AB379: Bill Text

AB379, s. 1 Section 1. 106.06 (6) of the statutes is created to read:

AB379,3,4 106.06 (6) The division shall receive complaints of discharge, retaliation or discrimination under s. 146.997 (4) (a) and shall process the complaints in the same manner that employment discrimination complaints are processed under s. 111.39.

AB379, s. 2 Section 2. 111.322 (2m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB379,3,8 111.322 (2m) (a) The individual files a complaint or attempts to enforce any right under s. 103.02, 103.10, 103.13, 103.28, 103.32, 103.455, 103.50, 104.12, 109.03, 109.07 or, 109.075 or 146.997 or ss. 101.58 to 101.599 or 103.64 to 103.82.

AB379, s. 3 Section 3. 111.322 (2m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB379,3,13 111.322 (2m) (b) The individual testifies or assists in any action or proceeding held under or to enforce any right under s. 103.02, 103.10, 103.13, 103.28, 103.32, 103.455, 103.50, 104.12, 109.03, 109.07 or, 109.075 or 146.997 or ss. 101.58 to 101.599 or 103.64 to 103.82.

AB379, s. 4 Section 4. 146.997 of the statutes is created to read:

AB379,3,15 146.997 Health care worker protection. (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB379,3,16 (a) "Department" means the department of workforce development.

AB379,4,6 (b) "Health care facility" means a facility, as defined in s. 647.01 (4), or any hospital, nursing home, community-based residential facility, county home, county infirmary, county hospital, county mental health complex, tuberculosis sanatorium or other place licensed or approved by the department of health and family services under s. 49.70, 49.71, 49.72, 50.03, 50.35, 51.08, 51.09, 58.06, 252.073 or 252.076 or a facility under s. 45.365, 51.05, 51.06, 233.40, 233.41, 233.42 or 252.10.

AB379,4,7 (c) "Health care provider" means any of the following:

AB379,4,8 1. A nurse licensed under ch. 441.

AB379,4,9 2. A chiropractor licensed under ch. 446.

AB379,4,10 3. A dentist licensed under ch. 447.

AB379,4,11 4. A physician, podiatrist or physical therapist licensed under ch. 448.

AB379,4,13 5. An occupational therapist, occupational therapy assistant, physician assistant or respiratory care practitioner certified under ch. 448.

AB379,4,14 6. A dietician certified under subch. V of ch. 448.

AB379,4,15 7. An optometrist licensed under ch. 449.

AB379,4,16 8. A pharmacist licensed under ch. 450.

AB379,4,17 9. An acupuncturist certified under ch. 451.

AB379,4,18 10. A psychologist licensed under ch. 455.

AB379,4,20 11. A social worker, marriage and family therapist or professional counselor certified under ch. 457.

AB379,4,23 12. A speech-language pathologist or audiologist licensed under subch. II of ch. 459 or a speech and language pathologist licensed by the department of public instruction.

AB379,4,25 13. A massage therapist or bodyworker issued a license of registration under subch. XI of ch. 440.

AB379,5,2 14. An emergency medical technician licensed under s. 146.50 (5) or a first responder.

AB379,5,3 15. A partnership of any providers specified under subds. 1. to 14.

AB379,5,5 16. A corporation or limited liability company of any providers specified under subds. 1. to 14. that provides health care services.

AB379,5,8 17. An operational cooperative sickness care plan organized under ss. 185.981 to 185.985 that directly provides services through salaried employes in its own facility.

AB379,5,9 18. A hospice licensed under subch. IV of ch. 50

AB379,5,10 19. A rural medical center, as defined in s. 50.50 (11).

AB379,5,11 20. A home health agency, as defined in s. 50.49 (1) (a).

AB379,5,20 (2) Reporting protected. (a) Any employe of a health care facility or of a health care provider who is aware of any information, the disclosure of which is not expressly prohibited by any state law or rule or any federal law or regulation, that would lead a reasonable person to believe any of the following may report that information to any appropriate law enforcement agency, district attorney, U.S. attorney or agency, as defined in s. 111.32 (6) (a) of the state; to the employe's collective bargaining representative; to any professionally recognized accrediting or standard-setting body; or to any officer, director or other employe of the health care facility or health care provider:

AB379,5,23 1. That the health care facility or health care provider or any employe of the health care facility or health care provider has violated any state law or rule or federal law or regulation.

AB379,6,4 2. That there exists any situation in which the quality of any health care service provided by the health care facility or health care provider or by any employe of the health care facility or health care provider violates any standard established by any state law or rule or federal law or regulation or any clinical or ethical standard established by a professionally recognized accrediting or standard-setting body and poses a potential risk to public health or safety.

AB379,6,7 (b) Any employe of a health care facility or health care provider may initiate, participate in or testify in any action or proceeding in which a violation specified in par. (a) 1. or 2. is alleged.

AB379,6,10 (c) Any employe of a health care facility or health care provider may provide any information relating to an alleged violation specified in par. (a) 1. or 2. to any legislator or legislative committee.

AB379,6,21 (3) Retaliation prohibited. (a) No health care facility or health care provider and no employe of a health care facility or health care provider may discharge or otherwise retaliate or discriminate against, or threaten to discharge or otherwise retaliate or discriminate against, any person because the person reported in good faith under sub. (2) (a), in good faith initiated, participated in or testified in any action or proceeding under sub. (2) (b) or provided in good faith any information under sub. (2) (c) or because the health care facility, health care provider or employe believes that the person reported or may report in good faith under sub. (2) (a), in good faith initiated, participated in or testified in, or may in good faith initiate, participate in or testify in, any action or proceeding under sub. (2) (b) or provided or may provide in good faith any information under sub. (2) (c).

AB379,7,7 (b) No health care facility or health care provider and no employe of a health care facility or health care provider may discharge or otherwise retaliate or discriminate against, or threaten to discharge or otherwise retaliate or discriminate against, any person on whose behalf another person reported in good faith under sub. (2) (a), in good faith initiated, participated in or testified in any action or proceeding under sub. (2) (b) or provided in good faith any information under sub. (2) (c) or because the health care facility, health care provider or employe believes that another person reported or may report in good faith under sub. (2) (a), in good faith initiated, participated in or testified in, or may in good faith initiate, participate in or testify in, any action or proceeding under sub. (2) (b) or provided or may provide in good faith any information under sub. (2) (c) on that person's behalf.

AB379,7,14 (4) Enforcement. (a) Subject to par. (b), any employe of a health care facility or health care provider who is discharged or otherwise retaliated or discriminated against, or who is threatened with discharge, retaliation or discrimination, in violation of sub. (3) may file a complaint with the department under s. 106.06 (6). If the department finds that a violation of sub. (3) has been committed, the department may take such action under s. 111.39 as will effectuate the purpose of this section.

AB379,7,21 (b) Any employe of a health care facility operated by an agency, as defined in s. 111.32 (6) (a), of the state who is discharged or otherwise retaliated or discriminated against, or who is threatened with discharge, retaliation or discrimination, in violation of sub. (3) may file a complaint with the personnel commission under s. 230.45 (1) (L). If the personnel commission finds that a violation of sub. (3) has been committed, the personnel commission may take such action under s. 111.39 as will effectuate the purpose of this section.

AB379,7,23 (c) Section 111.322 (2m) applies to a discharge or other retaliatory or discriminatory acts arising in connection with any proceeding under par. (a) or (b).

AB379,8,7 (5) Civil penalty. Any health care facility or health care provider and any employe of a health care facility or health care provider who discharges or otherwise retaliates or discriminates against, or who threatens to discharge or otherwise retaliate or discriminate against, any person in violation of sub. (3) may be required to forfeit not more than $1,000 for a first violation, not more than $5,000 for a violation committed within 12 months of a previous violation and not more than $10,000 for a violation committed within 12 months of 2 or more previous violations. The 12-month period shall be measured by using the dates of the violations that resulted in convictions.

AB379, s. 5 Section 5. 230.45 (1) (L) of the statutes is created to read:

AB379,8,12 230.45 (1) (L) Receive complaints of discharge, retaliation or discrimination under s. 146.997 (4) (a) and, except as provided in sub. (1m), process the complaints in the same manner that employment discrimination complaints are processed under s. 111.39.

AB379, s. 6 Section 6. Nonstatutory provisions.

AB379,8,18 (1) Employe notification. Within 90 days after the effective date of this subsection, each health care facility, as defined in section 146.997 (1) (b) of the statutes, as created by this act, and each health care provider, as defined in section 146.997 (1) (c) of the statutes, as created by this act, shall inform its employes of their rights and remedies under this act.

AB379, s. 7 Section 7. Initial applicability.

AB379,9,2 (1) Collective bargaining agreements. This act first applies to an employe of a health care facility, as defined in section 146.997 (1) (b) of the statutes, as created by this act, or of a health care provider, as defined in section 146.997 (1) (c) of the statutes, as created by this act, who is affected by a collective bargaining agreement that contains provisions inconsistent with this act on the day on which the collective bargaining agreement expires or is extended, modified or renewed, whichever occurs first.

AB379,9,3 (End)