SB219: Bill Text

LRB-2768/1

GMM:jld

2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE

2015 Senate BILL 219

July 28, 2015 - Introduced by Senators Tiffany, Roth, Erpenbach, Gudex, Nass and Vinehout, cosponsored by Representatives Loudenbeck, Kitchens, Berceau, E. Brooks, R. Brooks, Czaja, Gannon, Jarchow, Kerkman, Kessler, Knodl, Krug, Macco, Novak, Nygren, Petersen, Petryk, Rodriguez, Sargent, Steffen, Thiesfeldt and Tittl. Referred to Committee on Workforce Development, Public Works, and Military Affairs.

SB219,1,5 An Act to amend 106.14 (2); and to create 106.14 (3) of the statutes; relating to: prohibiting the Department of Workforce Development from requiring a job seeker to furnish his or her social security number to that department as a precondition to using the services of the job center network, including using the job center network Internet site.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Current law requires the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) to provide a job center network throughout the state through which job seekers may receive comprehensive career planning, job placement, and job training information. Current law also requires DWD to publicize and maintain on its job center Internet site information relating to the trial job program under the Wisconsin Works program so that employers and individuals seeking employment (job seekers) may obtain information about the trial job program.

This bill prohibits DWD from requiring a job seeker to furnish his or her social security number to DWD as a precondition to using the services of the job center network, including using the job center network Internet site. That prohibition, however, does not apply to a job seeker who, as a condition for the receipt of unemployment insurance benefits, is required to furnish his or her social security number to DWD.

Under the bill, if a job seeker declines to furnish DWD with his or her social security number as permitted under the bill, DWD may assign to the job seeker a unique identification number that is not identical to and that does not incorporate the job seeker's social security number.

For further information see the state 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:

SB219,1 Section 1. 106.14 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB219,2,5 106.14 (2) The department shall publicize and maintain on its job center Web Internet site information related to the job program under s. 49.147 (3) so that employers and individuals seeking employment may obtain information about the program, including how to participate in it.

SB219,2 Section 2. 106.14 (3) of the statutes is created to read:

SB219,2,11 106.14 (3) (a) The department may not require a job seeker to furnish his or her social security number to the department as a precondition to using the services of the job center network, including using the job center Internet site. This paragraph does not apply to a job seeker who is required to furnish his or her social security number to the department under s. 108.04 (2) (e).

SB219,2,17 (b) If a job seeker declines to furnish the department with his or her social security number as permitted under par. (a), the department may assign to the job seeker a unique identification number. In assigning identification numbers under this paragraph, the department may not assign to any job seeker an identification number that is identical to or that incorporates the job seeker's social security number.

SB219,3 Section 3. Initial applicability.

SB219,3,2 (1) Job center network services. This act first applies to a service of the job center network, including information made available on the job center Internet site, offered by the department of workforce development on the effective date of this subsection.

SB219,4 Section 4. Effective date.

SB219,3,5 (1) Job center network services. This act takes effect on the first day of the 6th month beginning after publication.

SB219,3,6 (End)