SB139: Bill Text

LRB-1979/1

MED:amn

2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE

2021 Senate BILL 139

February 24, 2021 - Introduced by Senators Bewley, Agard, Carpenter, Erpenbach, Johnson, Larson, Pfaff, Ringhand, Roys, Smith and Wirch, cosponsored by Representatives Hintz, Anderson, Andraca, Baldeh, Billings, Bowen, Brostoff, Cabrera, Conley, Considine, Doyle, Drake, Emerson, Goyke, Haywood, Hebl, Hesselbein, Hong, McGuire, B. Meyers, Milroy, Moore Omokunde, L. Myers, Neubauer, Ohnstad, Ortiz-Velez, Pope, Riemer, S. Rodriguez, Shankland, Shelton, Sinicki, Snodgrass, Spreitzer, Stubbs, Subeck, Vining and Vruwink. Referred to Committee on Government Operations, Legal Review and Consumer Protection.

SB139,1,2 An Act to amend 108.062 (20) (intro.) of the statutes; relating to: payment of unemployment insurance benefits under a work-share program.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Current law allows an employer to create a work-share program within a work unit of the employer. Under a work-share program, the working hours of all of the full-time employees in the program are reduced in an equitable manner in lieu of a layoff of some of the employees and a continuation of full-time employment by the other employees. A claimant for unemployment insurance benefits who is included in a work-share program may receive UI benefits during his or her continued employment with the work-share employer in an amount equal to the claimant's benefit for total unemployment multiplied by the same percentage reduction in normal working hours that the claimant incurs under the program. Current law also provides for the temporary modification of certain requirements that apply to work-share plans with respect to work-share plans submitted on or after April 17, 2020, and before December 31, 2020. This bill extends the applicability of these modifications until the earlier of the conclusion of a national emergency declared by the U.S. president in response to the 2019 novel coronavirus or July 4, 2021.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB139,1 Section 1. 108.062 (20) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB139,2,10 108.062 (20) Suspensions of certain provisions. (intro.) Notwithstanding sub. (2), this subsection, and not sub. (2), applies to work-share plans submitted on or after April 17, 2020, and before December 31, 2020 the conclusion of a national emergency declared by the U.S. president under 50 USC 1621 in response to the 2019 novel coronavirus or July 4, 2021, whichever is earlier, subject to sub. (19). During that period, prior to implementing a work-share program, an employer shall submit a work-share plan for the approval of the department. In its submittal, the employer shall certify that its plan is in compliance with all requirements under this section. Each plan shall:

SB139,2,11 (End)