SB21-SSA1,2720
3Section
2720
. 101.935 (2) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,841,74
101.935
(2) (e) Section
254.69 (2) 97.615 (2), as it applies to an agent for the
5department of
health services agriculture, trade and consumer protection in the
6administration of s.
254.47 97.67, applies to an agent for the department of safety
7and professional services in the administration of this section.
SB21-SSA1,2725m
9Section 2725m. 101.974 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,841,1110
101.974
(2) Promulgate the rules under this subchapter
after consultation with
11the multifamily dwelling code council.
SB21-SSA1,2727
12Section
2727. 102.01 (2) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 102.01 (2) (af).
SB21-SSA1,2728
13Section
2728. 102.01 (2) (ad) of the statutes is created to read:
SB21-SSA1,841,1514
102.01
(2) (ad) "Administrator" means the administrator of the division of
15hearings and appeals in the department of administration.
SB21-SSA1,2731
16Section
2731. 102.01 (2) (ar) of the statutes is created to read:
SB21-SSA1,841,1817
102.01
(2) (ar) "Division" means the division of hearings and appeals in the
18department of administration.
SB21-SSA1,2735d
19Section 2735d. 102.01 (2) (dm) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,841,2220
102.01
(2) (dm) "Order" means any decision, rule, regulation, direction,
21requirement
, or standard of the department
or the division, or any other
22determination arrived at or decision made by the department
or the division.
SB21-SSA1,2744d
23Section 2744d. 102.07 (8) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,842,224
102.07
(8) (c) The
department
division may not admit in evidence
any state or
25federal
laws, regulations, documents law, regulation, or document granting
1operating authority
, or
licenses license when determining whether an independent
2contractor meets the conditions specified in par. (b) 1. or 3.
SB21-SSA1,2746
3Section
2746. 102.07 (12m) of the statutes is renumbered 102.07 (12m) (b) and
4amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,842,135
102.07
(12m) (b) A student of a public school,
as described in s. 115.01 (1), or 6a private school,
as defined in s. 115.001 (3r),
or an institution of higher education, 7while he or she is engaged in performing services as part of a school work training,
8work experience
, or work study program, and who is not on the payroll of an employer
9that is providing the work training or work experience or who is not otherwise
10receiving compensation on which a worker's compensation carrier could assess
11premiums on that employer, is an employee of a school district
or, private school
, or
12institution of higher education that elects under s. 102.077 to name the student as
13its employee.
SB21-SSA1,2747
14Section
2747. 102.07 (12m) (a) of the statutes is created to read:
SB21-SSA1,842,1515
102.07
(12m) (a) In this subsection:
SB21-SSA1,842,2016
1. "Institution of higher education" means an institution within the University
17of Wisconsin System, a technical college, a tribally controlled college controlled by
18an Indian tribe that has elected under s. 102.05 (2) to become subject to this chapter,
19a school approved under s. 38.50, or a private, nonprofit institution of higher
20education located in this state.
SB21-SSA1,842,2121
2. "Private school" has the meaning given in s. 115.001 (3r).
SB21-SSA1,842,2222
3. "Public school" means a school described in s. 115.01 (1).
SB21-SSA1,2749
23Section
2749. 102.077 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,843,1024
102.077
(1) A school district
or a , private school,
as defined in s. 115.001 (3r), 25or institution of higher education may elect to name as its employee for purposes of
1this chapter a student described in s. 102.07 (12m)
(b) by an endorsement on its policy
2of worker's compensation insurance or, if the school district
or, private school
, or
3institution of higher education is exempt from the duty to insure under s. 102.28 (2)
4(a), by filing a declaration with the department in the manner provided in s. 102.31
5(2) (a) naming the student as an employee of the school district
or, private school
, or
6institution of higher education for purposes of this chapter. A declaration under this
7subsection shall list the name of the student to be covered under this chapter, the
8name and address of the employer that is providing the work training or work
9experience for that student
, and the title, if any, of the work training, work
10experience
, or work study program in which the student is participating.
SB21-SSA1,2751
11Section
2751. 102.077 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,843,1712
102.077
(2) A school district
or
, private school
, or institution of higher
13education may revoke a declaration under sub. (1) by providing written notice to the
14department in the manner provided in s. 102.31 (2) (a), the student
, and the employer
15who is providing the work training or work experience for that student. A revocation
16under this subsection is effective 30 days after the department receives notice of that
17revocation.
SB21-SSA1,2754d
18Section 2754d. 102.11 (1) (am) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,843,2519
102.11
(1) (am) 1. The employee is a member of a class of employees that does
20the same type of work at the same location and, in the case of an employee in the
21service of the state, is employed in the same office, department, independent agency,
22authority, institution, association, society, or other body in state government or, if the
23department
or the division determines appropriate, in the same subunit of an office,
24department, independent agency, authority, institution, association, society, or other
25body in state government.
SB21-SSA1,844,21
2102.12 Notice of injury, exception, laches. No claim for compensation may
3be maintained unless, within 30 days after the occurrence of the injury or within 30
4days after the employee knew or ought to have known the nature of his or her
5disability and its relation to the employment, actual notice was received by the
6employer or by an officer, manager or designated representative of an employer. If
7no representative has been designated by posters placed in one or more conspicuous
8places
where notices to employees are customarily posted, then notice received by
9any superior is sufficient. Absence of notice does not bar recovery if it is found that
10the employer was not misled
thereby by that absence. Regardless of whether notice
11was received, if no payment of compensation, other than medical treatment or burial
12expense, is made, and
if no application is filed with the department within 2 years
13from after the date of the injury or death
, or from or the date the employee or his or
14her dependent knew or ought to have known the nature of the disability and its
15relation to the employment, the right to compensation
therefor for the injury or death 16is barred, except that the right to compensation is not barred if the employer knew
17or should have known, within the 2-year period, that the employee had sustained
18the injury on which the claim is based. Issuance of notice of a hearing on the
19department's own motion
of the department or the division has the same effect for
20the purposes of this section as the filing of an application. This section does not affect
21any claim barred under s. 102.17 (4).
SB21-SSA1,2757d
22Section 2757d. 102.13 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,845,523
102.13
(1) (c) So long as the employee, after a written request of the employer
24or insurer
which that complies with par. (b), refuses to submit to or in any way
25obstructs the examination, the employee's right to begin or maintain any proceeding
1for the collection of compensation is suspended, except as provided in sub. (4). If the
2employee refuses to submit to the examination after direction by the department
, the
3division, or an examiner, or in any way obstructs the examination, the employee's
4right to the weekly indemnity
which that accrues and becomes payable during the
5period of that refusal or obstruction, is barred, except as provided in sub. (4).
SB21-SSA1,2758
6Section
2758. 102.13 (1) (d) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,845,117
102.13
(1) (d) 2. Any physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, physician
8assistant, advanced practice nurse prescriber, or podiatrist who attended a worker's
9compensation claimant for any condition or complaint reasonably related to the
10condition for which the claimant claims compensation may be required to testify
11before the
department division when the
department division so directs.
SB21-SSA1,2759d
12Section 2759d. 102.13 (1) (d) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,845,1913
102.13
(1) (d) 3. Notwithstanding any statutory provisions except par. (e), any
14physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, physician assistant, advanced
15practice nurse prescriber, or podiatrist attending a worker's compensation claimant
16for any condition or complaint reasonably related to the condition for which the
17claimant claims compensation may furnish to the employee, employer, worker's
18compensation insurer,
or the department
, or division information and reports
19relative to a compensation claim.
SB21-SSA1,2760d
20Section 2760d. 102.13 (1) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,845,2321
102.13
(1) (f) If an employee claims compensation under s. 102.81 (1), the
22department
or the division may require the employee to submit to physical or
23vocational examinations under this subsection.
SB21-SSA1,2761d
24Section 2761d. 102.13 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,846,11
1102.13
(2) (a) An employee who reports an injury alleged to be work-related
2or files an application for hearing waives any physician-patient,
3psychologist-patient
, or chiropractor-patient privilege with respect to any condition
4or complaint reasonably related to the condition for which the employee claims
5compensation. Notwithstanding ss. 51.30 and 146.82 and any other law, any
6physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, podiatrist, physician assistant,
7advanced practice nurse prescriber, hospital, or health care provider shall, within a
8reasonable time after written request by the employee, employer, worker's
9compensation insurer,
or department
, or division, or its representative, provide that
10person with any information or written material reasonably related to any injury for
11which the employee claims compensation.
SB21-SSA1,2763d
12Section 2763d. 102.13 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,846,2513
102.13
(3) If 2 or more physicians, chiropractors, psychologists, dentists
, or
14podiatrists disagree as to the extent of an injured employee's temporary disability,
15the end of an employee's healing period, an employee's ability to return to work at
16suitable available employment or the necessity for further treatment or for a
17particular type of treatment, the department
or the division may appoint another
18physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist
, or podiatrist to examine the employee
19and render an opinion as soon as possible. The department
or the division shall
20promptly notify the parties of this appointment. If the employee has not returned
21to work, payment for temporary disability shall continue until the department
or the
22division receives the opinion. The employer or its insurance carrier
, or both
, shall
23pay for the examination and opinion. The employer or insurance carrier
, or both
, 24shall receive appropriate credit for any overpayment to the employee determined by
25the department
or the division after receipt of the opinion.
SB21-SSA1,2764d
1Section 2764d. 102.13 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,847,162
102.13
(4) The
rights of employees right of an employee to begin or maintain
3proceedings for the collection of compensation and to receive weekly indemnities
4which that accrue and become payable shall not be suspended or barred under sub.
5(1) when an employee refuses to submit to a physical examination, upon the request
6of the employer or worker's compensation insurer or at the direction of the
7department
, the division, or an examiner,
which that would require the employee to
8travel a distance of 100 miles or more from his or her place of residence, unless the
9employee has claimed compensation for treatment from a practitioner whose office
10is located 100 miles or more from the employee's place of residence or the department
,
11division, or examiner determines that any other circumstances warrant the
12examination. If the employee has claimed compensation for treatment from a
13practitioner whose office is located 100 miles or more from the employee's place of
14residence, the employer or insurer may request, or the department
, the division, or
15an examiner may direct, the employee to submit to a physical examination in the
16area where the employee's treatment practitioner is located.
SB21-SSA1,2765d
17Section 2765d. 102.13 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,848,218
102.13
(5) The department
or the division may refuse to receive testimony as
19to conditions determined from an autopsy if it appears that the party offering the
20testimony had procured the autopsy and had failed to make reasonable effort to
21notify at least one party in adverse interest or the department
or the division at least
2212 hours before the autopsy of the time and place
it
at which the autopsy would be
23performed, or that the autopsy was performed by or at the direction of the coroner
24or medical examiner or at the direction of the district attorney for purposes not
1authorized
by under ch. 979. The department
or the division may withhold findings
2until an autopsy is held in accordance with its directions.
SB21-SSA1,2766d
3Section 2766d. 102.14 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,848,5
4102.14 (title)
Jurisdiction of department and division; advisory
5committee.
SB21-SSA1,2767d
6Section 2767d. 102.14 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,848,87
102.14
(1) This Except as otherwise provided, this chapter shall be
8administered by the department
and the division.
SB21-SSA1,2768d
9Section 2768d. 102.14 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,848,1810
102.14
(2) The council on worker's compensation shall advise the department
11and the division in carrying out the purposes of this chapter
. Such council, shall
12submit its recommendations with respect to amendments to this chapter to each
13regular session of the legislature
, and shall report its views upon any pending bill
14relating to this chapter to the proper legislative committee. At the request of the
15chairpersons of the senate and assembly committees on labor, the department shall
16schedule a meeting of the council with the members of the senate and assembly
17committees on labor to review and discuss matters of legislative concern arising
18under this chapter.
SB21-SSA1,2769
19Section
2769. 102.15 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,848,2120
102.15
(1) Subject to this chapter, the
department division may adopt its own
21rules of procedure and may change the same from time to time.
SB21-SSA1,2770
22Section
2770. 102.15 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,848,2423
102.15
(2) The
department
division may provide by rule the conditions under
24which transcripts of testimony and proceedings shall be furnished.
SB21-SSA1,2772d
1Section 2772d. 102.16 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 102.16 (1) (a) and
2amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,849,63
102.16
(1) (a) Any controversy concerning compensation or a violation of sub.
4(3), including
controversies a controversy in which the state may be a party, shall be
5submitted to the department in the manner and with the effect provided in this
6chapter.
Every compromise of any
SB21-SSA1,849,15
7(b) In the case of a claim for compensation
may be reviewed and set aside,
8modified or confirmed by the department with respect to which no application has
9been filed under s. 102.17 (1) (a) 1. or with respect to which an application has been
10filed, but the application is not ready to be scheduled for a hearing, the department
11may review and set aside, modify, or confirm a compromise of the claim within one
12year
from after the date
on which the compromise is filed with the department,
or
13from the date on which an award has been entered based on the compromise, or the
14date on which an application for the office to take any of those actions is filed with
15the department.
SB21-SSA1,849,23
16(c) In the case of a claim for compensation with respect to which an application
17has been filed under s. 102.17 (1) (a) 1., if the application is ready to be scheduled for
18a hearing, the division may review and set aside, modify, or confirm a compromise
19of the claim within one year after the date on which the compromise is filed with the
20division, the date
on which an award has been entered
, based thereon, or the
21department may take that action upon application made within one year. Unless 22based on the compromise, or the date on which an application for the division to take
23any of those actions is filed with the division.
SB21-SSA1,850,6
24(d) Unless the word "compromise" appears in a stipulation of settlement, the
25settlement shall not be
deemed considered a compromise, and further claim is not
1barred except as provided in s. 102.17 (4) regardless of whether an award is made.
2The employer, insurer
, or dependent under s. 102.51 (5) shall have equal rights with
3the employee to have
review of a compromise or any other stipulation of settlement
4reviewed under this subsection. Upon petition filed with the
department, the
5department
or the division under this subsection, the department or the division may
6set aside the award or otherwise determine the rights of the parties.
SB21-SSA1,2773d
7Section 2773d. 102.16 (1m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,850,248
102.16
(1m) (a) If an insurer or self-insured employer concedes by compromise
9under sub. (1) or stipulation under s. 102.18 (1) (a) that the insurer or self-insured
10employer is liable under this chapter for any health services provided to an injured
11employee by a health service provider, but disputes the reasonableness of the fee
12charged by the health service provider, the department
or the division may include
13in its order confirming the compromise or stipulation a determination
made by the
14department under sub. (2) as to the reasonableness of the fee or
the department, if
15such a determination has not yet been made, the department or the division may
16notify, or direct the insurer or self-insured employer to notify, the health service
17provider under sub. (2) (b) that the reasonableness of the fee is in dispute. The
18department
or the division shall deny payment of a health service fee that the
19department determines under
this paragraph sub. (2) to be unreasonable. A health
20service provider and an insurer or self-insured employer that are parties to a fee
21dispute under this paragraph are bound by the department's determination under
22this paragraph sub. (2) on the reasonableness of the disputed fee, unless that
23determination is set aside, reversed, or modified by the department under sub. (2)
24(f) or is set aside on judicial review as provided in sub. (2) (f).
SB21-SSA1,2774d
25Section 2774d. 102.16 (1m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,851,25
1102.16
(1m) (b) If an insurer or self-insured employer concedes by compromise
2under sub. (1) or stipulation under s. 102.18 (1) (a) that the insurer or self-insured
3employer is liable under this chapter for any treatment provided to an injured
4employee by a health service provider, but disputes the necessity of the treatment,
5the department
or the division may include in its order confirming the compromise
6or stipulation a determination
made by the department under sub. (2m) as to the
7necessity of the treatment or
the department, if such a determination has not yet
8been made, the department or the division may notify, or direct the insurer or
9self-insured employer to notify, the health service provider under sub. (2m) (b) that
10the necessity of the treatment is in dispute. Before determining under
this
11paragraph sub. (2m) the necessity of treatment provided to an injured employee, the
12department may, but is not required to, obtain the opinion of an expert selected by
13the department who is qualified as provided in sub. (2m) (c). The standards
14promulgated under sub. (2m) (g) shall be applied by an expert and by the department
15in rendering an opinion as to, and in determining, necessity of treatment under this
16paragraph. In cases in which no standards promulgated under sub. (2m) (g) apply,
17the department shall find the facts regarding necessity of treatment. The
18department
or the division shall deny payment for any treatment that the
19department determines under
this paragraph sub. (2m) to be unnecessary. A health
20service provider and an insurer or self-insured employer that are parties to a dispute
21under this paragraph over the necessity of treatment are bound by the department's
22determination under
this paragraph sub. (2m) on the necessity of the disputed
23treatment, unless that determination is set aside, reversed, or modified by the
24department under sub. (2m) (e) or is set aside on judicial review as provided in sub.
25(2m) (e).
SB21-SSA1,2775d
1Section 2775d. 102.16 (1m) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,852,212
102.16
(1m) (c) If an insurer or self-insured employer concedes by compromise
3under sub. (1) or stipulation under s. 102.18 (1) (a) that the insurer or self-insured
4employer is liable under this chapter for the cost of a prescription drug dispensed
5under s. 102.425 (2) for outpatient use by an injured employee, but disputes the
6reasonableness of the amount charged for the prescription drug, the department
or
7the division may include in its order confirming the compromise or stipulation a
8determination
made by the department under s. 102.425 (4m) as to the
9reasonableness of the prescription drug charge or
the department, if such a
10determination has not yet been made, the department or the division may notify, or
11direct the insurer or self-insured employer to notify, the pharmacist or practitioner
12dispensing the prescription drug under s. 102.425 (4m) (b) that the reasonableness
13of the prescription drug charge is in dispute. The department
or the division shall
14deny payment of a prescription drug charge that the department determines under
15this paragraph s. 102.425 (4m) to be unreasonable. A pharmacist or practitioner and
16an insurer or self-insured employer that are parties to a dispute under this
17paragraph over the reasonableness of a prescription drug charge are bound by the
18department's determination under
this paragraph
s. 102.425 (4m) on the
19reasonableness of the disputed prescription drug charge, unless that determination
20is set aside, reversed, or modified by the department under s. 102.425 (4m) (e) or is
21set aside on judicial review as provided in s. 102.425 (4m) (e).
SB21-SSA1,2776d
22Section 2776d. 102.16 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,853,1123
102.16
(2) (a) Except as provided in this paragraph, the department has
24jurisdiction under this subsection,
the department and the division have jurisdiction
25under sub. (1m) (a), and
the division has jurisdiction under s. 102.17 to resolve a
1dispute between a health service provider and an insurer or self-insured employer
2over the reasonableness of a fee charged by the health service provider for health
3services provided to an injured employee who claims benefits under this chapter. A
4health service provider may not submit a fee dispute to the department under this
5subsection before all treatment by the health service provider of the employee's
6injury has ended if the amount in controversy, whether based on a single charge or
7a combination of charges for one or more days of service, is less than $25. After all
8treatment by a health service provider of an employee's injury has ended, the health
9service provider may submit any fee dispute to the department, regardless of the
10amount in controversy. The department shall deny payment of a health service fee
11that the department determines under this subsection to be unreasonable.
SB21-SSA1,2778d
12Section 2778d. 102.16 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,853,2013
102.16
(2) (b) An insurer or self-insured employer that disputes the
14reasonableness of a fee charged by a health service provider or the department
or the
15division under sub. (1m) (a) or s. 102.18 (1) (bg) 1. shall provide reasonable written
16notice to the health service provider that the fee is being disputed. After receiving
17reasonable written notice under this paragraph or under sub. (1m) (a) or s. 102.18
18(1) (bg) 1. that a health service fee is being disputed, a health service provider may
19not collect the disputed fee from, or bring an action for collection of the disputed fee
20against, the employee who received the services for which the fee was charged.
SB21-SSA1,2785d
21Section 2785d. 102.16 (2m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,854,1022
102.16
(2m) (a) Except as provided in this paragraph, the department has
23jurisdiction under this subsection,
the department and the division have jurisdiction
24under sub. (1m) (b), and
the division has jurisdiction under s. 102.17 to resolve a
25dispute between a health service provider and an insurer or self-insured employer
1over the necessity of treatment provided for an injured employee who claims benefits
2under this chapter. A health service provider may not submit a dispute over
3necessity of treatment to the department under this subsection before all treatment
4by the health service provider of the employee's injury has ended if the amount in
5controversy, whether based on a single charge or a combination of charges for one or
6more days of service, is less than $25. After all treatment by a health service provider
7of an employee's injury has ended, the health service provider may submit any
8dispute over necessity of treatment to the department, regardless of the amount in
9controversy. The department shall deny payment for any treatment that the
10department determines under this subsection to be unnecessary.
SB21-SSA1,2787d
11Section 2787d. 102.16 (2m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,854,2012
102.16
(2m) (b) An insurer or self-insured employer that disputes the
13necessity of treatment provided by a health service provider or the department
or the
14division under sub. (1m) (b) or s. 102.18 (1) (bg) 2. shall provide reasonable written
15notice to the health service provider that the necessity of that treatment is being
16disputed. After receiving reasonable written notice under this paragraph or under
17sub. (1m) (b) or s. 102.18 (1) (bg) 2. that the necessity of treatment is being disputed,
18a health service provider may not collect a fee for that disputed treatment from, or
19bring an action for collection of the fee for that disputed treatment against, the
20employee who received the treatment.
SB21-SSA1,2793d
21Section 2793d. 102.16 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,855,422
102.16
(4) The department
has
and the division have jurisdiction to pass on any
23question arising out of sub. (3) and
has jurisdiction to order the employer to
24reimburse an employee or other person for any sum deducted from wages or paid by
25him or her in violation of that subsection. In addition to the penalty provided in s.
1102.85 (1), any employer violating sub. (3) shall be liable to an injured employee for
2the reasonable value of the necessary services rendered to that employee
pursuant
3to under any arrangement made in violation of sub. (3) without regard to that
4employee's actual disbursements for
the same
those services.
SB21-SSA1,2794d
5Section 2794d. 102.17 (1) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,855,116
102.17
(1) (a) 1. Upon the filing with the department by any party in interest
7of any application in writing stating the general nature of any claim as to which any
8dispute or controversy may have arisen, the department shall mail a copy of the
9application to all other parties in interest, and the insurance carrier shall be
10considered a party in interest. The department
or the division may bring in
11additional parties by service of a copy of the application.
SB21-SSA1,2795
12Section
2795. 102.17 (1) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,855,2213
102.17
(1) (a) 2. Subject to subd. 3., the
department division shall cause notice
14of hearing on the application to be given to each interested party
, by service of that
15notice on the interested party personally or by mailing a copy of that notice to the
16interested party's last-known address at least 10 days before the hearing. If a party
17in interest is located without this state, and has no post-office address within this
18state, the copy of the application and copies of all notices shall
be filed with the
19department of financial institutions and shall also be sent by registered or certified
20mail to the last-known post-office
address of the party. Such filing and mailing shall
21constitute sufficient service, with the same effect as if served upon a party located
22within this state.
SB21-SSA1,2796d
23Section 2796d. 102.17 (1) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,856,324
102.17
(1) (a) 3. If a party in interest claims that the employer or insurer has
25acted with malice or bad faith as described in s. 102.18 (1) (b) or (bp), that party shall
1provide written notice stating with reasonable specificity the basis for the claim to
2the employer, the insurer,
and the department
, and the division before the
3department division schedules a hearing on the claim of malice or bad faith.
SB21-SSA1,2797
4Section
2797. 102.17 (1) (a) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,856,135
102.17
(1) (a) 4. The hearing may be adjourned in the discretion of the
6department division, and hearings may be held at such places as the
department 7division designates, within or without the state. The
department division may also
8arrange to have hearings held by the commission, officer, or tribunal having
9authority to hear cases arising under the worker's compensation law of any other
10state, of the District of Columbia, or of any territory of the United States,
with the
11testimony and proceedings at any such hearing to be reported to the
department 12division and to be
made part of the record in the case. Any evidence so taken shall
13be subject to rebuttal upon final hearing before the
department division.
SB21-SSA1,2798
14Section
2798. 102.17 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,857,315
102.17
(1) (b) In any dispute or controversy pending before the
department 16division, the
department division may direct the parties to appear before an
17examiner for a conference to consider the clarification of issues, the joining of
18additional parties, the necessity or desirability of amendments to the pleadings, the
19obtaining of admissions of fact or of documents, records, reports
, and bills
which that 20may avoid unnecessary proof
, and such other matters as may aid in disposition of the
21dispute or controversy. After
this that conference the
department division may issue
22an order requiring disclosure or exchange of any information or written material
23which it that the division considers material to the timely and orderly disposition of
24the dispute or controversy. If a party fails to disclose or exchange
that information 25within the time stated in the order, the
department
division may issue an order
1dismissing the claim without prejudice or excluding evidence or testimony relating
2to the information or written material. The
department division shall provide each
3party with a copy of any order
issued under this paragraph.
SB21-SSA1,2799d
4Section 2799d. 102.17 (1) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 102.17 (1) (c) 1. and
5amended to read:
SB21-SSA1,857,196
102.17
(1) (c) 1. Any party shall have the right to be present at any hearing,
7in person or by attorney or any other agent, and to present such testimony as may
8be pertinent to the controversy before the
department division. No person, firm, or
9corporation, other than an attorney at law who is licensed to practice law in the state,
10may appear on behalf of any party in interest before the
department division or any
11member or employee of the
department division assigned to conduct any hearing,
12investigation, or inquiry relative to a claim for compensation or benefits under this
13chapter, unless the person is 18 years of age or older, does not have an arrest or
14conviction record, subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322 and 111.335, is otherwise qualified,
15and has obtained from the department a license with authorization to appear in
16matters or proceedings before the
department
division. Except as provided under
17pars. (cm), (cr), and (ct), the license shall be issued by the department under rules
18promulgated by the department. The department shall maintain in its office a
19current list of persons to whom licenses have been issued.
SB21-SSA1,858,10
202. Any license
issued under subd. 1. may be suspended or revoked by the
21department for fraud or serious misconduct on the part of an agent,
any license may
22be denied, suspended, nonrenewed, or otherwise withheld by the department for
23failure to pay court-ordered payments as provided in par. (cm) on the part of an
24agent, and
any license may be denied or revoked if the department of revenue
25certifies under s. 73.0301 that the applicant or licensee is liable for delinquent taxes
1or if the department determines under par. (ct) that the applicant or licensee is liable
2for delinquent
unemployment insurance contributions. Before suspending or
3revoking the license of the agent on the grounds of fraud or misconduct, the
4department shall give notice in writing to the agent of the charges of fraud or
5misconduct and shall give the agent full opportunity to be heard in relation to those
6charges. In denying, suspending, restricting, refusing to renew, or otherwise
7withholding a license for failure to pay court-ordered payments as provided in par.
8(cm), the department shall follow the procedure provided in a memorandum of
9understanding entered into under s. 49.857.
The license and certificate of authority
10shall, unless