SB229: Bill Text

SB229,37,2 102.26 (3) (b) 1. Subject to sub. (2), upon application of any interested party, the department or the division may fix the fee of the claimant’s attorney or representative and provide in the award for that fee to be paid directly to the attorney or representative.

SB229,82 Section 82. 102.26 (3) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,37,12 102.26 (3) (b) 3. The claimant may request the insurer or self-insured employer to pay any compensation that is due the claimant by depositing the payment directly into an account maintained by the claimant at a financial institution. If the insurer or self-insured employer agrees to the request, the insurer or self-insured employer may deposit the payment by direct deposit, electronic funds transfer, or any other money transfer technique approved by the department or the division. The claimant may revoke a request under this subdivision at any time by providing appropriate written notice to the insurer or self-insured employer.

SB229,83 Section 83. 102.26 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,37,19 102.26 (4) Any attorney or other person who charges or receives any fee in violation of this section may be required to forfeit double the amount retained by the attorney or other person, which forfeiture shall be collected by the state in an action in debt upon complaint of the department or the division. Out of the sum recovered the court shall direct payment to the injured party of the amount of the overcharge.

SB229,84 Section 84. 102.27 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,38,7 102.27 (2) (b) If a governmental unit provides public assistance under ch. 49 to pay medical costs or living expenses related to a claim under this chapter and if the governmental unit has given the parties to the claim written notice stating that the governmental unit provided the assistance and the cost of that assistance, the department or the division shall order the employer or insurance carrier owing compensation to reimburse that governmental unit for the amount of assistance the governmental unit provided or two-thirds of the amount of the award or payment remaining after deduction of attorney fees and any other fees or costs chargeable under ch. 102, whichever is less. The department shall comply with this paragraph when making payments under s. 102.81.

SB229,85 Section 85. 102.28 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,39,2 102.28 (3) (c) An employee who has signed a waiver under par. (a) 1. and an affidavit under par. (a) 2., who sustains an injury that, but for that waiver, the employer would be liable for under s. 102.03, who at the time of the injury was a member of a religious sect whose authorized representative has filed an affidavit under par. (a) 3. and an agreement under par. (a) 4., and who as a result of the injury becomes dependent on the religious sect for financial and medical assistance, or the employee’s dependent, may request a hearing under s. 102.17 (1) to determine if the religious sect has provided the employee and his or her dependents with a standard of living and medical treatment that are reasonable when compared to the general standard of living and medical treatment for members of the religious sect. If, after hearing, the division department determines that the religious sect has not provided that standard of living or medical treatment, or both, the division department may order the religious sect to provide alternative benefits to that employee or his or her dependent, or both, in an amount that is reasonable under the circumstances, but not in excess of the benefits that the employee or dependent could have received under this chapter but for the waiver under par. (a) 1.

SB229,86 Section 86. 102.28 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,39,7 102.28 (4) (c) After a hearing under par. (b), or without a hearing if one is not requested, the division department may issue an order to an employer to cease operations on a finding that the employer is an uninsured employer. If no hearing is requested, the department may issue such an order.

SB229,87 Section 87. 102.29 (1) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,39,19 102.29 (1) (b) (intro.) If a party entitled to notice cannot be found, the department shall become the agent of that party for the giving of a notice as required in par. (a) and the notice, when given to the department, shall include an affidavit setting forth the facts, including the steps taken to locate that party. Each party shall have an equal voice in the prosecution of the claim, and any disputes arising shall be passed upon by the court before whom the case is pending, and if no action is pending, then by a court of record or by the department or the division. If notice is given as provided in par. (a), the liability of the tort-feasor shall be determined as to all parties having a right to make claim and, irrespective of whether or not all parties join in prosecuting the claim, the proceeds of the claim shall be divided as follows:

SB229,88 Section 88. 102.29 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,40,3 102.29 (1) (c) If both the employee or the employee’s personal representative or other person entitled to bring action, and the employer, compensation insurer, or department, join in the pressing of said claim and are represented by counsel, the attorney fees allowed as a part of the costs of collection shall be, unless otherwise agreed upon, divided between the attorneys for those parties as directed by the court or by the department or the division.

SB229,89 Section 89. 102.29 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,40,8 102.29 (1) (d) A settlement of a 3rd-party claim shall be void unless the settlement and the distribution of the proceeds of the settlement are approved by the court before whom the action is pending or, if no action is pending, then by a court of record or by the department or the division.

SB229,90 Section 90. 102.30 (7) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,40,15 102.30 (7) (a) The department or the division may order direct reimbursement out of the proceeds payable under this chapter for payments made under a nonindustrial insurance policy covering the same disability and expenses compensable under s. 102.42 when the claimant consents or when it is established that the payments under the nonindustrial insurance policy were improper. No attorney fee is due with respect to that reimbursement.

SB229,91 Section 91. 102.32 (1m) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,40,21 102.32 (1m) (intro.) In any case in which compensation payments for an injury have extended or will extend over 6 months or more after the date of the injury or in any case in which death benefits are payable, any party in interest may, in the discretion of the department or the division, be discharged from, or compelled to guarantee, future compensation payments by doing any of the following:

SB229,92 Section 92. 102.32 (1m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,41,3 102.32 (1m) (a) Depositing the present value of the total unpaid compensation upon a 5 percent interest discount basis with a credit union, savings bank, savings and loan association, bank, or trust company designated by the department or the division.

SB229,93 Section 93. 102.32 (1m) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,41,6 102.32 (1m) (c) Making payment in gross upon a 5 percent interest discount basis to be approved by the department or the division.

SB229,94 Section 94. 102.32 (1m) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,41,21 102.32 (1m) (d) In cases in which the time for making payments or the amounts of payments cannot be definitely determined, furnishing a bond, or other security, satisfactory to the department or the division for the payment of compensation as may be due or become due. The acceptance of the bond, or other security, and the form and sufficiency of the bond or other security, shall be subject to the approval of the department or the division. If the employer or insurer is unable or fails to immediately procure the bond, the employer or insurer, in lieu of procuring the bond, shall deposit with a credit union, savings bank, savings and loan association, bank, or trust company designated by the department or the division the maximum amount that may reasonably become payable in those cases, to be determined by the department or the division at amounts consistent with the extent of the injuries and the law. The bonds and deposits may be reduced only to satisfy claims and may be withdrawn only after the claims which they are to guarantee are fully satisfied or liquidated under par. (a), (b), or (c).

SB229,95 Section 95. 102.32 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,42,6 102.32 (5) Any insured employer may, in the discretion of the department or the division, compel the insurer to discharge, or to guarantee payment of, the employer’s liabilities in any case described in sub. (1m) and by that discharge or guarantee release the employer from liability for compensation in that case, except that if for any reason a bond furnished or deposit made under sub. (1m) (d) does not fully protect the beneficiary of the bond or deposit, the compensation insurer or insured employer, as the case may be, shall still be liable to that beneficiary.

SB229,96 Section 96. 102.32 (6m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,42,15 102.32 (6m) (a) The department or the division may direct an advance on a payment of unaccrued compensation for permanent disability or death benefits if the department or the division determines that the advance payment is in the best interest of the injured employee or the employee’s dependents. In directing the advance, the department or the division shall give the employer or the employer’s insurer an interest credit against its liability. The credit shall be computed at 5 percent. An injured employee or dependent may receive no more than 3 advance payments per calendar year under this paragraph.

SB229,97 Section 97. 102.32 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,42,20 102.32 (7) No lump sum settlement shall be allowed in any case of permanent total disability upon an estimated life expectancy, except upon consent of all parties, after hearing and finding by the division department that the interests of the injured employee will be conserved by the lump sum settlement.

SB229,98 Section 98. 102.33 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,43,2 102.33 (1) The department and the division shall print and furnish free to any employer or employee any blank forms that are necessary to facilitate efficient administration of this chapter. The department and the division shall keep any record books or records that are necessary for the proper and efficient administration of this chapter.

SB229,99 Section 99. 102.33 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,43,6 102.33 (2) (a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c), the records of the department, the division, and the commission, related to the administration of this chapter are subject to inspection and copying under s. 19.35 (1).

SB229,100 Section 100. 102.33 (2) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,43,20 102.33 (2) (b) (intro.) Except as provided in this paragraph and par. (d), a record maintained by the department, the division, or the commission that reveals the identity of an employee who claims worker’s compensation benefits, the nature of the employee’s claimed injury, the employee’s past or present medical condition, the extent of the employee’s disability, or the amount, type, or duration of benefits paid to the employee and a record maintained by the department that reveals any financial information provided to the department by a self-insured employer or by an applicant for exemption under s. 102.28 (2) (b) are confidential and not open to public inspection or copying under s. 19.35 (1). The department, the division, or the commission may deny a request made under s. 19.35 (1) or, subject to s. 102.17 (2m) and (2s), refuse to honor a subpoena issued by an attorney of record in a civil or criminal action or special proceeding to inspect and copy a record that is confidential under this paragraph, unless one of the following applies:

SB229,101 Section 101. 102.33 (2) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,44,3 102.33 (2) (b) 1. The requester is the employee who is the subject of the record or an attorney or authorized agent of that employee. An attorney or authorized agent of an employee who is the subject of a record shall provide a written authorization for inspection and copying from the employee if requested by the department, the division, or the commission.

SB229,102 Section 102. 102.33 (2) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,44,16 102.33 (2) (b) 2. The record that is requested contains confidential information concerning a worker’s compensation claim and the requester is an insurance carrier or employer that is a party to any worker’s compensation claim involving the same employee or an attorney or authorized agent of that insurance carrier or employer, except that the department, the division, or the commission is not required to do a random search of its records and may require the requester to provide the approximate date of the injury and any other relevant information that would assist the department, the division, or the commission in finding the record requested. An attorney or authorized agent of an insurance carrier or employer that is a party to an employee’s worker’s compensation claim shall provide a written authorization for inspection and copying from the insurance carrier or employer if requested by the department, the division, or the commission.

SB229,103 Section 103. 102.33 (2) (b) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,44,19 102.33 (2) (b) 4. A court of competent jurisdiction in this state orders the department, the division, or the commission to release the record.

SB229,104 Section 104. 102.33 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,45,3 102.33 (2) (c) A record maintained by the department, the division, or the commission that contains employer or insurer information obtained from the Wisconsin compensation rating bureau under s. 102.31 (8) or 626.32 (1) (a) is confidential and not open to public inspection or copying under s. 19.35 (1) unless the Wisconsin compensation rating bureau authorizes public inspection or copying of that information.

SB229,105 Section 105. 102.33 (2) (d) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,45,21 102.33 (2) (d) 2. The department, the division, or the commission may release information that is confidential under par. (b) to a government unit, an institution of higher education, or a nonprofit research organization for purposes of research and may release information that is confidential under par. (c) to those persons for that purpose if the Wisconsin compensation rating bureau authorizes that release. A government unit, institution of higher education, or nonprofit research organization may not permit inspection or disclosure of any information released to it under this subdivision that is confidential under par. (b) unless the department, the division, or the commission authorizes that inspection or disclosure and may not permit inspection or disclosure of any information released to it under this subdivision that is confidential under par. (c) unless the department, the division, or the commission, and the Wisconsin compensation rating bureau, authorize the inspection or disclosure. A government unit, institution of higher education, or nonprofit research organization that obtains any confidential information under this subdivision for purposes of research shall provide the results of that research free of charge to the person that released or authorized the release of that information.

SB229,106 Section 106. 102.35 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,46,8 102.35 (3) Any employer who without reasonable cause refuses to rehire an employee who is injured in the course of employment, when suitable employment is available within the employee’s physical and mental limitations, upon order of the department or the division, has exclusive liability to pay to the employee, in addition to other benefits, the wages lost during the period of such refusal, not exceeding one year’s wages. In determining the availability of suitable employment the continuance in business of the employer shall be considered and any written rules promulgated by the employer with respect to seniority or the provisions of any collective bargaining agreement with respect to seniority shall govern.

SB229,107 Section 107. 102.42 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,46,19 102.42 (1m) Liability for unnecessary treatment. If an employee who has sustained a compensable injury undertakes in good faith invasive treatment that is generally medically acceptable, but that is unnecessary, the employer shall pay disability indemnity for all disability incurred as a result of that treatment. An employer is not liable for disability indemnity for any disability incurred as a result of any unnecessary treatment undertaken in good faith that is noninvasive or not medically acceptable. This subsection applies to all findings that an employee has sustained a compensable injury, whether the finding results from a hearing, the default of a party, or a compromise or stipulation confirmed by the department or the division.

SB229,108 Section 108. 102.42 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,47,9 102.42 (6) Treatment rejected by employee. Unless the employee has elected Christian Science treatment in lieu of medical, surgical, dental, or hospital treatment, no compensation shall be payable for the death or disability of an employee, if the death is caused, or insofar as the disability may be aggravated, caused, or continued by an unreasonable refusal or neglect to submit to or follow any competent and reasonable medical, surgical, or dental treatment or, in the case of tuberculosis, by refusal or neglect to submit to or follow hospital or medical treatment when found by the department or the division to be necessary. The right to compensation accruing during a period of refusal or neglect to submit to or follow hospital or medical treatment when found by the department or the division to be necessary in the case of tuberculosis shall be barred, irrespective of whether disability was aggravated, caused, or continued by that refusal or neglect.

SB229,109 Section 109. 102.42 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,47,18 102.42 (8) Award to state employee. Whenever the department or the division makes an award on behalf of a state employee, the department or the division shall file duplicate copies of the award with the subunit of the department of administration responsible for risk management. Upon receipt of the copies of the award, the department of administration shall promptly issue a voucher in payment of the award from the proper appropriation under s. 20.865 (1) (fm), (kr) or (ur), and shall transmit one copy of the voucher and the award to the officer, department, or agency by whom the affected employee is employed.

SB229,110 Section 110. 102.425 (4m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,48,2 102.425 (4m) (a) The department has jurisdiction under this subsection, the department and the division have jurisdiction under s. and ss. 102.16 (1m) (c), and the division has jurisdiction under s. 102.17 to resolve a dispute between a pharmacist or practitioner and an employer or insurer over the reasonableness of the amount charged for a prescription drug dispensed under sub. (2) for outpatient use by an injured employee who claims benefits under this chapter.

SB229,111 Section 111. 102.425 (4m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,48,14 102.425 (4m) (b) An employer or insurer that disputes the reasonableness of the amount charged for a prescription drug dispensed under sub. (2) for outpatient use by an injured employee or the department or division under sub. (4) (b) or s. 102.16 (1m) (c) or 102.18 (1) (bg) 3. shall provide, within 30 days after receiving a completed bill for the prescription drug, reasonable written notice to the pharmacist or practitioner that the charge is being disputed. After receiving reasonable written notice under this paragraph or under sub. (4) (b) or s. 102.16 (1m) (c) or 102.18 (1) (bg) 3. that a prescription drug charge is being disputed, a pharmacist or practitioner may not collect the disputed charge from, or bring an action for collection of the disputed charge against, the employee who received the prescription drug.

SB229,112 Section 112. 102.43 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,49,3 102.43 (5) (b) Except as provided in s. 102.61 (1g), temporary disability shall also include such period as the employee may be receiving instruction under s. 102.61 (1) or (1m). Temporary disability on account of receiving instruction under s. 102.61 (1) or (1m), and not otherwise resulting from the injury, shall not be in excess of 80 weeks. That 80-week limitation does not apply to temporary disability benefits under this section, the cost of tuition, fees, books, travel, or maintenance under s. 102.61 (1), or the cost of private rehabilitation counseling or rehabilitative training under s. 102.61 (1m) if the department or the division determines that additional training is warranted. The necessity for additional training as authorized by the department or the division for any employee shall be subject to periodic review and reevaluation.

SB229,113 Section 113. 102.44 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,49,10 102.44 (2) In case of permanent total disability, aggregate indemnity shall be weekly indemnity for the period that the employee may live. Total impairment for industrial use of both eyes, the loss of both arms at or near the shoulder, the loss of both legs at or near the hip, or the loss of one arm at the shoulder and one leg at the hip constitutes permanent total disability. This enumeration is not exclusive, but in other cases the division department shall find the facts.

SB229,114 Section 114. 102.44 (6) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,49,17 102.44 (6) (b) If during the period set forth in s. 102.17 (4) the employment relationship is terminated by the employer at the time of the injury or by the employee because his or her physical or mental limitations prevent his or her continuing in such employment, or if during that period a wage loss of 15 percent or more occurs, the division department may reopen any award and make a redetermination taking into account loss of earning capacity.

SB229,115 Section 115. 102.475 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,49,21 102.475 (6) Proof. In administering this section, the department or the division may require reasonable proof of birth, marriage, domestic partnership under ch. 770, relationship, or dependency.

SB229,116 Section 116. 102.48 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,50,5 102.48 (1) An unestranged surviving parent or parents to whose support the deceased has contributed less than $500 in the 52 weeks next preceding the injury causing death shall receive a death benefit of $6,500. If the parents are not living together, the department or the division shall divide this sum in such proportion as the department or division considers to be just, considering their ages and other facts bearing on dependency.

SB229,117 Section 117. 102.48 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,50,20 102.48 (2) In all other cases the death benefit shall be such sum as the department or the division determines to represent fairly and justly the aid to support which the dependent might reasonably have anticipated from the deceased employee but for the injury. To establish anticipation of support and dependency, it shall not be essential that the deceased employee made any contribution to support. The aggregate benefits in that case shall not exceed twice the average annual earnings of the deceased or 4 times the contributions of the deceased to the support of his or her dependents during the year immediately preceding the deceased employee’s death, whichever amount is the greater. In no event shall the aggregate benefits in that case exceed the amount that would accrue to a person who is solely and wholly dependent. When there is more than one partial dependent the weekly benefit shall be apportioned according to their relative dependency. The term “support” as used in ss. 102.42 to 102.63 shall include contributions to the capital fund of the dependents for their necessary comfort.

SB229,118 Section 118. 102.48 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,51,2 102.48 (3) Except as otherwise provided, a death benefit, other than burial expenses, shall be paid in weekly installments corresponding in amount to two- thirds of the weekly earnings of the employee, until otherwise ordered by the department or the division.

SB229,119 Section 119. 102.49 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,51,12 102.49 (3) If the employee leaves a spouse or domestic partner under ch. 770 wholly dependent and also a child by a former marriage, domestic partnership under ch. 770, or adoption, likewise wholly dependent, aggregate benefits shall be the same in amount as if the child were the child of the surviving spouse or partner, and the entire benefit shall be apportioned to the dependents in the amounts that the department or the division determines to be just, considering the ages of the dependents and other factors bearing on dependency. The benefit awarded to the surviving spouse or partner shall not exceed 4 times the average annual earnings of the deceased employee.

SB229,120 Section 120. 102.49 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,51,19 102.49 (6) The department or the division may award the additional benefits payable under this section to the surviving parent of the child, to the child’s guardian, or to such other person, bank, or trust company for the child’s use as may be found best calculated to conserve the interests of the child. If the child dies while benefits are still payable, there shall be paid the reasonable expense for burial, not exceeding $1,500.

SB229,121 Section 121. 102.51 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,52,2 102.51 (3) Division among dependents. If there is more than one person wholly or partially dependent on a deceased employee, the death benefit shall be divided between those dependents in such proportion as the department or the division determines to be just, considering their ages and other facts bearing on their dependency.

SB229,122 Section 122. 102.51 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,52,16 102.51 (4) Dependency as of the date of death. Questions as to who is a dependent and the extent of his or her dependency shall be determined as of the date of the death of the employee, and the dependent’s right to any death benefit becomes fixed at that time, regardless of any subsequent change in conditions. The death benefit shall be directly recoverable by and payable to the dependents entitled to the death benefit or their legal guardians or trustees. In case of the death of a dependent whose right to a death benefit has become fixed, so much of the benefit as is unpaid is payable to the dependent’s personal representatives in gross, unless the department or the division determines that the unpaid benefit shall be reassigned under sub. (6) and paid to any other dependent who is physically or mentally incapacitated or a minor. For purposes of this subsection, a child of the employee who is born after the death of the employee is considered to be a dependent as of the date of death.

SB229,123 Section 123. 102.51 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,52,23 102.51 (6) Division among dependents. Benefits accruing to a minor dependent child may be awarded to either parent in the discretion of the department or the division. Notwithstanding sub. (1), the department or the division may reassign the death benefit as between a surviving spouse or a domestic partner under ch. 770 and any children specified in sub. (1) and s. 102.49 in accordance with their respective needs for the death benefit.

SB229,124 Section 124. 102.55 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,53,9 102.55 (3) For all other injuries to the members of the body or its faculties that are specified in the schedule under s. 102.52 resulting in permanent disability, though the member is not actually severed or the faculty is not totally lost, compensation shall bear such relation to the compensation named in the schedule as the disability bears to the disability named in the schedule. Indemnity in those cases shall be determined by allowing weekly indemnity during the healing period resulting from the injury and the percentage of permanent disability resulting after the healing period as found by the department or the division.

SB229,125 Section 125. 102.555 (12) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB229,53,15 102.555 (12) (a) An employer, or the department, or the division is not liable for the expense of any examination or test for hearing loss, any evaluation of such an exam or test, any medical treatment for improving or restoring hearing, or any hearing aid to relieve the effect of hearing loss unless it is determined that compensation for occupational deafness is payable under sub. (3), (4), or (11).