2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE
January 31, 2022 - Introduced by Representatives Dallman, Vorpagel, Wittke,
Allen, Armstrong, August, Brandtjen, Cabral-Guevara, Callahan,
Dittrich, Duchow, Edming, James, Katsma, Kitchens, Knodl, Krug,
Kuglitsch, Magnafici, Moses, Penterman, Petersen, Plumer, Schraa,
Snyder, Sortwell, Steffen, Tusler, Zimmerman and Born, cosponsored by
Senators Feyen, Bernier, Felzkowski, Marklein and Stroebel. Referred to
Committee on Workforce Development.
AB937,1,3 1An Act to amend 108.06 (1) and 108.142 (4); and to create 108.06 (1m) and
2227.01 (13) (yL) of the statutes; relating to: the amount of benefits received
3under the unemployment insurance law.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill changes the maximum number of weeks of regular unemployment
insurance (UI) benefits payable to an eligible claimant who is totally unemployed to
an amount that varies depending upon the seasonally adjusted statewide average
unemployment rate for the first or third calendar quarter immediately preceding the
beginning of the claimant's benefit year.
Currently, the maximum number of weeks of regular UI benefits payable to an
eligible claimant who is totally unemployed and who earns sufficient wages to
qualify for those benefits is fixed at 26 weeks.
AB937,2,69 Under the bill, the maximum number of weeks for claimants whose benefit
years begin during the first half of a given year is based upon the unemployment rate
for the third quarter of the preceding year, and the maximum number of weeks for
claimants whose benefit years begin during the second half of a given year is based
upon the unemployment rate for the first quarter of that year. Once a claimant
begins a benefit year, the claimant's maximum number of weeks of regular benefits
is fixed for that benefit year. Because the maximum number of weeks of state
supplemental benefits payable to a claimant is calculated in part based upon the
maximum number of weeks of regular benefits payable to a claimant, the change also
affects the maximum number of weeks of state supplemental benefits payable to a

claimant. Under the bill, the maximum number of weeks of regular benefits for total
unemployment is determined as follows: - See PDF for table PDF
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:
AB937,1 70Section 1. 108.06 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB937,3,771 108.06 (1) Except as provided in sub. (6) and ss. 108.141 and 108.142, no
72claimant may receive total benefits based on employment in a base period greater
73than 26 times the number of weeks determined under sub. (1m) multiplied by the
74claimant's weekly benefit rate under s. 108.05 (1) or 40 percent of the claimant's base
75period wages, whichever is lower. Except as provided in sub. (6) and ss. 108.141 and

1108.142, if a claimant's base period wages are reduced or canceled under s. 108.04
2(5) or (18), or suspended under s. 108.04 (1) (f), (10) (a), or (17), the claimant may not
3receive total benefits based on employment in a base period greater than 26 times
4the number of weeks determined under sub. (1m) multiplied by the claimant's
5weekly benefit rate under s. 108.05 (1) or 40 percent of the base period wages not
6reduced, canceled or suspended which were paid or payable to the claimant,
7whichever is lower.
AB937,2 8Section 2 . 108.06 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB937,3,209 108.06 (1m) (a) The department shall determine the maximum number of
10weeks of regular benefits under sub. (1) by calculating for the first and 3rd quarter
11of each year the average of the seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rates
12for the months in the quarter, as determined by the bureau of labor statistics for the
13U.S. department of labor. For claimants whose benefit years begin on or after
14January 1 and before July 1 of any year, the department shall make the
15determination by using the 3rd calendar quarter of the preceding year. For
16claimants whose benefit years begin after June 30 and on or before December 31 of
17any year, the department shall make the determination by using the first calendar
18quarter of that year. For benefit years to which each determination applies, the
19maximum number of weeks of regular benefits is as follows: [See Figure 108.06 (1m)
20(a) following]
AB937,4,54 21Figure 108.06 (1m) (a): - See PDF for table PDF
AB937,4,5855 (b) The maximum number of weeks of regular benefits payable to a claimant
56under sub. (1) in the first week of the claimant's benefit year remains the same
57regardless of the maximum number of weeks of regular benefits in effect in any
58subsequent week that benefits become payable to the claimant.
AB937,4,6159 (c) The department shall publish on its Internet site a notice about the
60maximum number of weeks of regular benefits available as calculated in accordance
61with this subsection.
AB937,3 62Section 3. 108.142 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB937,5,463 108.142 (4) Duration of Wisconsin supplemental benefits. During a
64Wisconsin supplemental benefit period, no claimant may receive total benefits based

1on employment in a base period greater than 34 times the sum of the number of
2weeks determined under s. 108.06 (1m) and 8, multiplied by
the claimant's weekly
3benefit rate under s. 108.05 (1) or 40 percent of wages paid or payable to the claimant
4in his or her base period under s. 108.04 (4) (a), whichever is lower.
AB937,4 5Section 4. 227.01 (13) (yL) of the statutes is created to read:
AB937,5,76 227.01 (13) (yL) Determines, under s. 108.06 (1m), the maximum number of
7weeks of regular unemployment insurance benefits available under s. 108.06 (1).
AB937,5 8Section 5. Initial applicability.
AB937,5,109 (1) This act first applies with respect to benefit years established on the
10effective date of this subsection.
AB937,6 11Section 6. Effective date.
AB937,5,1212 (1) This act takes effect on July 3, 2022.
AB937,5,1313 (End)
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