Wisconsin Legislature: 55,1424m

40.08 (1c) Withholding of annuity and certain benefit payments. Notwithstanding sub. (1), any monthly annuity paid under s. 40.23, 40.24, 40.25 (1) or (2), or 40.63 and any benefit paid under s. 40.62 or duty disability payment paid under s. 40.65 is subject to s. 767.75. The board and any member or agent thereof and the department and any employee or agent thereof are immune from civil liability for any act or omission while performing official duties relating to withholding any annuity payment pursuant to s. 767.57.

55,1405d Section 1405d. 40.51 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

40.51 (2) Except as provided in subs. (10), (10m), (11) and (16), any eligible employee may become covered by group health insurance by electing coverage within 30 days of being hired, to be effective as of the first day of the month which begins on or after the date the application is received by the employer that first occurs during the 30-day period, or by electing coverage prior to becoming eligible for employer contribution towards the premium cost as provided in s. 40.05 (4) (a) to be effective upon becoming eligible for employer contributions. An eligible employee who is not insured, but who is eligible for an employer contribution under s. 40.05 (4) (ag) 1., may elect coverage prior to becoming eligible for an employer contribution under s. 40.05 (4) (ag) 2., with the coverage to be effective upon becoming eligible for the increase in the employer contribution. Any employee who does not so elect at one of these times, or who subsequently cancels the insurance, shall not thereafter become insured unless the employee furnishes evidence of insurability satisfactory to the insurer, at the employee's own expense or obtains coverage subject to contractual waiting periods. The method to be used shall be specified in the health insurance contract.

55,1406 Section 1406. 40.513 of the statutes is created to read:

40.513 Payment of stipend in lieu of health care coverage for state employees. (1) Subject to sub. (3), a state employee who is eligible to receive health care coverage under s. 40.51 (6) may elect not to receive that coverage and instead be paid an annual stipend equal to $2,000 if all of the following occur:

(a) The employee is eligible for an employer contribution under s. 40.05 (4) (ag).

(b) The employee makes the election on a form provided by the department.

(c) The employee makes the election within 30 days of being hired or during any applicable enrollment period established by the department. If the employee makes the election within 30 days of being hired, the employee may not receive health care coverage under s. 40.51 (6) during the calendar year in which the election is made. If the employee makes the election during any annual applicable enrollment period established by the department, the employee may not receive health care coverage under s. 40.51 (6) during the succeeding calendar year.

(2) A stipend paid to an employee under sub. (1) shall be paid from the appropriation account that would otherwise have been used to pay the employer contribution toward premium payments under s. 40.05 (4) (ag) for that employee. If an employee makes the election within 30 days of being hired, the employer shall prorate the $2,000 stipend according to the remaining number of months in the calendar year in which the election is made.

(3) A state employee may not be paid an annual stipend under sub. (1) if any of the following occurs:

(a) The employee was eligible for an employer contribution under s. 40.05 (4) (ag) during the 2015 calendar year and elected not to receive health care coverage in that calendar year.

(b) The employee's spouse or domestic partner is receiving health care coverage under s. 40.51 (6).

55,1407 Section 1407. 40.515 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

40.515 (1) In addition to the health care coverage plans offered under s. 40.51 (6), beginning on January 1, 2015, the group insurance board shall offer to all state employees the option of receiving health care coverage through a high-deductible health plan and the establishment of a health savings account. Under this option, each employee shall receive health care coverage through a high-deductible health plan. The state shall make contributions into each employee's health savings account in an amount specified by the director of the office administrator of the division of state employment relations personnel management in the department of administration under s. 40.05 (4) (ah) 4. In designing a high-deductible health plan, the group insurance board shall ensure that the plan may be used in conjunction with a health savings account.

55,1408 Section 1408. 40.52 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

40.52 (3) The group insurance board, after consulting with the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System, shall establish the terms of a health insurance plan for graduate assistants, for teaching assistants, and for employees-in-training designated by the board of regents, who are employed on at least a one-third full-time basis and for teachers who are employed on at least a one-third full-time basis by the University of Wisconsin System with an expected duration of employment of at least 6 months but less than one year. Annually, the director of the office administrator of the division of state employment relations personnel management in the department of administration shall establish the amount that the employer is required to pay in premium costs under this subsection.

55,1409m Section 1409m. 40.61 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

40.61 (2) Except as provided in sub. (4), any eligible employee may become covered by income continuation insurance by electing coverage within 30 days of initial eligibility, to be effective as of the first day of the month which begins on or after the date the application is received by the employer that first occurs during the 30-day period, or by electing coverage within 30 60 days of initially becoming eligible for a higher level of employer contribution towards the premium cost to be effective as of the first day of the month following the date the application is received by the employer of eligibility for teachers employed by the university and effective as of the following April 1 for all other employees. Any employee who does not so elect at one of these times, or who subsequently cancels the insurance, may not thereafter become insured unless the employee furnishes evidence of insurability under the terms of the contract, or as otherwise provided by rule for employees under sub. (3), at the employee's own expense or obtains coverage subject to contractual waiting periods if contractual waiting periods are provided for by the contract or by rule for employees under sub. (3). An employee who furnishes satisfactory evidence of insurability under the terms of the contract shall become insured as of the first day of the month following the date of approval of evidence. The method to be used shall be determined by the group insurance board under sub. (1).

55,1412d Section 1412d. 40.65 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

40.65 (2) (a) This paragraph applies to participants who first apply for benefits before May 3, 1988. Any person desiring a benefit under this section must apply to the department of workforce development, which department shall determine whether the applicant is eligible to receive the benefit and the participant's monthly salary. Appeals from the eligibility decision shall follow the procedures under ss. 102.16 to 102.26. If it is determined that an applicant is eligible, the department of workforce development shall notify the department of employee trust funds and shall certify the applicant's monthly salary. If at the time of application for benefits an applicant is still employed in any capacity by the employer in whose employ the disabling injury occurred or disease was contracted, that continued employment shall not affect that applicant's right to have his or her eligibility to receive those benefits determined in proceedings before the department of workforce development division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration or the labor and industry review commission or in proceedings in the courts. The department of workforce development may promulgate rules needed to administer this paragraph.

55,1413 Section 1413. 40.65 (2) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

40.65 (2) (b) 3. The department shall determine whether or not the applicant is eligible for benefits under this section on the basis of the evidence in subd. 2. An applicant may appeal a determination under this subdivision to the department of workforce development division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration.

55,1414 Section 1414. 40.65 (2) (b) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

40.65 (2) (b) 4. In hearing an appeal under subd. 3., the department of workforce development division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration shall follow the procedures under ss. 102.16 to 102.26.

55,1420 Section 1420. 41.11 (6) of the statutes is repealed.

55,1421 Section 1421. 41.16 (1) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

41.16 (1) (a) 1. A nonprofit organization, as defined in s. 106.13 (4) (3m) (a) 1r., whose purposes include tourism to or within the state or a particular region in the state.

55,1422m Section 1422m. 41.25 of the statutes is created to read:

41.25 Frank Lloyd Wright promotion. (1) In the 2015-17 fiscal biennium, from the appropriation under s. 20.380 (1) (b), the department shall expend $500,000 to promote, advertise, and publicize buildings designed or constructed by Frank Lloyd Wright that are open to the public.

55,1424m Section 1424m. 41.41 (4) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

41.41 (4) (d) Notwithstanding s. 15.03, the department shall process and forward all personnel and biennial budget requests by the board without change except as requested or concurred in by the board.

55,1430 Section 1430. 44.11 of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

44.11 Central depository library. (1) In this section, "board" means the board of curators of the historical society.

(2) The board may participate in the formation and maintenance of a nonprofit-sharing corporation sponsored by participating colleges, universities, and libraries for the purpose of providing and operating a central library depository at a location in a midwestern state for the storage of little used books and other library and research materials of participating institutions, and which corporation may also perform any other functions for the benefit of participating institutions, including correlating library catalogs of the participating institutions, coordinating and planning the purchasing by each institution of costly or infrequently used books and research materials in order to avoid unnecessary duplication, and facilitating the loaning of library books and other library and research materials between participating institutions. The board shall possess all powers necessary or convenient to accomplish the foregoing, including the authority to designate representatives or members of such corporation in accordance with its articles and bylaws.

(3) The board may make use of and pay for the use of the facilities and services of such nonprofit-sharing corporation, but the board shall retain title to all books and materials deposited with such corporation for storage or loaned to other participating institutions and the authority of the board to expend funds for the purchase of land, the construction of buildings and additions to buildings and the purchase of equipment for the purpose of providing such facilities shall be limited to funds appropriated under s. 20.245.

55,1439 Section 1439. 45.10 of the statutes is created to read:

45.10 Veteran appearances. The department may reimburse any veteran who incurred travel expenses relating to an appearance that occurred at the request of the state, subject to the following:

(1) A veteran seeking reimbursement shall submit to the department documentation of travel expenses incurred.

(2) Notwithstanding ss. 16.53 (12) (c) and 20.916 (8) and (9), the department may reimburse all documented travel expenses but reimbursement shall not exceed $2,000 annually per veteran.

55,1447m Section 1447m. 45.205 of the statutes is repealed.

55,1453 Section 1453. 45.44 (1) (a) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

45.44 (1) (a) 5. A license, certification, registration, or permit issued under s. 89.06, 89.072, 94.10 (2), (3), or (3g), 94.50 (2), 94.704, 95.60, 97.17 (2), 97.175 (2), 97.22 (2), 98.145, 98.146, 98.18 (1) (a), or 168.23 (3).

55,1454 Section 1454 . 45.44 (1) (a) 14. of the statutes is amended to read:

45.44 (1) (a) 14. A license, certification, certification card, or permit issued under s. 252.23, 252.24, 254.176, 254.178, 254.20, 254.71, and 256.15.

55,1455 Section 1455 . 45.44 (1) (a) 14. of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

45.44 (1) (a) 14. A license, certification, certification card, or permit issued under s. ss. 97.33, 254.176, 254.178, 254.20, 254.71, and 256.15.

55,1458 Section 1458. 45.51 (2) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

45.51 (2) (a) 3. A spouse, or surviving spouse, or parent of a person under subd. 1. or 2. or a parent of a person who died while serving in the U.S. armed forces.

55,1458r Section 1458r. 45.58 of the statutes is created to read:

45.58 Grants to local governments. From the appropriation under s. 20.485 (1) (kj), the department may make grants to cities, villages, and towns that provide services to veterans homes.

55,1458rb Section 1458rb. 45.58 of the statutes, as created by 2015 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed.

55,1459 Section 1459. 45.60 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 45.60 (1) (a) (intro.) and amended to read:

45.60 (1) (a) (intro.) The department shall administer a program to coordinate the provision of military funeral honors in this state to deceased veterans and to deceased persons who have served under honorable conditions in any national guard or in a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces. all of the following:

55,1460 Section 1460. 45.60 (1) (a) 1. of the statutes is created to read:

45.60 (1) (a) 1. Military personnel on active duty.

55,1461 Section 1461. 45.60 (1) (a) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

45.60 (1) (a) 2. Former military members who served on active duty and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

55,1462 Section 1462. 45.60 (1) (a) 3. of the statutes is created to read:

45.60 (1) (a) 3. Members of the selective service.

55,1463 Section 1463. 45.60 (1) (a) 4. of the statutes is created to read:

45.60 (1) (a) 4. Former members of the selected reserve and national guard who served at least one term of enlistment or period of initial obligated service and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

55,1464 Section 1464. 45.60 (1) (a) 5. of the statutes is created to read:

45.60 (1) (a) 5. Former members of the selected reserve or national guard who were discharged due to a service-connected disability or for a disability subsequently adjudicated to have been service-connected.

55,1465 Section 1465. 45.82 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

45.82 (2) The department of veterans affairs shall award a grant annually, on a reimbursable basis as specified in this subsection, to a county that meets the standards developed under this section and if the county executive, administrator, or administrative coordinator certifies to the department that it employs a county veterans service officer who, if chosen after August 9, 1989 April 15, 2015, is chosen from a list of candidates who have taken a civil service examination for the position of county veterans service officer developed and administered by the division bureau of merit recruitment and selection in the office of state employment relations department of administration, or is appointed under a civil service competitive examination procedure under s. 59.52 (8) or ch. 63. The grant shall be The department of veterans affairs shall twice yearly reimburse grant recipients for documented expenses under sub. (5), subject to the following annual reimbursement limits: $8,500 for a county with a population of less than 20,000, $10,000 for a county with a population of 20,000 to 45,499, $11,500 for a county with a population of 45,500 to 74,999, and $13,000 for a county with a population of 75,000 or more. The department of veterans affairs shall use the most recent Wisconsin official population estimates prepared by the demographic services center when making grants under this subsection.

55,1465m Section 1465m. 45.82 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

45.82 (4) The department shall provide grants on a reimbursable basis as specified in this subsection to the governing bodies of federally recognized American Indian tribes and bands from the appropriation under s. 20.485 (2) (km) or (vw) if that governing body enters into an agreement with the department regarding the creation, goals, and objectives of a tribal veterans service officer, appoints a veteran to act as a tribal veterans service officer, and gives that veteran duties similar to the duties described in s. 45.80 (5), except that the veteran shall report to the governing body of the tribe or band. The department may make annual grants of up to shall twice yearly reimburse grant recipients for documented expenses under sub. (5), not to exceed $15,000 per grant under this subsection and shall promulgate rules to implement this subsection.

55,1465n Section 1465n. 45.82 (5) of the statutes is created to read:

45.82 (5) Only the following expenses are eligible for reimbursement under subs. (2) and (4):

(a) Information technology.

(b) Transportation for veterans and service to veterans with barriers.

(d) Training and services provided by the department and the federal department of veterans affairs.

(e) Salary and fringe benefit expenses incurred in 2015; salary and fringe benefit expenses incurred in 2016, except that total reimbursement for such expenses shall not exceed 50 percent of the applicable maximum grant under sub. (2) or (4); and salary and fringe benefit expenses incurred in 2017, except that total reimbursement for such expenses shall not exceed 25 percent of the applicable maximum grant under sub. (2) or (4).

55,1465o Section 1465o. 45.82 (6) of the statutes is created to read:

45.82 (6) The department shall promulgate rules establishing criteria and procedures for reimbursement under subs. (2) and (4).

55,1466 Section 1466. 46.011 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 46.011 (1e).

55,1467 Section 1467. 46.011 (1c) of the statutes is created to read:

46.011 (1c) "Community-based juvenile delinquency-related services" means juvenile delinquency-related services provided under ch. 938 other than juvenile correctional services.

55,1468b Section 1468b. 46.011 (1p) of the statutes is created to read:

46.011 (1p) "Juvenile correctional services" means services provided for a juvenile who is under the supervision of the department of corrections under s. 938.183, 938.34 (2), (4h), (4m), (4n) (a), or (7g), or 938.357 (4).

55,1469b Section 1469b. 46.011 (1p) of the statutes, as created by 2015 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

55,1470 Section 1470. 46.03 (18) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

46.03 (18) (a) Except as provided in s. 46.10 (14) (b) and (c), the department shall establish a uniform system of fees for services provided or purchased by the department, or a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, 51.42, or 51.437, except for services provided under ch. 48 and subch. III of ch. 49; community-based juvenile delinquency-related services; juvenile correctional services; services provided to courts; and outreach, information, and referral services; or when, as determined by the department, a fee is administratively unfeasible or would significantly prevent accomplishing the purpose of the service. A county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, 51.42, or 51.437 shall apply the fees that it collects under this program to cover the cost of those services.

55,1471 Section 1471. 46.03 (20) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

46.03 (20) (a) Except for payments provided under ch. 48 or subch. III of ch. 49, the The department may make payments directly to recipients of public assistance or to such persons authorized to receive such those payments in accordance with law and rules of the department on behalf of the counties. Except for payments provided under ch. 48 or subch. III of ch. 49, the The department may charge the counties for the cost of operating public assistance systems which that make such those payments.

55,1471nb Section 1471nb. 46.036 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

46.036 (3) (a) Purchase of service contracts Contracts under this section shall be written in accordance with rules promulgated and procedures established by the department. Contracts for client services shall show the total dollar amount to be purchased and; shall show for each service the number of clients to be served, number of client service units, the unit rate per client service, and the total dollar amount for each service; shall permit the provider of a rate-based service to generate a surplus of revenue earned under the contract over allowable costs incurred in the contract period; and shall permit a nonprofit corporation that is a provider of a rate-based service or a rate-regulated service to retain from that surplus the amounts specified in sub. (5m) (b), (c), (d), or (em), whichever is applicable. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to guarantee the generation of a surplus by a provider of a rate-based service.