AB50: Bill Text

AB50,1608 Section 1608. 102.17 (9) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,846,19 102.17 (9) (b) (intro.) Subject to par. (c), in the case of a mental injury that is not accompanied by a physical injury and that results in a diagnosis of post- traumatic stress disorder in a law enforcement officer, as defined in s. 23.33 (1) (ig), an emergency medical responder, an emergency services practitioner, a correctional officer, a public safety answering point dispatcher, a coroner, a medical examiner, a medicolegal investigation staff member, or a fire fighter, the claim for compensation for the mental injury, in order to be compensable under this chapter, is subject to all of the following:

AB50,1609 Section 1609. 102.43 (9) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,847,2 102.43 (9) (e) The employee’s employment with the employer has been suspended or terminated due to misconduct, as defined in s. 108.04 (5), or substantial fault, as defined in s. 108.04 (5g) (a), by the employee connected with the employee’s work.

AB50,1610 Section 1610. 102.75 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,847,9 102.75 (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), and (rp) (rr) and may not be used for any other purpose of the state.

AB50,1611 Section 1611. 102.81 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,847,23 102.81 (2) The department may retain an insurance carrier or insurance service organization to process, investigate and pay claims under this section and may obtain excess or stop-loss reinsurance with an insurance carrier authorized to do business in this state in an amount that the secretary determines is necessary for the sound operation of the uninsured employers fund. In cases involving disputed claims, the department may retain an attorney to represent the interests of the uninsured employers fund and to make appearances on behalf of the uninsured employers fund in proceedings under ss. 102.16 to 102.29. Section 20.930 and all provisions of subch. IV of ch. 16 do not apply to an attorney hired under this subsection. The charges for the services retained under this subsection shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (rp) (ra). The cost of any reinsurance obtained under this subsection shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (sm).

AB50,1612 Section 1612. 102.82 (2) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,848,4 102.82 (2) (a) (intro.) Except as provided in pars. (ag), (am), and (ar), all for a first or 2nd determination by the department that an employer was uninsured, an uninsured employers employer shall pay to the department the greater of the following:

AB50,1613 Section 1613. 102.82 (2) (ab) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,848,8 102.82 (2) (ab) Except as provided in pars. (ag), (am), and (ar), for a 3rd determination by the department that an employer was uninsured, an uninsured employer shall pay to the department the greater of the following:

AB50,848,12 1. Three times the amount determined by the department to equal what the uninsured employer would have paid during periods of illegal nonpayment for worker’s compensation in the preceding 3-year period, based on the employer’s payroll in the preceding 3 years.

AB50,848,13 2. Three thousand dollars.

AB50,1614 Section 1614. 102.82 (2) (ad) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,848,17 102.82 (2) (ad) Except as provided in pars. (ag), (am), and (ar), for a 4th or subsequent determination by the department that an employer was uninsured, an uninsured employer shall pay to the department the greater of the following:

AB50,848,21 1. Four times the amount determined by the department to equal what the uninsured employer would have paid during periods of illegal nonpayment for worker’s compensation in the preceding 3-year period, based on the employer’s payroll in the preceding 3 years.

AB50,848,22 2. Four thousand dollars.

AB50,1615 Section 1615. 102.82 (2) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,849,4 102.82 (2) (am) The department may waive any payment owed under par. (a), (ab), or (ad) by an uninsured employer if the department determines that the uninsured employer is subject to this chapter only because the uninsured employer has elected to become subject to this chapter under s. 102.05 (2) or 102.28 (2).

AB50,1616 Section 1616. 102.82 (2) (ar) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,849,11 102.82 (2) (ar) The department may waive any payment owed under par. (a), (ab), (ad), or (ag) or sub. (1) if the department determines that the sole reason for the uninsured employer’s failure to comply with s. 102.28 (2) is that the uninsured employer was a victim of fraud, misrepresentation or gross negligence by an insurance agent or insurance broker or by a person whom a reasonable person would believe is an insurance agent or insurance broker.

AB50,1617 Section 1617. 102.85 (1) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB50,849,16 102.85 (1) (a) If an employer has failed to comply with s. 102.16 (3) or 102.28 (2), the employer shall, for a first violation, forfeit the greater of $1,000 or the amount of the premium that would have been payable for each time the employer failed to comply with s. 102.16 (3) or 102.28 (2).

AB50,849,20 (b) If an employer has failed to comply with s. 102.16 (3) or 102.28 (2), the employer shall, for a 2nd violation, forfeit the greater of $2,000 or 2 times the amount of the premium that would have been payable for each time the employer failed to comply with s. 102.16 (3) or 102.28 (2).

AB50,850,2 (c) If an employer has failed to comply with s. 102.16 (3) or 102.28 (2), the employer shall, for a 3rd violation, forfeit the greater of $3,000 or 3 times the amount of the premium that would have been payable for each time the employer failed to comply with s. 102.16 (3) or 102.28 (2).

AB50,850,6 (d) If an employer has failed to comply with s. 102.16 (3) or 102.28 (2), the employer shall, for a 4th or subsequent violation, forfeit the greater of $4,000 or 4 times the amount of the premium that would have been payable for each time the employer failed to comply with s. 102.16 (3) or 102.28 (2).

AB50,1618 Section 1618. 102.85 (2) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB50,850,12 102.85 (2) (a) No employer who is required to provide worker’s compensation insurance coverage under this chapter may give false information about the coverage to his or her employees, the department, or any other person who contracts with the employer and who requests evidence of worker’s compensation in relation to that contract.

AB50,850,15 (b) No employer who is required to provide worker’s compensation insurance coverage under this chapter may fail to notify a person who contracts with the employer that the coverage has been canceled in relation to that contract.

AB50,850,17 (c) 1. An employer who violates par. (a) or (b) shall, except as provided in subds. 2. and 3., forfeit not less than $100 and not more than $1,000.

AB50,850,19 2. An employer who violates par. (a) or (b) shall forfeit $3,000 for a 3rd violation of par. (a) or (b).

AB50,850,21 3. An employer who violates par. (a) or (b) shall forfeit $4,000 for a 4th violation of par. (a) or (b).

AB50,1619 Section 1619. 103.005 (12) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,851,10 103.005 (12) (a) If any employer, employee, owner, or other person violates chs. 103 to 106, or fails or refuses to perform any duty required under chs. 103 to 106, within the time prescribed by the department, for which no penalty has been specifically provided, or fails, neglects or refuses to obey any lawful order given or made by the department or any judgment or decree made by any court in connection with chs. 103 to 106, for each such violation, failure or refusal, the employer, employee, owner or other person shall forfeit not less than $10 nor more than $100 for each offense. This paragraph does not apply to any person that fails to provide any information to the department to assist the department in determining prevailing wage rates or prevailing hours of labor under s. 103.49 (3) (a) or (am) or 103.50 (3) or (4).

AB50,1620 Section 1620. 103.007 of the statutes is repealed.

AB50,1621 Section 1621. 103.035 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,851,14 103.035 Work schedule flexibility and predictability. (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB50,851,17 (a) “Bona fide business reason” means a reason that justifies an employer’s action and that is based on the employer’s determination that taking a different action would have any of the following results:

AB50,851,20 1. Additional costs to the employer, including costs of lost employee productivity, retaining or hiring employees, or transferring employees between work locations.

AB50,851,22 2. A significant detrimental effect on the employer’s ability to meet organizational needs or customer demand.

AB50,852,2 3. A significant inability of the employer, despite the employer’s best efforts, to reorganize work among other employees.

AB50,852,3 4. A significant detrimental effect on the employer’s business performance.

AB50,852,4 5. Insufficient work during the period an employee proposes to work.

AB50,852,7 6. Unfairness to other employees who request changes to work schedules if granting all requests would have a significant detrimental effect on the employer’s ability to meet organizational needs.

AB50,852,8 (b) “Child” means an individual who is all of the following:

AB50,852,10 1. A biological, adopted, or foster child; a stepchild; a legal ward; or a child of a person standing in the place of a parent with respect to that child.

AB50,852,11 2. An individual to whom any of the following applies:

AB50,852,12 a. The individual is less than 18 years of age.

AB50,852,14 b. The individual is 18 years of age or older and is incapable of self-care because of a mental or physical disability.

AB50,852,15 (c) “Domestic partner” has the meaning given in s. 40.02 (21c) or 770.01 (1).

AB50,852,16 (d) “Employee” means an employee who is employed by an employer.

AB50,852,21 (e) “Employer” means an employer that employs at least 15 employees. “Employer” includes the state, its political subdivisions, and any office, department, independent agency, authority, institution, association, society, or other body in state or local government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, including the legislature and the courts.

AB50,852,22 (f) “Family member” means any of the following:

AB50,852,23 1. A spouse or domestic partner of an employee.

AB50,853,2 2. A parent, child, sibling, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, grandparent, or grandchild of an employee or of an employee’s spouse or domestic partner.

AB50,853,6 3. Any other individual who is related by blood, marriage, or adoption to an employee or to an employee’s spouse or domestic partner and whose close association with the employee, spouse, or domestic partner makes the individual the equivalent of an individual listed under subd. 2.

AB50,853,7 (g) “Grandchild” means the child of a child.

AB50,853,8 (h) “Grandparent” means the parent of a parent.

AB50,853,11 (i) “Nonexempt employee” means an employee who is not employed in a bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity, as described in 29 USC 213 (a) (1).

AB50,853,14 (j) “Parent” means a biological parent, foster parent, adoptive parent, stepparent, or legal guardian of an employee or of an employee’s spouse or domestic partner.

AB50,853,16 (k) “Part-time employee” means an employee who works on average fewer than 30 hours per week for a particular employer.

AB50,853,20 (L) “Service employee” means a nonexempt employee who is employed in any of the occupations classified under the following codes set forth in the Standard Occupational Classification System, 2018 edition, published by the bureau of labor statistics of the U.S. department of labor:

AB50,853,22 1. Major group code 35-0000 — food preparation and serving related occupations.

AB50,853,23 2. Broad occupation code 37-2010 — building cleaning workers.

AB50,854,2 3. Detailed occupation code 41-1011 — first-line supervisors of retail sales workers.

AB50,854,3 4. Minor group code 41-2000 — retail sales workers.

AB50,854,5 (m) “Sibling” means a brother, sister, half brother, half sister, stepbrother, stepsister, foster brother, or foster sister, whether by blood, marriage, or adoption.

AB50,854,8 (n) “Split shift” means a work shift that consists of work time that is not continuous. For purposes of determining whether a work shift is continuous, any of the following breaks in work time are not considered:

AB50,854,9 1. One or more breaks for meals that total one hour or less.

AB50,854,10 2. A break that is requested by the employee.

AB50,854,13 (o) “Work schedule” means the days and times during each successive work period when an employee is required by an employer to perform duties of employment.

AB50,854,15 (p) “Work shift” means the specific times during a day that an employer requires an employee to work.

AB50,854,17 (q) “Written” includes a communication that is transmitted or received by electronic means.

AB50,854,21 (2) Employee right to request and receive work schedule changes. (a) Employee right to request work schedule changes. 1. An employee may request a change in the terms and conditions of employment related to any of the following, and may make such a request by email or text message:

AB50,854,22 a. The number of hours the employee is required to work or be on call for work.

AB50,855,2 b. The days or times when the employee is required to work or be on call for work.

AB50,855,3 c. The location where the employee is required to work.

AB50,855,5 d. The amount of notification the employee receives regarding changes to the employee’s work schedule.

AB50,855,7 e. Minimizing fluctuations in the number of hours the employee is scheduled to work on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.

AB50,855,9 2. An employee who makes a request under subd. 1. shall specify in the request whether it is related to any of the following:

AB50,855,11 a. A serious health condition, as defined under s. 103.10 (1) (g), of the employee.

AB50,855,15 b. The employee’s responsibilities as a significant provider of ongoing care, including responsibility for securing ongoing care, of the employee’s child, family member with a serious health condition, as defined under s. 103.10 (1) (g), or parent who is 65 years of age or older.

AB50,855,17 c. The employee’s responsibilities as a significant provider of education, including responsibility for securing education, of the employee’s child.

AB50,855,19 d. The employee’s enrollment in an educational or training program or program of study that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential.

AB50,855,21 e. If the employee is a part-time employee, conflicts with the employee’s other employment.

AB50,856,6 (b) Evaluating requests for work schedule changes. If an employer receives a request from an employee under par. (a), the employer shall either grant the request without modification or negotiate in good faith with the employee to find a compromise that meets the employee’s and the employer’s work scheduling needs, including by considering any alternative proposals offered by the employee. If the employer denies the request and any alternative proposals offered, the employer shall inform the employee of the reasons for denial, including whether any of the reasons is a bona fide business reason.

AB50,856,11 (c) Requests related to serious health conditions, caregiving, education, or other part-time employment. Notwithstanding par. (b), if an employer receives a request from an employee under par. (a) that is directly related to a reason specified under par. (a) 2., the employer shall grant the request unless the employer has a bona fide business reason for denying the request.

AB50,856,16 (d) Verification of reasons for requested changes. If an employer receives a request from an employee under par. (a), the employer may require the employee to provide additional information to clarify or explain the reasons for the employee’s requested work schedule change if the employer needs that information to properly evaluate the request under par. (b) or (c).