner provided in a the fair-share agreement; a fair-share agreement covering a public safety employee or a transit employee must contain a provision requiring the municipal employer to deduct the amount of dues as certified by the labor organization from the earnings of the employee affected by the fair-share agreement and to pay the amount deducted to the labor organization. A fair-share agreement covering a public safety employee or transit employee is subject to the right of the municipal employer or a labor organization to petition the commission to conduct a referendum. Such petition must be supported by proof that at least 30 percent of the employees in the collective bargaining unit desire that the fair-share agreement be terminated. Upon so finding, the commission shall conduct a referendum. If the continuation of the agreement is not supported by at least the majority of the eligible employees, it shall terminate. The commission shall declare any fair-share agreement suspended upon such conditions and for such time as the commission decides whenever it finds that the labor organization involved has refused on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, gender expression, as defined in s. 111.32 (7j), gender identity, as defined in s. 111.32 (7k), creed, or sex to receive as a member any public safety employee or transit eligible municipal employee of the municipal employer in the bargaining unit involved, and such agreement is subject to this duty of the commission. Any of the parties to such agreement or any public safety employee or transit municipal employee covered by the agreement may come before the commission, as provided in s. 111.07, and ask the performance of this duty.

AB68,1830 Section 1830. 111.70 (2) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,1074,7 111.70 (2) (b) General municipal employees who are not in a collective bargaining unit containing a frontline worker have the right to have their municipal employer consult with them, through a representative of their own choosing, with no intention of reaching an agreement, with respect to wages, hours, and conditions of employment. The right may be exercised when the municipal employer proposes or implements policy changes affecting wages, hours, or conditions of employment or, if no policy changes are proposed or implemented, at least quarterly.

AB68,1831 Section 1831. 111.70 (3) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1074,12 111.70 (3) (a) 3. To encourage or discourage a membership in any labor organization by discrimination in regard to hiring, tenure, or other terms or conditions of employment; but the prohibition shall not apply to a fair-share agreement that covers public safety employees or transit employees.

AB68,1832 Section 1832. 111.70 (3) (a) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1074,23 111.70 (3) (a) 5. To violate any collective bargaining agreement previously agreed upon by the parties with respect to wages, hours, and conditions of employment affecting public safety employees or, transit employees, or municipal employees in a collective bargaining unit containing a frontline worker, including an agreement to arbitrate questions arising as to the meaning or application of the terms of a collective bargaining agreement or to accept the terms of such arbitration award, where previously the parties have agreed to accept such award as final and binding upon them or to violate any collective bargaining agreement affecting a collective bargaining unit containing only general municipal employees, that was previously agreed upon by the parties with respect to wages.

AB68,1833 Section 1833. 111.70 (3) (a) 6. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1075,8 111.70 (3) (a) 6. To deduct labor organization dues from the earnings of a public safety employee or, a transit employee, or a municipal employee who is in a collective bargaining unit containing a frontline worker unless the municipal employer has been presented with an individual order therefor, signed by the employee personally, and terminable by at least the end of any year of its life or earlier by the public safety employee or transit municipal employee giving at least 30 days' written notice of such termination to the municipal employer and to the representative organization, except when a fair-share agreement is in effect.

AB68,1834 Section 1834. 111.70 (3) (a) 9. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1075,14 111.70 (3) (a) 9. If the collective bargaining unit contains a public safety employee or, transit employee, or frontline worker, after a collective bargaining agreement expires and before another collective bargaining agreement takes effect, to fail to follow any fair-share agreement in the expired collective bargaining agreement.

AB68,1835 Section 1835. 111.70 (3g) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1075,19 111.70 (3g) Wage deduction prohibition. A municipal employer may not deduct labor organization dues from the earnings of a general municipal employee, unless the general municipal employee is in a collective bargaining unit that contains a frontline worker, or from the earnings of a supervisor.

AB68,1836 Section 1836. 111.70 (4) (bm) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1075,21 111.70 (4) (bm) (title) Transit employee or frontline worker determination.

AB68,1837 Section 1837. 111.70 (4) (bm) of the statutes is renumbered 111.70 (4) (bm) 1.

AB68,1838 Section 1838. 111.70 (4) (bm) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,1076,4 111.70 (4) (bm) 2. The commission shall determine that a municipal employee is a frontline worker if the commission finds that the municipal employee has regular job duties that include interacting with members of the public or with large populations of people or that directly involve the maintenance of public works. The commission may not determine that a public safety employee or a transit employee is a frontline worker.

AB68,1839 Section 1839. 111.70 (4) (cg) (title), 1., 2., 3., 4. and 5. of the statutes are amended to read:

AB68,1076,19 111.70 (4) (cg) (title) Methods for peaceful settlement of disputes; transit employees and municipal employees in a collective bargaining unit containing a frontline worker. 1. `Notice of commencement of contract negotiations.' To advise the commission of the commencement of contract negotiations involving a collective bargaining unit containing transit employees or a collective bargaining unit containing a frontline worker, whenever either party requests the other to reopen negotiations under a binding collective bargaining agreement, or the parties otherwise commence negotiations if no collective bargaining agreement exists, the party requesting negotiations shall immediately notify the commission in writing. Upon failure of the requesting party to provide notice, the other party may provide notice to the commission. The notice shall specify the expiration date of the existing collective bargaining agreement, if any, and shall provide any additional information the commission may require on a form provided by the commission.

AB68,1077,2 2. `Presentation of initial proposals; open meetings.' The meetings between parties to a collective bargaining agreement or proposed collective bargaining agreement under this subchapter that involve a collective bargaining unit containing a transit employee or a frontline worker and that are held to present initial bargaining proposals, along with supporting rationale, are open to the public. Each party shall submit its initial bargaining proposals to the other party in writing. Failure to comply with this subdivision does not invalidate a collective bargaining agreement under this subchapter.

AB68,1077,8 3. `Mediation.' The commission or its designee shall function as mediator in labor disputes involving transit employees or municipal employees in a collective bargaining unit containing a frontline worker upon request of one or both of the parties, or upon initiation of the commission. The function of the mediator is to encourage voluntary settlement by the parties. No mediator has the power of compulsion.

AB68,1077,14 4. `Grievance arbitration.' Parties to a dispute pertaining to the meaning or application of the terms of a written collective bargaining agreement involving a collective bargaining unit containing a transit employee or a frontline worker may agree in writing to have the commission or any other appropriate agency serve as arbitrator or may designate any other competent, impartial, and disinterested person to serve as an arbitrator.

AB68,1077,24 5. `Voluntary impasse resolution procedures.' In addition to the other impasse resolution procedures provided in this paragraph, a municipal employer that employs a transit employee or a municipal employee in a collective bargaining unit containing a frontline worker and a labor organization may at any time, as a permissive subject of bargaining, agree in writing to a dispute settlement procedure, including binding interest arbitration, which is acceptable to the parties for resolving an impasse over terms of any collective bargaining agreement under this subchapter. The parties shall file a copy of the agreement with the commission. If the parties agree to any form of binding interest arbitration, the arbitrator shall give weight to the factors enumerated under subds. 7. and 7g.

AB68,1840 Section 1840. 111.70 (4) (cg) 6. a. of the statutes is amended to read: