895.485 (title) Civil liability exemption; agencies, foster parents, treatment foster parents and family-operated group home parents.
28,3274
Section
3274. 895.485 (1) (c) of the statutes is repealed.
28,3275
Section
3275. 895.485 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
895.485 (2) (intro.) Except as provided in ss. 167.10 (7) and 343.15 (2), any foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent licensed under s. 48.62 or 48.625 is immune from civil liability for any of the following:
28,3276
Section
3276. 895.485 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
895.485 (2) (a) An act or omission of the foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent while that parent is acting in his or her capacity as a foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent.
28,3277
Section
3277. 895.485 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
895.485 (2) (b) An act or omission of a child who is placed in a foster home, treatment foster home or family-operated group home while the child is in the foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent's care.
28,3278
Section
3278. 895.485 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
895.485 (3) The immunity specified in sub. (2) does not apply if the act or omission of a foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent was not done in good faith or was not in compliance with any written instructions, received from the agency that placed the child, regarding specific care and supervision of the child. The good faith of a foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent and the compliance of the foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent with any written instructions received from the agency that placed the child are presumed in a civil action. Any person who asserts that a foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent did not act in good faith, or did not comply with written instructions received from the agency that placed the child, has the burden of proving that assertion.
28,3279
Section
3279. 895.485 (4) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
895.485 (4) (intro.) Any agency that acts in good faith in placing a child with a foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent is immune from civil liability for any act or omission of the agency, the foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent, or the child unless all of the following occur:
28,3280
Section
3280. 895.485 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
895.485 (4) (a) The agency has failed to provide the foster, treatment foster. or family-operated group home parent with any information relating to a medical, physical, mental, or emotional condition of the child that it is required to disclose under this paragraph. The department of children and families shall promulgate rules specifying the kind of information that an agency shall disclose to a foster, treatment foster, or family-operated group home parent which that relates to a medical, physical, mental, or emotional condition of the child.
28,3283g
Section 3283g. 895.61 of the statutes is created to read:
895.61 Asbestos successor corporation; limitation on liability. (1) Definitions. In this section:
(a) "Asbestos claim" means a claim for damages, losses, indemnification, contribution, or other relief arising out of or related in any way to asbestos, including all of the following:
1. A claim related to the health effects of exposure to asbestos, including a claim related to any of the following:
a. Personal injury or death.
b. Mental or emotional injury.
c. Increased risk of disease or other injury.
d. Costs of medical monitoring or surveillance.
2. A claim made by or on behalf of any person exposed to asbestos, or by a spouse, parent, child, or other relative of the person.
3. A claim related to the installation, presence, or removal of asbestos.
(b) "Corporation" means a domestic corporation for profit organized under the laws of this state or a foreign corporation for profit organized under laws other than the laws of this state.
(c) 1. "Successor asbestos-related liability" means any liability that is related to an asbestos claim and that was assumed or incurred by a corporation as a result of or in connection with any of the following:
a. A merger or consolidation with a transferor.
b. The plan of merger or consolidation with a transferor related to the merger or consolidation with or into another corporation.
c. An asbestos claim based on the exercise of control or ownership of stock or a corporation before the merger or consolidation with a transferor.
2. "Successor asbestos-related liability" includes liability that, after the time of the merger or consolidation with a transferor for which the fair market value of the total gross assets of the successor corporation was determined under sub. (4), was paid, discharged, or committed to be paid or discharged by or on behalf of the corporation, successor corporation, or transferor in connection with a settlement, judgment, or discharge in this state or in another jurisdiction.
(d) "Successor corporation" means a corporation that has assumed or incurred successor asbestos-related liabilities before January 1, 1972, or that is any of that successor corporation's successors.
(e) "Total gross assets" includes intangible assets.
(f) "Transferor" means a corporation from which a successor asbestos-related liability is or was assumed or incurred.
(2) Applicability. (a) The limitations in sub. (3) apply to any successor corporation, except as provided in par (b).
(b) The limitations in sub. (3) do not apply to any of the following:
1. Worker's compensation benefits paid under ch. 102 or a comparable worker's compensation law of another jurisdiction.
2. Any claim against a successor corporation that does not constitute a successor asbestos-related liability.
3. Any obligation under
29 USC 151, et seq., or under any collective bargaining agreement.
4. A successor corporation that, after a merger or consolidation with a transferor, continued in the business of mining asbestos, selling or distributing asbestos fibers, or manufacturing, distributing, removing, or installing asbestos-containing products that were the same or substantially the same as those products that were previously manufactured, distributed, removed, or installed by the transferor.
(3) Measure of liability. (a) Except as provide in par. (b), the cumulative successor asbestos-related liabilities of a successor corporation are limited to the fair market value of the total gross assets of the transferor determined as of the time of the merger or consolidation with the successor corporation. Subject to par. (b), the successor corporation does not have responsibility for any successor asbestos-related liabilities in excess of this limitation.
(b) If the transferor to the successor corporation had assumed or incurred successor asbestos-related liability in connection with a prior merger or consolidation with a prior transferor, then the fair market value of the total assets of the prior transferor determined as of the time of the earlier merger or consolidation is substituted for the limitation under par. (a) for purposes of determining the limitation on liability of the successor corporation.
(4) Establishing the fair market value of total gross assets. (a) A successor corporation may establish the fair market value of total gross assets for purposes of the limitations under sub. (3) by any reasonable method, including any of the following:
1. By reference to the going concern value of the assets.
2. By reference to the purchase price attributable to or paid for the assets in an arms-length transaction.
3. In the absence of other readily available information from which the fair market value can be determined, by reference to the value of the assets recorded on a balance sheet.
(b) To the extent that total gross assets include liability insurance that was issued to the transferor whose assets are being valued under this subsection, the applicability, terms, conditions, and limits of the insurance are not affected by this section. This section does not affect the rights and obligations of an insurer, transferor, or successor corporation under any insurance contract or related agreement, including all of the following:
1. A preenactment settlement resolving a coverage-related dispute.
2. The right of an insurer to seek payment for applicable deductibles, retrospective premiums, or self-insured retentions.
3. The right of an insurer to seek contribution from a successor corporation for an uninsured or self-insured period or for a period when insurance is uncollectible or unavailable.
(c) Subject to par. (b), to the extent that total gross assets include any liability insurance, a settlement of a dispute concerning the liability insurance coverage entered into by the transferor or successor corporation with the insurer of the transferor before the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], shall be determinative of the total coverage of the liability insurance for inclusion in the calculation of the transferor's total gross assets.
(5) Adjustment of fair market value. (a) Except as provided in pars. (b) to (d), the fair market value of the total gross assets at the time of the merger or consolidation with the transferor shall increase annually at a rate equal to the sum of the following:
1. The weekly prime rate for the first week of each calendar year since the merger or consolidation, as reported by the federal reserve board in federal reserve statistical release H. 15.
2. One percent.
(b) The rate under par. (a) may not be compounded.
(c) The adjustment of the fair market value of the total gross assets shall continue as provided in par. (a) until the date that the adjusted fair market value of the total gross assets is first exceeded by the cumulative amounts of successor asbestos-related liabilities paid or committed to be paid by or on behalf of the successor corporation or a predecessor of the successor corporation or by or on behalf of a transferor after the time of the merger or consolidation for which the fair market value of the total gross assets is determined.
(d) No adjustment of the fair market value of total gross assets may be applied to any liability insurance that is included in the definition of total gross assets under sub. (4) (b).
(6) Liberal construction intended. This section shall be liberally construed to effect its purposes with regard to successor corporations.
28,3284
Section
3284. 905.05 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
905.05 (title) Husband-wife and domestic partner privilege.
28,3285
Section
3285. 905.05 (1), (2) and (3) (a), (b), (c) and (d) of the statutes are amended to read:
905.05 (1) General rule of privilege. A person has a privilege to prevent the person's spouse or former spouse or domestic partner or former domestic partner from testifying against the person as to any private communication by one to the other made during their marriage or domestic partnership. As used in this section, "domestic partner" means a domestic partner under ch. 770.
(2) Who may claim the privilege. The privilege may be claimed by the person or by the spouse or domestic partner on the person's behalf. The authority of the spouse or domestic partner to do so is presumed in the absence of evidence to the contrary.
(3) (a) If both spouses or former spouses or domestic partners or former domestic partners are parties to the action.
(b) In proceedings in which one spouse or former spouse or domestic partner or former domestic partner is charged with a crime against the person or property of the other or of a child of either, or with a crime against the person or property of a 3rd person committed in the course of committing a crime against the other.
(c) In proceedings in which a spouse or former spouse or domestic partner or former domestic partner is charged with a crime of pandering or prostitution.
(d) If one spouse or former spouse or domestic partner or former domestic partner has acted as the agent of the other and the private communication relates to matters within the scope of the agency.
28,3285gb
Section 3285gb. 908.03 (6m) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
908.03 (6m) (title) Health
Patient health care provider records.
28,3285gc
Section 3285gc. 908.03 (6m) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 908.03 (6m) (a) (intro.) and amended to read:
908.03 (6m) (a) Definition. (intro.) In this subsection, "health:
1. Health care provider" means a massage therapist or bodyworker issued a certificate under ch. 460, a chiropractor licensed under ch. 446, a dentist licensed under ch. 447, a physician assistant licensed under ch. 448, or a health care provider as defined has the meanings given in s. ss. 146.81 (1) and 655.001 (8).
28,3285ge
Section 3285ge. 908.03 (6m) (a) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
908.03 (6m) (a) 2. "Patient health care records" has the meaning given in s. 146.81 (4).
28,3285gg
Section 3285gg. 908.03 (6m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
908.03 (6m) (b) Authentication witness unnecessary. A custodian or other qualified witness required by sub. (6) is unnecessary if the party who intends to offer patient health care provider records into evidence at a trial or hearing does one of the following at least 40 days before the trial or hearing:
1. Serves upon all appearing parties an accurate, legible and complete duplicate of the patient health care provider records for a stated period certified by the record custodian.
2. Notifies all appearing parties that an accurate, legible and complete duplicate of the patient health care provider records for a stated period certified by the record custodian is available for inspection and copying during reasonable business hours at a specified location within the county in which the trial or hearing will be held.
28,3285gh
Section 3285gh. 908.03 (6m) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:
908.03 (6m) (bm) Presumption. Billing statements or invoices that are patient health care records are presumed to state the reasonable value of the health care services provided and the health care services provided are presumed to be reasonable and necessary to the care of the patient. Any party attempting to rebut the presumption of the reasonable value of the health care services provided may not present evidence of payments made or benefits conferred by collateral sources.
28,3285gi
Section 3285gi. 908.03 (6m) (c) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
908.03 (6m) (c) Subpoena limitations. (intro.) Health Patient health care provider records are subject to subpoena only if one of the following conditions exists:
28,3285gk
Section 3285gk. 908.03 (6m) (c) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
908.03 (6m) (c) 3. If upon a properly authorized request of an attorney, the health care provider refuses, fails, or neglects to supply within 2 business days a legible certified duplicate of its records for the fees established under par. (d) s. 146.83 (1f) (c) or (d) or (1h) (b) or (c), whichever are applicable.
28,3285gm
Section 3285gm. 908.03 (6m) (d) of the statutes is repealed.
28,3285p
Section 3285p. 909.02 (11) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
909.02 (11) (title) Health
Patient health care provider records.
28,3286
Section 3286. 911.01 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
911.01 (4) (c) Miscellaneous proceedings. Proceedings for extradition or rendition; sentencing, granting or revoking probation, modification of a bifurcated sentence under s. 302.113 (9g) 302.1135, adjustment of a bifurcated sentence under s. 973.195 (1r), release to extended supervision under s. 302.113 (2) (b) or 304.06 (1) or discharge under s. 973.01 (4m), issuance of arrest warrants, criminal summonses and search warrants; hearings under s. 980.09 (2); proceedings under s. 971.14 (1) (c); proceedings with respect to pretrial release under ch. 969 except where habeas corpus is utilized with respect to release on bail or as otherwise provided in ch. 969.
28,3287
Section
3287. 938.02 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
