SB21: Bill Text

SB21,2904 Section 2904. 102.315 (10) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1149,6 102.315 (10) (b) 3. An insurer may cancel, terminate, or nonrenew a policy described in subd. 1., including cancellation or termination of a policy providing continued coverage under subd. 4., by providing written notice of the cancellation, termination, or nonrenewal to the insured employee leasing company and to the department office as required under s. 102.31 (2) (a) and by providing that notice to the insured client. Except as provided in s. 102.31 (2) (b), cancellation or termination of a policy under this subdivision for any reason other than nonrenewal is not effective until 30 days after the insurer has provided written notice of the cancellation or termination to the insured employee leasing company, the insured client, and the department office. Except as provided in s. 102.31 (2) (b), nonrenewal of a policy under this subdivision is not effective until 60 days after the insurer has provided written notice of the cancellation or termination to the insured employee leasing company, the insured client, and the department office.

SB21,2905 Section 2905. 102.32 (1m) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1149,12 102.32 (1m) (intro.) In any case in which compensation payments for an injury have extended or will extend over 6 months or more after the date of the injury or in any case in which death benefits are payable, any party in interest may, in the discretion of the department office, be discharged from, or compelled to guarantee, future compensation payments by doing any of the following:

SB21,2906 Section 2906. 102.32 (1m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1149,16 102.32 (1m) (a) Depositing the present value of the total unpaid compensation upon a 5 percent interest discount basis with a credit union, savings bank, savings and loan association, bank, or trust company designated by the department office.

SB21,2907 Section 2907. 102.32 (1m) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1149,19 102.32 (1m) (c) Making payment in gross upon a 5 percent interest discount basis to be approved by the department office.

SB21,2908 Section 2908. 102.32 (1m) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1150,9 102.32 (1m) (d) In cases in which the time for making payments or the amounts of payments cannot be definitely determined, furnishing a bond, or other security, satisfactory to the department office for the payment of compensation as may be due or become due. The acceptance of the bond, or other security, and the form and sufficiency of the bond or other security, shall be subject to the approval of the department office. If the employer or insurer is unable or fails to immediately procure the bond, then, the employer or insurer, in lieu of procuring the bond, shall deposit shall be made with a credit union, savings bank, savings and loan association, bank, or trust company designated by the department, of office the maximum amount that may reasonably become payable in these those cases, to be determined by the department office at amounts consistent with the extent of the injuries and the law. The bonds and deposits are to may be reduced only to satisfy claims and may be withdrawn only after the claims which they are to guarantee are fully satisfied or liquidated under par. (a), (b), or (c).

SB21,2909 Section 2909. 102.32 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1150,18 102.32 (5) Any insured employer may, within in the discretion of the department office, compel the insurer to discharge, or to guarantee payment of, the employer's liabilities in any case described in sub. (1m) and thereby by that discharge or guarantee release the employer from compensation liability for compensation in that case, but except that if for any reason a bond furnished or deposit made under sub. (1m) (d) does not fully protect the beneficiary of the bond or deposit, the compensation insurer or insured employer, as the case may be, shall still be liable to the that beneficiary of the bond or deposit.

SB21,2910 Section 2910. 102.32 (6) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1151,2 102.32 (6) (b) Subject to par. (d), if the employer or the employer's insurer concedes liability for an injury that results in permanent disability and if the extent of the permanent disability can be determined based on a minimum permanent disability rating promulgated by the department office by rule, compensation for permanent disability shall begin within 30 days after the end of the employee's healing period or the date on which compensation for temporary disability ends due to the employee's return to work, whichever is earlier.

SB21,2911 Section 2911. 102.32 (6) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1151,7 102.32 (6) (d) The department office shall promulgate rules for determining when compensation for permanent disability shall begin in cases in which the employer or the employer's insurer concedes liability, but disputes the extent of permanent disability.

SB21,2912 Section 2912. 102.32 (6) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1151,13 102.32 (6) (e) Payments for permanent disability, including payments based on minimum permanent disability ratings promulgated by the department office by rule, shall continue on a monthly basis and shall accrue and be payable between intermittent periods of temporary disability so long as the employer or insurer knows the nature of the permanent disability.

SB21,2913 Section 2913. 102.32 (6m) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1151,21 102.32 (6m) The department office may direct an advance on a payment of unaccrued compensation for permanent disability or death benefits if the department office determines that the advance payment is in the best interest of the injured employee or the employee's dependents. In directing the advance, the department office shall give the employer or the employer's insurer an interest credit against its liability. The credit shall be computed at 5 percent. An injured employee or dependent may receive no more than 3 advance payments per calendar year.

SB21,2914 Section 2914. 102.32 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1152,2 102.32 (7) No lump sum settlement shall be allowed in any case of permanent total disability upon an estimated life expectancy, except upon consent of all parties, after hearing and finding by the department division that the interests of the injured employee will be conserved thereby by the lump sum settlement.

SB21,2915 Section 2915. 102.33 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1152,4 102.33 (title) Department forms Forms and records; public access.

SB21,2916 Section 2916. 102.33 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1152,10 102.33 (1) The department office and the division shall print and furnish free to any employer or employee any blank forms that the department considers are necessary to facilitate efficient administration of this chapter. The department office and the division shall keep any record books or records that the department considers are necessary for the proper and efficient administration of this chapter.

SB21,2917 Section 2917. 102.33 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1152,15 102.33 (2) (a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c), the records of the department, and the records of the commission, the office, and the division related to the administration of this chapter are subject to inspection and copying under s. 19.35 (1).

SB21,2918 Section 2918. 102.33 (2) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1153,4 102.33 (2) (b) (intro.) Except as provided in this paragraph and par. (d), a record maintained by the department or by the commission , by the office, or by the division that reveals the identity of an employee who claims worker's compensation benefits, the nature of the employee's claimed injury, the employee's past or present medical condition, the extent of the employee's disability, or the amount, type, or duration of benefits paid to the employee and a record maintained by the department office that reveals any financial information provided to the department office by a self-insured employer or by an applicant for exemption under s. 102.28 (2) (b) are confidential and not open to public inspection or copying under s. 19.35 (1). The department or commission, the office, or the division may deny a request made under s. 19.35 (1) or, subject to s. 102.17 (2m) and (2s), refuse to honor a subpoena issued by an attorney of record in a civil or criminal action or special proceeding to inspect and copy a record that is confidential under this paragraph, unless one any of the following applies:

SB21,2919 Section 2919. 102.33 (2) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1153,10 102.33 (2) (b) 1. The requester is the employee who is the subject of the record or an attorney or authorized agent of that employee. An attorney or authorized agent of an employee who is the subject of a record shall provide a written authorization for inspection and copying from the employee if requested by the department or the commission, the office, or the division.

SB21,2920 Section 2920. 102.33 (2) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1153,24 102.33 (2) (b) 2. The record that is requested contains confidential information concerning a worker's compensation claim and the requester is an insurance carrier or employer that is a party to any worker's compensation claim involving the same employee or an attorney or authorized agent of that insurance carrier or employer, except that the department or the commission, the office, or the division is not required to do a random search of its records and may require the requester to provide the approximate date of the injury and any other relevant information that would assist the department or the commission, the office, or the division in finding the record requested. An attorney or authorized agent of an insurance carrier or employer that is a party to an employee's worker's compensation claim shall provide a written authorization for inspection and copying from the insurance carrier or employer if requested by the department or the commission, the office, or the division.

SB21,2921 Section 2921. 102.33 (2) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1154,8 102.33 (2) (b) 3. The record that is requested contains financial information provided by a self-insured employer or by an applicant for exemption under s. 102.28 (2) (b) and the requester is the self-insured employer or applicant for exemption or an attorney or authorized agent of the self-insured employer or applicant for exemption. An attorney or authorized agent of the self-insured employer or of the applicant for exemption shall provide a written authorization for inspection and copying from the self-insured employer or applicant for exemption if requested by the department office.

SB21,2922 Section 2922. 102.33 (2) (b) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1154,11 102.33 (2) (b) 4. A court of competent jurisdiction in this state orders the department or the commission, the office, or the division to release the record.

SB21,2923 Section 2923. 102.33 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1154,18 102.33 (2) (c) A record maintained by the department or the commission, the office, or the division that contains employer or insurer information obtained from the Wisconsin compensation rating bureau under s. 102.31 (8) or 626.32 (1) (a) is confidential and not open to public inspection or copying under s. 19.35 (1) unless the Wisconsin compensation rating bureau authorizes public inspection or copying of that information.

SB21,2924 Section 2924. 102.33 (2) (d) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1155,11 102.33 (2) (d) 2. The department or the commission, the office, or the division may release information that is confidential under par. (b) to a government unit, an institution of higher education, or a nonprofit research organization for purposes of research and may release information that is confidential under par. (c) to those persons for that purpose if the Wisconsin compensation rating bureau authorizes that release. A government unit, institution of higher education, or nonprofit research organization may not permit inspection or disclosure of any information released to it under this subdivision that is confidential under par. (b) unless the department or commission, the office, or the division authorizes that inspection or disclosure and may not permit inspection or disclosure of any information released to it under this subdivision that is confidential under par. (c) unless the department or commission, the office, or the division, and the Wisconsin compensation rating bureau, authorize the inspection or disclosure. A government unit, institution of higher education, or nonprofit research organization that obtains any confidential information under this subdivision for purposes of research shall provide the results of that research free of charge to the person that released or authorized the release of that information.

SB21,2925 Section 2925. 102.35 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1156,2 102.35 (1) Every employer and every insurance company that fails to keep the records or to make the reports required by this chapter or that knowingly falsifies such those records or makes false reports shall pay a work injury supplemental benefit surcharge to the state of not less than $10 nor more than $100 for each offense. The department office may waive or reduce a surcharge imposed under this subsection if the employer or insurance company that violated this subsection requests a waiver or reduction of the surcharge within 45 days after the date on which notice of the surcharge is mailed to the employer or insurance company and shows that the violation was due to mistake or an absence of information. A surcharge imposed under this subsection is due within 30 days after the date on which notice of the surcharge is mailed to the employer or insurance company. Interest shall accrue on amounts that are not paid when due at the rate of 1 percent per month. All surcharges and interest payments received under this subsection shall be deposited in the fund established under s. 102.65.

SB21,2926 Section 2926. 102.35 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1156,11 102.35 (2) Any employer, or duly authorized agent thereof of an employer, who, without reasonable cause, refuses to rehire an employee injured in the course of employment, or who, because of a claim or attempt to claim compensation benefits from such that employer, discriminates or threatens to discriminate against an employee as to the employee's employment, shall forfeit to the state not less than $50 nor more than $500 be subject to a forfeiture under s. 601.64 (3) (c) for each offense. No action under this subsection may be commenced except upon request of the department office.

SB21,2927 Section 2927. 102.35 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1156,22 102.35 (3) Any employer who without reasonable cause refuses to rehire an employee who is injured in the course of employment, where when suitable employment is available within the employee's physical and mental limitations, upon order of the department and in addition to other benefits division, has exclusive liability to pay to the employee, in addition to other benefits, the wages lost during the period of such that refusal, not exceeding one year's wages. In determining the availability of suitable employment, the continuance in business of the employer shall be considered and any written rules promulgated by the employer with respect to seniority or the provisions of any collective bargaining agreement with respect to seniority shall govern.

SB21,2928 Section 2928. 102.37 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1157,8 102.37 Employers' records. Every employer of 3 or more persons and every employer who is subject to this chapter shall keep a record of all accidents causing death or disability of any employee while performing services growing out of and incidental to the employment. This That record shall give the name, address, age, and wages of the deceased or injured employee, the time and causes of the accident, the nature and extent of the injury, and any other information the department office may require by rule or general order. Reports based upon this that record shall be furnished to the department office at such times and in such manner as the department office may require by rule or general order, in a format approved by the department office.

SB21,2929 Section 2929. 102.38 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1157,16 102.38 Records and reports of payments. Every insurance company that transacts the business of compensation insurance, and every employer who is subject to this chapter, but whose liability is not insured, shall keep a record of all payments made under this chapter and of the time and manner of making the payments and shall furnish reports based upon these records and any other information to the department office as the department office may require by rule or general order, in a format approved by the department office.

SB21,2930 Section 2930. 102.39 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1157,23 102.39 Rules and general orders; application of statutes. The provisions of s. 103.005 relating to the adoption, publication, modification, and court review of rules or general orders of the department shall of workforce development apply to all rules promulgated or general orders adopted by the office under this chapter in the same manner as those provisions apply to rules promulgated or general orders adopted by the department of workforce development.

SB21,2931 Section 2931. 102.40 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1158,4 102.40 Reports not evidence in actions. Reports furnished to the department pursuant to office under ss. 102.37 and 102.38 shall not be are not admissible as evidence in any action or proceeding arising out of the death or accident reported.

SB21,2932 Section 2932. 102.42 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1158,15 102.42 (1m) Liability for unnecessary treatment. If an employee who has sustained a compensable injury undertakes in good faith invasive treatment that is generally medically acceptable, but that is unnecessary, the employer shall pay disability indemnity for all disability incurred as a result of that treatment. An employer is not liable for disability indemnity for any disability incurred as a result of any unnecessary treatment undertaken in good faith that is noninvasive or not medically acceptable. This subsection applies to all findings that an employee has sustained a compensable injury, whether the finding results from a hearing, the default of a party, or a compromise or stipulation confirmed by the department division.

SB21,2933 Section 2933. 102.42 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1159,3 102.42 (6) Treatment rejected by employee. Unless the employee shall have has elected Christian Science treatment in lieu of medical, surgical, dental, or hospital treatment, no compensation shall be payable for the death or disability of an employee, if the death be is caused, or insofar as the disability may be aggravated, caused, or continued, by an unreasonable refusal or neglect to submit to or follow any competent and reasonable medical, surgical, or dental treatment or, in the case of tuberculosis, by refusal or neglect to submit to or follow hospital or medical treatment when found by the department division to be necessary. The right to compensation accruing during a period of refusal or neglect to submit to or follow hospital or medical treatment when found by the department division to be necessary in the case of tuberculosis shall be barred, irrespective of whether disability was aggravated, caused, or continued thereby by that refusal or neglect.

SB21,2934 Section 2934. 102.42 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1159,13 102.42 (8) Award to state employee. Whenever the division makes an award is made by the department in on behalf of a state employee, the department of workforce development division shall file duplicate copies of the award with the subunit of the the department of administration responsible for risk management. Upon receipt of the copies of the award, the department of administration shall promptly issue a voucher in payment of the award from the proper appropriation under s. 20.865 (1) (fm), (kr), or (ur), and shall transmit one copy of the voucher and the award to the officer, department, or agency by whom the affected employee is employed.

SB21,2935 Section 2935. 102.42 (9) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1159,17 102.42 (9) (a) One of the primary purposes of this chapter is restoration of an injured employee to gainful employment. To this end, the department office shall employ a specialist in physical, medical, and vocational rehabilitation.

SB21,2936 Section 2936. 102.42 (9) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1159,24 102.42 (9) (b) Such The specialist employed under par. (a) shall study the problems of rehabilitation, both physical and vocational and shall refer suitable cases to the department office for vocational evaluation and training. The specialist shall investigate and maintain a directory of such rehabilitation facilities, private and public, as are capable of rendering competent rehabilitation service to seriously injured employees.

SB21,2937 Section 2937. 102.425 (4m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1160,5 102.425 (4m) (a) The department office has jurisdiction under this subsection and s. 102.16 (1m) (c) and s. 102.17 to resolve a dispute between a pharmacist or practitioner and an employer or insurer over the reasonableness of the amount charged for a prescription drug dispensed under sub. (2) for outpatient use by an injured employee who claims benefits under this chapter.

SB21,2938 Section 2938. 102.425 (4m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1160,16 102.425 (4m) (b) An employer or insurer that disputes the reasonableness of the amount charged for a prescription drug dispensed under sub. (2) for outpatient use by an injured employee or the department division under sub. (4) (b) or s. 102.16 (1m) (c) or 102.18 (1) (bg) 3. shall provide, within 30 days after receiving a completed bill for the prescription drug, reasonable written notice to the pharmacist or practitioner that the charge is being disputed. After receiving reasonable written notice under this paragraph or under sub. (4) (b) or s. 102.16 (1m) (c) or 102.18 (1) (bg) 1. that a prescription drug charge is being disputed, a pharmacist or practitioner may not collect the disputed charge from, or bring an action for collection of the disputed charge against, the employee who received the prescription drug.

SB21,2939 Section 2939. 102.425 (4m) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1160,21 102.425 (4m) (c) A pharmacist or practitioner that receives notice under par. (b) that the reasonableness of the amount charged for a prescription drug dispensed under sub. (2) for outpatient use by an injured employee is in dispute shall file the dispute with the department office within 6 months after receiving that notice.

SB21,2940 Section 2940. 102.425 (4m) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1161,4 102.425 (4m) (d) The department office shall deny payment of a prescription drug charge that the department office determines under this subsection to be unreasonable. A pharmacist or practitioner and an employer or insurer that are parties to a dispute under this subsection over the reasonableness of a prescription drug charge are bound by the department's office's determination under this subsection on the reasonableness of the disputed charge, unless that determination is set aside on judicial review as provided in par. (e).

SB21,2941 Section 2941. 102.425 (4m) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1161,13 102.425 (4m) (e) Within 30 days after a determination under this subsection, the department office may set aside, reverse, or modify the determination for any reason that the department office considers sufficient. Within 60 days after a determination under this subsection, the department office may set aside, reverse, or modify the determination on grounds of mistake. A pharmacist, practitioner, employer, or insurer that is aggrieved by a determination of the department office under this subsection may seek judicial review of that determination in the same manner that compensation claims are reviewed under s. 102.23.

SB21,2942 Section 2942. 102.43 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1161,24 102.43 (5) (b) Except as provided in s. 102.61 (1g), temporary disability shall also include such period as the employee may be receiving instruction under s. 102.61 (1) or (1m). Temporary disability on account of receiving instruction under s. 102.61 (1) or (1m), and not otherwise resulting from the injury, shall not be in excess of 80 weeks. Such That 80-week limitation does not apply to temporary disability benefits under this section, the cost of tuition, fees, books, travel, or maintenance under s. 102.61 (1), or the cost of private rehabilitation counseling or rehabilitative training under s. 102.61 (1m) if the department office determines that additional training is warranted. The necessity for additional training as authorized by the department office for any employee shall be subject to periodic review and reevaluation.

SB21,2943 Section 2943. 102.44 (1) (ag) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,1162,10 102.44 (1) (ag) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, every employee who is receiving compensation under this chapter for permanent total disability or continuous temporary total disability more than 24 months after the date of injury resulting from an injury that occurred prior to January 1, 2001, shall receive supplemental benefits that shall be payable in the first instance by the employer or, subject to par. (c), the employer's insurance carrier, or in the case of benefits payable to an employee under s. 102.66, shall be paid by the department out of the fund created under s. 102.65. Those supplemental benefits shall be paid only for weeks of disability occurring after January 1, 2003, and shall continue during the period of such total disability subsequent to that date.

SB21,2944 Section 2944 . 102.44 (1) (ag) of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

SB21,1162,22 102.44 (1) (ag) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, every employee who is receiving compensation under this chapter for permanent total disability or continuous temporary total disability more than 24 months after the date of injury resulting from an injury that occurred prior to January 1, 2001, shall receive supplemental benefits that shall be payable by the employer or, subject to par. (c), the employer's insurance carrier, or in the case of benefits payable to an employee under s. 102.66, shall be paid by the department office out of the fund created under s. 102.65. Those supplemental benefits shall be paid only for weeks of disability occurring after January 1, 2003, and shall continue during the period of such total disability subsequent to that date.

SB21,2945 Section 2945. 102.44 (1) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 102.44 (1) (c) 1. and amended to read:

SB21,1163,9 102.44 (1) (c) 1. Subject to any certificate filed under s. 102.65 (4), an employer or An insurance carrier paying the supplemental benefits required under this subsection shall be entitled to reimbursement for each such case from the fund established by s. 102.65 worker's compensation operations fund, commencing one year after the date of the first payment of those benefits and annually thereafter while those payments continue. To receive reimbursement under this paragraph, an employer or insurance carrier must file a claim for that reimbursement with the department by no later than 12 months after the end of the year in which the supplemental benefits were paid and the claim must be approved by the department.

SB21,2946 Section 2946. 102.44 (1) (c) 1. of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

SB21,1163,19 102.44 (1) (c) 1. An insurance carrier paying the supplemental benefits required under this subsection shall be entitled to reimbursement for each such case from the worker's compensation operations fund, commencing one year after the date of the first payment of those benefits and annually thereafter while those payments continue. To receive reimbursement under this paragraph, an insurance carrier must file a claim for that reimbursement with the department office by no later than 12 months after the end of the year in which the supplemental benefits were paid and the claim must be approved by the department office.

SB21,2947 Section 2947. 102.44 (1) (c) 2. of the statutes is created to read: