SB70: Bill Text

SB70,1118,25 106.52 (3) (a) 3. Directly or indirectly publish, circulate, display or mail any written communication which the communicator knows is to the effect that any of the facilities of any public place of accommodation or amusement will be denied to any person by reason of sex, race, color, creed, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, or ancestry or because a person holds or does not hold a license under s. 343.03 (3r) or that the patronage of a person is unwelcome, objectionable or unacceptable for any of those reasons.

SB70,1893 Section 1893. 106.52 (3) (a) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,1119,4 106.52 (3) (a) 4. Refuse to furnish or charge another a higher rate for any automobile insurance because of race, color, creed, disability, national origin, or ancestry or because a person holds or does not hold a license under s. 343.03 (3r).

SB70,1894 Section 1894 . 106.52 (3) (a) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,1119,10 106.52 (3) (a) 5. Refuse to rent, charge a higher price than the regular rate or give preferential treatment, because of sex, race, color, creed, sexual orientation, national origin, or ancestry or because a person holds or does not hold a license under s. 343.03 (3r), regarding the use of any private facilities commonly rented to the public.

SB70,1895 Section 1895. 106.54 (11) of the statutes is created to read:

SB70,1119,14 106.54 (11) The division shall receive complaints under s. 103.135 (1) (a) and (2) (a) to (c) and shall process the complaints in the same manner that employment discrimination complaints are processed under s. 111.39.

SB70,1896 Section 1896 . 108.02 (18r) of the statutes is created to read:

SB70,1119,16 108.02 (18r) Marijuana. “Marijuana” has the meaning given in s. 111.32 (11m).

SB70,1897 Section 1897. 108.04 (2) (h) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,1119,24 108.04 (2) (h) A claimant shall, when the claimant first files a claim for benefits under this chapter and during each subsequent week the claimant files for benefits under this chapter, inform the department whether he or she is receiving social security disability insurance payments, as defined in sub. (12) (f) 2m s. 108.05 (7m) (b). If the claimant is receiving social security disability insurance payments, the claimant shall, in the manner prescribed by the department, report to the department the amount of the social security disability insurance payments.

SB70,1898 Section 1898 . 108.04 (5m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB70,1120,5 108.04 (5m) Discharge for use of marijuana. (a) Notwithstanding sub. (5), “misconduct," for purposes of sub. (5), does not include the employee's use of marijuana off the employer's premises during nonworking hours or a violation of the employer's policy concerning such use, unless termination of the employee because of that use is permitted under s. 111.35.

SB70,1120,9 (b) Notwithstanding sub. (5g), “substantial fault," for purposes of sub. (5g), does not include the employee's use of marijuana off the employer's premises during nonworking hours or a violation of the employer's policy concerning such use, unless termination of the employee because of that use is permitted under s. 111.35.

SB70,1899 Section 1899. 108.04 (12) (f) 1m. and 2m. of the statutes are renumbered 108.05 (7m) (a) and (b) and amended to read:

SB70,1120,14 108.05 (7m) (a) The intent of the legislature in enacting this paragraph subsection is to prevent the payment of duplicative government benefits for the replacement of lost earnings or income, regardless of an individual's ability to work.

SB70,1120,17 (b) In this paragraph subsection, “ social security disability insurance payment" means a payment of social security disability insurance benefits under 42 USC ch. 7 subch. II.

SB70,1900 Section 1900. 108.04 (12) (f) 3. of the statutes is repealed.

SB70,1901 Section 1901. 108.04 (12) (f) 4. of the statutes is renumbered 108.05 (7m) (e).

SB70,1902 Section 1902. 108.05 (7m) (title), (c) and (d) of the statutes are created to read:

SB70,1120,21 108.05 (7m) (title) Social security disability insurance payments.

SB70,1121,2 (c) If a monthly social security disability insurance payment is issued to a claimant, the department shall reduce benefits otherwise payable to the claimant for a given week in accordance with par. (d). This subsection does not apply to a lump sum social security disability insurance payment in the nature of a retroactive payment or back pay.

SB70,1121,5 (d) The department shall allocate a monthly social security disability insurance payment by allocating to each week the fraction of the payment attributable to that week.

SB70,1903 Section 1903. 108.05 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,1121,10 108.05 (9) Rounding of benefit amounts. Notwithstanding sub. (1), benefits payable for a week of unemployment as a result of applying sub. (1m), (3) or, (7), or (7m) or s. 108.04 (11) or (12), 108.06 (1), 108.13 (4) or (5) or 108.135 shall be rounded down to the next lowest dollar.

SB70,1904 Section 1904. 108.05 (10) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,1121,15 108.05 (10) Deductions from benefit payments. (intro.) After calculating the benefit payment due to be paid for a week under subs. (1) to (7) (7m), the department shall make deductions from that payment to the extent that the payment is sufficient to make the following payments in the following order:

SB70,1905 Section 1905 . 108.221 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 108.221 (1) (a) (intro.) and amended to read:

SB70,1121,23 108.221 (1) (a) (intro.) Any employer described in s. 108.18 (2) (c) or engaged in the painting or drywall finishing of buildings or other structures who knowingly and intentionally provides false information to the department for the purpose of misclassifying or attempting to misclassify an individual who is an employee of the employer as a nonemployee shall, for each incident, be assessed a penalty by the department as follows:

SB70,1122,3 1. For each act occurring before the date of the first determination of a violation of this subsection, the employer shall be assessed a penalty in the amount of $500 for each employee who is misclassified, but not to exceed $7,500 per incident.

SB70,1906 Section 1906 . 108.221 (1) (a) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

SB70,1122,7 108.221 (1) (a) 2. For each act occurring after the date of the first determination of a violation of this subsection, the employer shall be assessed a penalty in the amount of $1,000 for each employee who is misclassified.

SB70,1907 Section 1907 . 108.221 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 108.221 (2) (intro.) and amended to read:

SB70,1122,13 108.221 (2) (intro.) Any employer described in s. 108.18 (2) (c) or engaged in the painting or drywall finishing of buildings or other structures who, through coercion, requires an individual to adopt the status of a nonemployee shall be assessed a penalty by the department as follows:

SB70,1122,16 (a) For each act occurring before the date of the first determination of a violation of this subsection, the employer shall be assessed a penalty in the amount of $1,000 for each individual so coerced, but not to exceed $10,000 per calendar year.

SB70,1908 Section 1908 . 108.221 (2) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

SB70,1122,20 108.221 (2) (b) For each act occurring after the date of the first determination of a violation of this subsection, the employer shall be assessed a penalty in the amount of $2,000 for each individual so coerced.

SB70,1909 Section 1909. 108.24 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,1123,9 108.24 (2m) Any employer described in s. 108.18 (2) (c) or engaged in the painting or drywall finishing of buildings or other structures who, after having previously been assessed an administrative penalty by the department under s. 108.221 (1), knowingly and intentionally provides false information to the department for the purpose of misclassifying or attempting to misclassify an individual who is an employee of the employer as a nonemployee shall be fined $1,000 for each employee who is misclassified, subject to a maximum fine of $25,000 for each violation. The department may, regardless of whether an employer has been subject to any administrative assessment under s. 108.221 or any other penalty or assessment under this chapter, refer violations of this subsection for prosecution by the department of justice or the district attorney for the county in which the violation occurred.

SB70,1910 Section 1910. 109.03 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,1123,15 109.03 (1) (b) School district employees, cooperative educational service agency employees, and private school employees who voluntarily request payment over a 12-month period for personal services performed during the school year, unless, with respect to private school employees, the employees are covered under a valid collective bargaining agreement which precludes this method of payment.

SB70,1911 Section 1911 . 109.09 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,1124,13 109.09 (1) The department shall investigate and attempt equitably to adjust controversies between employers and employees as to regarding alleged wage claims. The department may receive and investigate any wage claim that is filed with the department, or received by the department under s. 109.10 (4), no later than 2 years after the date the wages are due. The department may, after receiving a wage claim, investigate any wages due from the employer against whom the claim is filed to any employee during the period commencing 2 years before the date the claim is filed. The department shall enforce this chapter and s. ss. 66.0903, 2013 stats., s. 103.49, 2013 stats., s. 229.8275, 2013 stats., and s. 16.856, 2015 stats., and ss. 103.02, 103.49, 103.82, and 104.12, and 229.8275. In pursuance of this duty, the department may sue the employer on behalf of the employee to collect any wage claim or wage deficiency and ss. 109.03 (6) and 109.11 (2) and (3) shall apply to such actions. Except for actions under s. 109.10, the department may refer such an action to the district attorney of the county in which the violation occurs for prosecution and collection and the district attorney shall commence an action in the circuit court having appropriate jurisdiction. Any number of wage claims or wage deficiencies against the same employer may be joined in a single proceeding, but the court may order separate trials or hearings. In actions that are referred to a district attorney under this subsection, any taxable costs recovered by the district attorney shall be paid into the general fund of the county in which the violation occurs and used by that county to meet its financial responsibility under s. 978.13 (2) (b) for the operation of the office of the district attorney who prosecuted the action.

SB70,1912 Section 1912. 109.09 (3) of the statutes is repealed.

SB70,1913 Section 1913. 110.07 (1) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,1124,22 110.07 (1) (a) (intro.) The secretary shall employ not more than 399 434 traffic officers. The state traffic patrol consists of the traffic officers, the person designated to head them whose position shall be in the classified service and, if certified under s. 165.85 (4) (a) 1. as qualified to be a law enforcement officer, the division administrator who is counted under s. 230.08 (2) (e) 12. and whose duties include supervising the state traffic patrol. The division administrator may not be counted under this paragraph. Members of the state traffic patrol shall:

SB70,1914 Section 1914 . 111.01 of the statutes is created to read:

SB70,1125,3 111.01 Declaration of policy. The public policy of the state as to employment relations and collective bargaining, in the furtherance of which this subchapter is enacted, is declared to be as follows:

SB70,1125,7 (1) It recognizes that there are 3 major interests involved, namely: the public, the employee, and the employer. These 3 interests are to a considerable extent interrelated. It is the policy of the state to protect and promote each of these interests with due regard to the situation and to the rights of the others.

SB70,1125,21 (2) Industrial peace, regular and adequate income for the employee, and uninterrupted production of goods and services are promotive of all of these interests. They are largely dependent upon the maintenance of fair, friendly, and mutually satisfactory employment relations and the availability of suitable machinery for the peaceful adjustment of whatever controversies may arise. It is recognized that certain employers, including farmers, farmer cooperatives, and unincorporated farmer cooperative associations, in addition to their general employer problems, face special problems arising from perishable commodities and seasonal production that require adequate consideration. It is also recognized that whatever may be the rights of disputants with respect to each other in any controversy regarding employment relations, they should not be permitted, in the conduct of their controversy, to intrude directly into the primary rights of 3rd parties to earn a livelihood, transact business, and engage in the ordinary affairs of life by any lawful means and free from molestation, interference, restraint, or coercion.

SB70,1126,2 (3) Negotiations of terms and conditions of work should result from voluntary agreement between employer and employee. For the purpose of such negotiation an employee has the right, if the employee desires, to associate with others in organizing and bargaining collectively through representatives of the employee's own choosing, without intimidation or coercion from any source.

SB70,1126,9 (4) It is the policy of the state, in order to preserve and promote the interests of the public, the employee, and the employer alike, to establish standards of fair conduct in employment relations and to provide a convenient, expeditious, and impartial tribunal by which these interests may have their respective rights and obligations adjudicated. While limiting individual and group rights of aggression and defense, the state substitutes processes of justice for the more primitive methods of trial by combat.

SB70,1915 Section 1915 . 111.04 (1) and (2) of the statutes are consolidated, renumbered 111.04 and amended to read:

SB70,1126,19 111.04 Rights of employees. Employees shall 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. (2) Employees shall also have the right to refrain from self-organization; forming, joining, or assisting labor organizations; bargaining collectively through representatives; or engaging in activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection such activities.

SB70,1916 Section 1916 . 111.04 (3) of the statutes is repealed.

SB70,1917 Section 1917 . 111.06 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,1127,23 111.06 (1) (c) To encourage or discourage membership in any labor organization, employee agency, committee, association, or representation plan by discrimination in regard to hiring, tenure, or other terms or conditions of employment except in a collective bargaining unit where an all-union agreement is in effect. An employer may enter into an all-union agreement with the voluntarily recognized representative of the employees in a collective bargaining unit, where at least a majority of such employees voting have voted affirmatively, by secret ballot, in favor of the all-union agreement in a referendum conducted by the commission, except that where the bargaining representative has been certified by either the commission or the national labor relations board as the result of a representation election, no referendum is required to authorize the entry into an all-union agreement. An authorization of an all-union agreement continues, subject to the right of either party to the all-union agreement to petition the commission to conduct a new referendum on the subject. Upon receipt of the petition, if the commission determines there is reasonable ground to believe that the employees concerned have changed their attitude toward the all-union agreement, the commission shall conduct a referendum. If the continuance of the all-union agreement is supported on a referendum by a vote at least equal to that provided in this paragraph for its initial authorization, it may continue, subject to the right to petition for a further vote by the procedure under this paragraph. If the continuance of the all-union agreement is not supported on a referendum, it terminates at the expiration of the contract of which it is then a part or at the end of one year from the date of the announcement by the commission of the result of the referendum, whichever is earlier. The commission shall declare any all-union agreement terminated whenever it finds that the labor organization involved has unreasonably refused to receive as a member any employee of such employer. An interested person may, as provided in s. 111.07, request the commission to perform this duty.

SB70,1918 Section 1918 . 111.06 (1) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,1128,3 111.06 (1) (e) To bargain collectively with the representatives of less than a majority of the employer's employees in a collective bargaining unit, or to enter into an all-union agreement except in the manner provided in par. (c).

SB70,1919 Section 1919 . 111.06 (1) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,1128,11 111.06 (1) (i) To deduct labor organization dues or assessments from an employee's earnings, unless the employer has been presented with an individual order therefor, signed by the employee personally, and terminable at the end of any year of its life by the employee giving to the employer at least 30 days' written notice of the termination. This paragraph applies to the extent permitted under federal law unless there is an all-union agreement in effect. The employer shall give notice to the labor organization of receipt of a notice of termination.

SB70,1920 Section 1920. 111.31 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,1129,5 111.31 (1) The legislature finds that the practice of unfair discrimination in employment against properly qualified individuals by reason of their age, race, creed, color, disability, marital status, sex, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, arrest record, conviction record, military service, status as a holder or nonholder of a license under s. 343.03 (3r), use or nonuse of lawful products off the employer's premises during nonworking hours, or declining to attend a meeting or to participate in any communication about religious matters or political matters, substantially and adversely affects the general welfare of the state. Employers, labor organizations, employment agencies, and licensing agencies that deny employment opportunities and discriminate in employment against properly qualified individuals solely because of their age, race, creed, color, disability, marital status, sex, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, arrest record, conviction record, military service, status as a holder or nonholder of a license under s. 343.03 (3r), use or nonuse of lawful products off the employer's premises during nonworking hours, or declining to attend a meeting or to participate in any communication about religious matters or political matters, deprive those individuals of the earnings that are necessary to maintain a just and decent standard of living.

SB70,1921 Section 1921. 111.31 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,1129,20 111.31 (2) It is the intent of the legislature to protect by law the rights of all individuals to obtain gainful employment and to enjoy privileges free from employment discrimination because of age, race, creed, color, disability, marital status, sex, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, arrest record, conviction record, military service, status as a holder or nonholder of a license under s. 343.03 (3r), use or nonuse of lawful products off the employer's premises during nonworking hours, or declining to attend a meeting or to participate in any communication about religious matters or political matters, and to encourage the full, nondiscriminatory utilization of the productive resources of the state to the benefit of the state, the family, and all the people of the state. It is the intent of the legislature in promulgating this subchapter to encourage employers to evaluate an employee or applicant for employment based upon the individual qualifications of the employee or applicant rather than upon a particular class to which the individual may belong.

SB70,1922 Section 1922. 111.31 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,1130,8 111.31 (3) In the interpretation and application of this subchapter, and otherwise, it is declared to be the public policy of the state to encourage and foster to the fullest extent practicable the employment of all properly qualified individuals regardless of age, race, creed, color, disability, marital status, sex, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, arrest record, conviction record, military service, status as a holder or nonholder of a license under s. 343.03 (3r), use or nonuse of lawful products off the employer's premises during nonworking hours, or declining to attend a meeting or to participate in any communication about religious matters or political matters. Nothing in this subsection requires an affirmative action program to correct an imbalance in the work force. This subchapter shall be liberally construed for the accomplishment of this purpose.

SB70,1923 Section 1923. 111.32 (7j) of the statutes is created to read:

SB70,1130,12 111.32 (7j) “Gender expression” means an individual's actual or perceived gender-related appearance, behavior, or expression, regardless of whether these traits are stereotypically associated with the individual's assigned sex at birth.

SB70,1924 Section 1924. 111.32 (7k) of the statutes is created to read:

SB70,1130,15 111.32 (7k) “Gender identity” means an individual's internal understanding of the individual's gender, or the individual's perceived gender identity.

SB70,1925 Section 1925 . 111.32 (9m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB70,1130,17 111.32 (9m) “Lawful product” includes marijuana.

SB70,1926 Section 1926 . 111.32 (11m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB70,1130,22 111.32 (11m) “Marijuana” means all parts of the plants of the genus Cannabis, whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, its seeds or resin, including tetrahydrocannabinols.

SB70,1927 Section 1927 . 111.32 (12) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,1130,25 111.32 (12) “Marital status" means the status of being married, single, divorced, separated, or widowed a surviving spouse.

SB70,1928 Section 1928. 111.321 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,1131,10 111.321 Prohibited bases of discrimination. Subject to ss. 111.33 to 111.365, no employer, labor organization, employment agency, licensing agency, or other person may engage in any act of employment discrimination as specified in s. 111.322 against any individual on the basis of age, race, creed, color, disability, marital status, sex, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, arrest record, conviction record, military service, status as a holder or nonholder of a license under s. 343.03 (3r), use or nonuse of lawful products off the employer's premises during nonworking hours, or declining to attend a meeting or to participate in any communication about religious matters or political matters.

SB70,1929 Section 1929 . 111.322 (2m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,1131,15 111.322 (2m) (a) The individual files a complaint or attempts to enforce any right under s. 103.02, 103.10, 103.105, 103.11, 103.13, 103.28, 103.32, 103.34, 103.455, 103.50, 104.12, 109.03, 109.07, 109.075, 146.997, or 995.55, or ss. 101.58 to 101.599 or 103.64 to 103.82.

SB70,1930 Section 1930 . 111.322 (2m) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2023 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

SB70,1131,21 111.322 (2m) (a) The individual files a complaint or attempts to enforce any right under s. 103.02, 103.10, 103.105, 103.11, 103.13, 103.135, 103.28, 103.32, 103.34, 103.455, 103.50, 104.12, 109.03, 109.07, 109.075, 146.997, or 995.55, or ss. 101.58 to 101.599 or 103.64 to 103.82.

SB70,1931 Section 1931 . 111.322 (2m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,1132,2 111.322 (2m) (b) The individual testifies or assists in any action or proceeding held under or to enforce any right under s. 103.02, 103.10, 103.105, 103.11, 103.13, 103.28, 103.32, 103.34, 103.455, 103.50, 104.12, 109.03, 109.07, 109.075, 146.997, or 995.55, or ss. 101.58 to 101.599 or 103.64 to 103.82.

SB70,1932 Section 1932 . 111.322 (2m) (b) of the statutes, as affected by 2023 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read: