AB530: Bill Text

2007 - 2008 LEGISLATURE

2007 Assembly BILL 530

October 4, 2007 - Introduced by Representatives Zepnick, Parisi, Grigsby, Fields, Turner, Sheridan, Sinicki, A. Williams and Benedict, cosponsored by Senator Taylor. Referred to Committee on State Affairs.

AB530,1,5 An Act to renumber and amend 230.35 (4) (b) and 230.35 (4) (c); to amend 6.76 (1); and to create 230.35 (4) (a) 5m., 230.35 (4) (b) 2. and 230.35 (4) (c) 2. of the statutes; relating to: leave provided to employees for voting on election day and granting certain state employees a holiday on the day of the general election.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Currently, every employer, including the state and local governments, must grant to its employees at least three successive hours off work on election day for the purpose of permitting the employees to vote. To take advantage of this right, an employee must provide notice to his or her employer no later than the day before election day, and the employer may designate the time at which the employee is permitted to take off work. No penalty may be enforced against an employee for exercising this right, except that an employee is not entitled to be paid for time not worked. This bill increases the minimum time off that employers must grant to employees for voting to eight successive hours. The bill also deletes authority for an employer to designate the time at which an employee is permitted to take off work.

Under current law, nonrepresented state employees receive a total of nine paid holidays annually, while represented employees receive the paid holidays provided for in their collective bargaining agreements. This bill provides that the Tuesday that falls after the first Monday in November in each even-numbered year is a day on which the offices of state government are closed. In addition, the bill increases the number of paid holidays for most nonrepresented state employees from nine to ten days, but does not do so for those nonrepresented state employees who are required by their appointing authorities to work on the Tuesday that falls after the first Monday in November in each even-numbered year and whose duties on that day do not involve election administration. Represented state employees continue to have the paid holidays provided for in their collective bargaining agreements.

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:

AB530, s. 1 Section 1. 6.76 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB530,2,5 6.76 (1) Any person entitled to vote at an election is entitled to be absent from work while the polls are open for a period not to exceed 3 8 successive hours to vote. The elector shall notify the affected employer before election day of the intended absence. The employer may designate the time of day for the absence.

AB530, s. 2 Section 2. 230.35 (4) (a) 5m. of the statutes is created to read:

AB530,2,8 230.35 (4) (a) 5m. In each even-numbered year, the Tuesday that falls after the first Monday in November.

AB530, s. 3 Section 3. 230.35 (4) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 230.35 (4) (b) 1. and amended to read:

AB530,2,14 230.35 (4) (b) 1. Compensatory Except as provided in subd. 2., compensatory time off or payment, either of which shall be at the rate of time and one-half, shall be granted to state employees for all work performed on the holidays enumerated in par. (a) 1. to 9.

AB530, s. 4 Section 4. 230.35 (4) (b) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

AB530,3,2 230.35 (4) (b) 2. An employee who is required by his or her appointing authority to work on the holiday enumerated in par. (a) 5m. and whose duties on that day do not involve election administration may not receive compensatory time off or payment for work performed on that holiday.

AB530, s. 5 Section 5. 230.35 (4) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 230.35 (4) (c) 1. and amended to read:

AB530,3,7 230.35 (4) (c) 1. All employees, except limited term employees and employees specified in subd. 2., shall receive 9 10 paid holidays annually in addition to any other authorized paid leave, the time to be at the discretion of the appointing authorities.

AB530, s. 6 Section 6. 230.35 (4) (c) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

AB530,3,13 230.35 (4) (c) 2. An employee who is required by his or her appointing authority to work on the day specified in par. (a) 5m. and whose duties on that day do not involve election administration shall receive 9 paid holidays annually in addition to any other authorized paid leave, the time to be at the discretion of the appointing authorities.

AB530,3,14 (End)