AB68: Bill Text

AB68,690 Section 690. 39.47 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,641,20 39.47 (2) The agreement under this section shall provide for the waiver of nonresident tuition fees for a resident of either state who is enrolled in a public vocational school located in the other state. The agreement shall also establish a reciprocal fee structure for residents of either state who are enrolled in public institutions of higher education, other than vocational schools, located in the other state. The reciprocal fee may not exceed the higher of the resident tuition fees that would be charged the student at the public institution of higher education vocational school in which the student is enrolled or the resident tuition fees that would be charged the student at a comparable public institutions of higher education vocational school located in his or her state of residence, as specified in the annual administrative memorandum under sub. (2g). The agreement shall take effect on July 1, 2007. The agreement is subject to the approval of the joint committee on finance under s. 39.42.

AB68,691 Section 691 . 40.01 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,642,11 40.01 (3) Compatibility of trustee responsibilities. Membership on the employee trust funds board, group insurance board, and deferred compensation board, Wisconsin retirement board and the teachers retirement board shall not be incompatible with any other public office. The board members and the employees of the department shall not be deemed to have a conflict of interest in carrying out their responsibilities and duties in administering this chapter, or taking other appropriate actions necessary to achieve the purposes of this chapter, solely by reason of their being eligible for benefits under the benefit plans provided under this chapter. However, any board member or employee of the department is expressly prohibited from participating in decisions directly related to a specific benefit, credit, claim, or application of the person and from participating in negotiations or decisions on the selection of actuarial, medical, legal, insurance, or other independent contractors if the board member or employee of the department has a direct or indirect financial interest in or is an officer or employee or is otherwise associated with the independent contractor.

AB68,692 Section 692. 40.02 (8) (b) 3. of the statutes is repealed.

AB68,693 Section 693. 40.02 (21d) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,642,16 40.02 (21d) (intro.) “Domestic partnership" means a relationship between 2 individuals, who submitted an affidavit of domestic partnership to the department before September 23, 2017, that satisfies all of the following:

AB68,694 Section 694 . 40.03 (1) (dm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,642,21 40.03 (1) (dm) Shall develop and implement policies, principles, and directives for the office of internal audit and determine the qualifications of and appoint, in the classified service, staff for the office of internal audit. Staff appointed under this paragraph shall report directly to the board.

AB68,695 Section 695 . 40.03 (1) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,643,2 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.

AB68,696 Section 696 . 40.03 (1) (j) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,643,12 40.03 (1) (j) Shall accept timely appeals from determinations made by the department, other than appeals of determinations made by the department regarding disability annuities. The board shall review the relevant facts and may hold a hearing. Upon completion of its review and hearing, if any, the board shall make a determination which it shall certify to the participating employer or the appropriate state agency and to the appropriate employee, if any. The board's determination of an employee's status under s. 40.06 (1) (e) shall remain in effect until receipt by the department of notification indicating a different classification. A participant may appeal that determination as provided by s. 40.06 (1) (e).

AB68,697 Section 697 . 40.03 (1) (p) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,643,17 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.

AB68,698 Section 698 . 40.03 (1) (q) of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,643,21 40.03 (1) (q) For the purposes 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:

AB68,643,24 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.

AB68,644,2 2. May, wholly or partially in lieu of subd. 1., on behalf of the state, provide the plans on a self-insured basis.

AB68,644,5 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.

AB68,644,12 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.

AB68,644,14 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.

AB68,644,16 6. Shall accept timely appeals of determinations made by the department affecting any right or benefit under the plans.

AB68,699 Section 699 . 40.03 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,644,21 40.03 (2) (d) May suspend an annuity pending final action by the board, or a disability annuity pending final action by the Wisconsin retirement board or the teachers retirement board, when, in the secretary's judgment, the annuitant is not eligible to receive the annuity.

AB68,700 Section 700 . 40.03 (2) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,645,8 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, rules promulgated under this paragraph relating to teachers must be approved by the teachers retirement board and rules promulgated under this paragraph relating to participants other than teachers must be approved by the Wisconsin retirement board, except rules promulgated under s. 40.30 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).

AB68,701 Section 701 . 40.03 (2) (ig) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,645,13 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.

AB68,702 Section 702 . 40.03 (2) (p) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,645,19 40.03 (2) (p) Shall establish procedures for and conduct the elections of board members required under ss. s. 15.16 (1) (d) and 15.165 (3) (a) 1., 2., 6. and 7. (1) (cm) 1. The procedures shall include the establishment of a nominating process and shall provide for the distribution of ballots to all participating employees and annuitants eligible to vote in the election.

AB68,703 Section 703 . 40.03 (2) (v) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,646,4 40.03 (2) (v) May settle any dispute in an appeal of a determination made by the department that is subject to review under sub. (1) (j), or (6) (i), (7) (f), or (8) (f), or s. 40.80 (2g), but only with the approval of the board having the authority to accept the appeal. In deciding whether to settle such a dispute, the secretary shall consider the cost of litigation, the likelihood of success on the merits, the cost of delay in resolving the dispute, the actuarial impact on the trust fund, and any other relevant factor the secretary considers appropriate. Any moneys paid by the department to settle a dispute under this paragraph shall be paid from the appropriation account under s. 20.515 (1) (r).

AB68,704 Section 704. 40.03 (2) (x) of the statutes is repealed.

AB68,705 Section 705 . 40.03 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,646,10 40.03 (4m) Office of internal audit. (a) The office of internal audit shall provide independent assurance that the public employee trust fund assets under the control of the department are safeguarded for the purpose of ensuring the fulfillment of the benefit commitments to individuals under this chapter.

AB68,646,12 (b) The internal auditor may review any activity, information, or record of the department that relates to the administration of the fund.

AB68,646,16 (c) The internal auditor shall plan and conduct audit activities, including external audits, risk assessments, research projects, and management reviews, under the direction of the board and in accordance with policies, principles, and directives determined by the board.

AB68,646,19 (d) The internal auditor shall monitor the department's compliance with applicable legal requirements and contracts entered into by the department and the board.

AB68,706 Section 706 . 40.03 (6) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,646,25 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:

AB68,707 Section 707. 40.03 (6) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,647,5 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

AB68,708 Section 708 . 40.03 (6) (d) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,647,11 40.03 (6) (d) (intro.) May take any action as trustees which that is deemed 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:

AB68,709 Section 709 . 40.03 (6) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,647,15 40.03 (6) (i) Shall accept timely appeals of determinations made by the department affecting any right or benefit under any group insurance plan provided for under this chapter plans that are overseen by the group insurance board.

AB68,710 Section 710 . 40.03 (7) of the statutes is repealed.

AB68,711 Section 711 . 40.03 (8) of the statutes is repealed.

AB68,712 Section 712 . 40.04 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,648,2 40.04 (3) (a) The net gain or loss of the variable retirement investment trust shall be distributed annually on December 31 to each participating account in the same ratio as each account's average daily balance within the respective trust bears to the total average daily balance of all participating accounts in the trust. The amount to be distributed shall be the excess of the increase within the period in the value of the assets of the trust resulting from income from the investments of the trust and from the sale or appreciation in value of any investment of the trust, over the decrease within the period in the value of the assets resulting from the sale or the depreciation in value of any investments of the trust.

AB68,713 Section 713 . 40.04 (3) (am) 3. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,648,8 40.04 (3) (am) 3. (intro.) Annually, on December 31, the sum of all of the following shall be distributed from the market recognition account to each participating account in the core retirement investment trust in the same ratio as each account's average daily balance bears to the total average daily balance of all participating accounts in the trust:

AB68,714 Section 714 . 40.05 (2) (aw) of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,648,17 40.05 (2) (aw) For purposes of this subsection, the participating employer of an employee subject to s. 40.65 who is on a deployment, training, or readiness exercise as the member of an urban search and rescue task force under a contract under s. 323.72 (1) is the local agency, and the local agency shall contribute any additional percentage or percentages related to the deployment, training, or readiness exercises under a contract under s. 323.72 (1) as calculated by the actuary under s. 40.03 (5) (c). A local agency may seek reimbursement from the department of military affairs under s. 323.72 (2m).

AB68,715 Section 715. 40.05 (4) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,649,7 40.05 (4) (a) 2. For an insured employee who is an eligible employee under s. 40.02 (25) (a) 2. or (b) 1m. or 2c., the employer shall pay required employer contributions toward the health insurance premium of the insured employee beginning on the date on which the employee becomes insured. For an insured state employee who is currently employed, but who is not a limited term appointment under s. 230.26 or an eligible employee under s. 40.02 (25) (a) 2. or (b) 1m. or 2c., the employer shall pay required employer contributions toward the health insurance premium of the insured employee beginning on the first day of the 3rd 2nd month beginning after the date on which the employee begins employment with the state, not including any leave of absence. For an insured employee who has a limited term appointment under s. 230.26, the employer shall pay required employer contributions toward the health insurance premium of the insured employee beginning on the first day of the 7th month beginning after the date on which the employee first becomes a participating employee.

AB68,716 Section 716. 40.06 (8) of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,649,12 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:

AB68,649,14 (a) The employer remits required contributions to the department under s. 40.05 (1) (a) and (2) (a).

AB68,649,17 (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.

AB68,717 Section 717 . 40.08 (12) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,650,2 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.

AB68,718 Section 718. 40.22 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,650,8 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.

AB68,719 Section 719. 40.22 (2m) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,650,16 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:

AB68,720 Section 720. 40.22 (2r) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,650,24 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:

AB68,721 Section 721 . 40.22 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,651,3 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:

AB68,722 Section 722 . 40.23 (1) (bm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,651,11 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.

AB68,723 Section 723. 40.26 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,651,18 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:

AB68,651,22 (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.

AB68,651,24 (b) The participant elects on a form provided by the department to not become a participating employee.

AB68,724 Section 724 . 40.27 (2) (d) of the statutes is repealed.

AB68,725 Section 725. 40.51 (2m) (a) of the statutes is repealed.

AB68,726 Section 726. 40.51 (2m) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 40.51 (2m) and amended to read:

AB68,652,7 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.

AB68,727 Section 727. 40.51 (7) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,652,20 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 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.

AB68,728 Section 728 . 40.51 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,653,2 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), 632.729, 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.

AB68,729 Section 729 . 40.51 (8) of the statutes, as affected by 2021 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), section 728, is amended to read:

AB68,653,9 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.