AB43: Bill Text

AB43,,4825 3. The department may establish other procedures for recovering overpayments and may utilize procedures under ch. 108, including the department’s remedies for collecting overpayments under ss. 108.22 and 108.225, subject to rules promulgated by the department.

AB43,,4826 4. The department may not collect any interest on any benefit overpayment.

AB43,,4827 (10) Prohibited acts. (a) No person may interfere with, restrain, or deny the exercise of any right provided under this section.

AB43,,4828 (b) No person may discharge or otherwise discriminate against any person for exercising any right provided under this section, opposing a practice prohibited under this section, filing a complaint or attempting to enforce any right provided under this section, or testifying or assisting in any action or proceeding to enforce any right provided under this section.

AB43,,4829 (c) No collective bargaining agreement or employer policy may diminish or abridge an employee’s rights under this section. Any agreement purporting to waive or modify an employee’s rights under this section is void as against public policy and unenforceable.

AB43,,4830 (11) Enforcement. (a) Any person who believes that his or her rights under this section have been interfered with, restrained, or denied in violation of sub. (10) (a) or that he or she has been discharged or otherwise discriminated against in violation of sub. (10) (b) may, within 30 days after the violation occurs or the person should reasonably have known that the violation occurred, whichever is later, file a complaint with the department alleging the violation, and the department shall process the complaint in the same manner as complaints filed under s. 103.10 (12) (b) are processed. If the department finds that an employer has violated sub. (10) (a) to (c), the department may order the employer to take action to remedy the violation, including providing the requested family leave or medical leave, reinstating an employee, providing back pay accrued not more than 2 years before the complaint was filed, and, notwithstanding s. 814.04 (1), paying reasonable actual attorney fees to the complainant.

AB43,,4831 (b) After the completion of an administrative proceeding under par. (a), including judicial review, an employee or the department may bring an action in circuit court against an employer to recover damages caused by a violation of sub. (10) (a) to (c). Section 103.10 (13) (b) applies to the commencement of an action under this paragraph.

AB43,,4832 (12) Administration. The department shall administer the family and medical leave benefits insurance program under this section. In administering the program, the department shall do all of the following:

AB43,,4833 (a) Establish procedures and forms for the filing of claims for benefits under this section.

AB43,,4834 (b) Establish procedures and forms for collecting contributions from self-employed individuals.

AB43,,4835 (c) Promulgate rules to implement this section.

AB43,,4836 (d) Use information sharing and integration technology to facilitate the exchange of information as necessary for the department to perform its duties under this section.

AB43,,4837 (e) By September 1 of each year, submit a report to the governor, the joint committee on finance, and the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3) on the family and medical leave benefits insurance program under this section. The report shall include the projected and actual rates of participation in the program, the premium rates for coverage under the program, and the balance in the family and medical leave benefits insurance trust fund under s. 25.52.

AB43,,4838 (13) Records. (a) The records made or maintained by the department in connection with the administration of this section are confidential and shall be open to public inspection or disclosure only to the extent that the department allows in the interest of the family and medical leave benefits insurance program. No person may allow inspection or disclosure of any record provided by the department unless the department authorizes the inspection or disclosure.

AB43,,4839 (b) The department may provide records made or maintained by the department in connection with the administration of this section to any governmental unit, corresponding unit in the government of another state, or any unit of the federal government. No such unit may allow inspection or disclosure of any record provided by the department unless the department authorizes the inspection or disclosure.

AB43,,4840 (c) Upon request of the department of revenue, the department may provide information, including social security numbers, concerning covered individuals to the department of revenue for the purpose of administering state taxes, identifying fraudulent tax returns, providing information for tax-related prosecutions, or locating persons or the assets of persons who have failed to file tax returns, who have underreported their taxable income, or who are delinquent debtors. The department of revenue shall adhere to the limitation on inspection and disclosure of the information under par. (b).

AB43,,4841 (14) Benefit amount adjustment. On April 1 of each year, the department may adjust the maximum weekly benefit payment to 90 percent of the state average weekly earnings, which becomes effective on October 1 of that year. The department shall annually have the adjusted amount of the maximum weekly benefit payment published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register.

AB43,,4842 (15) Notice posted. Each employer shall post, on its website and in one or more conspicuous places where notices to employees are customarily posted, a notice in a form approved by the department setting forth employees’ rights under this section and any adjustment to benefits as provided in sub. (14). Any employer that violates this subsection shall forfeit not more than $100 for each violation.

AB43,1827 Section 1827. 103.12 of the statutes is repealed.

AB43,1828 Section 1828. 103.135 of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,4845 103.135 Compensation information of employees and prospective employees. (1) Unlawful employer conduct related to prospective employee compensation information. (a) No employer may directly or indirectly do any of the following:

AB43,,4846 1. Rely on or, subject to par. (b), solicit from a prospective employee or a prospective employee’s current or former employer information about the prospective employee’s current or prior compensation.

AB43,,4847 2. Require that a prospective employee’s current or prior compensation meet certain criteria in order for the prospective employee to be considered for employment.

AB43,,4848 3. Refuse to hire or employ or otherwise discriminate against a prospective employee in compensation or in the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment for opposing a practice prohibited under this paragraph, filing or indicating an intent to file a complaint or otherwise attempting to enforce any right under this paragraph, or testifying, assisting, or participating in any manner in any investigation, action, or proceeding to enforce any right under this paragraph.

AB43,,4849 (b) After an employer has offered employment to a prospective employee and the details of compensation have been agreed upon, the employer may obtain the prospective employee’s written consent for the employer to solicit information about, or take action to confirm, the prospective employee’s current or prior compensation.

AB43,,4850 (2) Disclosure of compensation information by employees. (a) An employee may disclose the details of the employee’s compensation to anyone and, subject to par. (d), may discuss the compensation of other employees of the same employer and may ask other employees of the same employer for details regarding their compensation.

AB43,,4851 (b) Except as provided in par. (d), no employer may interfere with, restrain, or deny the exercise of the right of an employee to disclose, discuss, or inquire about compensation as provided in par. (a).

AB43,,4852 (c) An employer may not discharge or discriminate against an employee in promotion, in compensation, or in the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment for disclosing, discussing, or inquiring about compensation as provided in par. (a), opposing a practice prohibited under par. (b), filing or indicating an intent to file a complaint or otherwise attempting to enforce any right under par. (a), or testifying, assisting, or participating in any manner in any investigation, action, or proceeding to enforce any right under par. (a).

AB43,,4853 (d) Subject to s. 19.35, an employer may prohibit a human resources or payroll employee, a supervisor, or any other employee whose job responsibilities require or allow the employee access to other employees’ compensation information from disclosing information about any other employee’s compensation without that employee’s prior written consent.

AB43,,4854 (3) Enforcement. Any employee or prospective employee who is refused employment, terminated, discharged, or otherwise discriminated against in violation of sub. (1) (a) or (2) (a) to (c) may file a complaint with the department, and the department shall process the complaint in the same manner that employment discrimination complaints are processed under s. 111.39. If the department finds that a violation has occurred, the department may order the employer to take action to remedy the violation, including reinstating the employee, providing compensation in lieu of reinstatement, providing back pay accrued not more than 2 years before the complaint was filed, and paying reasonable actual costs and, notwithstanding s. 814.04 (1), reasonable attorney fees to the complainant.

AB43,,4855 (4) Notice posted. (a) Each employer shall provide notice to employees and prospective employees of their rights under this section by doing all of the following:

AB43,,4856 1. Posting, in one or more conspicuous places where notices to employees are customarily posted, a notice in a form approved by the department setting forth employees’ and prospective employees’ rights under this section.

AB43,,4857 2. Including, on each listing for a job vacancy or other employment opportunity that is advertised by email, posting on a website, or other electronic means, a notice that includes all of the following information:

AB43,,4858 a. A statement that the employer is prohibited from relying on a prospective employee’s current or former compensation when determining whether to make an offer of employment or setting compensation or when making an offer of employment.

AB43,,4859 b. A statement that the employer is prohibited from asking about a prospective employee’s compensation until after the employer has offered the prospective employee employment and they have agreed upon the details of compensation.

AB43,,4860 c. A statement that the employer is prohibited from requiring that a prospective employee’s current or prior compensation meet certain criteria in order for the prospective employee to be considered for employment.

AB43,,4861 d. Information, or a hyperlink to information, regarding prohibited bases of discrimination under subch. II of ch. 111.

AB43,,4862 (b) Any employer that violates par. (a) shall forfeit not more than $100 for each offense.

AB43,1829 Section 1829. 103.165 (3) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,4864 103.165 (3) (a) 3. The decedent’s father or mother parent or parents if the decedent leaves no surviving spouse, domestic partner under ch. 770, or children.

AB43,1830 Section 1830. 103.36 of the statutes is repealed.

AB43,1831 Section 1831. 103.49 of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,4867 103.49 Wage rate on state work. (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB43,,4868 (a) “Area” means the county in which a proposed project of public works that is subject to this section is located or, if the department determines that there is insufficient wage data in that county, “area” means those counties that are contiguous to that county or, if the department determines that there is insufficient wage data in those counties, “area” means those counties that are contiguous to those counties or, if the department determines that there is insufficient wage data in those counties, “area” means the entire state or, if the department is requested to review a determination under sub. (3) (c), “area” means the city, village, or town in which a proposed project of public works that is subject to this section is located.

AB43,,4869 (am) “Bona fide economic benefit” means an economic benefit for which an employer makes irrevocable contributions to a trust or fund created under 29 USC 186 (c) or to any other bona fide plan, trust, program, or fund no less often than quarterly or, if an employer makes annual contributions to such a bona fide plan, trust, program, or fund, for which the employer irrevocably escrows moneys at least quarterly based on the employer’s expected annual contribution.

AB43,,4870 (b) “Hourly basic rate of pay” means the hourly wage paid to any employee, excluding any contributions or payments for health insurance benefits, vacation benefits, pension benefits, and any other bona fide economic benefits, whether paid directly or indirectly.

AB43,,4871 (bg) “Insufficient wage data” means less than 500 hours of work performed in a particular trade or occupation on projects that are similar to a proposed project of public works that is subject to this section.

AB43,,4872 (bj) “Minor service or maintenance work” means a project of public works that is limited to minor crack filling, chip or slurry sealing, or other minor pavement patching, not including overlays, that has a projected life span of no longer than 5 years; cleaning of drainage or sewer ditches or structures; or any other limited, minor work on public facilities or equipment that is routinely performed to prevent breakdown or deterioration.

AB43,,4873 (br) “Multiple-trade project of public works” means a project of public works in which no single trade accounts for 85 percent or more of the total labor cost of the project.

AB43,,4874 (c) “Prevailing hours of labor” for any trade or occupation in any area means 10 hours per day and 40 hours per week and may not include any hours worked on a Saturday or Sunday or on any of the following holidays:

AB43,,4875 1. January 1.

AB43,,4876 2. The last Monday in May.

AB43,,4877 3. July 4.

AB43,,4878 4. The first Monday in September.

AB43,,4879 5. The 4th Thursday in November.

AB43,,4880 6. December 25.

AB43,,4881 7. The day before if January 1, July 4, or December 25 falls on a Saturday.

AB43,,4882 8. The day following if January 1, July 4, or December 25 falls on a Sunday.

AB43,,4883 (d) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., “prevailing wage rate” for any trade or occupation engaged in the erection, construction, remodeling, repairing, or demolition of any project of public works in any area means the hourly basic rate of pay, plus the hourly contribution for health insurance benefits, vacation benefits, pension benefits, and any other bona fide economic benefit, paid directly or indirectly for a majority of the hours worked in the trade or occupation on projects in the area.

AB43,,4884 2. If there is no rate at which a majority of the hours worked in the trade or occupation on projects in the area is paid, “prevailing wage rate” for any trade or occupation engaged in the erection, construction, remodeling, repairing, or demolition of any project of public works in any area means the average hourly basic rate of pay, weighted by the number of hours worked, plus the average hourly contribution, weighted by the number of hours worked, for health insurance benefits, vacation benefits, pension benefits, and any other bona fide economic benefit, paid directly or indirectly for all hours worked at the hourly basic rate of pay of the highest-paid 51 percent of hours worked in that trade or occupation on projects in that area.

AB43,,4885 (em) “Single-trade project of public works” means a project of public works in which a single trade accounts for 85 percent or more of the total labor cost of the project.

AB43,,4886 (f) “State agency” means any office, department, independent agency, institution of higher education, association, society, or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, including the legislature and the courts. “State agency” also includes the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, and the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority.

AB43,,4887 (fm) “Supply and installation contract” means a contract under which the material is installed by the supplier, the material is installed by means of simple fasteners or connectors such as screws or nuts and bolts, and no other work is performed on the site of the project of public works, and the total labor cost to install the material does not exceed 20 percent of the total cost of the contract.

AB43,,4888 (g) “Truck driver” includes an owner-operator of a truck.

AB43,,4889 (1m) Applicability. Subject to sub. (3g), this section applies to any project of public works erected, constructed, repaired, remodeled, or demolished for the state or a state agency, including all of the following:

AB43,,4890 (a) A project erected, constructed, repaired, remodeled, or demolished by one state agency for another state agency under any contract or under any statute specifically authorizing cooperation between state agencies.

AB43,,4891 (b) A project in which the completed facility is leased, purchased, lease purchased, or otherwise acquired by, or dedicated to, the state in lieu of the state or a state agency contracting for the erection, construction, repair, remodeling, or demolition of the facility.

AB43,,4892 (c) A sanitary sewer or water main project in which the completed sanitary sewer or water main is acquired by, or dedicated to, the state for ownership or maintenance by the state.

AB43,,4893 (2) Prevailing wage rates and hours of labor. Any contract made for the erection, construction, remodeling, repairing, or demolition of any project of public works to which the state or any state agency is a party shall contain a stipulation that no individual performing the work described in sub. (2m) may be allowed to work a greater number of hours per day or per week than the prevailing hours of labor, except that any such individual may be allowed or required to work more than such prevailing hours of labor per day and per week if he or she is paid for all hours worked in excess of the prevailing hours of labor at a rate of at least 1.5 times his or her hourly basic rate of pay; nor may he or she be paid less than the prevailing wage rate determined under sub. (3) in the same or most similar trade or occupation in the area in which the project of public works is situated. The notice published for the purpose of securing bids for the project must contain a reference to the prevailing wage rates determined under sub. (3) and the prevailing hours of labor. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, if any contract or subcontract for a project of public works that is subject to this section is entered into, the prevailing wage rates determined under sub. (3) and the prevailing hours of labor shall be physically incorporated into and made a part of the contract or subcontract. For a minor subcontract, as determined by the department, the department shall prescribe by rule the method of notifying the minor subcontractor of the prevailing wage rates and prevailing hours of labor applicable to the minor subcontract. The prevailing wage rates and prevailing hours of labor applicable to a contract or subcontract may not be changed during the time that the contract or subcontract is in force.

AB43,,4894 (2m) Covered employees. (a) Subject to par. (b), any person subject to this section shall pay all of the following employees the prevailing wage rate determined under sub. (3) and may not allow such employees to work a greater number of hours per day or per week than the prevailing hours of labor, unless the person pays for all hours worked in excess of the prevailing hours of labor at a rate of at least 1.5 times the employees’ hourly basic rate of pay:

AB43,,4895 1. All laborers, workers, mechanics, and truck drivers employed on the site of a project of public works that is subject to this section.

AB43,,4896 2. All laborers, workers, mechanics, and truck drivers employed in the manufacturing or furnishing of materials, articles, supplies, or equipment on the site of a project of public works that is subject to this section or from a facility dedicated exclusively, or nearly so, to a project of public works that is subject to this section by a contractor, subcontractor, agent, or other person performing any work on the site of the project.

AB43,,4897 (b) A laborer, worker, mechanic, or truck driver who is employed to process, manufacture, pick up, or deliver materials or products from a commercial establishment that has a fixed place of business from which the establishment supplies processed or manufactured materials or products or from a facility that is not dedicated exclusively, or nearly so, to a project of public works that is subject to this section is not entitled to receive the prevailing wage rate determined under sub. (3) or to receive at least 1.5 times his or her hourly basic rate of pay for all hours worked in excess of the prevailing hours of labor unless any of the following applies:

AB43,,4898 1. The laborer, worker, mechanic, or truck driver is employed to go to the source of mineral aggregate such as sand, gravel, or stone and deliver that mineral aggregate to the site of a project of public works that is subject to this section by depositing the material directly in final place, from the transporting vehicle or through spreaders from the transporting vehicle.

AB43,,4899 2. The laborer, worker, mechanic, or truck driver is employed to go to the site of a project that is subject to this section, pick up excavated material or spoil from the site of the project of public works, and transport that excavated material or spoil away from the site of the project.

AB43,,4900 (c) A person that is subject to this section shall pay a truck driver who is an owner-operator of a truck separately for his or her work and for the use of his or her truck.

AB43,,4901 (3) Investigation; determination. (a) Before a state agency issues a request for bids for any work to which this section applies, the state agency having the authority to prescribe the specifications shall apply to the department to determine the prevailing wage rate for each trade or occupation required in the work under contemplation in the area in which the work is to be done. The department shall conduct investigations and hold public hearings as necessary to define the trades or occupations that are commonly employed on projects that are subject to this section and to inform itself of the prevailing wage rates in all areas of the state for those trades or occupations, in order to determine the prevailing wage rate for each trade or occupation. The department shall issue its determination within 30 days after receiving the request and shall file the determination with the requesting state agency. A state agency that has contracted for a project of public works subject to this section shall post the prevailing wage rates determined by the department, the prevailing hours of labor, and the provisions of subs. (2) and (6m) in at least one conspicuous place on the site of the project that is easily accessible by employees working on the project.

AB43,,4902 (am) The department shall, by January 1 of each year, compile the prevailing wage rates for each trade or occupation in each area. The compilation shall, in addition to the current prevailing wage rates, include future prevailing wage rates when those prevailing wage rates can be determined for any trade or occupation in any area and shall specify the effective date of those future prevailing wage rates. If a project of public works extends into more than one area, the department shall determine only one standard of prevailing wage rates for the entire project.

AB43,,4903 (ar) In determining prevailing wage rates under par. (a) or (am), the department may not use data from projects that are subject to this section, s. 66.0903, 103.50, or 229.8275, or 40 USC 3142 unless the department determines that there is insufficient wage data in the area to determine those prevailing wage rates, in which case the department may use data from projects that are subject to this section, s. 66.0903, 103.50, or 229.8275, or 40 USC 3142. In determining prevailing wage rates under par. (a) or (am), the department may not use data from any construction work performed by a state agency or a local governmental unit, as defined in s. 66.0903 (1) (d).

AB43,,4904 (b) Any person may request a recalculation of any portion of an initial determination within 30 days after the initial determination date if the person submits evidence with the request showing that the prevailing wage rate for any given trade or occupation included in the initial determination does not represent the prevailing wage rate for that trade or occupation in the area. The evidence shall include wage rate information reflecting work performed by individuals working in the contested trade or occupation in the area during the current survey period. The department shall affirm or modify the initial determination within 15 days after the date on which the department receives the request for recalculation.

AB43,,4905 (c) In addition to the recalculation under par. (b), the state agency that requested the determination under this subsection may request a review of any portion of a determination within 30 days after the date of issuance of the determination if the state agency submits evidence with the request showing that the prevailing wage rate for any given trade or occupation included in the determination does not represent the prevailing wage rate for that trade or occupation in the city, village, or town in which the proposed project of public works is located. That evidence shall include wage rate information for the contested trade or occupation on at least 3 similar projects located in the city, village, or town where the proposed project of public works is located on which some work has been performed during the current survey period and that were considered by the department in issuing its most recent compilation under par. (am). The department shall affirm or modify the determination within 15 days after the date on which the department receives the request for review.

AB43,,4906 (3g) Nonapplicability. This section does not apply to any of the following:

AB43,,4907 (a) A single-trade project of public works for which the estimated project cost of completion is less than $48,000 or a multiple-trade project of public works for which the estimated project cost of completion is less than $100,000.

AB43,,4908 (b) Work performed on a project of public works for which the state or the state agency contracting for the project is not required to compensate any contractor, subcontractor, contractor’s or subcontractor’s agent, or individual for performing the work.

AB43,,4909 (c) Minor service or maintenance work, warranty work, or work under a supply and installation contract.

AB43,,4910 (f) A public highway, street, or bridge project.

AB43,,4911 (g) A project of public works involving the erection, construction, repair, remodeling, or demolition of a residential property containing 2 dwelling units or less.

AB43,,4912 (h) A road, street, bridge, sanitary sewer, or water main project that is a part of a development in which not less than 90 percent of the lots contain or will contain 2 dwelling units or less, as determined by the local governmental unit at the time of approval of the development, and that, on completion, is acquired by, or dedicated to, the state for ownership or maintenance by the state.

AB43,,4913 (4r) Compliance. (a) When the department finds that a state agency has not requested a determination under sub. (3) (a) or that a state agency, contractor, or subcontractor has not physically incorporated a determination into a contract or subcontract as required under sub. (2) or has not notified a minor subcontractor of a determination in the manner prescribed by the department by rule promulgated under sub. (2), the department shall notify the state agency, contractor, or subcontractor of the noncompliance and shall file the determination with the state agency, contractor, or subcontractor within 30 days after the notice.