AB778: Bill Text

LRB-3891/3

RPN/RAC/JTK:kaf:hh

1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE

1997 Assembly BILL 778

February 10, 1998 - Introduced by Representatives Hanson, Ladwig, F. Lasee and Johnsrud, cosponsored by Senators Rosenzweig and Farrow, by request of Department of Administration, Department of Employe Trust Funds and Department of Justice. Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

AB778,1,11 An Act to repeal 45.72 (4), 46.017, 101.02 (2) and 301.04; to renumber 40.07 (1) (a) to (d) and 893.82 (2) (d); to renumber and amend 40.07 (1) (intro.) and 40.07 (2); to amend 25.15 (1), 25.17 (intro.), 25.18 (1) (e), 36.07 (1), 44.01 (1), 45.356 (4), 195.03 (28), 196.02 (12), 775.01, 893.82 (6) and 893.82 (7); and to create 16.865 (9), 40.07 (1m) (intro.), 40.07 (2) (c), 40.07 (2) (d), 893.82 (2) (d) 2., 895.45 and 895.46 (1) (at) of the statutes; relating to: a restatement of the doctrine of sovereign immunity, suits against the state and state agencies and powers and attributes of certain state agencies; limits on damages for wrongful death in actions against state officials, employes or agents; travel within the scope of employment or agency of a public official, employe or agent; and release of individual personal information by the department of employe trust funds.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under a portion of the common law, which pursuant to the state constitution is in effect in this state unless modified by the constitution or by act of the legislature, the state has "sovereign immunity". In other words, it is generally not possible to sue the state in state court unless a statute or constitutional provision authorizes the suit to be brought. The state constitution (article IV, section 27) directs the legislature to provide by law the manner in which suits may be brought against the state. There are a number of judicial interpretations which define the boundaries of the sovereign immunity doctrine.

In Bahr v. Investment Board, 186 Wis. 2d 379 (Ct. App. 1994), the state court of appeals held that the state investment board could be sued, notwithstanding sovereign immunity, in part because the statutes provide that it is a "body corporate with power to sue and be sued" and because it is an "independent agency of the state" and its operations are not funded with general purpose revenue.

This bill creates a statute which reasserts the state's right not to be sued unless suit is expressly authorized to be brought by law or by the constitution. The bill further provides that no powers, functions or source of funding provided by law to any instrumentality of this state which is engaged in a governmental function constitute a waiver of the state's sovereign immunity to suit. The bill also deletes statutory provisions which provide that certain state agencies may "sue and be sued" and that certain state agencies are a "body corporate" or a "body corporate and politic". Under judicial interpretations, when suits are otherwise permitted to be brought, an agency may be sued notwithstanding the absence of this language. The bill further deletes a provision that the investment board is an "independent agency of the state". (The statutes contain numerous references to independent agencies, including the investment board, in an apparent attempt to distinguish these agencies from the state departments and the agencies that are attached to the departments, but the bill does not affect these references.)

The bill clarifies, in accordance with judicial interpretations, that if the legislature refuses to allow a claim against the state, suit may be brought only if suit is authorized to be brought (i.e., sovereign immunity does not apply).

In addition, the bill provides that the reassertion of sovereign immunity by the state is intended as a restatement of existing law.

Under current law, individual personal information in the records of the department of employe trust funds (DETF) may not be disclosed except under one of the following conditions:

1. The information is requested by the person whose record contains the information or by the duly authorized representative of the person.

2. The information is requested by a public employe for use in the discharge of his or her official duties.

3. The information is required to be disclosed under a court order duly obtained upon a showing to the court that the information is relevant to a pending court action.

4. The information is required to be disclosed for the proper administration of DETF or to assist in locating participants or beneficiaries DETF is otherwise unable to contact.

In addition, with respect to individual medical information in the records of DETF, current law provides that DETF may disclose this information only when a disability application denial is appealed or under a court order duly obtained upon a showing to the court that the information is relevant to a pending court action or when the medical information is gathered for any of the benefit plans administered by DETF and may be used by another such benefit plan.

This bill provides that the current conditions under which individual personal information in the records of DETF may be disclosed do not apply to individual medical records in the records of DETF. Instead, the bill specifies that individual medical records in the records of DETF may only be disclosed under one of the following conditions:

1. When a disability application or health insurance claim denial is appealed.

2. Under a court order or an order of a hearing examiner duly obtained after notice to the department and upon a showing to the court or the hearing examiner that the information is relevant to a pending court or administrative action.

3. Upon written request, to the employer of a person who applies for a disability annuity or duty disability benefit or who files a claim for income continuation insurance or, if the person is a state employe, to the department of administration for the purpose of managing the state employes' worker's compensation program. Any documentation submitted to DETF pursuant to certain applications for disability benefits may also be disclosed to the employer.

4. Upon written request, to a participant in the Wisconsin retirement system or his or her duly authorized representative, but only if the individual medical records are those of the participant and if the participant's or his or her duly recognized representative's access to the individual medical records is not otherwise restricted by law. The only individual medical records that may be disclosed by DETF are those specifically identified in the written request.

Currently, if a public officer, employe or agent is proceeded against for acts committed while carrying out his or her duties or within his or her agency, any judgment as to damages and costs entered against the officer, employe or agent are paid by the state or political subdivision of which the defendant is an officer, employe or agent. The state or political subdivision is also required by current law to provide legal counsel or pay the reasonable attorney fees and costs of defending the action, unless the officer, employe or agent was not acting within the scope of his or her employment or agency.

This bill provides that a public officer, employe or agent who is required to travel as part of his or her duties or agency shall be considered to be carrying out his or her official duties and within the scope of his or her employment or agency while traveling on official duties, except when he or she deviates for a private or personal purpose. The bill also provides that travel to pick up or return a motor vehicle used in the official travel is part of the person's official duties and within the scope of his or her employment or agency.

Under current law, the amount that a person may recover in a civil action against a state officer, employe or agent, or against a museum under a lease agreement with the state historical society, is limited to $250,000. State law also limits the amount that may be recovered for the loss of society and companionship in a wrongful death action to $150,000. This bill clarifies that the $150,000 limit for the loss of society and companionship applies to wrongful death actions against a state officer, employe or agent, and against a museum under a lease agreement with the state historical society.

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:

AB778, s. 1 Section 1. 16.865 (9) of the statutes is created to read:

AB778,4,4 16.865 (9) Have the authority to disclose individual medical records obtained under s. 40.07 (2) to the department of workforce development for any worker's compensation proceeding under ch. 102.

AB778, s. 2 Section 2. 25.15 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB778,4,11 25.15 (1) Purpose. The purpose of the board is to provide professional investment management of trusts, operating funds and capital funds established by law. It is the intent of the legislature that the The board be an independent agency of the state which is to shall manage money and property for the state, its agencies and trust funds. The goal of board management shall be towards accomplishing the purpose of each trust or fund.

AB778, s. 3 Section 3. 25.17 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB778,4,16 25.17 Powers and duties of board. (intro.) The "State of Wisconsin Investment Board" shall be a body corporate with power to sue and be sued in said name. The investment board shall have a seal with the words, "State of Wisconsin Investment Board". Subject to s. 25.183, the board shall:

AB778, s. 4 Section 4. 25.18 (1) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB778,5,2 25.18 (1) (e) Take such action as may be necessary to make investments in mortgage loans or in the purchase of interests in real estate in any other state or in Canada, including but not excluding because of enumeration, qualifying to do business, filing reports, paying franchise, license or other fees and taxes, designating agents, and designating an office and subjecting itself to suit.

AB778, s. 5 Section 5. 36.07 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB778,5,6 36.07 (1) (title) Corporate status and title Title. The board and their successors in office shall constitute a body corporate by shall bear the name of "Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System".

AB778, s. 6 Section 6. 40.07 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 40.07 (1) and amended to read:

AB778,5,11 40.07 (1) Notwithstanding any other statutory provision, individual personal information in the records of the department is not a public record and shall not be disclosed, unless: except as provided in this section.

AB778, s. 7 Section 7. 40.07 (1) (a) to (d) of the statutes are renumbered 40.07 (1m) (a) to (d).

AB778, s. 8 Section 8. 40.07 (1m) (intro.) of the statutes is created to read:

AB778,5,17 40.07 (1m) (intro.) Individual personal information in the records of the department, other than individual medical records identified in sub. (2), may be disclosed by the department only under one of the following conditions:

AB778, s. 9 Section 9. 40.07 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 40.07 (2) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB778,5,22 40.07 (2) (intro.) Notwithstanding sub. (1) medical Individual medical records, as defined by rule, may be disclosed by the department only when under one of the following conditions:

AB778,5,24 (a) When a disability application or health insurance claim denial is appealed or under s. 40.03 (1) (j), (6) (i), (7) (f) or (8) (f) or 40.65 (2) (b) 3.

AB778,6,4 (b) Under a court order or an order of a hearing examiner duly obtained after notice to the department and upon a showing to the court or the hearing examiner that the information is relevant to a pending court or administrative action but medical information.