SB456: Bill Text

This bill permits DWD to request the Department of Justice (DOJ) to assist DWD in an investigation of a false or fraudulent worker's compensation claim of any other suspected fraudulent activity on the part of an employer, employee, insurer, health care provider, or other person related to worker's compensation. If, based on the investigation, DWD has a reasonable basis to believe that theft, forgery, fraud, or any other criminal violation has occurred, DWD must refer the matter to the district attorney or DOJ for prosecution.

Self-insured employers

Election by governmental employer to self-insure. Under current law, every employer that is subject to the worker's compensation law must carry worker's compensation insurance from an insurer that is authorized to do business in this state (duty to insure), except that DWD may exempt an employer from the duty to insure if the employer shows that it can self-insure its worker's compensation liability and if the employer agrees to report all compensable injuries and to comply with the worker's compensation law and the rules of DWD. DWD rules, however, permit the state or a local governmental unit to self-insure without further order of DWD.

This bill codifies those DWD rules into the statutes. Specifically, the bill permits the state or a local governmental unit that has independent taxing authority (governmental employer) to elect to self-insure its worker's compensation liability without further order of DWD if the governmental employer agrees to report all compensable injuries and to comply with the worker's compensation law and the rules of DWD. Under the bill, a local governmental unit that elects to self-insure its liability for the payment of worker's compensation must notify DWD of that election in writing before commencing to self-insure that liability, must notify DWD of its intent to continue to self-insure that liability every three years after that initial notice, and must notify DWD of its intent to withdraw that election not less than 30 days before the effective date of that withdrawal.

Revocation of governmental employer election to self-insure. Current law permits DWD, after seeking the advice of the Self-Insurer's Council, to revoke an exemption from the duty to insure if DWD finds that the employer's financial condition is inadequate to pay its employees' claims for compensation, that the employer has received an excessive number of claims for compensation, or that the employer has failed to discharge faithfully its obligations according to the agreement contained in the application for exemption.

This bill permits DWD to revoke an election by a governmental employer to self-insure its liability for worker's compensation, without seeking the advice of the Self-Insurer's Council, if DWD finds that the governmental employer's financial condition is inadequate to pay its employees' claims for compensation, that the governmental employer has received an excessive number of claims for compensation, or that the governmental employer has failed to discharge faithfully its obligations under the worker's compensation law and the rules of DWD. Under the bill, once such an election is revoked, the governmental employer whose election is revoked may not elect to self-insure its liability for the payment of worker's compensation unless at least three calendar years have elapsed since the revocation and DWD finds that the governmental employer's financial condition is adequate to pay its employees' claims for compensation, that the governmental employer has not received an excessive number of claims for compensation, and that the governmental employer has faithfully discharged its obligations under the worker's compensation law and the rules of DWD.

Self-insured employer assessments. Current law establishes a self-insured employers liability fund, consisting of assessments paid into the fund by self-insured employers, that is used to pay the worker's compensation liability of current or former self-insured employers that cannot pay that liability. Under current law, on issuance of an order exempting an employer from the duty to insure, the exempt employer must pay into the fund an amount that is equal to the amount assessed upon each other exempt employer (initial assessment). Subsequent assessments, however, are prorated on the basis of the gross payroll for this state of the exempt employer, as reported to DWD for the previous calendar year for purposes of unemployment insurance.

This bill requires an initial assessment, as well as subsequent assessments, for the self-insurer's fund to be prorated on the basis of the gross payroll for this state of the exempt employer, as reported to DWD for the previous calendar year for purposes of unemployment insurance.

The bill also removes governmental employers from the coverage of the self-insurer's fund. Specifically, the bill prohibits DWD from: 1) requiring a governmental employer that elects to self-insure its liability for the payment of worker's compensation to pay into the self-insurer's fund; and 2) making payments from that fund for the liability under the worker's compensation law of such an employer, whether currently or formerly exempt from the duty to insure.

Study of light-duty programs

Under current law, temporary disability benefits are payable for loss of earnings during a period when an injured employee could return to a restricted type of work during the employee's healing period, unless suitable employment that is within the physical and mental limitations of the employee is furnished to the employee by the employee's employer or by some other employer. Currently, if the employee's employer or some other employer makes a good faith offer of suitable employment that is within the physical and mental limitations of the employee and if the employee refuses without reasonable cause to accept the offer, the employee is considered to have returned to work as of the date of the offer at the earnings the employee would have received but for the refusal.

This bill requires the secretary of workforce development to create a committee to study ways and means of encouraging employers to provide, and injured employees to participate in, light-duty programs under which injured employees who can return to restricted types of work during their healing periods are furnished with suitable employment that is within the physical and mental limitations of those employees. The study must include an examination of the types of physical and mental limitations that do not preclude a return to work during the healing period and the types of work that are suitable for injured employees who have those limitations. The committee must include representatives of employers, employees, worker's compensation insurers authorized to do business in this state, and DWD. Upon completion of the study, the committee must report its findings, conclusions, and recommendations to DWD and the Council on Worker's Compensation, after which the committee ceases to exist.

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:

SB456,1 Section 1. 20.445 (1) (ra) of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55, is amended to read:

SB456,13,5 20.445 (1) (ra) Worker's compensation operations fund; administration. From the worker's compensation operations fund, the amounts in the schedule for the administration of the worker's compensation program by the department, for assistance to the department of justice in investigating and prosecuting fraudulent activity related to worker's compensation, for transfer to the uninsured employers fund under s. 102.81 (1) (c), and for transfer to the appropriation accounts under par. (rp) and s. 20.427 (1) (ra). All moneys received under ss. 102.28 (2) (b) and 102.75 shall be credited to this appropriation account. From this appropriation, an amount not to exceed $5,000 may be expended each fiscal year for payment of expenses for travel and research by the council on worker's compensation, an amount not to exceed $500,000 may be transferred in each fiscal year to the uninsured employers fund under s. 102.81 (1) (c), the amount in the schedule under par. (rp) shall be transferred to the appropriation account under par. (rp), and the amount in the schedule under s. 20.427 (1) (ra) shall be transferred to the appropriation account under s. 20.427 (1) (ra).

SB456,2 Section 2. 101.654 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB456,13,11 101.654 (2) (b) If the applicant is required under s. 102.28 (2) (a) to have in force a policy of worker's compensation insurance or if the applicant is self-insured in accordance with s. 102.28 (2) (b) or (bm), that the applicant has in force a policy of worker's compensation insurance issued by an insurer authorized to do business in this state or is self-insured in accordance with s. 102.28 (2) (b) or (bm).

SB456,3 Section 3. 102.01 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB456,13,18 102.01 (2) (d) "Municipality" includes a county, city, town, village, school district, sewer district, drainage district and long-term care district and "Local governmental unit" means a political subdivision of this state; a special purpose district or taxing jurisdiction, as defined in s. 70.114 (1) (f), in this state; an instrumentality, corporation, combination, or subunit of any of the foregoing; or any other public or quasi-public corporations corporation.

SB456,4 Section 4. 102.03 (1) (c) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB456,14,5 102.03 (1) (c) 3. An employee is not performing service growing out of and incidental to his or her employment while going to or from employment in a private or group or employer-sponsored car pool, van pool, commuter bus service, or other ride-sharing program in which the employee participates voluntarily and the sole purpose of which is the mass transportation of employees to and from employment. An employee is not performing service growing out of and incidental to employment while engaging in a program, event, or activity designed to improve the physical well-being of the employee, whether or not the program, event, or activity is located on the employer's premises, if participation in the program, event, or activity is voluntary and, the employee receives no compensation for participation, and the program, event, or activity is outside the scope of the employee's employment.

SB456,5 Section 5. 102.03 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB456,14,13 102.03 (4) The right to compensation and the amount of the compensation shall in all cases be determined in accordance with the provisions of law in effect as of the date of the injury except as to employees whose rate of compensation is changed as provided in ss. 102.43 (7) or s. 102.44 (1) or (5) or, before May 1, 2014 2018, as provided in s. 102.43 (5) (c) and employees who are eligible to receive private rehabilitative counseling and rehabilitative training under s. 102.61 (1m) and except as provided in s. 102.555 (12) (b).

SB456,6 Section 6. 102.03 (6) of the statutes is created to read:

SB456,14,19 102.03 (6) If an employee who suffers an injury outside the territorial limits of this state files a claim for compensation under the laws of another jurisdiction and that claim is denied on the merits by a final decision of that jurisdiction, the employee may not make a claim for compensation under the laws of this state for the same injury.

SB456,7 Section 7. 102.04 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB456,14,23 102.04 (1) (a) The state, and each county, city, town, village, school district, sewer district, drainage district, long-term care district and other public or quasi-public corporations therein local governmental unit in this state.

SB456,8 Section 8. 102.04 (1) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB456,15,6 102.04 (1) (b) 1. Every person who usually at any time employs 3 or more employees for services performed in this state, whether in one or more trades, businesses, professions, or occupations, and whether in one or more locations. A person who employs 3 or more employees for services performed in this state becomes subject to this chapter on the day on which the person employs 3 or more such employees.

SB456,9 Section 9. 102.04 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB456,15,16 102.04 (2m) A temporary help agency is the employer of an employee whom the temporary help agency has placed with or leased to another employer that compensates the temporary help agency for the employee's services. A temporary help agency is liable under s. 102.03 for all compensation and other payments payable under this chapter to or with respect to that employee, including any payments required under s. 102.16 (3), 102.18 (1) (b) 3. or (bp), 102.22 (1), 102.35 (3), 102.57, or 102.60. Except as permitted under s. 102.29, a temporary help agency may not seek or receive reimbursement from another employer for any payments made as a result of that liability.

SB456,10 Section 10. 102.07 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB456,16,4 102.07 (1) (a) Every person, including all officials, in the service of the state, or of any municipality therein local governmental unit in this state, whether elected or under any appointment, or contract of hire, express or implied, and whether a resident of the state or employed or injured within or without the state. The state and or any municipality local governmental unit may require a bond from a contractor to protect the state or municipality local governmental unit against compensation to employees of such the contractor or to employees of a subcontractor under the contractor. This paragraph does not apply beginning on the first day of the first July beginning after the day that the secretary files the certificate under s. 102.80 (3) (a), except that if the secretary files the certificate under s. 102.80 (3) (ag) this paragraph does apply to claims for compensation filed on or after the date specified in that certificate.

SB456,11 Section 11. 102.07 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB456,16,13 102.07 (1) (b) Every person, including all officials, in the service of the state, or of any municipality therein local governmental unit in this state, whether elected or under any appointment, or contract of hire, express or implied, and whether a resident of the state or employed or injured within or without the state. This paragraph first applies on the first day of the first July beginning after the day that the secretary files the certificate under s. 102.80 (3) (a), except that if the secretary files the certificate under s. 102.80 (3) (ag) this paragraph does apply to claims for compensation filed on or after the date specified in that certificate.

SB456,12 Section 12. 102.07 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB456,16,21 102.07 (3) Nothing herein contained shall prevent municipalities in this chapter prevents a local governmental unit from paying teachers, police officers, fire fighters and other employees a teacher, police officer, fire fighter, or any other employee his or her full salaries salary during a period of disability, nor interfere interferes with any pension funds fund, nor prevent prevents payment to teachers, police officers or fire fighters therefrom a teacher, police officer, fire fighter, or any other employee from a pension fund.

SB456,13 Section 13. 102.07 (7) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB456,17,7 102.07 (7) (a) Every member of a volunteer fire company or fire department organized under ch. 213, a legally organized rescue squad, or a legally organized diving team is considered to be an employee of that company, department, squad, or team. Every member of a company, department, squad, or team described in this paragraph, while serving as an auxiliary police officer at an emergency, is also considered to be an employee of that company, department, squad, or team. If a company, department, squad, or team described in this paragraph has not insured its liability for compensation to its employees, the municipality or county political subdivision within which that company, department, squad, or team was organized shall be liable for that compensation.

SB456,14 Section 14. 102.07 (10) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB456,17,19 102.07 (10) Further to effectuate the policy of the state that the benefits of this chapter shall extend and be granted to employees in the service of the state, or of any municipality therein local governmental unit in this state, on the same basis, in the same manner, under the same conditions, and with like right of recovery as in the case of employees of persons, firms, or private corporations, any question whether any person is an employee under this chapter shall be governed by and determined under the same standards, considerations, and rules of decision in all cases under subs. (1) to (9). Any statutes, ordinances, or administrative regulations which statute, ordinance, or rule that may be otherwise applicable to the classes of employees enumerated in sub. (1) shall not be controlling in deciding whether any person is an employee for the purposes of this chapter.

SB456,15 Section 15. 102.12 of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55, is amended to read:

SB456,18,16 102.12 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, whichever is later, 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 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 one year after the date of the injury or death 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, whichever is later, the right to compensation 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 one-year period, that the employee had sustained the injury on which the claim is based. Issuance of notice of a hearing on the 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).

SB456,16 Section 16. 102.125 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB456,18,19 102.125 (title) Fraudulent claims Fraud reporting and, investigation, and prosecution.

SB456,17 Section 17. 102.125 of the statutes is renumbered 102.125 (1) and amended to read:

SB456,19,6 102.125 (1) Fraudulent claims reporting and investigation. If an insurer or self-insured employer has evidence that a claim is false or fraudulent in violation of s. 943.395 and if the insurer or self-insured employer is satisfied that reporting the claim to the department will not impede its ability to defend the claim, the insurer or self-insured employer shall report the claim to the department. The department may require an insurer or self-insured employer to investigate an allegedly false or fraudulent claim and may provide the insurer or self-insured employer with any records of the department relating to that claim. An insurer or self-insured employer that investigates a claim under this section subsection shall report on the results of that investigation to the department.

SB456,19,12 (3) Prosecution. If based on the an investigation under sub. (1) or (2) the department has a reasonable basis to believe that a violation of s. 943.20, 943.38, 943.39, 943.392, 943.395, 943.40, or any other criminal law has occurred, the department shall refer the results of the investigation to the department of justice or to the district attorney of the county in which the alleged violation occurred for prosecution.

SB456,18 Section 18. 102.125 (2) of the statutes is created to read:

SB456,19,18 102.125 (2) Assistance by department of justice. The department of workforce development may request the department of justice to assist the department of workforce development in an investigation under sub. (1) or in the investigation of any other suspected fraudulent activity on the part of an employer, employee, insurer, health care provider, or other person related to worker's compensation.

SB456,19 Section 19. 102.127 of the statutes is created to read:

SB456,19,23 102.127 False representations on employment applications. A false representation as to an employee's physical condition made by the employee in an employment application bars the recovery of all compensation payable under this chapter for an injury to the employee if all of the following apply:

SB456,19,24 (1) The employee knowingly and willfully made the false representation.

SB456,20,2 (2) The employer relied on the false representation and that reliance was a substantial factor in the employer's decision to hire the employee.

SB456,20,4 (3) There was a causal connection between the false representation and the injury.

SB456,20 Section 20. 102.13 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB456,20,16 102.13 (2) (b) A physician, chiropractor, podiatrist, psychologist, dentist, physician assistant, advanced practice nurse prescriber, hospital, or health service provider shall furnish a legible, certified duplicate of the written material requested under par. (a) in paper format upon payment of the actual costs of preparing the certified duplicate, not to exceed the greater of 45 cents per page or $7.50 per request, plus the actual costs of postage, or shall furnish a legible, certified duplicate of that material in electronic format upon payment of $26 per request. Any person who refuses to provide certified duplicates of written material in the person's custody that is requested under par. (a) shall be liable for reasonable and necessary costs and, notwithstanding s. 814.04 (1), reasonable attorney fees incurred in enforcing the requester's right to the duplicates under par. (a).

SB456,21 Section 21. 102.13 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB456,21,7 102.13 (2) (c) Except as provided in this paragraph, if an injured employee has a period of temporary disability that exceeds 3 weeks or a permanent disability, if the injured employee has undergone surgery to treat his or her injury, other than surgery to correct a hernia, or if the injured employee sustained an eye injury requiring medical treatment on 3 or more occasions off the employer's premises, the department may by rule require the insurer or self-insured employer to submit to the department a final report of the employee's treating practitioner. The department may not require an insurer or self-insured employer to submit to the department a final report of an employee's treating practitioner when the insurer or self-insured employer denies the employee's claim for compensation in its entirety and the employee does not contest that denial. A treating practitioner may charge a reasonable fee for the completion of the final report, but may not require prepayment of that fee. An insurer or self-insured employer that disputes the reasonableness of a fee charged for the completion of a treatment practitioner's final report may submit that dispute to the department for resolution under s. 102.16 (2).

SB456,22 Section 22. 102.16 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB456,21,24 102.16 (2) (d) The department shall analyze the information provided to the department under par. (c) according to the criteria provided in this paragraph to determine the reasonableness of the disputed fee. Except as provided in 2011 Wisconsin Act 183, section 30 (2) (b), the department, subject to par. (dm), shall determine that a disputed fee is reasonable and order that the disputed fee be paid if that fee is at or below the mean fee for the health service procedure for which the disputed fee was charged, plus 1.2 standard deviations from that mean, as shown by data from a database that is certified by the department under par. (h). Except as provided in 2011 Wisconsin Act 183, section 30 (2) (b), the department , subject to par. (dm), shall determine that a disputed fee is unreasonable and order that a reasonable fee be paid if the disputed fee is above the mean fee for the health service procedure for which the disputed fee was charged, plus 1.2 standard deviations from that mean, as shown by data from a database that is certified by the department under par. (h), unless the health service provider proves to the satisfaction of the department that a higher fee is justified because the service provided in the disputed case was more difficult or more complicated to provide than in the usual case.

SB456,23 Section 23. 102.16 (2) (dm) of the statutes is created to read:

SB456,22,3 102.16 (2) (dm) Notwithstanding par. (d) and 2011 Wisconsin Act 183, section 30 (2) (b), if an employer or insurer and a health care provider have agreed by contract to a fee for a health service procedure, all of the following apply:

SB456,22,6 1. If a disputed fee charged for that procedure is at or below the agreed-to fee in effect on the day on which the procedure was provided, the department shall determine that the disputed fee is reasonable and order that the disputed fee be paid.

SB456,22,10 2. If a disputed fee charged for that procedure is above the agreed-to fee in effect on the day on which the procedure was provided, the department shall determine that the disputed fee is unreasonable and order that the agreed-to fee be paid.

SB456,24 Section 24. 102.17 (1) (a) 3. of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55, is amended to read:

SB456,22,17 102.17 (1) (a) 3. If a party in interest claims that the employer or insurer has acted with malice or bad faith as described in s. 102.18 (1) (b) 3. or (bp), that party shall provide written notice stating with reasonable specificity the basis for the claim to the employer, the insurer, the department, and the division before the division schedules a hearing on the claim of malice or bad faith.

SB456,25 Section 25. 102.17 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB456,23,16 102.17 (4) Except as provided in this subsection and s. 102.555 (12) (b), in the case of occupational disease, the right of an employee, the employee's legal representative, or a dependent to proceed under this section shall not extend beyond 12 years after the date of the injury or death or after the date that compensation, other than for treatment or burial expenses, was last paid, or would have been last payable if no advancement were made, whichever date is latest, and in the case of traumatic injury, that right shall not extend beyond 2 years after that date. In the case of occupational disease; a traumatic injury resulting in the loss or total impairment of a hand or any part of the rest of the arm proximal to the hand or of a foot or any part of the rest of the leg proximal to the foot, any loss of vision, or any permanent brain injury; or a traumatic injury causing the need for an artificial spinal disc or a total or partial knee or hip replacement, there shall be no statute of limitations, except that benefits or treatment expense for an occupational disease becoming due 12 years after the date of injury or death or last payment of compensation, other than for treatment or burial expenses, shall be paid from the work injury supplemental benefit fund under s. 102.65 and in the manner provided in s. 102.66 and benefits or treatment expense for such a traumatic injury becoming due 12 years after that date shall be paid from that fund and in that manner if the date of injury or death or last payment of compensation, other than for treatment or burial expenses, is before April 1, 2006. Payment of wages by the employer during disability or absence from work to obtain treatment shall be considered payment of compensation for the purpose of this section if the employer knew of the employee's condition and its alleged relation to the employment.

SB456,26 Section 26. 102.18 (1) (b) of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55, is renumbered 102.18 (1) (b) 1. and amended to read:

SB456,23,24 102.18 (1) (b) 1. Within 90 days after the final hearing and close of the record, the division shall make and file its findings upon the ultimate facts involved in the controversy, and its order, which shall state the division's determination as to the rights of the parties. Pending the final determination of any controversy before it, the division, after any hearing, may, in its discretion, make interlocutory findings, orders, and awards, which may be enforced in the same manner as final awards.

SB456,24,5 2. The division may include in any interlocutory or final award or order an order directing the employer or insurer to pay for any future treatment that may be necessary to cure and relieve the employee from the effects of the injury or to pay for a future course of instruction or other rehabilitation training services provided under a rehabilitation training program developed under s. 102.16 (1) or (1m).

SB456,24,10 3. If the division finds that the employer or insurer has not paid any amount that the employer or insurer was directed to pay in any interlocutory order or award and that the nonpayment was not in good faith, the division may include in its final award a penalty not exceeding 25 percent of each amount that was not paid as directed.

SB456,24,15 4. When there is a finding that the employee is in fact suffering from an occupational disease caused by the employment of the employer against whom the application is filed, a final award dismissing the application upon the ground that the applicant has suffered no disability from the disease shall not bar any claim the employee may have for disability sustained after the date of the award.

SB456,27 Section 27. 102.18 (3) of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55, is amended to read:

SB456,25,11 102.18 (3) A party in interest may petition the commission for review of an examiner's decision awarding or denying compensation if the department, the division, or the commission receives the petition within 21 days after the department or the division mailed a copy of the examiner's findings and order to the last-known addresses of the parties in interest. The commission shall dismiss a petition that is not timely filed within those 21 days unless the petitioner shows probable good cause that the petition was filed late for a reason for failure to timely file that was beyond the petitioner's control. If no petition is filed within those 21 days after the date on which a copy of the findings or order of the examiner is mailed to the last-known addresses of the parties in interest, the findings or order shall be considered final unless set aside, reversed, or modified by the examiner within that time. If the findings or order are set aside by the examiner, the status shall be the same as prior to the setting aside of the findings or order. If the findings or order are reversed or modified by the examiner, the time for filing a petition commences on the date on which notice of the reversal or modification is mailed to the last-known addresses of the parties in interest. The commission shall either affirm, reverse, set aside, or modify the findings or order, in whole or in part, or direct the taking of additional evidence. The commission's action shall be based on a review of the evidence submitted.

SB456,28 Section 28. 102.18 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB456,25,15 102.18 (4) (b) Within 28 days after the date of a decision of the commission is mailed to the last-known address of each party in interest, the commission may, on its own motion, set aside the decision for further consideration.

SB456,29 Section 29. 102.18 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

SB456,26,2 102.18 (7) In cases in which the division makes a final award of compensation based on a finding that the injured employee has incurred a permanent partial disability, the division shall order the injured employee to submit to a reexamination under s. 102.13 (1) (a) once every 3 years after the date of the award or order upon the written request of the employer or insurer. After such a reexamination, a party in interest may file an application requesting the division to review its findings on the issue of the level of the employee's disability. After that review, the division may make new findings on that issue and order a new award based on the level of the employee's disability as it may then appear. This subsection shall not affect the application of the limitation in s. 102.17 (4).

SB456,30 Section 30. 102.21 of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55, is amended to read:

SB456,26,18 102.21 Payment of awards by municipalities. Whenever When an award is made under this chapter or s. 66.191, 1981 stats., against any municipality local governmental unit, the person in whose favor the award is made shall file a certified copy of the award with the municipal clerk of the local governmental unit. Unless an appeal is taken, within 20 days after that filing, the municipal clerk shall draw an order on the municipal treasurer of the local governmental unit for the payment of the award. If upon appeal the award is affirmed in whole or in part, the municipal clerk shall draw an order for payment of the award within 10 days after a certified copy of the judgment affirming the award is filed with that clerk. If the award or judgment provides for more than one payment, the municipal clerk shall draw orders for payment as the payments become due. No statute relating to the filing of claims against, or the auditing, allowing, and payment of claims by, a municipality local governmental unit applies to the payment of an award or judgment under this section.

SB456,31 Section 31. 102.23 (1) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55, is renumbered 102.23 (1) (a) 1. and amended to read:

SB456,27,2 102.23 (1) (a) 1. The findings of fact made by the commission acting within its powers shall, in the absence of fraud, be conclusive. The order or award granting or denying compensation, either interlocutory or final, whether judgment has been rendered on the order or award or not, is subject to review only as provided in this section and not under ch. 227 or s. 801.02. The commission shall identify in the order or award the persons that must be made parties to an action for review of the order or award.

SB456,27,18 2. Within 30 days after the date of an order or award made by the commission either originally or after the filing of a petition for review with the department, the division, or the commission under s. 102.18, any party aggrieved by the order or award may commence an action in circuit court for review of the order or award by serving a complaint as provided in par. (b) and filing the summons and complaint with the clerk of the circuit court commence, in circuit court, an action against the commission for the review of the order or award, in which action the adverse party shall also be made a defendant. The summons and complaint shall name the party commencing the action as the plaintiff and shall name as defendants the commission and all persons identified by the commission under subd. 1. If the circuit court determines that any other person is necessary for the proper resolution of the action, the circuit court may join that person as a party to the action, unless joinder of the person would unduly delay the resolution of the action. If the circuit court is satisfied that a party in interest has been prejudiced because of an exceptional delay in the receipt of a copy of any finding or order, the circuit court may extend the time in within which an action may be commenced by an additional 30 days.

SB456,27,22 3. The proceedings shall be in the circuit court of the county where the plaintiff resides, except that if the plaintiff is a state agency, the proceedings shall be in the circuit court of the county where the defendant resides. The proceedings may be brought in any circuit court if all parties stipulate and that court agrees.