AB219: Bill Text

AB219,37,7 108.04 (1) (g) (intro.) Except as provided in par. (gm) and s. 108.06 (7) (d), the base period wages utilized to compute total benefits payable to an individual under s. 108.06 (1) as a result of the following employment shall not exceed 10 times the individual's weekly benefit rate based solely on that employment under s. 108.05 (1):

AB219,59 Section 59. 108.04 (1) (hm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB219,37,21 108.04 (1) (hm) The department may require any claimant to appear before it and to answer truthfully, orally or in writing, any questions relating to the claimant's eligibility for benefits and or to provide such demographic information as may be necessary to permit the department to conduct a statistically valid sample audit of compliance with this chapter. A claimant is not eligible to receive benefits for any week in which the claimant fails to comply with a request by the department to provide the information required under this paragraph, or any subsequent week, until the claimant complies or satisfies the department that he or she had good cause for failure to comply with a request of the department under this paragraph. If Except as provided in s. 108.04 (2) (e) and (f), if a claimant later complies with a request by the department or satisfies the department that he or she had good cause for failure to comply with a request, the claimant is eligible to receive benefits as of the week in which the failure occurred, if otherwise qualified.

AB219,60 Section 60. 108.04 (1) (i) of the statutes is repealed.

AB219,61 Section 61. 108.04 (2) (a) 3. c. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB219,37,25 108.04 (2) (a) 3. c. Whether the individual has recall rights with the employer under the terms of any applicable collective bargaining agreement.; and

AB219,62 Section 62. 108.04 (2) (a) 4. of the statutes is created to read:

AB219,38,6 108.04 (2) (a) 4. If the claimant is claiming benefits for a week other than an initial week, the claimant provides information or job application materials that are requested by the department and participates in a public employment office workshop or training program or in similar reemployment services that are required by the department under sub. (15) (a) 2.

AB219,63 Section 63. 108.04 (2) (g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB219,38,12 108.04 (2) (g) 1. Each claimant shall create security credentials in order to engage in transactions with the department, including the filing of an initial or continued claim for benefits. The security credentials may consist of a personal identification number, username, and password, or any other means prescribed by the department.

AB219,39,7 2. If a claimant's security credentials are used in the filing of an initial or continued claim for benefits or any other transaction, the individual using the security credentials is presumed to have been the claimant or the claimant's authorized agent. This presumption may be rebutted by a preponderance of evidence showing that the claimant who created the security credentials or the claimant's authorized agent was not the person who used the credentials in a given transaction. If a claimant uses an agent to engage in any transaction with the department using the claimant's security credentials, the claimant is responsible for the actions of the agent. If a claimant who created security credentials or the claimant's authorized agent divulges the credentials to another person, or fails to take adequate measures to protect the credentials from being divulged to an unauthorized person, and the department pays benefits to an unauthorized person because of the claimant's action or inaction, the department may recover from the claimant the benefits that were paid to the unauthorized person in the same manner as provided for overpayments to claimants under s. 108.22 (8) or under 108.245. If a claimant who created security credentials or the claimant's authorized agent divulges the credentials to another person, or fails to take adequate measures to protect the credentials from being divulged to an unauthorized person, the department is not obligated to pursue recovery of, or to reimburse the claimant for, benefits payable to the claimant that were erroneously paid to another person.

AB219,64 Section 64. 108.04 (2) (h) of the statutes is created to read:

AB219,39,12 108.04 (2) (h) A claimant shall, when the claimant first files a claim for benefits under this chapter and during each subsequent week the claimant files for benefits under this chapter, inform the department whether he or she is receiving social security disability insurance benefits under 42 USC ch. 7 subch. II.

AB219,65 Section 65. 108.04 (8) (a) and (c) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB219,40,3 108.04 (8) (a) If an employee fails, without good cause, to accept suitable work when offered, the employee is ineligible to receive benefits until 4 weeks have elapsed since the end of the week in which the failure occurs and the employee earns wages after the week in which the failure occurs equal to at least 4 6 times the employee's weekly benefit rate under s. 108.05 (1) in employment or other work covered by the unemployment insurance law of any state or the federal government. For purposes of requalification, the employee's weekly benefit rate shall be that rate which would have been paid had the failure not occurred. This paragraph does not preclude an employee from establishing a benefit year during a period in which the employee is ineligible to receive benefits under this paragraph if the employee qualifies to establish a benefit year under s. 108.06 (2) (a). The department shall charge to the fund's balancing account any benefits otherwise chargeable to the account of an employer that is subject to the contribution requirements under ss. 108.17 and 108.18 whenever an employee of that employer fails, without good cause, to accept suitable work offered by that employer.

AB219,40,20 (c) If an employee fails, without good cause, to return to work with a former employer that recalls the employee within 52 weeks after the employee last worked for that employer, the employee is ineligible to receive benefits until 4 weeks have elapsed since the end of the week in which the failure occurs and the employee earns wages after the week in which the failure occurs equal to at least 4 6 times the employee's weekly benefit rate under s. 108.05 (1) in employment or other work covered by the unemployment insurance law of any state or the federal government. For purposes of requalification, the employee's weekly benefit rate shall be that rate which would have been paid had the failure not occurred. This paragraph does not preclude an employee from establishing a benefit year during a period in which the employee is ineligible to receive benefits under this paragraph if the employee qualifies to establish a benefit year under s. 108.06 (2) (a). The department shall charge to the fund's balancing account any benefits otherwise chargeable to the account of any employer that is subject to the contribution requirements under ss. 108.17 and 108.18 whenever an employee of that employer fails, without good cause, to return to work with that employer. If an employee receives actual notice of a recall to work, par. (a) applies in lieu of this paragraph.

AB219,66 Section 66. 108.04 (12) (f) of the statutes is created to read:

AB219,40,24 108.04 (12) (f) 1. Any individual who actually receives social security disability insurance benefits under 42 USC ch. 7 subch. II in a given week is ineligible for benefits paid or payable in that same week under this chapter.

AB219,41,5 2. Information that the department receives or acquires from the federal social security administration that an individual is receiving social security disability insurance benefits under 42 USC ch. 7 subch. II in a given week is considered conclusive, absent clear and convincing evidence that the information was erroneous.

AB219,67 Section 67. 108.04 (15) of the statutes is created to read:

AB219,41,9 108.04 (15) Department powers to assist claimants. (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the department may do any of the following for the purpose of assisting claimants to find or obtain work:

AB219,41,14 1. Use the information or materials provided under sub. (2) (a) 4. to assess a claimant's efforts, skills, and ability to find or obtain work and to develop a list of potential opportunities for a claimant to obtain suitable work. A claimant who otherwise satisfies the requirement under sub. (2) (a) 3. is not required to apply for any specific positions on the list in order to satisfy that requirement.

AB219,41,18 2. Require a claimant to participate in a public employment office workshop or training program or in similar reemployment services that do not charge the claimant a participation fee and that offer instruction to improve the claimant's ability to obtain suitable work.

AB219,41,20 (b) This subsection does not apply with respect to a claimant who is exempt from any of the requirements in sub. (2) (a) 2. or 3. in a given week.

AB219,68 Section 68. 108.05 (1) (n) to (p) of the statutes are repealed.

AB219,69 Section 69. 108.05 (1) (q) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB219,42,11 108.05 (1) (q) (intro.) Each eligible employee shall be paid benefits for each week of total unemployment that commences on or after January 4, 2009, and before January 5, 2014, at the weekly benefit rate specified in this paragraph. Unless sub. (1m) applies, the weekly benefit rate shall equal 4 percent of the employee's base period wages that were paid during that quarter of the employee's base period in which the employee was paid the highest total wages, rounded down to the nearest whole dollar, except that, if that amount is less than the minimum amount shown in the following schedule, no benefits are payable to the employee and, if that amount is more than the maximum amount shown in the following schedule, the employee's weekly benefit rate shall be the maximum amount shown in the following schedule and except that, if the employee's benefits are exhausted during any week under s. 108.06 (1), the employee shall be paid the remaining amount of benefits payable to the employee in lieu of the amount shown in the following schedule: [See Figure 108.05 (1) (q) following]

AB219,70 Section 70. 108.05 (1) (q) (intro.) of the statutes, as affected by 2013 Wisconsin Acts 11 and .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

AB219,43,2 108.05 (1) (q) (intro.) Except as provided in s. 108.062 (6) (a), each eligible employee shall be paid benefits for each week of total unemployment that commences on or after January 4, 2009, and before January 5, 2014, at the weekly benefit rate specified in this paragraph. Unless sub. (1m) applies, the weekly benefit rate shall equal 4 percent of the employee's base period wages that were paid during that quarter of the employee's base period in which the employee was paid the highest total wages, rounded down to the nearest whole dollar, except that, if that amount is less than the minimum amount shown in the following schedule, no benefits are payable to the employee and, if that amount is more than the maximum amount shown in the following schedule, the employee's weekly benefit rate shall be the maximum amount shown in the following schedule and except that, if the employee's benefits are exhausted during any week under s. 108.06 (1), the employee shall be paid the remaining amount of benefits payable to the employee in lieu of the amount shown in the following schedule: [See Figure 108.05 (1) (q) following]

AB219,71 Section 71. 108.05 (1) (r) (intro.) of the statutes, as created by 2013 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

AB219,43,18 108.05 (1) (r) (intro.) Except as provided in s. 108.062 (6) (a), each eligible employee shall be paid benefits for each week of total unemployment that commences on or after January 5, 2014, at the weekly benefit rate specified in this paragraph. Unless sub. (1m) applies, the weekly benefit rate shall equal 4 percent of the employee's base period wages that were paid during that quarter of the employee's base period in which the employee was paid the highest total wages, rounded down to the nearest whole dollar, except that, if that amount is less than the minimum amount shown in the following schedule, no benefits are payable to the employee and, if that amount is more than the maximum amount shown in the following schedule, the employee's weekly benefit rate shall be the maximum amount shown in the following schedule and except that, if the employee's benefits are exhausted during any week under s. 108.06 (1), the employee shall be paid the remaining amount of benefits payable to the employee in lieu of the amount shown in the following schedule: [See Figure 108.05 (1) (r) following]

AB219,72 Section 72. 108.05 (1) (r) of the statutes is created to read:

AB219,44,7 108.05 (1) (r) Each eligible employee shall be paid benefits for each week of total unemployment that commences on or after January 5, 2014, at the weekly benefit rate specified in this paragraph. Unless sub. (1m) applies, the weekly benefit rate shall equal 4 percent of the employee's base period wages that were paid during that quarter of the employee's base period in which the employee was paid the highest total wages, rounded down to the nearest whole dollar, except that, if that amount is less than the minimum amount shown in the following schedule, no benefits are payable to the employee and, if that amount is more than the maximum amount shown in the following schedule, the employee's weekly benefit rate shall be the maximum amount shown in the following schedule and except that, if the employee's benefits are exhausted during any week under s. 108.06 (1), the employee shall be paid the remaining amount of benefits payable to the employee in lieu of the amount shown in the following schedule: [See Figure 108.05 (1) (r) following] - See PDF for table - See PDF for table

AB219,73 Section 73. 108.05 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB219,57,7 108.05 (2) (c) This chapter's maximum weekly benefit rate, as to weeks of unemployment in the ensuing half year, shall equal the result obtained by rounding 66-2/3% of the "average wages per average week" to the nearest multiple of one dollar, and the minimum weekly benefit rate shall be an amount which is 15% 14.6 percent of the maximum rate and adjusted, if not a multiple of one dollar, to the next lower multiple of one dollar.

AB219,74 Section 74. 108.05 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB219,58,14 108.05 (3) (a) Except as provided in pars. (c), (d) and (dm) if an eligible employee earns wages in a given week, the first $30 of the wages shall be disregarded and the employee's applicable weekly benefit payment shall be reduced by 67% of the remaining amount, except that no such employee is eligible for benefits if the employee's benefit payment would be less than $5 for any week. For purposes of this paragraph, "wages" includes any salary reduction amounts earned that are not wages and that are deducted from the salary of a claimant by an employer pursuant to a salary reduction agreement under a cafeteria plan, within the meaning of 26 USC 125, and any amount that a claimant would have earned in available work under s. 108.04 (1) (a) which is treated as wages under s. 108.04 (1) (bm), but excludes any amount that a claimant earns for services performed as a volunteer fire fighter, volunteer emergency medical technician, or volunteer first responder. In applying this paragraph, the department shall disregard discrepancies of less than $2 between wages reported by employees and employers.

AB219,75 Section 75. 108.05 (3) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2013 Wisconsin Acts 11 and .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

AB219,59,2 108.05 (3) (a) Except as provided in pars. (c), (d) and (dm) and s. 108.062, if an eligible employee earns wages in a given week, the first $30 of the wages shall be disregarded and the employee's applicable weekly benefit payment shall be reduced by 67% of the remaining amount, except that no such employee is eligible for benefits if the employee's benefit payment would be less than $5 for any week. For purposes of this paragraph, "wages" includes any amount that a claimant would have earned in available work under s. 108.04 (1) (a) which is treated as wages under s. 108.04 (1) (bm), but excludes any amount that a claimant earns for services performed as a volunteer fire fighter, volunteer emergency medical technician, or volunteer first responder. In applying this paragraph, the department shall disregard discrepancies of less than $2 between wages reported by employees and employers.

AB219,76 Section 76. 108.06 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB219,59,13 108.06 (1) Except as provided in subs. sub. (6) and (7) and ss. 108.141 and 108.142, no claimant may receive total benefits based on employment in a base period greater than 26 times the claimant's weekly benefit rate under s. 108.05 (1) or 40% of the claimant's base period wages, whichever is lower. Except as provided in subs. sub. (6) and (7) and ss. 108.141 and 108.142, if a claimant's base period wages are reduced or canceled under s. 108.04 (5) or (18), or suspended under s. 108.04 (1) (f), (10) (a), or (17), the claimant may not receive total benefits based on employment in a base period greater than 26 times the claimant's weekly benefit rate under s. 108.05 (1) or 40% of the base period wages not reduced, canceled or suspended which were paid or payable to the claimant, whichever is lower.

AB219,77 Section 77. 108.06 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB219,59,17 108.06 (2) (c) No benefits are payable to a claimant for any week of unemployment not occurring during the claimant's benefit year except under sub. (7) and ss. 108.141 and 108.142.

AB219,78 Section 78. 108.06 (2) (cm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB219,59,22 108.06 (2) (cm) If an employee qualifies to receive benefits using the base period described in s. 108.02 (4) (b), the wages used to compute the employee's benefit entitlement are not available for use in any subsequent benefit computation for the same employee, except under sub. (7) and s. 108.141 or 108.142.

AB219,79 Section 79. 108.06 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB219,60,3 108.06 (3) There shall be payable to an employee, for weeks ending within the employee's benefit year, only those benefits computed for that benefit year based on the wages paid to the employee in the immediately preceding base period. Wages used in a given benefit computation are not available for use in any subsequent benefit computation except under sub. (7) and s. 108.141.

AB219,80 Section 80. 108.06 (6) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB219,60,14 108.06 (6) (intro.) If a claimant has established a benefit year prior to the effective date of any increase in the maximum weekly benefit rate provided under s. 108.05 (1), the claimant has not exhausted his or her total benefit entitlement under sub. (1) for that benefit year on that effective date, and the claimant was entitled to receive the maximum weekly benefit rate under s. 108.05 (1) that was in effect prior to that effective date, the limitation on the total benefits authorized to be paid to a claimant under sub. (1) does not apply to that claimant in that benefit year. Unless sub. (7) or s. 108.141 or 108.142 applies, the claimant's remaining benefit entitlement in that benefit year for the period beginning on that effective date shall be computed by:

AB219,81 Section 81. 108.06 (7) of the statutes is repealed.

AB219,82 Section 82. 108.07 (8) of the statutes is repealed.

AB219,83 Section 83. 108.10 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB219,60,22 108.10 Settlement of issues other than benefit claims. (intro.) In Except as provided in s. 108.245 (3), in connection with any issue arising under this chapter as to the status or liability of an employing unit in this state, for which no review is provided under s. 108.09 or 108.227 (5) and whether or not a penalty is provided in s. 108.24, the following procedure shall apply:

AB219,84 Section 84. 108.14 (8n) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB219,61,12 108.14 (8n) (e) The department shall charge this state's share of any benefits paid under this subsection to the account of each employer by which the employee claiming benefits was employed in the applicable base period, in proportion to the total amount of wages he or she earned from each employer in the base period, except that if s. 108.04 (1) (f), (5), (7) (a), (c), (d), (e), (k), (L), (o), (p), (q), (s), or (t), (7m) or (8) (a) or 108.07 (3), (3r), or (5) (b) or (8) would have applied to employment by such an employer who is subject to the contribution requirements of ss. 108.17 and 108.18, the department shall charge the share of benefits based on employment with that employer to the fund's balancing account, or, if s. 108.04 (1) (f) or (5) or 108.07 (3) would have applied to an employer that is not subject to the contribution requirements of ss. 108.17 and 108.18, the department shall charge the share of benefits based on that employment in accordance with s. 108.07 (5) (a) and (b). The department shall also charge the fund's balancing account with any other state's share of such benefits pending reimbursement by that state.

AB219,85 Section 85. 108.14 (19) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB219,61,19 108.14 (19) On or about February No later than March 15 annually, the department shall prepare and furnish to the council on unemployment insurance a report summarizing the department's activities related to detection and prosecution of unemployment insurance fraud in the preceding year. The department shall include in the report information about audits conducted by the department under sub. (20), including the number and results of audits performed, in the previous year.

AB219,86 Section 86. 108.14 (20) of the statutes is created to read:

AB219,61,23 108.14 (20) The department shall conduct random audits on claimants for benefits under this chapter to assess compliance with the work search requirements under s. 108.04 (2) (a) 3.

AB219,87 Section 87. 108.14 (21) of the statutes is created to read:

AB219,62,3 108.14 (21) The department shall maintain a portal on the Internet that allows employers to log in and file with the department complaints related to the administration of this chapter.

AB219,88 Section 88. 108.14 (22) of the statutes is created to read:

AB219,62,8 108.14 (22) The department shall maintain a searchable, electronic database of significant decisions made by the commission on matters under this chapter for the use of attorneys employed by the department and other individuals employed by the department whose duties necessitate use of the database.

AB219,89 Section 89. 108.14 (23) of the statutes is created to read:

AB219,62,12 108.14 (23) (a) The department shall create and keep up-to-date a handbook for the purpose of informing employers that are subject to this chapter about the provisions and requirements of this chapter.

AB219,62,13 (b) The department shall include all of the following in the handbook:

AB219,62,15 1. Information about the function and purpose of unemployment insurance under this chapter.

AB219,62,18 2. A description of the rights and responsibilities of employers under this chapter, including the rights and responsibilities associated with hearings to determine whether claimants are eligible for benefits under this chapter.

AB219,62,20 3. A description of the circumstances under which workers are generally eligible and ineligible for benefits under this chapter.

AB219,62,23 4. Disclaimers explaining that the contents of the handbook may not be relied upon as legally enforceable and that adherence to the content does not guarantee a particular result for a decision under this chapter.

AB219,62,25 5. A line to allow an individual employed by an employer to sign to acknowledge that the individual is aware of the contents of the handbook.

AB219,63,1 (c) The department shall make the handbook available on the Internet.

AB219,63,4 (d) The department shall distribute printed copies of the handbook to persons who request a copy and may charge a fee as provided in s. 20.908 for the costs of printing and distribution.

AB219,90 Section 90. 108.14 (24) of the statutes is created to read:

AB219,63,13 108.14 (24) The department shall provide information to employers concerning the financing of the unemployment insurance system, including the computation of reserve percentages and their effect upon the contribution and solvency rates of employers, and shall post this information on the Internet. If the department provided a statement of account to any employer, the department shall include the same information on the statement. In addition, the department shall provide the same information in writing to each employer who becomes newly subject to a requirement to pay contributions or reimbursements under this chapter.

AB219,91 Section 91. 108.14 (25) of the statutes is created to read:

AB219,63,16 108.14 (25) (a) In this section, "appeal tribunal" includes appeal tribunals under s. 108.09 (3) (a) 1., 2., and 3.

AB219,63,19 (b) The department shall conduct an initial training for all individuals who serve as appeal tribunals to prepare them to be able to perform the duties of appeal tribunals established under this chapter.

AB219,63,22 (c) The department shall require each individual who serves as an appeal tribunal to satisfy continuing education requirements, as prescribed by the department.

AB219,92 Section 92. 108.14 (26) of the statutes is created to read:

AB219,64,5 108.14 (26) The department shall prescribe by rule a standard affidavit form that may be used by parties to appeals under ss. 108.09 and 108.10 and shall make the form available to employers and claimants. The form shall be sufficient to qualify as admissible evidence in a hearing under this chapter if the authentication is sufficient and the information set forth by the affiant is admissible, but its use by a party does not eliminate the right of an opposing party to cross examine the affiant concerning the facts asserted in the affidavit.

AB219,93 Section 93. 108.141 (7) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB219,64,13 108.141 (7) (a) The department shall charge the state's share of each week of extended benefits to each employer's account in proportion to the employer's share of the total wages of the employee receiving the benefits in the employee's base period, except that if the employer is subject to the contribution requirements of ss. 108.17 and 108.18 the department shall charge the share of extended benefits to which s. 108.04 (1) (f), (5), (7) (a), (c), (d), (e), (k), (L), (o), (p), (q), (s), or (t), (7m) or (8) (a) or 108.07 (3), (3r), or (5) (b) or (8) applies to the fund's balancing account.

AB219,94 Section 94. 108.16 (2) (g) and (h) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB219,65,4 108.16 (2) (g) Whenever the department receives a request of 2 or more partnerships or limited liability companies consisting of the same partners or members to be treated as separate employers prior to October 1 of any year, the department shall apportion the balance in any existing account of the partnerships or limited liability companies among the separate employers on January 1 following the date of receipt of the request in proportion to the payrolls incurred in the businesses operated by each of the employers in the 4 completed calendar quarters ending on the computation date preceding the date of receipt of the request and shall calculate the reserve percentage of each separate employer in accordance with the proportion of the payroll attributable to that employer. Section 108.18 (2) is not made applicable to the separate employers by reason of such treatment. For purposes of s. 108.18 (7), the department shall treat the partnerships or limited liability companies as separate employers on November 1 preceding that January 1. For purposes of s. 108.18 (7) (b) and (c), the department shall treat the separate employers as existing employers on that January 1.

AB219,65,18 (h) Whenever, prior to October 1 of any year, the department receives a written request by all partnerships or limited liability companies consisting of the same partners or members which have elected to be treated as separate employers for the partnerships or limited liability companies to be treated as a single employer, the department shall combine the balances in the existing accounts of the separate employers into a new account on January 1 following the date of receipt of the request and shall calculate the reserve percentage of the single employer in accordance with the combined payroll attributable to each of the separate employers in the 4 completed calendar quarters ending on the computation date preceding that January 1. Section 108.18 (2) is not made applicable to the single employer by reason of such treatment. For purposes of s. 108.18 (7), the department shall treat the partnerships or limited liability companies as a single employer on November 1 preceding that January 1. For purposes of s. 108.18 (7) (b) and (c), the department shall treat the single employer as an existing employer on that January 1.

AB219,95 Section 95. 108.16 (3) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

AB219,65,21 108.16 (3) (c) Any nonrecoverable payment made without fault on the part of the intended payee.

AB219,96 Section 96. 108.16 (6) (o) of the statutes is created to read: