Under the fair employment law, no employer or other person may engage in any act of employment discrimination against any individual on the basis of the individual's use or nonuse of lawful products off the employer's premises during nonworking hours, subject to certain exceptions, one of which is if the use impairs the individual's ability to undertake adequately the job-related responsibilities of that individual's employment. The bill specifically defines marijuana as a lawful product for purposes of the fair employment law, such that no person may engage in any act of employment discrimination against an individual because of the individual's use of marijuana off the employer's premises during nonworking hours, subject to those exceptions.

Unemployment benefits

Under current law, an individual may be disqualified from receiving unemployment insurance benefits if he or she is terminated because of misconduct or substantial fault. The bill specifically provides that an employee's use of marijuana off the employer's premises during nonworking hours does not constitute misconduct or substantial fault unless termination for that use is permitted under one of the exceptions under the fair employment law. Also under current law, DWD must establish a program to test claimants who apply for UI benefits for the presence of controlled substances, as defined under federal law. If a claimant tests positive for a controlled substance, the claimant may be denied UI benefits, subject to certain exceptions and limitations. The bill excludes THC for purposes of this testing requirement. As such, under the bill, an individual who tests positive for THC may not be denied UI benefits.

Drug testing for public assistance programs

The bill exempts THC, including marijuana, from drug testing for certain public assistance programs. Currently, a participant in a community service job or transitional placement under the Wisconsin Works program (W2) or a recipient of the FoodShare program, also known as the food stamp program, who is convicted of possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance must submit to a test for controlled substances as a condition of continued eligibility. DHS is currently required to request a waiver of federal Medicaid law to require drug screening and testing as a condition of eligibility for the childless adult demonstration project in the Medical Assistance program. Current law also requires DHS to promulgate rules to develop and implement a drug screening, testing, and treatment policy for able-bodied adults without dependents in the FoodShare employment and training program. The bill exempts THC from all of those drug-testing requirements and programs. In addition, because THC is not a controlled substance under state law under the bill, the requirement under current law that DCF promulgate rules to create a controlled substance abuse screening and testing requirement for applicants for the work experience program for noncustodial parents under W2 and the Transform Milwaukee Jobs and Transitional Jobs programs does not include THC.

Equity grants

The bill provides for a number of grants to be paid from the revenue generated from the excise tax on marijuana that is deposited into the community reinvestment fund. For example, the bill requires DOA to provide grants to public, private, and nonprofit entities in this state that promote diversity and advance equity and inclusion, including promoting the inclusion of women and racial and ethnic minorities in the production and sale of marijuana. In addition, the bill directs DHS to award grants to community organizations to implement community health worker care models. The bill also directs DHS to award grants to community organizations and local or tribal health departments to hire health equity strategists and to implement health equity action plans in small geographic areas.

Anatomical gifts

Unless federal law requires otherwise, the bill prohibits a hospital, physician, organ procurement organization, or other person from determining the ultimate recipient of an anatomical gift on the sole basis of a positive test for the use of marijuana by a potential recipient.

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report.

Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill.

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:

AB846,1 Section 1. 16.282 of the statutes is created to read:

AB846,6,6 16.282 Equity grants. The department shall develop and administer a grants program to provide grants to public, private, and nonprofit entities in this state that promote diversity and advance equity and inclusion, including promoting the inclusion of women and racial and ethnic minorities in the production and sale of marijuana.

AB846,2 Section 2. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table - See PDF for table - See PDF for table - See PDF for table

AB846,3 Section 3. 20.115 (7) (gc) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB846,8,3 20.115 (7) (gc) Industrial hemp and marijuana. All moneys received under s. 94.55 for regulation of activities relating to industrial hemp under s. 94.55 and to marijuana under s. 94.56.

AB846,4 Section 4. 20.115 (7) (ge) of the statutes is created to read:

AB846,8,8 20.115 (7) (ge) Marijuana producers and processors; official logotype. All moneys received under s. 94.56 for regulation of activities relating to marijuana under s. 94.56, for conducting public awareness campaigns under s. 94.56, and for the creation of a logotype under s. 100.145.

AB846,5 Section 5. 20.192 (1) (t) of the statutes is created to read:

AB846,8,12 20.192 (1) (t) Underserved community grants. From the community reinvestment fund, the amounts in the schedule for the purpose of providing underserved community grants under s. 238.139.

AB846,6 Section 6. 20.255 (2) (r) of the statutes is created to read:

AB846,8,16 20.255 (2) (r) Sparsity aid; community reinvestment fund supplement. From the community reinvestment fund, the amounts in the schedule for sparsity aid to school districts under s. 115.436.

AB846,7 Section 7. 20.435 (1) (r) of the statutes is created to read:

AB846,8,19 20.435 (1) (r) Health equity grants. From the community reinvestment fund, the amounts in the schedule for health equity grants under s. 250.22.

AB846,8 Section 8. 20.437 (3) (r) of the statutes is created to read:

AB846,8,23 20.437 (3) (r) Diversity, equity, and inclusion grants; community reinvestment fund supplement. From the community reinvestment fund, the amounts in the schedule for diversity, equity, and inclusion grants under s. 48.47 (20).