108.227(1)(e)10.
10. A license or permit granted by the department of public instruction.
108.227(1)(f)
(f) “Licensing department" means the department of administration; the division of hearings and appeals; the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection; the board of commissioners of public lands; the department of children and families; the ethics commission; the department of financial institutions; the department of health services; the department of natural resources; the department of public instruction; the department of revenue; the department of safety and professional services; the office of the commissioner of insurance; or the department of transportation.
108.227(1)(g)
(g) “Nondelinquency certificate" means a certificate that the department of workforce development issues to a person and that states that the person is not liable for delinquent contributions.
108.227(1m)
(1m)
General provisions. The department shall promulgate rules specifying procedures to be used before taking action under sub.
(3) (b) or s.
103.275 (2) (bt),
103.34 (10) (d),
103.91 (4) (d),
103.92 (8),
104.07 (7), or
105.13 (4) with respect to a person whose license or credential is to be denied, not renewed, discontinued, suspended, or revoked, including rules with respect to all of the following:
108.227(1m)(a)
(a) Permitting the department to take action only when all of the remedies available to the department under this chapter have been exhausted.
108.227(1m)(b)
(b) Providing persons with a certified notice of liability for delinquent contributions.
108.227(1m)(c)
(c) Allowing persons to make full payment of contributions owed or to negotiate with the department for a payment plan to pay the delinquent contributions. The rules shall include provisions to consider the ability of persons to pay and provisions to allow persons sufficient time and payment terms for paying delinquent contributions.
108.227 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ch.
DWD 114, Wis. adm. code.
108.227(2)
(2)
Duties and powers of licensing departments. 108.227(2)(a)
(a) Each licensing department and the supreme court, if the supreme court agrees, shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the department of workforce development under sub.
(4) (a) that requires the licensing department or supreme court to do all of the following:
108.227(2)(a)1.
1. Request the department of workforce development to certify whether an applicant for a license or license renewal or continuation is liable for delinquent contributions. With respect to an applicant for a license granted by a credentialing board, the department of safety and professional services shall make a request under this subdivision. This subdivision does not apply to the department of transportation with respect to licenses described in sub.
(1) (e) 7. 108.227(2)(a)2.
2. Request the department of workforce development to certify whether a license holder is liable for delinquent contributions. With respect to a holder of a license granted by a credentialing board, the department of safety and professional services shall make a request under this subdivision.
108.227(2)(b)
(b) Each licensing department and the supreme court, if the supreme court agrees, shall do all of the following:
108.227(2)(b)1.a.a. If, after a request is made under par.
(a) 1. or
2., the department of workforce development certifies that the license holder or applicant for a license or license renewal or continuation is liable for delinquent contributions, revoke the license or deny the application for the license or license renewal or continuation. The department of transportation may suspend licenses described in sub.
(1) (e) 7. in lieu of revoking those licenses. A suspension, revocation, or denial under this subd.
1. a. is not subject to administrative review or, except as provided in sub.
(6), judicial review. With respect to a license granted by a credentialing board, the department of safety and professional services shall make a revocation or denial under this subd.
1. a. With respect to a license to practice law, the department of workforce development shall not submit a certification under this subd.
1. a. to the supreme court until after the license holder or applicant has exhausted his or her remedies under subs.
(5) (a) and
(6) or has failed to make use of such remedies.
108.227(2)(b)1.b.
b. Mail a notice of suspension, revocation, or denial under subd.
1. a. to the license holder or applicant. The notice shall include a statement of the facts that warrant the suspension, revocation, or denial and a statement that the license holder or applicant may, within 30 days after the date on which the notice of suspension, revocation, or denial is mailed, file a written request with the department of workforce development to have the certification of contribution delinquency on which the suspension, revocation, or denial is based reviewed at a hearing under sub.
(5) (a) and that the license holder or applicant may seek judicial review under sub.
(6) of an affirmation under sub.
(5) (b) 2. that the person is liable for delinquent contributions. With respect to a license granted by a credentialing board, the department of safety and professional services shall mail a notice under this subd.
1. b. With respect to a license to practice law, the department of workforce development shall mail a notice under this subd.
1. b. and the notice shall indicate that the license holder or applicant may request a hearing under sub.
(5) (a) and may request judicial review under sub.
(6) and that the department of workforce development will submit a certificate of delinquency to suspend, revoke, or deny a license to practice law to the supreme court after the license holder or applicant has exhausted his or her remedies under subs.
(5) (a) and
(6) or has failed to make use of such remedies. A notice sent to a person who holds a license to practice law or who is an applicant for a license to practice law shall also indicate that the department of workforce development may not submit a certificate of delinquency to the supreme court if the license holder or applicant pays the delinquent contributions in full or enters into an agreement with the department of workforce development to satisfy the delinquency.
108.227(2)(b)2.
2. Except as provided in subd.
2m., if notified by the department of workforce development that the department of workforce development has affirmed a certification of contribution delinquency after a hearing under sub.
(5) (a), affirm a suspension, revocation, or denial under subd.
1. a. With respect to a license granted by a credentialing board, the department of safety and professional services shall make an affirmation under this subdivision.
108.227(2)(b)2m.
2m. With respect to a license to practice law, if notified by the department of workforce development that the department of workforce development has affirmed a certification of contribution delinquency after any requested review under subs.
(5) (a) and
(6), decide whether to suspend, revoke, or deny a license to practice law.
108.227(2)(b)3.
3. If a person submits a nondelinquency certificate issued under sub.
(5) (b) 1., reinstate the license or grant the application for the license or license renewal or continuation, unless there are other grounds for suspending or revoking the license or for denying the application for the license or license renewal or continuation. If reinstatement is required under this subdivision, a person is not required to submit a new application or other material or to take a new test. No separate fee may be charged for reinstatement of a license under this subdivision. With respect to a license granted by a credentialing board, the department of safety and professional services shall reinstate a license or grant an application under this subdivision.
108.227(2)(b)4.
4. If a person whose license has been suspended or revoked or whose application for a license or license renewal or continuation has been denied under subd.
1. a. submits a nondelinquency certificate issued under sub.
(3) (a) 2., reinstate the license or grant the person's application for the license or license renewal or continuation, unless there are other grounds for not reinstating the license or for denying the application for the license or license renewal or continuation. With respect to a license granted by a credentialing board, the department of safety and professional services shall reinstate a license or grant an application under this subdivision.
108.227(2)(c)1.1. Each licensing department and the supreme court may require a license holder or an applicant for a license or license renewal or continuation to provide the following information upon request:
108.227(2)(c)1.a.
a. If the license holder or applicant is an individual and has a social security number, the license holder's or applicant's social security number.
108.227(2)(c)1.am.
am. If the license holder or applicant is an individual and does not have a social security number, a statement made or subscribed under oath or affirmation that the license holder or applicant does not have a social security number. The form of the statement shall be prescribed by the department of children and families. A license issued in reliance upon a false statement submitted under this subd.
1. am. is invalid.
108.227(2)(c)1.b.
b. If the license holder or applicant is not an individual, the license holder's or applicant's federal employer identification number.
108.227(2)(c)2.
2. A licensing department may not disclose any information received under subd.
1. a. or
b. to any person except to the department of workforce development for the purpose of requesting certifications under par.
(a) 1. or
2. in accordance with the memorandum of understanding under sub.
(4) and administering the unemployment insurance program, to the department of revenue for the purpose of requesting certifications under s.
73.0301 (2) (a) 1. or
2. in accordance with the memorandum of understanding under s.
73.0301 (4) and administering state taxes, and to the department of children and families for the purpose of administering s.
49.22.
108.227(3)
(3)
Duties and powers of department of workforce development. 108.227(3)(a)(a) The department of workforce development shall do all of the following:
108.227(3)(a)1.
1. Enter into a memorandum of understanding with each licensing department and the supreme court, if the supreme court agrees, under sub.
(4) (a).
108.227(3)(a)2.
2. Upon the request of any applicant for issuance, renewal, continuation, or reinstatement of a license whose license has been previously revoked or suspended or whose application for a license or license renewal or continuation has been previously denied under sub.
(2) (b) 1. a., issue a nondelinquency certificate to the applicant if the applicant is not liable for delinquent contributions.
108.227(3)(b)
(b) If a request for certification is made under sub.
(2) (a) 1. or
2., the department of workforce development may, in accordance with a memorandum of understanding entered into under par.
(a) 1., certify to the licensing department or the supreme court that the applicant or license holder is liable for delinquent contributions.
108.227(4)(a)
(a) Each memorandum of understanding shall include procedures that do all of the following:
108.227(4)(a)1.
1. Establish requirements for making requests under sub.
(2) (a) 1. and
2., including specifying the time when a licensing department or the supreme court shall make requests under sub.
(2) (a) 1. and
2., and for making certifications under sub.
(3) (b).
108.227(4)(b)
(b) The department of workforce development and the licensing department shall consider all of the following factors in establishing requirements under par.
(a) 1.:
108.227(4)(b)5.
5. Whether a suspension, revocation, or denial under sub.
(2) (b) 1. a. will have an impact on public health, safety, or welfare or the environment.
108.227(5)(a)(a) The department of workforce development shall conduct a hearing requested by a license holder or applicant for a license or license renewal or continuation under sub.
(2) (b) 1. b., or as requested under s.
103.275 (2) (bt),
103.34 (10) (d),
103.91 (4) (d),
103.92 (8),
104.07 (7), or
105.13 (4), to review a certification or determination of contribution delinquency that is the basis of a denial, suspension, or revocation of a license or certificate in accordance with this section or an action taken under s.
103.275 (2) (bt),
103.34 (10) (d),
103.91 (4) (d),
103.92 (8),
104.07 (7), or
105.13 (4). A hearing under this paragraph is limited to questions of mistaken identity of the license or certificate holder or applicant and of prior payment of the contributions that the department of workforce development certified or determined the license or certificate holder or applicant owes the department. At a hearing under this paragraph, any statement filed by the department of workforce development, the licensing department, or the supreme court, if the supreme court agrees, may be admitted into evidence and is prima facie evidence of the facts that it contains. Notwithstanding ch.
227, a person entitled to a hearing under this paragraph is not entitled to any other notice, hearing, or review, except as provided in sub.
(6).
108.227(5)(b)
(b) After a hearing conducted under par.
(a) or, in the case of a determination related to a license to practice law, after a hearing under par.
(a) or, if the hearing is appealed, after judicial review under sub.
(6), the department of workforce development shall do one of the following:
108.227(5)(b)1.
1. Issue a nondelinquency certificate to a license holder or an applicant for a license or license renewal or continuation if the department determines that the license holder or applicant is not liable for delinquent contributions. For a hearing requested in response to an action taken under s.
103.275 (2) (bt),
103.34 (10) (d),
103.91 (4) (d),
103.92 (8),
104.07 (7), or
105.13 (4), the department shall grant a license or certificate or reinstate a license or certificate if the department determines that the applicant for or the holder of the license or certificate is not liable for delinquent contributions, unless there are other grounds for denying the application or revoking the license or certificate.
108.227(5)(b)2.
2. Provide notice that the department of workforce development has affirmed its certification of contribution delinquency to a license holder; to an applicant for a license, a license renewal, or a license continuation; and to the licensing department or the supreme court, if the supreme court agrees. For a hearing requested in response to an action taken under s.
103.275 (2) (bt),
103.34 (10) (d),
103.91 (4) (d),
103.92 (8),
104.07 (7), or
105.13 (4), the department of workforce development shall provide notice to the license or certificate holder or applicant that the department of workforce development has affirmed its determination of contribution delinquency.
108.227(6)
(6)
Judicial review. A license holder or applicant may seek judicial review under ss.
227.52 to
227.60 of an affirmation under sub.
(5) (b) 2. that the person is liable for delinquent contributions, except that the review shall be in the circuit court for Dane County.
108.23
108.23
Preference of required payments. In the event of an employer's dissolution, reorganization, bankruptcy, receivership, assignment for benefit of creditors, judicially confirmed extension proposal or composition, or any analogous situation including the administration of estates in circuit courts, the payments required of the employer under this chapter shall have preference over all claims of general creditors and shall be paid next after the payment of preferred claims for wages. If the employer is indebted to the federal government for taxes due under the federal unemployment tax act and a claim for the taxes has been duly filed, the amount of contributions which should be paid to allow the employer the maximum offset against the taxes shall have preference over preferred claims for wages and shall be on a par with debts due the United States, if by establishing the preference the offset against the federal tax can be secured under
26 USC 3302 (a) (3).
108.23 History
History: 1977 c. 449;
2021 a. 231.
108.24(1)(a)
(a) Any person who knowingly makes a false statement or representation to obtain any benefit payment under this chapter, either for himself or herself or for any other person, may be penalized as provided in par.
(b). Any penalty imposed under par.
(b) is in addition to any penalty imposed under s.
108.04 (11) (bh).
108.24(1)(b)1.
1. If the value of any benefits obtained does not exceed $2,500, is subject to a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 9 months, or both.
108.24(1)(b)2.
2. If the value of any benefits obtained exceeds $2,500 but does not exceed $5,000, is guilty of a Class I felony.
108.24(1)(b)3.
3. If the value of any benefits obtained exceeds $5,000 but does not exceed $10,000, is guilty of a Class H felony.
108.24(1)(b)4.
4. If the value of any benefits obtained exceeds $10,000, is guilty of a Class G felony.
108.24(1)(c)
(c) In any case involving more than one violation of par.
(a), all such violations may be prosecuted as a single crime.
108.24(2)
(2) Except as provided in sub.
(2m) and s.
108.16 (8) (m), any person who knowingly makes a false statement or representation in connection with any report or as to any information duly required by the department under this chapter, or who knowingly refuses or fails to keep any records or to furnish any reports or information duly required by the department under this chapter, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500, or imprisoned not more than 90 days or both; and each such false statement or representation and every day of such refusal or failure constitutes a separate offense.
108.24(2m)
(2m) Any employer described in s.
108.18 (2) (c) or engaged in the painting or drywall finishing of buildings or other structures who, after having previously been assessed an administrative penalty by the department under s.
108.221 (1), knowingly and intentionally provides false information to the department for the purpose of misclassifying or attempting to misclassify an individual who is an employee of the employer as a nonemployee shall be fined $1,000 for each employee who is misclassified, subject to a maximum fine of $25,000 for each violation. The department may refer violations of this subsection for prosecution by the department of justice or the district attorney for the county in which the violation occurred.
108.24(3)(a)(a) Whoever does any of the following shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than 90 days or both:
108.24(3)(a)1.
1. Makes a deduction from the wages of an employee because of liability for contributions or payments in lieu of contributions under this chapter or because of the employee's potential right to benefits.
108.24(3)(a)2.
2. Knowingly refuses or fails to furnish to an employee any notice, report or information duly required under this chapter by the department to be furnished to such employee.
108.24(3)(a)3.
3. Directly or indirectly, by promise of reemployment or by threat not to employ, to terminate, or not to reemploy or by any other means, attempts to induce an employee to:
108.24(3)(a)3.a.
a. Refrain from claiming or accepting benefits, participating in an audit or investigation by the department, or testifying in a hearing held under s.
108.09,
108.095, or
108.10.
108.24(3)(a)4.
4. Discriminates or retaliates against an individual because the individual claims benefits, participates in an audit or investigation by the department under this chapter, testifies in a hearing under s.
108.09,
108.095, or
108.10, or exercises any other right under this chapter.
108.24(3)(b)
(b) Each violation of this subsection constitutes a separate offense.
108.24(4)
(4) Any person who, without authorization of the department, permits inspection or disclosure of any record relating to the administration of this chapter that is provided to the person by the department under s.
108.14 (7) (a),
(b), or
(bm) and any person who, without authorization of the commission, permits inspection or disclosure of any record relating to the administration of this chapter that is provided to the person by the commission under s.
108.14 (7) (a), shall be fined not less than $25 nor more than $500 or may be imprisoned in the county jail for not more than one year or both. Each such unauthorized inspection or disclosure constitutes a separate offense.
108.245
108.245
Recovery of erroneous payments from fund. 108.245(1)(1)
Except as provided in sub.
(2m), the department may commence an action to preserve and recover the proceeds of any payment from the fund not resulting from a departmental error, including any payment to which the recipient is not entitled, from any transferee or other person that receives, possesses, or retains such a payment or from any account, including an account at any financial institution, resulting from the transfer, use, or disbursement of such a payment. The department may also commence an action to recover from a claimant the amount of any benefits that were erroneously paid to another person who was not entitled to receive the benefits because the claimant or the claimant's authorized agent divulged the claimant's security credentials to another person or failed to take adequate measures to protect the credentials from being divulged to an unauthorized person.
108.245(2)
(2) The department may sue for injunctive relief to require the payee, transferee, or other person, including a financial institution, in possession of the proceeds from any payment from the fund to preserve the proceeds and to prevent the transfer or use of the proceeds upon showing that the payee, transferee, or other person that receives, possesses, or retains the proceeds is not entitled to receive, possess, or retain the proceeds pending the final order of the court directing disposition of the proceeds. Upon entry of a final order of the court directing the proceeds to be transferred to the department, the payee, transferee, or other person in possession of the proceeds shall transfer the proceeds to the department.
108.245(2m)
(2m) No action may be commenced under this section asserting any claim against a claimant unless the claimant has first been afforded his or her rights to contest the claim under s.
108.09.
108.245(3)
(3) Except as provided in sub.
(2m), the existence of an administrative or other legal remedy for recovery of a payment under sub.
(1) or the failure of the department to exhaust any such remedy is not a defense to an action under sub.
(1). A judgment entered by a court under this section may be recovered and satisfied under s.
108.225.
108.245 History
History: 2013 a. 36;
2013 a. 173 s.
33;
2013 a. 276.
108.26
108.26
Saving clause. The legislature reserves the right to amend or repeal all or any part of this chapter at any time; and there shall be no vested private right of any kind against such amendment or repeal. All the rights, privileges or immunities conferred by this chapter or by acts done pursuant thereto shall exist subject to the power of the legislature to amend or repeal this chapter at any time.
