AB67: Bill Text

Employment discrimination based on creed. Under current law, with certain exceptions, an employer may not engage in employment discrimination based on creed. "Creed" is defined as a system of religious beliefs, including moral or ethical beliefs about right and wrong, that a person sincerely holds with the strength of traditional religious views. Employment discrimination based on creed is defined to include refusing to reasonably accommodate an employee's or prospective employee's religious observances or practices unless the employer can demonstrate that the accommodation would pose an undue hardship.

This bill expands the definition of employment discrimination based on creed to include discriminating against an employee or prospective employee on the basis of his or her refusal, based on creed, to participate in any of the following activities: 1) sterilization procedures; 2) abortions; 3) experiments or medical procedures that involve the destruction of a human embryo or that involve a human embryo or unborn child but do not relate to the beneficial treatment of the human embryo or unborn child; 4) procedures using fetal tissue or organs other than fetal tissue or organs from a stillbirth, spontaneous abortion, or miscarriage; 5) withholding or withdrawing nutrition or hydration under certain circumstances; or 6) acts intentionally causing or assisting in the death of an individual, including assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing. There is no exception for an employer to show that the refusal poses an undue hardship.

Refusals to participate in procedures on moral or religious grounds. Under current law, hospitals, certain health care professionals and hospital employees may not, under certain circumstances, be required to participate in procedures involving sterilization or the removal of a human embryo or fetus. Specifically, a hospital may not be required to admit a patient or allow the use of its facilities for such a procedure. In addition, physicians and other hospital employees who object, in writing, to participating in such a procedure on moral or religious grounds may not be disciplined for refusing to participate in the procedure. Also, a hospital, school, or employer may not take any disciplinary action regarding employment, staff, or student status against a person who refuses to participate in such a procedure if the refusal is based on moral or religious precepts. Finally, under current law, a hospital and the following persons are exempt from liability for damages that result from a refusal to perform such a procedure if the refusal is based on religious or moral precepts: persons employed by or associated with the staff of a hospital, physicians, and other health care professionals licensed or certified by the Medical Examining Board in the Department of Regulation and Licensing (DRL) and registered nurses licensed by the Board of Nursing in DRL.

This bill expands all of the provisions described above regarding hospitals, health care professionals, and hospital employees to include a refusal to participate, based on moral or religious grounds, in any of the six activities described above with respect to employment discrimination based on creed. In addition, the bill allows a person who is adversely affected by conduct that violates these provisions to bring a civil action for injunctive relief, damages, and attorneys fees. Also, the bill provides that pharmacists licensed by the Pharmacy Examining Board in DRL are exempt from liability for damages that result from a refusal to participate in any of the six activities if the refusal is based on religious or moral precepts. In addition, the bill changes the exemptions from liability under current law for physicians and other health care professionals licensed or certified by the Medical Examining Board and registered nurses licensed by the Board of Nursing so that they are consistent with the exemption under the bill for pharmacists.

Also, the bill specifies that the Medical Examining Board, Board of Nursing, Pharmacy Examining Board, and DRL may not take any disciplinary action against any of the following who, in writing, refuse, or state an intention to refuse, to participate in any of the six activities if the refusal is based on moral or religious grounds: a physician or other health care professional licensed or certified by the Medical Examining Board, a registered nurse licensed by the Board of Nursing, or a pharmacist licensed by the Pharmacy Examining Board. In addition, the bill allows a physician, registered nurse, or pharmacist who is adversely affected by conduct that violates this prohibition to bring a civil action for injunctive relief, damages, and attorneys fees.

Finally, under the bill, the Medical Examining Board may not take disciplinary action against a physician who makes such a refusal even if the physician refuses to transfer a patient who has executed a declaration authorizing the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures or feeding tubes, or who has executed a power of attorney for health care instrument consenting to the withholding or withdrawal of feeding tubes, to another physician who will comply with the declaration or instrument. However, under the bill, the Medical Examining Board may take disciplinary action against a physician who makes such a refusal if the physician refuses to transfer an incapacitated, terminally ill patient who has executed such a declaration.

Power of attorney for health care instruments and patient declarations. Under the bill, a physician who receives a power of attorney for health care instrument described above, or who is notified that a patient has executed a declaration described above, must immediately review the instrument or declaration and, if the physician intends to refuse to participate in any of the six activities, must, as soon as possible, inform the patient, orally and in writing, about the refusal and about any concerns that the physician has about the instrument or declaration. Similar requirements apply if a physician receives a statement of incapacity regarding a patient who has executed a power of attorney for health care instrument described above. In such cases, the physician must immediately review the statement and, if the physician intends to refuse to participate in any of the six activities, must, as soon as possible, inform the patient's principal, orally and in writing, about the refusal and about any concerns regarding the statement.

For further information see the state 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:

AB67, s. 1 Section 1. 111.337 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 111.337 (1r) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB67,4,4 111.337 (1r) (intro.) Employment discrimination because of creed includes, but is not limited to, refusing any of the following:

AB67,4,8 (a) Refusing to reasonably accommodate an employee's or prospective employee's religious observance or practice unless the employer can demonstrate that the accommodation would pose an undue hardship on the employer's program, enterprise, or business.

AB67, s. 2 Section 2. 111.337 (1g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB67,4,10 111.337 (1g) In this section:

AB67,4,15 (a) "Human embryo" means a human organism that is derived by fertilization, parthenogenesis, cloning, or any other means from one or more human gametes or human diploid cells. "Human embryo" includes a zygote but does not include a human organism at or beyond the stage of development at which the major body structures are present.

AB67,4,18 (b) "Participate in" means to perform, assist in, recommend, counsel in favor of, make referrals for, prescribe, dispense, or administer drugs for, or otherwise promote, encourage, or aid.

AB67, s. 3 Section 3. 111.337 (1r) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB67,5,3 111.337 (1r) (b) Discriminating against an employee or prospective employee by engaging in any of the actions prohibited under s. 111.322 on the basis of the employee's or prospective employee's refusal, or statement of an intention to refuse, whether or not in writing, based on his or her creed, to participate in any of the following:

AB67,5,4 1. A sterilization procedure.

AB67,5,5 2. An abortion, as defined in s. 253.10 (2) (a).

AB67,5,6 3. An experiment or medical procedure involving any of the following:

AB67,5,7 a. The destruction of a human embryo.

AB67,5,10 b. A human embryo or unborn child, at any stage of development, in which the experiment or procedure is not related to the beneficial treatment of the human embryo or unborn child.

AB67,5,13 4. A procedure, including a transplant procedure, that uses fetal tissue or organs other than fetal tissue or organs from a stillbirth, spontaneous abortion, or miscarriage.

AB67,5,18 5. The withholding or withdrawal of nutrition or hydration, if the withholding or withdrawal of nutrition or hydration would result in the patient's death from malnutrition or dehydration, or complications of malnutrition or dehydration, rather than from the underlying terminal illness or injury, unless the administration of nutrition or hydration is medically contraindicated.

AB67,5,20 6. An act that intentionally causes or assists in causing the death of an individual, such as by assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing.

AB67, s. 4 Section 4. 154.03 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB67,6,22 154.03 (1) (intro.) Any person of sound mind and 18 years of age or older may at any time voluntarily execute a declaration, which shall take effect on the date of execution, authorizing the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures or of feeding tubes when the person is in a terminal condition or is in a persistent vegetative state. A declarant may not authorize the withholding or withdrawal of any medication, life-sustaining procedure, or feeding tube if the declarant's attending physician advises that, in his or her professional judgment, the withholding or withdrawal will cause the declarant pain or reduce the declarant's comfort and the pain or discomfort cannot be alleviated through pain relief measures. A declarant may not authorize the withholding or withdrawal of nutrition or hydration that is administered or otherwise received by the declarant through means other than a feeding tube unless the declarant's attending physician advises that, in his or her professional judgment, the administration is medically contraindicated. A declaration must be signed by the declarant in the presence of 2 witnesses. If the declarant is physically unable to sign a declaration, the declaration must be signed in the declarant's name by one of the witnesses or some other person at the declarant's express direction and in his or her presence; such a proxy signing shall either take place or be acknowledged by the declarant in the presence of 2 witnesses. The declarant is responsible for notifying his or her attending physician of the existence of the declaration. An attending physician who is so notified shall immediately review the declaration and, if the physician intends to invoke his or her rights under s. 253.09, shall, as soon as possible, inform the declarant orally and in writing of that intent and of the physician's concerns, if any, about the declaration. An attending physician who is so notified shall also make the declaration a part of the declarant's medical records. No witness to the execution of the declaration may, at the time of the execution, be any of the following:

AB67, s. 5 Section 5. 155.60 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB67,7,8 155.60 (3) Upon receipt of a power of attorney for health care instrument or a statement of incapacity under s. 155.05 (2), a health care facility or health care provider shall acknowledge this receipt in writing and, if the principal is a patient of the health care provider, the health care provider shall include the instrument or the statement in the medical record of the principal. In addition, if the health care provider is a physician and the principal is a patient of the physician, the physician shall immediately review the instrument or statement and, if the physician intends to invoke his or her rights under s. 253.09, shall, as soon as possible, inform the principal orally and in writing of that intent and of the physician's concerns, if any, about the instrument or statement.

AB67, s. 6 Section 6. 253.09 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB67,7,11 253.09 (title) Abortion refused Refusal to participate in certain practices; no liability; no discrimination.

AB67, s. 7 Section 7. 253.09 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 253.09 (1r) (a) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB67,7,16 253.09 (1r) (a) (intro.) No hospital shall be is required to admit any patient or to allow the use of the hospital facilities for the purpose of performing a sterilization procedure or removing a human embryo or fetus. any of the following:

AB67,7,23 (b) A physician or any other person who is a member of or associated with the staff of a hospital, or any employee of a hospital in which such a procedure the performance of an activity specified in par. (a) 1. to 6. has been authorized, who shall state in writing his or her objection to the performance of or providing assistance to such a procedure, in writing, refuses, or states an intention to refuse, to participate in the activity on moral or religious grounds shall may not be required to participate in such medical procedure, and the activity.

AB67,8,5 (c) A physician or any other person who is a member of or associated with the staff of a hospital, or any employee of a hospital, is immune from liability for any damage caused by, and may not be subjected to any disciplinary or recriminatory action based on, the refusal of any such the person to participate therein shall not form the basis of any claim for damages on account of such refusal or for any disciplinary or recriminatory action against such person in an activity specified in par. (a) 1. to 6. on moral or religious grounds.

AB67, s. 8 Section 8. 253.09 (1g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB67,8,7 253.09 (1g) In this section:

AB67,8,12 (a) "Human embryo" means a human organism that is derived by fertilization, parthenogenesis, cloning, or any other means from one or more human gametes or human diploid cells. "Human embryo" includes a zygote but does not include a human organism at or beyond the stage of development at which the major body structures are present.

AB67,8,15 (b) "Participate in" means to perform, assist in, recommend, counsel in favor of, make referrals for, prescribe, dispense, or administer drugs for, or otherwise promote, encourage, or aid.

AB67, s. 9 Section 9. 253.09 (1r) (a) 1. to 6. of the statutes are created to read:

AB67,8,17 253.09 (1r) (a) 1. A sterilization procedure.

AB67,8,18 2. An abortion, as defined in s. 253.10 (2) (a).

AB67,8,19 3. An experiment or medical procedure involving any of the following:

AB67,8,20 a. The destruction of a human embryo.

AB67,8,23 b. A human embryo or unborn child, at any stage of development, in which the experiment or procedure is not related to the beneficial treatment of the human embryo or unborn child.

AB67,9,3 4. A procedure, including a transplant procedure, that uses fetal tissue or organs other than fetal tissue or organs from a stillbirth, spontaneous abortion, or miscarriage.

AB67,9,8 5. The withholding or withdrawal of nutrition or hydration, if the withholding or withdrawal of nutrition or hydration would result in the patient's death from malnutrition or dehydration, or complications of malnutrition or dehydration, rather than from the underlying terminal illness or injury, unless the administration of nutrition or hydration is medically contraindicated.

AB67,9,10 6. An act that intentionally causes or assists in causing the death of an individual, such as by assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing.

AB67, s. 10 Section 10. 253.09 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB67,9,16 253.09 (2) No A hospital or employee of any a hospital shall be liable for any civil damages resulting from is immune from liability for any damage caused by a refusal to perform sterilization procedures or remove a human embryo or fetus from a person, if such participate in an activity specified in sub. (1r) (a) 1. to 6., if the refusal is based on religious or moral precepts.

AB67, s. 11 Section 11. 253.09 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB67,9,24 253.09 (3) No hospital, school, or employer may discriminate against any person with regard to admission, hiring or firing, tenure, term, condition, or privilege of employment, student status, or staff status on the ground that the person refuses to recommend, aid or perform procedures for sterilization or the removal of a human embryo or fetus, or states an intention to refuse, whether or not in writing, to participate in an activity specified in sub. (1r) (a) 1. to 6., if the refusal is based on religious or moral precepts.

AB67, s. 12 Section 12. 253.09 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB67,10,5 253.09 (4) (a) Such individual to perform or assist in the performance of any sterilization procedure or removal of a human embryo or fetus participate in an activity specified in sub. (1r) (a) 1. to 6., if the individual's performance or assistance participation in the performance of such a procedure would be activity is contrary to the individual's religious beliefs or moral convictions; or

AB67, s. 13 Section 13. 253.09 (4) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB67,10,11 253.09 (4) (b) 1. Make its facilities available for the performance of any sterilization procedure or removal of a human embryo or fetus an individual to participate in an activity specified in sub. (1r) (a) 1. to 6., if the performance of such a procedure in such facilities is prohibited by the entity prohibits the activity from taking place in the facilities on the basis of religious beliefs or moral convictions; or

AB67, s. 14 Section 14. 253.09 (4) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB67,10,18 253.09 (4) (b) 2. Provide any personnel for the performance or assistance in the performance of any sterilization procedure or assistance to participate in an activity specified in sub. (1r) (a) 1. to 6., if the performance or assistance in the performance of such procedure or the removal of a human embryo or fetus by such personnel would be activity is contrary to the religious beliefs or moral convictions of such the personnel.

AB67, s. 15 Section 15. 253.09 (5) of the statutes is created to read:

AB67,11,2 253.09 (5) A person who is adversely affected by, or who reasonably may be expected to be adversely affected by, conduct that is in violation of this section may bring a civil action for injunctive relief, including reinstatement, or damages, including damages for emotional or psychological distress, or both injunctive relief and damages. In an action under this subsection, the court shall award reasonable attorney fees, notwithstanding s. 814.04 (1), to a person who obtains injunctive relief, an award of damages, or both.

AB67, s. 16 Section 16. 441.06 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB67,11,4 441.06 (title) Licensure; civil liability and disciplinary exemption.

AB67, s. 17 Section 17. 441.06 (6) of the statutes is renumbered 441.06 (6) (b) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB67,11,13 441.06 (6) (b) (intro.) No A person licensed as a registered nurse under this section is liable for any civil damages resulting from immune from liability for any damage caused by his or her refusal to perform sterilization procedures or to remove or aid in the removal of a human embryo or fetus from a person, assist in, recommend, counsel in favor of, make referrals for, prescribe, dispense, or administer drugs for, or otherwise promote, encourage, or aid any of the following, if the refusal is based on religious or moral precepts.:

AB67, s. 18 Section 18. 441.06 (6) (a) of the statutes is created to read:

AB67,11,19 441.06 (6) (a) In this subsection, "human embryo" means a human organism that is derived by fertilization, parthenogenesis, cloning, or any other means from one or more human gametes or human diploid cells. "Human embryo" includes a zygote but does not include a human organism at or beyond the stage of development at which the major body structures are present.

AB67, s. 19 Section 19. 441.06 (6) (b) 1. to 6. of the statutes are created to read:

AB67,11,21 441.06 (6) (b) 1. A sterilization procedure.

AB67,11,22 2. An abortion, as defined in s. 253.10 (2) (a).

AB67,11,23 3. An experiment or medical procedure involving any of the following:

AB67,11,24 a. The destruction of a human embryo.

AB67,12,3 b. A human embryo or unborn child, at any stage of development, in which the experiment or procedure is not related to the beneficial treatment of the human embryo or unborn child.

AB67,12,6 4. A procedure, including a transplant procedure, that uses fetal tissue or organs other than fetal tissue or organs from a stillbirth, spontaneous abortion, or miscarriage.

AB67,12,11 5. The withholding or withdrawal of nutrition or hydration, if the withholding or withdrawal of nutrition or hydration would result in the patient's death from malnutrition or dehydration, or complications of malnutrition or dehydration, rather than from the underlying terminal illness or injury, unless the administration of nutrition or hydration is medically contraindicated.

AB67,12,13 6. An act that intentionally causes or assists in causing the death of an individual, such as by assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing.

AB67, s. 20 Section 20. 441.06 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

AB67,12,20 441.06 (7) A person licensed as a registered nurse under this section who, in writing, refuses, or states an intention to refuse, on moral or religious grounds to engage in a practice of professional nursing that is related to an activity specified in sub. (6) (b) 1. to 6. may not be required to engage in the practice with respect to the activity and may not be disciplined by the board or the department for refusing or stating an intention to refuse to engage in the practice with respect to the activity.

AB67, s. 21 Section 21. 441.06 (8) of the statutes is created to read:

AB67,13,3 441.06 (8) A person who is adversely affected by, or who reasonably may be expected to be adversely affected by, conduct that is in violation of sub. (7) may bring a civil action for injunctive relief, including reinstatement, or damages, including damages for emotional or psychological distress, or both injunctive relief and damages. In an action under this subsection, the court shall award reasonable attorney fees, notwithstanding s. 814.04 (1), to a person who obtains injunctive relief, an award of damages, or both.

AB67, s. 22 Section 22. 448.03 (5) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB67,13,6 448.03 (5) (title) Civil liability and disciplinary exemption; certain medical procedures and reports.

AB67, s. 23 Section 23. 448.03 (5) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 448.03 (5) (ar) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB67,13,15 448.03 (5) (ar) (intro.) No A person licensed or certified under this subchapter shall be liable for any civil damages resulting from such is immune from liability for any damage caused by the person's refusal to perform sterilization procedures or to remove or aid in the removal of a human embryo or fetus from a person if such, assist in, recommend, counsel in favor of, make referrals for, prescribe, dispense, or administer drugs for, or otherwise promote, encourage, or aid any of the following if the refusal is based on religious or moral precepts. :

AB67, s. 24 Section 24. 448.03 (5) (ag) of the statutes is created to read:

AB67,13,21 448.03 (5) (ag) In this subsection, "human embryo" means a human organism that is derived by fertilization, parthenogenesis, cloning, or any other means from one or more human gametes or human diploid cells. "Human embryo" includes a zygote but does not include a human organism at or beyond the stage of development at which the major body structures are present.

AB67, s. 25 Section 25. 448.03 (5) (am) of the statutes is created to read:

AB67,14,12 448.03 (5) (am) A person licensed or certified under this subchapter who, in writing, refuses, or states an intention to refuse, on moral or religious grounds to engage in a practice within the scope of his or her license or certification that is related to an activity specified in par. (ar) 1. to 6. may not be required to engage in the practice with respect to the activity and, notwithstanding ss. 154.07 (1) (a) 3. and 155.50 (1) (b), may not be disciplined by the board or the department for refusing or stating an intention to refuse to engage in the practice with respect to the activity, including refusing or stating an intention to refuse to transfer a patient to another physician who will comply with a declaration, as defined in s. 154.02 (1), instrument for power of attorney for health care, as defined in s. 155.01 (10), or health care decision, as defined in s. 155.01 (5), of a health care agent, as defined in s. 155.01 (4). This paragraph does not apply to the refusal to make a good faith attempt to transfer a declarant with incapacity, as defined in s. 155.01 (8) and with a terminal condition, as defined in s. 154.01 (8), to another physician who will comply with the declaration, as defined in s. 154.02 (1), of the declarant.