Wisconsin Legislature: 55,2715m

55,2714 Section 2714. 101.63 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

101.63 (1) (intro.) Adopt rules which establish standards for the construction and inspection of one- and 2-family dwellings and components thereof. Where feasible, the standards used shall be those nationally recognized and shall apply to the dwelling and to its electrical, heating, ventilating, air conditioning and other systems, including plumbing, as defined in s. 145.01 (10). No set of rules may be adopted which has not taken into account the conservation of energy in construction and maintenance of dwellings and the costs of specific code provisions to home buyers in relationship to the benefits derived from the provisions. Rules promulgated under this subsection do not apply to a bed and breakfast establishment, as defined under s. 254.61 (1) 97.01 (1g), except that the rules apply to all of the following:

55,2714m Section 2714m. 101.642 of the statutes is renumbered 101.642 (1).

55,2714n Section 2714n. 101.642 (2) of the statutes is created to read:

101.642 (2) The department may not promulgate or enforce a rule that requires that any one- or 2-family dwelling contain an automatic fire sprinkler system, as defined in s. 145.01 (2).

55,2715 Section 2715. 101.647 (1) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:

101.647 (1) (am) Notwithstanding s. 101.61 (1), "dwelling" does not include a tourist rooming house, as defined in s. 254.61 (6) 97.01 (15k).

55,2715m Section 2715m. 101.648 of the statutes is created to read:

101.648 Waiver; smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector requirements; plumbing and electrical standards. (1) In this section:

(a) "Building permit" means a permit that authorizes the construction or occupancy of a one- or 2-family dwelling.

(b) "Dwelling construction standard" means a requirement imposed under s. 101.645 (3) or 101.647 (3) or a requirement imposed under any provision of ch.101 or 145 or under any ordinance of a political subdivision relating to standards for electrical wiring or plumbing in one- and 2-family dwellings.

(2) Except as provided in sub. (9), a person who is issued a waiver from a requirement to comply with a dwelling construction standard under this section is not required to comply with that standard.

(3) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), a person is eligible to obtain a waiver from the requirement to comply with a dwelling construction standard if the person submits a signed application form requesting the waiver to the political subdivision that is responsible for issuing building permits for dwellings. The application shall include an attachment containing the address or other identifying information that describes the location of the dwelling and specifying the dwelling construction standard from which the person seeks a compliance waiver.

(b) If the department issues building permits for dwellings in a political subdivision, a person applying for the waiver shall submit the application to the department.

(4) The department shall prescribe and furnish a waiver application form to each political subdivision that issues building permits for dwellings. The form shall be written in simple and plain language and shall list, in a check-off format, each of the following statements:

(a) The person's religious beliefs and the established tenets or teachings of the religious sect of which the person is a member conflict with one or more dwelling construction standards.

(b) The dwelling for which the waiver is requested will be used solely as a residence for the person or members of the person's household.

(c) The waiver is requested based upon the long-established tenets and teachings of the religious sect of which the person is a member and the religious sect did not establish these tenets and teachings solely to avoid compliance with dwelling construction standards.

(d) The person agrees to modify the dwelling for which the waiver is requested to comply with dwelling construction standards if the person ceases to adhere to the tenets or teachings of the religious sect of which the person is a member and upon which the waiver is requested.

(5) A political subdivision that issues building permits and that receives a completed and signed waiver application form shall promptly issue a waiver to the applicant if all of the following apply:

(a) The political subdivision has no reason to believe that the statements provided by the applicant on the waiver application form are untrue.

(b) The political subdivision is satisfied that the waiver will not result in an unreasonable risk of harm to public health or safety.

(6) A political subdivision that finds that an applicant is not entitled to receive a waiver under this section shall promptly notify the department of its finding together with a description of the political subdivision's basis for its finding. If the department agrees with the political subdivision's finding, it shall deny the waiver and notify the applicant that the waiver is denied. If the department disagrees with the political subdivision's finding, it shall issue the waiver to the applicant and notify the political subdivision that the department has issued the waiver. Upon receipt of the notice, the political subdivision shall waive the applicant's requirement to comply with the dwelling construction standards specified in the waiver.

(7) A person is entitled to obtain a waiver under this section before, during, or after construction of a one- or 2-family dwelling.

(8) Neither a municipality nor the department may charge a person a fee to apply for or to receive a waiver under this section.

(9) A waiver issued under this section is invalid if the political subdivision that issued the waiver or the department find that any of the following applies:

(a) A statement on the waiver form submitted by the person to whom the waiver was issued is untrue.

(b) The basis upon which the waiver was issued no longer applies.

(c) The dwelling is occupied by a person who does not hold the religious beliefs that form the basis for issuing the waiver.

(10) Neither the department nor a political subdivision may take any enforcement action, nor proceed with any enforcement action initiated on or before the effective date of this subsection .... [LRB inserts date], against a person with respect to a dwelling construction standard if the person has a valid waiver issued under this section that waives compliance with the requirement.

55,2716 Section 2716. 101.654 (1m) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

101.654 (1m) (e) The continuing education approved by the department under par. (b) 1. shall include courses offered by private organizations with whom the department contracts under s. 101.657. The department may approve continuing education courses that are offered by other states.

55,2717 Section 2717. 101.657 of the statutes is repealed.

55,2717m Section 2717m. 101.66 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

101.66 (1) Except as provided in sub. subs. (1m) and (1r), every builder, designer, and owner shall use building materials, methods, and equipment which are in conformance with the one- and 2-family dwelling code.

55,2718d Section 2718d. 101.66 (1r) of the statutes is created to read:

101.66 (1r) A builder, designer, or owner is not required to comply with those requirements of the one- and 2-family dwelling code for which a waiver is issued under s. 101.648.

55,2718f Section 2718f. 101.86 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

101.86 (1) (a) Enact an electrical code or otherwise exercise jurisdiction over electrical wiring and inspection of electrical wiring by enactment of ordinances. An ordinance enacted under this paragraph may not be less restrictive than this subchapter, provided that the electrical code or ordinance strictly conforms with the state electrical wiring code promulgated by the department under s. 101.82 (1). A county ordinance shall apply in any city, village or town which has not enacted such an ordinance.

55,2718g Section 2718g. 101.862 (4) (p) of the statutes is created to read:

101.862 (4) (p) A person engaged in installing, repairing, or maintaining a private on-site wastewater treatment system, as defined in s. 145.01 (12), if the activity only involves installing or modifying a conductor going from the system's junction, pull, or device box to the nearest disconnecting point and the conductor is buried with the system.

55,2718h Section 2718h. 101.862 (4) (q) of the statutes is created to read:

101.862 (4) (q) A person engaged in installing, repairing, or maintaining a pump for a well if the activity only involves installing or modifying a conductor going from the pump's junction, pull, or device box to the nearest disconnecting point and the conductor is buried with the pump.

55,2720 Section 2720 . 101.935 (2) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

101.935 (2) (e) Section 254.69 (2) 97.615 (2), as it applies to an agent for the department of health services agriculture, trade and consumer protection in the administration of s. 254.47 97.67, applies to an agent for the department of safety and professional services in the administration of this section.

55,2724m Section 2724m. 101.972 of the statutes is repealed.

55,2725m Section 2725m. 101.974 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

101.974 (2) Promulgate the rules under this subchapter after consultation with the multifamily dwelling code council.

55,2727 Section 2727. 102.01 (2) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 102.01 (2) (af).

55,2728 Section 2728. 102.01 (2) (ad) of the statutes is created to read:

102.01 (2) (ad) "Administrator" means the administrator of the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration.

55,2731 Section 2731. 102.01 (2) (ar) of the statutes is created to read:

102.01 (2) (ar) "Division" means the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration.

55,2735d Section 2735d. 102.01 (2) (dm) of the statutes is amended to read:

102.01 (2) (dm) "Order" means any decision, rule, regulation, direction, requirement, or standard of the department or the division, or any other determination arrived at or decision made by the department or the division.

55,2744d Section 2744d. 102.07 (8) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

102.07 (8) (c) The department division may not admit in evidence any state or federal laws, regulations, documents law, regulation, or document granting operating authority, or licenses license when determining whether an independent contractor meets the conditions specified in par. (b) 1. or 3.

55,2746 Section 2746. 102.07 (12m) of the statutes is renumbered 102.07 (12m) (b) and amended to read:

102.07 (12m) (b) A student of a public school, as described in s. 115.01 (1), or a private school, as defined in s. 115.001 (3r), or an institution of higher education, while he or she is engaged in performing services as part of a school work training, work experience, or work study program, and who is not on the payroll of an employer that is providing the work training or work experience or who is not otherwise receiving compensation on which a worker's compensation carrier could assess premiums on that employer, is an employee of a school district or, private school , or institution of higher education that elects under s. 102.077 to name the student as its employee.

55,2747 Section 2747. 102.07 (12m) (a) of the statutes is created to read:

102.07 (12m) (a) In this subsection:

1. "Institution of higher education" means an institution within the University of Wisconsin System, a technical college, a tribally controlled college controlled by an Indian tribe that has elected under s. 102.05 (2) to become subject to this chapter, a school approved under s. 38.50, or a private, nonprofit institution of higher education located in this state.

2. "Private school" has the meaning given in s. 115.001 (3r).

3. "Public school" means a school described in s. 115.01 (1).

55,2749 Section 2749. 102.077 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

102.077 (1) A school district or a , private school, as defined in s. 115.001 (3r), or institution of higher education may elect to name as its employee for purposes of this chapter a student described in s. 102.07 (12m) (b) by an endorsement on its policy of worker's compensation insurance or, if the school district or, private school, or institution of higher education is exempt from the duty to insure under s. 102.28 (2) (a), by filing a declaration with the department in the manner provided in s. 102.31 (2) (a) naming the student as an employee of the school district or, private school, or institution of higher education for purposes of this chapter. A declaration under this subsection shall list the name of the student to be covered under this chapter, the name and address of the employer that is providing the work training or work experience for that student, and the title, if any, of the work training, work experience, or work study program in which the student is participating.

55,2751 Section 2751. 102.077 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

102.077 (2) A school district or , private school, or institution of higher education may revoke a declaration under sub. (1) by providing written notice to the department in the manner provided in s. 102.31 (2) (a), the student, and the employer who is providing the work training or work experience for that student. A revocation under this subsection is effective 30 days after the department receives notice of that revocation.

55,2754d Section 2754d. 102.11 (1) (am) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

102.11 (1) (am) 1. The employee is a member of a class of employees that does the same type of work at the same location and, in the case of an employee in the service of the state, is employed in the same office, department, independent agency, authority, institution, association, society, or other body in state government or, if the department or the division determines appropriate, in the same subunit of an office, department, independent agency, authority, institution, association, society, or other body in state government.

55,2755d Section 2755d. 102.12 of the statutes is amended to read:

102.12 Notice of injury, exception, laches. No claim for compensation may be maintained unless, within 30 days after the occurrence of the injury or within 30 days after the employee knew or ought to have known the nature of his or her disability and its relation to the employment, actual notice was received by the employer or by an officer, manager or designated representative of an employer. If no representative has been designated by posters placed in one or more conspicuous places where notices to employees are customarily posted, then notice received by any superior is sufficient. Absence of notice does not bar recovery if it is found that the employer was not misled thereby by that absence. Regardless of whether notice was received, if no payment of compensation, other than medical treatment or burial expense, is made, and if no application is filed with the department within 2 years from after the date of the injury or death, or from or the date the employee or his or her dependent knew or ought to have known the nature of the disability and its relation to the employment, the right to compensation therefor for the injury or death is barred, except that the right to compensation is not barred if the employer knew or should have known, within the 2-year period, that the employee had sustained the injury on which the claim is based. Issuance of notice of a hearing on the department's own motion of the department or the division has the same effect for the purposes of this section as the filing of an application. This section does not affect any claim barred under s. 102.17 (4).

55,2757d Section 2757d. 102.13 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

102.13 (1) (c) So long as the employee, after a written request of the employer or insurer which that complies with par. (b), refuses to submit to or in any way obstructs the examination, the employee's right to begin or maintain any proceeding for the collection of compensation is suspended, except as provided in sub. (4). If the employee refuses to submit to the examination after direction by the department, the division, or an examiner, or in any way obstructs the examination, the employee's right to the weekly indemnity which that accrues and becomes payable during the period of that refusal or obstruction, is barred, except as provided in sub. (4).

55,2758 Section 2758. 102.13 (1) (d) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

102.13 (1) (d) 2. Any physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, physician assistant, advanced practice nurse prescriber, or podiatrist who attended a worker's compensation claimant for any condition or complaint reasonably related to the condition for which the claimant claims compensation may be required to testify before the department division when the department division so directs.

55,2759d Section 2759d. 102.13 (1) (d) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

102.13 (1) (d) 3. Notwithstanding any statutory provisions except par. (e), any physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, physician assistant, advanced practice nurse prescriber, or podiatrist attending a worker's compensation claimant for any condition or complaint reasonably related to the condition for which the claimant claims compensation may furnish to the employee, employer, worker's compensation insurer, or the department, or division information and reports relative to a compensation claim.

55,2760d Section 2760d. 102.13 (1) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

102.13 (1) (f) If an employee claims compensation under s. 102.81 (1), the department or the division may require the employee to submit to physical or vocational examinations under this subsection.

55,2761d Section 2761d. 102.13 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

102.13 (2) (a) An employee who reports an injury alleged to be work-related or files an application for hearing waives any physician-patient, psychologist-patient, or chiropractor-patient privilege with respect to any condition or complaint reasonably related to the condition for which the employee claims compensation. Notwithstanding ss. 51.30 and 146.82 and any other law, any physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, podiatrist, physician assistant, advanced practice nurse prescriber, hospital, or health care provider shall, within a reasonable time after written request by the employee, employer, worker's compensation insurer, or department, or division, or its representative, provide that person with any information or written material reasonably related to any injury for which the employee claims compensation.

55,2763d Section 2763d. 102.13 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

102.13 (3) If 2 or more physicians, chiropractors, psychologists, dentists, or podiatrists disagree as to the extent of an injured employee's temporary disability, the end of an employee's healing period, an employee's ability to return to work at suitable available employment or the necessity for further treatment or for a particular type of treatment, the department or the division may appoint another physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, or podiatrist to examine the employee and render an opinion as soon as possible. The department or the division shall promptly notify the parties of this appointment. If the employee has not returned to work, payment for temporary disability shall continue until the department or the division receives the opinion. The employer or its insurance carrier, or both, shall pay for the examination and opinion. The employer or insurance carrier, or both, shall receive appropriate credit for any overpayment to the employee determined by the department or the division after receipt of the opinion.

55,2764d Section 2764d. 102.13 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

102.13 (4) The rights of employees right of an employee to begin or maintain proceedings for the collection of compensation and to receive weekly indemnities which that accrue and become payable shall not be suspended or barred under sub. (1) when an employee refuses to submit to a physical examination, upon the request of the employer or worker's compensation insurer or at the direction of the department, the division, or an examiner, which that would require the employee to travel a distance of 100 miles or more from his or her place of residence, unless the employee has claimed compensation for treatment from a practitioner whose office is located 100 miles or more from the employee's place of residence or the department, division, or examiner determines that any other circumstances warrant the examination. If the employee has claimed compensation for treatment from a practitioner whose office is located 100 miles or more from the employee's place of residence, the employer or insurer may request, or the department, the division, or an examiner may direct, the employee to submit to a physical examination in the area where the employee's treatment practitioner is located.

55,2765d Section 2765d. 102.13 (5) of the statutes is amended to read: