SB673: Bill Text

SB673,158 Section 158. 102.565 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB673,66,9 102.565 (1) When, as a result of exposure in the course of employment over a period of time to toxic or hazardous substances or conditions, an employee performing work that is subject to this chapter develops any clinically observable abnormality or condition that, on competent medical opinion, predisposes or renders the employee in any manner differentially susceptible to disability to such an extent that it is inadvisable for the employee to continue employment involving that exposure, is discharged from or ceases to continue the employment, and suffers wage loss by reason of that discharge from, or cessation of, employment, the department or the division may allow such sum as the department or the division considers just as compensation for that wage loss, not exceeding $13,000. If a nondisabling condition may also be caused by toxic or hazardous exposure not related to employment and if the employee has a history of that exposure, compensation as provided under this section or any other remedy for loss of earning capacity shall not be allowed. If the employee is discharged from employment prior to a finding by the department or the division that it is inadvisable for the employee to continue in that employment and if it is reasonably probable that continued exposure would result in disability, the liability of the employer who discharges the employee is primary, and the liability of the employer's insurer is secondary, under the same procedure and to the same effect as provided by s. 102.62.

SB673,159 Section 159. 102.565 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB673,66,24 102.565 (2) Upon application of any employer or employee, the department or the division may direct any employee of the employer or an employee who, in the course of his or her employment, has been exposed to toxic or hazardous substances or conditions to submit to examination by one or more physicians appointed by the department or the division to determine whether the employee has developed any abnormality or condition under sub. (1), and the degree of that abnormality or condition. The cost of the medical examination shall be borne by the person making application. The physician conducting the examination shall submit the results of the examination to the department or the division, which shall submit copies of the reports to the employer and employee, who shall have an opportunity to rebut the reports if a request to submit a rebuttal is made to the department or the division within 10 days after the department or the division mails the report to the parties. The department or the division shall make its findings as to whether it is inadvisable for the employee to continue in his or her employment.

SB673,160 Section 160. 102.565 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB673,67,4 102.565 (3) If, after direction by the commission, or any member of the commission, the department, the division, or an examiner, an employee refuses to submit to an examination or in any way obstructs the examination, the employee's right to compensation under this section shall be barred.

SB673,161 Section 161 . 102.58 of the statutes is renumbered 102.58 (1) and amended to read:

SB673,67,14 102.58 (1) If injury is caused by the failure of the employee to use safety devices that are provided in accordance with any statute, rule, or order of the department of safety and professional services and that are adequately maintained, and the use of which is reasonably enforced by the employer, or if injury results from the employee's failure to obey any reasonable rule adopted and reasonably enforced by the employer for the safety of the employee and of which the employee has notice, the compensation and death benefit provided in this chapter shall be reduced by 15 percent, but the total reduction may not exceed $15,000.

SB673,67,21 (2) If an employee violates the employer's policy concerning employee drug or alcohol use and is injured, and if that violation is causal to the employee's injury, no compensation or death benefits shall be payable to the injured employee or a dependent of the injured employee and no payment under s. 102.49 (5) (b) or (c) shall be payable. Nothing in this section subsection shall reduce or eliminate an employer's liability for incidental compensation under s. 102.42 (1) to (8) or drug treatment under s. 102.425.

SB673,162 Section 162. 102.61 (1g) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB673,68,15 102.61 (1g) (c) On receiving notice that he or she is eligible to receive vocational rehabilitation services under 29 USC 701 to 797a, an employee shall provide the employer with a written report from a physician, chiropractor, psychologist, or podiatrist stating the employee's permanent work restrictions. Within 60 days after receiving that report, the employer shall provide to the employee in writing an offer of suitable employment, a statement that the employer has no suitable employment for the employee, or a report from a physician, chiropractor, psychologist, or podiatrist showing that the permanent work restrictions provided by the employee's practitioner are in dispute and documentation showing that the difference in work restrictions would materially affect either the employer's ability to provide suitable employment or a vocational rehabilitation counselor's ability to recommend a rehabilitative training program. If the employer and employee cannot resolve the dispute within 30 days after the employee receives the employer's report and documentation, the employer or employee may request a hearing before the division department to determine the employee's work restrictions. Within 30 days after the division department determines the employee's work restrictions, the employer shall provide to the employee in writing an offer of suitable employment or a statement that the employer has no suitable employment for the employee.

SB673,163 Section 163. 102.61 (1m) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB673,69,2 102.61 (1m) (c) The employer or insurance carrier shall pay the reasonable cost of any services provided for an employee by a private rehabilitation counselor under par. (a) and, subject to the conditions and limitations specified in sub. (1r) (a) to (c) and by rule, if the private rehabilitation counselor determines that rehabilitative training is necessary, the reasonable cost of the rehabilitative training program recommended by that counselor, including the cost of tuition, fees, books, maintenance, and travel at the same rate as is provided for state officers and employees under s. 20.916 (8). Notwithstanding that the department or the division may authorize under s. 102.43 (5) (b) a rehabilitative training program that lasts longer than 80 weeks, a rehabilitative training program that lasts 80 weeks or less is presumed to be reasonable.

SB673,164 Section 164. 102.61 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB673,69,10 102.61 (2) The division department, the commission, and the courts shall determine the rights and liabilities of the parties under this section in like manner and with like effect as the division department, the commission, and the courts determine other issues under this chapter. A determination under this subsection may include a determination based on the evidence regarding the cost or scope of the services provided by a private rehabilitation counselor under sub. (1m) (a) or the cost or reasonableness of a rehabilitative training program developed under sub. (1m) (a).

SB673,165 Section 165. 102.62 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB673,70,2 102.62 Primary and secondary liability; unchangeable. In case of liability under s. 102.57 or 102.60, the liability of the employer shall be primary and the liability of the insurance carrier shall be secondary. If proceedings are had before the division department for the recovery of that liability, the division department shall set forth in its award the amount and order of liability as provided in this section. Execution shall not be issued against the insurance carrier to satisfy any judgment covering that liability until execution has first been issued against the employer and has been returned unsatisfied as to any part of that liability. Any provision in any insurance policy undertaking to guarantee primary liability or to avoid secondary liability for a liability under s. 102.57 or 102.60 is void. If the employer has been adjudged bankrupt or has made an assignment for the benefit of creditors, if the employer, other than an individual, has gone out of business or has been dissolved, or if the employer is a corporation and its charter has been forfeited or revoked, the insurer shall be liable for the payment of that liability without judgment or execution against the employer, but without altering the primary liability of the employer.

SB673,166 Section 166. 102.64 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB673,70,15 102.64 (1) Upon request of the department of administration, a representative of the department of justice shall represent the state in cases involving payment into or out of the state treasury under s. 20.865 (1) (fm), (kr), or (ur) or 102.29. The department of justice, after giving notice to the department of administration, may compromise the amount of those payments but such compromises shall be subject to review by the department or the division. If the spouse or domestic partner under ch. 770 of the deceased employee compromises his or her claim for a primary death benefit, the claim of the children of the employee under s. 102.49 shall be compromised on the same proportional basis, subject to approval by the department or the division. If the persons entitled to compensation on the basis of total dependency under s. 102.51 (1) compromise their claim, payments under s. 102.49 (5) (a) shall be compromised on the same proportional basis.

SB673,167 Section 167. 102.64 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB673,71,2 102.64 (2) Upon request of the department of administration, the attorney general shall appear on behalf of the state in proceedings upon claims for compensation against the state. Except as provided in s. 102.65 (3), the department of justice shall represent the interests of the state in proceedings under s. 102.44 (1), 102.49, 102.59, 102.60, or 102.66. The department of justice may compromise claims in those proceedings, but the compromises are subject to review by the department or the division. Costs incurred by the department of justice in prosecuting or defending any claim for payment into or out of the work injury supplemental benefit fund under s. 102.65, including expert witness and witness fees but not including attorney fees or attorney travel expenses for services performed under this subsection, shall be paid from the work injury supplemental benefit fund.

SB673,168 Section 168. 102.65 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB673,71,11 102.65 (3) The department of workforce development may retain the department of administration to process, investigate, and pay claims under ss. 102.44 (1), 102.49, 102.59, and 102.66. If retained by the department of workforce development, the department of administration may compromise a claim processed by that department, but a compromise made by that department is subject to review by the department of workforce development or the division. The department of workforce development shall pay for the services retained under this subsection from the appropriation account under s. 20.445 (1) (t).

SB673,169 Section 169. 102.66 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB673,72,2 102.66 (1) Subject to any certificate filed under s. 102.65 (4), if there is an otherwise meritorious claim for occupational disease, or for a traumatic injury described in s. 102.17 (4) in which the date of injury or death or last payment of compensation, other than for treatment or burial expenses, is before April 1, 2006, and if the claim is barred solely by the statute of limitations under s. 102.17 (4), the department or the division may, in lieu of worker's compensation benefits, direct payment from the work injury supplemental benefit fund under s. 102.65 of such compensation and such medical expenses as would otherwise be due, based on the date of injury, to or on behalf of the injured employee. The benefits shall be supplemental, to the extent of compensation liability, to any disability or medical benefits payable from any group insurance policy whose premium is paid in whole or in part by any employer, or under any federal insurance or benefit program providing disability or medical benefits. Death benefits payable under any such group policy do not limit the benefits payable under this section.

SB673,170 Section 170. 102.75 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB673,72,18 102.75 (1) The department shall assess upon and collect from each licensed worker's compensation insurance carrier and from each employer exempted under s. 102.28 (2) (b) or (bm) from the duty to carry insurance under s. 102.28 (2) (a) the proportion of total costs and expenses incurred by the council on worker's compensation for travel and research and by the department, the division, and the commission in the administration of this chapter for the current fiscal year, plus any deficiencies in collections and anticipated costs from the previous fiscal year, that the total indemnity paid or payable under this chapter by each such carrier and exempt employer in worker's compensation cases initially closed during the preceding calendar year, other than for increased, double, or treble compensation, bore to the total indemnity paid in cases closed the previous calendar year under this chapter by all carriers and exempt employers, other than for increased, double, or treble compensation. The council on worker's compensation, the division, and the commission shall annually certify any costs and expenses for worker's compensation activities to the department at such time as the secretary requires.

SB673,171 Section 171 . 102.75 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB673,72,24 102.75 (1m) The moneys collected under subs. (1) and (1g) and under ss. 102.28 (2) and 102.31 (7), together with all accrued interest, shall constitute a separate nonlapsible fund designated as the worker's compensation operations fund. Moneys in the fund may be expended only as provided in ss. 20.427 (1) (ra) and 20.445 (1) (ra), (rb), (rc), and (rp) and may not be used for any other purpose of the state.

SB673,172 Section 172 . 102.80 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB673,73,2 102.80 (1) (d) Amounts collected from employees or dependents of employees under s. 102.81 (4) (b) and (c).

SB673,173 Section 173 . 102.81 (4) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB673,73,6 102.81 (4) (b) (intro.) If the employee or dependent receives compensation from the employee's employer or a 3rd party liable under s. 102.29, pay to the department the lesser of the following:

SB673,174 Section 174 . 102.81 (4) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB673,73,9 102.81 (4) (b) 2. The amount after attorney fees and costs that the employee or dependent received from the employer or 3rd party.

SB673,175 Section 175 . 102.81 (4) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

SB673,73,13 102.81 (4) (c) If the employee or dependent receives compensation from a 3rd party that is liable under s. 102.29, pay to the department the proceeds as specified under s. 102.29 (1) (b).

SB673,176 Section 176 . 102.81 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB673,73,16 102.81 (5) The department of justice may bring an action to collect the a payment under sub. (4) (b) or (c).

SB673,177 Section 177 . 102.82 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB673,74,2 102.82 (1) Except as provided in sub. (2) (ar), an uninsured employer shall reimburse the department for any payment made under s. 102.81 (1) to or on behalf of an employee of the uninsured employer or to an employee's dependents and for any expenses paid by the department in administering the claim of the employee or dependents, less amounts repaid by the employee or dependents under s. 102.81 (4) (b) or (c). The reimbursement owed under this subsection is due within 30 days after the date on which the department notifies the uninsured employer that the reimbursement is owed. Interest shall accrue on amounts not paid when due at the rate of 1 percent per month.

SB673,178 Section 178 . 146.82 (2) (a) 3m. of the statutes is created to read:

SB673,74,5 146.82 (2) (a) 3m. To the extent the records are necessary to process, adjudicate, or review claims under the worker's compensation system or to comply with ch. 102.

SB673,179 Section 179. 227.43 (1) (bm) of the statutes is repealed.

SB673,180 Section 180. 227.43 (2) (am) of the statutes is repealed.

SB673,181 Section 181. 227.43 (3) (bm) of the statutes is repealed.

SB673,182 Section 182. 227.43 (4) (bm) of the statutes is repealed.

SB673,183 Section 183 . Nonstatutory provisions.

SB673,74,15 (1) Worker's compensation insurance; rate approval; notice. The commissioner of insurance shall submit to the legislative reference bureau for publication in the Wisconsin Administrative Register a notice of the effective date of new rates for worker's compensation insurance first approved by the commissioner after the effective date of this subsection.

SB673,74,16 (2) Transfer of worker's compensation adjudicatory functions.

SB673,74,21 (a) Assets and liabilities. On the effective date of this paragraph, the assets and liabilities of the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration that are primarily related to worker's compensation matters, as determined by the secretary of administration, shall become the assets and liabilities of the department of workforce development.

SB673,75,2 (b) Positions and employees. On the effective date of this paragraph, all positions and all incumbent employees holding those positions in the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration performing duties that are primarily related to worker's compensation matters, as determined by the secretary of administration, are transferred to the department of workforce development.

SB673,75,8 (c) Employee status. Employees transferred under par. (b) have all the rights and the same status under ch. 230 in the department of workforce development that they enjoyed in the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration immediately before the transfer. Notwithstanding s. 230.28 (4), no employee so transferred who has attained permanent status in class is required to serve a probationary period.

SB673,75,13 (d) Tangible personal property. On the effective date of this paragraph, all tangible personal property, including records, of the the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration that is primarily related to worker's compensation matters, as determined by the secretary of administration, is transferred to the department of workforce development.

SB673,75,20 (e) Pending matters. Any worker's compensation matter pending with the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration on the effective date of this paragraph, as determined by the secretary of administration, is transferred to the department of workforce development. All materials submitted to or actions taken by the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration with respect to the pending matter are considered as having been submitted to or taken by the department of workforce development.

SB673,76,2 (f) Contracts. All contracts entered into by the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration in effect on the effective date of this paragraph that are primarily related to worker's compensation matters, as determined by the secretary of administration, remain in effect and are transferred to the department of workforce development. The department of workforce development shall carry out any obligations under those contracts unless modified or rescinded by the department of workforce development to the extent allowed under the contract.

SB673,76,12 (g) Rules and orders. All rules promulgated by the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration in effect on the effective date of this paragraph that are primarily related to worker's compensation matters, as determined by the secretary of administration, remain in effect until their specified expiration dates or until amended or repealed by the department of workforce development. All orders issued by the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration in effect on the effective date of this paragraph that are primarily related to worker's compensation matters, as determined by the secretary of administration, remain in effect until their specified expiration dates or until modified or rescinded by the department of workforce development.

SB673,76,16 (3) Position transfer. The authorized FTE positions for the department of workforce development are increased by 35.5 SEG positions to be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (ra), for performing duties related to conducting hearings under ch. 102.

SB673,184 Section 184 . Fiscal changes.

SB673,76,21 (1) On the effective date of this subsection, there is transferred from the appropriation account under s. 20.445 (1) (t) to the appropriation account under s. 20.445 (1) (rc) the unencumbered balance of the amount collected under s. 102.75 (1g).

SB673,76,25 (2) In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the department of workforce development under s. 20.445 (1) (ra), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2020-21 is increased by $275,000 to provide funding for previously authorized positions providing services for the worker's compensation division.

SB673,77,5 (3) In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration under s. 20.505 (4) (kp), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2020-21 is decreased by $4,800,000 to decrease the authorized positions for the division by 35.5 PR positions performing duties related to conducting hearings under ch. 102.

SB673,77,10 (4) In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the department of workforce development under s. 20.445 (1) (ra), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2020-21 is increased by $9,000 to increase the authorized FTE positions for the department by 0.2 SEG position for the performance of services for the worker's compensation division.

SB673,185 Section 185 . Initial applicability.

SB673,77,14 (1) The treatment of ss. 102.80 (1) (d), 102.81 (4) (b) (intro.) and 2. and (c) and (5), and 102.82 (1) first applies to actions filed under s. 102.29 on the effective date of this subsection.

SB673,77,18 (2) The treatment of ss. 102.17 (9), 102.42 (1) and (1p), and 102.44 (7) first applies to injuries reported on the effective date of rate changes for worker's compensation insurance approved by the commissioner of insurance under s. 626.13 after the effective date of this subsection.

SB673,186 Section 186. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after publication, except as follows:

SB673,78,12 (1) The treatment of ss. 40.65 (2) (a) and (b) 3. and 4., 102.01 (2) (ad), (ar), and (dm), 102.04 (2r) (b), 102.07 (8) (c), 102.11 (1) (am) 1., 102.12, 102.13 (1) (c), (d) 2., and 3., and (f), (2) (a), (3), (4), and (5), 102.14 (title), (1), and (2), 102.15 (1) and (2), 102.16 (1), (1m) (a), (b), and (c), (2) (a) and (b), (2m) (a) and (b), and (4), 102.17 (1) (a) 1., 2., 3., and 4., (b), (c) 1., (d) 1., 2., 3., and 4., (e), (f) 1., (g), and (h), (2), (2m), (2s), (7) (b) and (c), and (8), 102.175 (2) and (3) (c), 102.18 (1) (b) 1., 2., and 3., (bg) 1., 2., and 3., (bp), (bw), (c), and (e), (2), (3), (4) (c) 3. and (d), (5), and (6), 102.195, 102.22 (1) and (2), 102.23 (2), (3), and (5), 102.24 (2), 102.25 (1), 102.26 (2), (3) (b) 1. and 3., and (4), 102.27 (2) (b), 102.28 (3) (c) and (4) (c), 102.29 (1) (b) (intro.), (c), and (d), 102.30 (7) (a), 102.32 (1m) (intro.), (a), and (c), and (d), (5), (6m), and (7), 102.33 (1) and (2) (a), (b) (intro.), 1., 2., and 4., (c), and (d) 2., 102.35 (3), 102.42 (1m), (6), and (8), 102.425 (4m) (a) and (b), 102.43 (5) (b), 102.44 (2) and (6) (b), 102.475 (6), 102.48 (1), (2), and (3), 102.49 (3) and (6), 102.51 (3), (4), and (6), 102.55 (3), 102.555 (12) (a), 102.56 (1) and (2), 102.565 (1), (2), and (3), 102.61 (1g) (c), (1m) (c), and (2), 102.62, 102.64 (1) and (2), 102.65 (3), 102.66 (1), 102.75 (1), and 227.43 (1) (bm), (2) (am), (3) (bm), and (4) (bm) and Sections 183 (2) (a ), (d), (e), (f ), and (g) and 184 (3 ) take effect on July 1, 2020.

SB673,78,13 (2) Section 183 (2 ) (b) and (c) and (3 ) of this act takes effect on July 5, 2020.

SB673,78,14 (End)