LRB-2948/2
DAK&PJK:jlg:km
1999 - 2000 LEGISLATURE
August 17, 1999 - Introduced by Joint Legislative Council. Referred to
Committee on Health.
AB428,1,8 1An Act to renumber 146.84 (2) (a) to (c); to renumber and amend 51.30 (10),
2146.84 (2) (intro.) and 610.70 (7); to amend 51.30 (9) (a) and (b), 146.84 (1) (a),
3146.84 (1) (b), 252.15 (8) (a), 252.15 (9) and 895.85 (2); and to create 51.30 (9)
4(title), 51.30 (10) (b), 146.84 (1) (bm), 146.84 (2) (b), 252.15 (10) and 610.70 (7)
5(b) of the statutes; relating to: penalties and damages for violations of
6confidentiality laws for patient health care records, mental health court and
7treatment records, human immunodeficiency virus test results and insurer
8personal medical information.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill is explained in the Notes provided by the joint legislative council in
the bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
Prefatory note: This bill was prepared for the joint legislative council's special
committee on telemedicine issues. The bill modifies statutory provisions that provide

penalties and damages for violations of statutes that relate to mental health records,
general patient health care records, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) test results
and medical information held by insurers.
Mental Health Records
Current s. 51.30, stats., provides for confidentiality of, and access to, mental health
records. Current sub. (9) provides that a person violating the statutes is liable to any
person damaged by a result of the violation for such damages as may be proved, together
with exemplary damages of not less than $200 for each violation and such costs and
reasonable actual attorney fees as may be incurred. The custodian incurs no liability for
release of records in accordance with this section while acting in good faith. In addition,
if the violator acted in a manner that is knowing and wilful, the violator is liable for
exemplary damages of not less that $1,000 for each violation. This bill modifies the
provision that allows for exemplary damages of not less than $200 to provide instead for
exemplary damages of not more than $10,000. In addition, the provision that allows for
exemplary damages of not less than $1,000 for knowing and wilful violations is modified
to state that the exemplary damages may not be more than $25,000.
Current sub. (10) provides criminal penalties for a person who: (1) requests or
obtains confidential information under false pretenses; (2) discloses confidential
information with the knowledge that the disclosure is unlawful and is not reasonably
necessary to protect another from harm; or (3) violates the provision regarding
intentionally falsifying a record, concealing or withholding a record or intentionally
destroying or damaging records. The current penalty for a person who does so is a fine
of not more than $1,000, imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both. This bill
modifies the penalties to be a fine of not more than $25,000, imprisonment for not more
than 9 months, or both. The bill also creates a new provision that states that whoever
negligently discloses confidential information is subject to a forfeiture of not more than
$1,000.
Patient Health Care Records
Current ss. 146.81 to 146.84, stats., set forth general provisions related to
confidentiality of, and access to, patient health care records. Current s. 146.84, stats.,
relates to damages and penalties for violations of those statutes. A custodian of records
incurs no liability for release of records in accordance with the statutes while acting in
good faith. Current sub. (1) (b) provides that any person who violates the statutes in a
manner that is knowing and wilful is liable to the person injured as a result of the
violation for actual damages and exemplary damages of $1,000. This bill modifies the
statutory provision to state that the person is liable for actual damages, exemplary
damages of not more than $25,000 and costs and reasonable actual attorney fees. The
bill also creates a new provision that states that any person who negligently violates those
statutes is liable for actual damages, exemplary damages of not more than $10,000 and
costs and reasonable attorney fees.
Current sub. (2) provides criminal penalties for a person who: (1) requests or
obtains confidential information under false pretenses; (2) discloses confidential
information with the knowledge that the disclosure is unlawful and is not reasonably
necessary to protect another from harm; or (3) violates the provision regarding
intentionally falsifying a patient health care record, concealing or withholding a patient
health care record or intentionally destroying or damaging health care records. The
current penalty for a person who does so is a fine of not more than $1,000, imprisonment
for not more than 6 months, or both. The bill modifies the penalties to be a fine of not more
than $25,000, imprisonment for not more 9 months, or both. The bill also creates a new
provision that states that whoever negligently discloses confidential information is
subject to a forfeiture of not more than $1,000.
HIV Test Results
Current s. 252.15, stats., sets forth provisions regarding informed consent for HIV
tests and confidentiality of, and access to, test results.

Current sub. (8) states that whoever violates those provisions is liable to the
subject of the test for actual damages and costs, plus exemplary damages of up to $1,000
for a negligent violation and up to $5,000 for an intentional violation. The bill modifies
the statutory provision to state that the person is liable to the test subject for actual
damages, costs and reasonable actual attorney fees, plus exemplary damages of up to
$10,000 for a negligent violation and up to $25,000 for an intentional violation.
Current sub. (9) states that whoever intentionally discloses HIV test results in
violation of the statutes and thereby causes bodily harm or psychological harm to the test
subject may be fined not more than $10,000, imprisoned for not more than 9 months, or
both. This bill modifies the amount of the fine to be not more than $25,000. In addition,
the bill provides that whoever negligently discloses the results of an HIV test in violation
of the statute is subject to a forfeiture of not more than $1,000. The bill also creates a
provision, similar to provisions in current law regarding mental health records and
general patient health care records, that states that an employe of the state or a political
subdivision of the state who violates s. 252.15, stats., may be discharged or suspended
without pay.
Insurer Records
Current s. 610.70, stats., relates to disclosure of personal medical information by
insurers. Current sub. (7) states that any person who knowingly and wilfully obtains
information about an individual from an insurer or insurance support organization under
false pretenses may be fined not more than $10,000, imprisoned for not more than one
year in the county jail, or both. This bill modifies the penalty to provide that such a person
may not be fined more than $25,000, imprisoned for not more than 9 months, or both. In
addition, the bill creates a provision that states that such a person is liable to the
individual for actual damages, exemplary damages of not more than $25,000 and costs
and reasonable actual attorney fees.
AB428, s. 1 1Section 1. 51.30 (9) (title) of the statutes is created to read:
AB428,3,22 51.30 (9) (title) Actions for violations; damages; injunction.
AB428, s. 2 3Section 2. 51.30 (9) (a) and (b) of the statutes are amended to read:
AB428,3,104 51.30 (9) (a) Any person, including the state or any political subdivision of the
5state, violating this section shall be liable to any person damaged as a result of the
6violation for such damages as may be proved, together with exemplary damages of
7not less more than $200 $10,000 for each violation and such costs and reasonable
8actual attorney fees as may be incurred by the person damaged. A custodian of
9records incurs no liability under this paragraph for the release of records in
10accordance with this section while acting in good faith.
AB428,4,311 (b) In any action brought under par. (a) in which the court determines that the
12violator acted in a manner that was knowing and wilful, the violator shall be liable
13for such damages as may be proved together with exemplary damages of not less

1more than $1,000 $25,000 for each violation, together with costs and reasonable
2actual attorney fees as may be incurred. It is not a prerequisite to an action under
3this subsection that the plaintiff suffer or be threatened with actual damages.
AB428, s. 3 4Section 3. 51.30 (10) of the statutes is renumbered 51.30 (10) (a), and 51.30
5(10) (a) (intro.), as renumbered, is amended to read:
AB428,4,76 51.30 (10) (a) (intro.) Whoever does any of the following may be fined not more
7than $1,000 $25,000 or imprisoned for not more than 6 9 months or both:
AB428, s. 4 8Section 4. 51.30 (10) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
AB428,4,109 51.30 (10) (b) Whoever negligently discloses confidential information under
10this section is subject to a forfeiture of not more than $1,000 for each violation.
AB428, s. 5 11Section 5. 146.84 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB428,4,1412 146.84 (1) (a) A custodian of records incurs no liability under this paragraph
13par. (bm) for the release of records in accordance with s. 146.82 or 146.83 while acting
14in good faith.
AB428, s. 6 15Section 6. 146.84 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB428,4,2016 146.84 (1) (b) Any person, including the state or any political subdivision of the
17state, who violates s. 146.82 or 146.83 in a manner that is knowing and wilful shall
18be liable to any person injured as a result of the violation for actual damages to that
19person;, exemplary damages of $1,000 in an action under this paragraph not more
20than $25,000 and costs and reasonable actual attorney fees
.
AB428, s. 7 21Section 7. 146.84 (1) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:
AB428,4,2522 146.84 (1) (bm) Any person, including the state or any political subdivision of
23the state, who negligently violates s. 146.82 or 146.83 shall be liable to any person
24injured as a result of the violation for actual damages to that person, exemplary
25damages of not more than $10,000 and costs and reasonable actual attorney fees.
AB428, s. 8
1Section 8. 146.84 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 146.84 (2) (a)
2(intro.) and amended to read:
AB428,5,43 146.84 (2) (a) (intro.) Whoever does any of the following may be fined not more
4than $1,000 $25,000 or imprisoned for not more than 6 9 months or both:
AB428, s. 9 5Section 9. 146.84 (2) (a) to (c) of the statutes are renumbered 146.84 (2) (a) 1.
6to 3.
AB428, s. 10 7Section 10. 146.84 (2) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
AB428,5,108 146.84 (2) (b) Whoever negligently discloses confidential information in
9violation of s. 146.82 is subject to a forfeiture of not more than $1,000 for each
10violation.
AB428, s. 11 11Section 11. 252.15 (8) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB428,5,1512 252.15 (8) (a) Any person violating sub. (2), (5) (a), (5m), (6) or (7) (c) is liable
13to the subject of the test for actual damages and, costs and reasonable actual attorney
14fees
, plus exemplary damages of up to $1,000 $10,000 for a negligent violation and
15up to $5,000 $25,000 for an intentional violation.
AB428, s. 12 16Section 12. 252.15 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB428,5,2217 252.15 (9) Criminal penalty Penalties. Whoever intentionally discloses the
18results of a blood test in violation of sub. (2) (a) 7m., (5) (a) or (5m) and thereby causes
19bodily harm or psychological harm to the subject of the test may be fined not more
20than $10,000 $25,000 or imprisoned not more than 9 months or both. Whoever
21negligently discloses the results of a blood test in violation of sub. (2) (a) 7m., (5) (a)
22or (5m) is subject to a forfeiture of not more than $1,000 for each violation.
AB428, s. 13 23Section 13. 252.15 (10) of the statutes is created to read:
AB428,6,3
1252.15 (10) Discipline of employes. Any employe of the state or a political
2subdivision of the state who violates this section may be discharged or suspended
3without pay.
AB428, s. 14 4Section 14. 610.70 (7) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 231,
5is renumbered 610.70 (7) (a) and amended to read:
AB428,6,96 610.70 (7) (a) Any person who knowingly and wilfully obtains information
7about an individual from an insurer or insurance support organization under false
8pretenses may be fined not more than $10,000 $25,000 or imprisoned for not more
9than one year in the county jail 9 months or both.
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