AB489,7,1111 (a) “Hospital” has the meaning given in s. 50.33 (2) .
AB489,7,1212 (b) “Overtime” means any of the following:
AB489,7,1513 1. Time worked in excess of a regularly scheduled daily work shift that has been
14determined and agreed to before the performance of the work, immediately following
15the regularly scheduled daily work shift.
AB489,7,1616 2. Time worked in excess of 12 hours in a 24-hour period.
AB489,7,1717 3. Time worked in excess of 40 hours in a previously determined workweek.
AB489,7,1818 (c) “Registered nurse” has the meaning given in s. 146.40 (1) (f).
AB489,7,20 19(2) Mandatory overtime prohibited. (a) Except as provided in par. (b), no
20hospital may require a registered nurse to work overtime.
AB489,7,2221 (b) A hospital may require a registered nurse to work overtime only in one of
22the following instances:
AB489,7,2523 1. The hospital has determined that the safety of a patient requires that a
24registered nurse work overtime and the hospital has found that no reasonable
25alternative exists.
AB489,8,2
12. The registered nurse is working in an ongoing surgical procedure at the time
2the hospital requires the nurse to work overtime.
AB489,8,43 3. The registered nurse is working in a critical care unit and is required to work
4overtime until the nurse is relieved by another scheduled registered nurse.
AB489,8,75 4. During any time that the president of the United States declares a public
6health emergency under 50 USC 1621 that affects the region of this state in which
7the hospital is located.
AB489,8,98 5. During any time that the governor declares a public health emergency under
9s. 323.10 that affects the region of this state in which the hospital is located.
AB489,8,1110 6. During any time of adverse weather conditions, catastrophe, or widespread
11illness within the hospital.
AB489,8,14 12(3) Voluntary coverage. Before requiring a registered nurse to work overtime
13under sub. (2) (b), the hospital shall make a good faith effort to have those work hours
14covered on a voluntary basis.
AB489,8,20 15(4) Right to refuse mandatory overtime. A registered nurse may refuse to
16work overtime if the nurse believes in good faith that the hospital has not made a
17good faith effort to fill the work hours covered by the overtime mandate. A hospital
18may not discharge, retaliate, or discriminate in promotion, in compensation, or in the
19terms, conditions, or privileges of employment against the registered nurse for
20refusing to work the overtime.
AB489,9,3 21(5) Enforcement. A registered nurse who is discharged, retaliated, or
22discriminated against in violation of sub. (4) may file a complaint with the
23department, and the department shall process the complaint in the same manner
24that employment discrimination complaints are processed under s. 111.39. If the
25department finds that a hospital has violated sub. (4), the department may order the

1hospital to take such action under s. 111.39 as will effectuate the purpose of this
2section. Section 111.322 (2m) applies to discharge or other discriminatory acts
3arising in connection with any proceeding under this subsection.
AB489,3 4Section 3. 106.54 (10) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
AB489,9,75 106.54 (10) (c) The division shall receive complaints under s. 103.035 (5) and
6shall process the complaints in the same manner as employment discrimination
7complaints are processed under s. 111.39.
AB489,4 8Section 4. 111.322 (2m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB489,9,129 111.322 (2m) (a) The individual files a complaint or attempts to enforce any
10right under s. 103.02, 103.035, 103.10, 103.11, 103.13, 103.28, 103.32, 103.34,
11103.455, 104.12, 109.03, 109.07, 109.075, 146.997, 146.998, or 995.55, or ss. 101.58
12to 101.599 or 103.64 to 103.82.
AB489,5 13Section 5. 111.322 (2m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB489,9,1714 111.322 (2m) (b) The individual testifies or assists in any action or proceeding
15held under or to enforce any right under s. 103.02, 103.035, 103.10, 103.11, 103.13,
16103.28, 103.32, 103.34, 103.455, 104.12, 109.03, 109.07, 109.075, 146.997, 146.998,
17or 995.55, or ss. 101.58 to 101.599 or 103.64 to 103.82.
AB489,6 18Section 6. 146.998 of the statutes is created to read:
AB489,9,20 19146.998 Nurse rights regarding safe nursing standards; cause of
20action.
(1) Definitions. In this section:
AB489,9,2121 (a) “Hospital” has the meaning given in s. 50.33 (2).
AB489,9,2222 (b) “Registered nurse” has the meaning given in s. 146.40 (1) (f).
AB489,9,25 23(2) Right to refuse. A registered nurse may object to or refuse to participate
24in an activity, policy, practice, assignment, or task if, in good faith and in the
25registered nurse's professional judgment, the registered nurse is not prepared by

1education, training, or experience to fulfill the activity, policy, practice, assignment,
2or task without compromising the safety of a patient or jeopardizing the registered
3nurse's license. A registered nurse's professional judgment under this subsection
4shall be based upon the registered nurse's application of knowledge, expertise, and
5experience in conducting a comprehensive nursing assessment of a patient and
6making independent decisions about patient care in accordance with state law and
7administrative rules, including the need for additional staff.
AB489,10,10 8(3) Disciplinary action prohibited. A hospital may not do any of the following
9in response to a registered nurse's refusal to participate in an activity, policy,
10practice, assignment, or task under this section:
AB489,10,1411 (a) Discharge, retaliate, or discriminate against, or otherwise subject the
12registered nurse to an adverse action with respect to any aspect of the registered
13nurse's employment, including actions related to promotion, compensation, or terms,
14conditions, or privileges of employment.
AB489,10,1615 (b) File a complaint or report against a registered nurse with a state
16professional disciplinary entity.
AB489,10,23 17(4) Cause of action. A registered nurse or the collective bargaining
18representative or legal representative of a nurse who has been discharged,
19retaliated, or discriminated against, subjected to an adverse action, or the subject of
20a complaint or report filed with a state professional disciplinary entity in violation
21of sub. (3) may bring a cause of action against the hospital that violated sub. (3). A
22registered nurse who prevails in a cause of action under this subsection is entitled
23to at least one of the following:
AB489,10,2424 (a) Reinstatement.
AB489,10,2525 (b) Reimbursement of lost wages, compensation, and benefits.
AB489,11,1
1(c) Reasonable attorney fees, notwithstanding s. 814.04 (1).
AB489,11,22 (d) Court costs.
AB489,11,33 (e) Any other reasonable damages.
AB489,7 4Section 7. Initial applicability.
AB489,11,95 (1) Collective bargaining agreements. This act first applies to a registered
6nurse, as defined in s. 146.40 (1) (f), who is affected by a collective bargaining
7agreement that contains provisions inconsistent with this act on the day on which
8the collective bargaining agreement expires or is extended, modified, or renewed,
9whichever occurs first.
AB489,8 10Section 8. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after publication,
11except as follows:
AB489,11,1312 (1) Nurse staffing records. The treatment of s. 50.373 (4) takes effect on the
13first day of the 4th month beginning after publication.
AB489,11,1414 (End)
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