The bill creates an exception to this suspension if 1) the person is either hired or provides employee services as a contractor in a critical position during the period beginning on the effective date of the bill and ending on December 31, 2021; 2) at the time the person initially retires from covered employment with a participating employer, the person does not have an agreement with any participating employer to return to employment; and 3) the person elects to not become a participating employee at the time the person is rehired or enters into a contract after retirement. In other words, the bill allows a WRS annuitant who is either hired or provides employee services as a contractor in a critical position during the period beginning on the effective date of the bill and ending on December 31, 2021, to return to work with an employer who participates in the WRS and continue to receive his or her annuity.

State government

Waiving in-person requirements

Current law allows a state entity to waive any requirement that an individual appear in person during the public health emergency declared on March 12, 2020. The bill expands that provision so that a state entity may waive such in-person requirements through December 31, 2021, if enforcing the requirement would increase the public health risk.

Waiver of certain interest, penalties, and payments

Under the bill, each state agency and authority and each local governmental unit may waive any interest, penalty, or payment that accrues or becomes due beginning on the day the bill becomes law and ending on December 31, 2021, with respect to a debt any person owes to the agency, authority, or local unit of government.

COVID-19 testing and surge capacity

The bill requires DOA to do all of the following related to COVID-19:

1. Facilitate COVID-19 testing and diagnosis throughout this state.

2. Operate alternate care facilities staffed by health care professionals for patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

3. Facilitate surge staffing resources for health care facilities throughout the state.

Grants to small businesses

The bill authorizes the Department of Revenue to provide grants to small businesses in the manner to be determined by DOR.

This proposal may contain a health insurance mandate requiring a social and financial impact report under s. 601.423, stats.

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

AB1-ASA1,1 Section 1 . 16.34 of the statutes is created to read:

AB1-ASA1,12,5 16.34 Hazard pay during a public health emergency; paid medical leave for frontline health care workers. (1) Definition. In this section, “frontline health care worker” means an individual who is any of the following, who is not exempt under 29 USC 213, and whose annual pay does not exceed $99,999:

AB1-ASA1,12,7 (a) A provider of direct care to patients in a hospital, nursing home, or residence.

AB1-ASA1,12,9 (b) An employee who works in a patient care area of a facility that provides direct patient care.

AB1-ASA1,12,11 (c) An individual who handles patient specimens within this state within the scope of employment.

AB1-ASA1,13,2 (d) An employee who works in an area where patient specimens are handled at a facility that handles patient specimens within this state.

AB1-ASA1,13,7 (2) Hazard pay grant program for work during a public health emergency. (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (ft), the department shall award grants to employers for the payment of hazard pay to frontline health care workers who work during a public health emergency declared by the governor under s. 323.10 or the secretary of health services under s. 252.02, as set forth in s. 103.025 (3).

AB1-ASA1,13,13 (b) The department shall establish and administer a program to subsidize, as provided in s. 103.025 (3), the hazard pay costs for frontline health care workers. The department shall require, at a minimum, that the employer provide a sworn affidavit of compliance, and payroll records if requested by the department. The governor or his or her designee within the department may determine the period of applicability of this subsection.

AB1-ASA1,13,17 (3) Paid medical leave grant program for frontline health care workers. (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (ft), the department shall award grants to employers for the provision of paid medical leave to frontline health care workers who contract a communicable disease, as set forth in s. 103.10 (4m).

AB1-ASA1,13,23 (b) The department shall establish and administer a program to subsidize, as provided in s. 103.10 (4m), the paid medical leave costs for frontline health care workers. The department shall require, at a minimum, that the employer provide a sworn affidavit of compliance, and payroll records if requested by the department. The governor or his or her designee within the department may determine the period of applicability of this subsection.

AB1-ASA1,14,2 (4) Coverage of COVID-19 for health care workers. (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (ft), the department shall award grants to insurers for the provision of health insurance coverage to frontline health care workers as set forth in s. 632.895 (14f).

AB1-ASA1,14,7 (b) The department shall establish and administer a program to subsidize, as provided in s. 632.895 (14f), the costs of providing coverage for frontline health care workers at no additional cost to the covered individuals. The governor or his or her designee within the department may determine the period of applicability of this subsection.