AB538: Bill Text

AB538,5,8 (a) File a complaint with the department, and the department shall process the complaint in the same manner that employment discrimination complaints are processed under s. 111.39. If the department finds that a violation has occurred, the department may order the employer to take action to remedy the violation, including reinstating the employee, providing compensation in lieu of reinstatement, providing back pay accrued not more than 2 years before the complaint was filed, and paying reasonable actual costs and, notwithstanding s. 814.04 (1), reasonable attorney fees to the complainant.

AB538,5,9 (b) Bring an action in circuit court under sub. (4).

AB538,5,13 (4) Civil action. (a) Except as provided in this paragraph, the department or an individual alleged or found to have been discriminated against under sub. (1) or (2) may bring an action in circuit court requesting the relief described in par. (d) against an employer that is alleged or found to have engaged in that discrimination.

AB538,5,17 (b) If a petition for judicial review of the findings and order of the department concerning the same violation as the violation giving rise to the action under par. (a) is filed, the circuit court shall consolidate the proceeding for judicial review and the action under par. (a).

AB538,5,21 (c) An individual alleged or found to have been discriminated against under sub. (1) or (2) is not required to file a complaint under sub. (3) (a) or seek review under s. 111.395 in order for the department or the individual to bring an action under par. (a).

AB538,6,11 (d) Subject to pars. (e) and (f), in an action under par. (a), if the circuit court finds that discrimination has occurred, or if such a finding has been made by an examiner and not been further appealed, the circuit court may order any relief that an examiner would be empowered to order under s. 111.39 (4) (c) after a hearing on a complaint filed under s. 111.39. In addition, the circuit court shall order the defendant to pay to the individual discriminated against any other compensatory damages and punitive damages under s. 895.043 that the circuit court or jury finds appropriate, plus reasonable costs and attorney fees incurred in the action. If any relief was ordered under sub. (3) (a) or s. 111.395, the circuit court shall specify whether the relief ordered under this paragraph is in addition to or replaces the relief ordered under sub. (3) (a) or s. 111.395. The sum of the amount of compensatory damages for future economic losses and for pain and suffering, emotional distress, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and other noneconomic losses and the amount of punitive damages that a circuit court may order may not exceed the following:

AB538,6,14 1. In the case of a defendant that employs 100 or fewer employees for each working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding year, $50,000.

AB538,6,17 2. In the case of a defendant that employs more than 100 but fewer than 201 employees for each working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding year, $100,000.

AB538,6,20 3. In the case of a defendant that employs more than 200 but fewer than 501 employees for each working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding year, $200,000.

AB538,6,23 4. In the case of a defendant that employs more than 500 employees for each working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding year, $300,000.

AB538,7,3 (e) If the circuit court orders a payment under par. (d) because of a violation of sub. (1) or (2) by an individual employed by an employer, the employer of that individual is liable for the payment.

AB538,7,6 (f) 1. In this paragraph, “consumer price index" means the average of the consumer price index for all urban consumers, U.S. city average, as determined by the bureau of labor statistics of the federal department of labor.

AB538,7,19 2. Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, beginning on July 1, 2024, and on each July 1 after that, the department shall adjust the amounts specified in par. (d) 1., 2., 3., and 4. by calculating the percentage difference between the consumer price index for the 12-month period ending on December 31 of the preceding year and the consumer price index for the 12-month period ending on December 31 of the year before the preceding year and adjusting those amounts by that percentage difference. The department shall publish the adjusted amounts calculated under this subdivision in the Wisconsin Administrative Register, and the adjusted amounts shall apply to actions commenced under par. (a) beginning on July 1 of the year of publication. This subdivision does not apply if the consumer price index for the 12-month period ending on December 31 of the preceding year did not increase over the consumer price index for the 12-month period ending on December 31 of the year before the preceding year.

AB538,7,21 (5) Notice posted. (a) Each employer shall provide notice to employees and prospective employees of their rights under this section by doing all of the following:

AB538,7,24 1. Posting, in one or more conspicuous places where notices to employees are customarily posted, a notice in a form approved by the department setting forth employees' and prospective employees' rights under this section.

AB538,8,3 2. Including on each listing for a job vacancy or other employment opportunity that is advertised by email and posting on a website, or other electronic means, a notice that includes all of the following information:

AB538,8,7 a. A statement that the employer is prohibited from relying on a prospective employee's current or former compensation when determining whether to make an offer of employment or setting compensation or when making an offer of employment.

AB538,8,10 b. A statement that the employer is prohibited from asking about a prospective employee's compensation until after the employer has offered the prospective employee employment and they have agreed upon the details of compensation.

AB538,8,13 c. A statement that the employer is prohibited from requiring that a prospective employee's current or prior compensation meet certain criteria in order for the prospective employee to be considered for employment.

AB538,8,15 d. Information, or a hyperlink to information, regarding prohibited bases of discrimination under subch. II of ch. 111.

AB538,8,17 (b) Any employer that violates par. (a) shall forfeit not more than $100 for each offense.

AB538,2 Section 2. 103.36 of the statutes is repealed.

AB538,3 Section 3. 111.322 (2m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB538,8,23 111.322 (2m) (a) The individual files a complaint or attempts to enforce any right under s. 103.02, 103.10, 103.11, 103.13, 103.135, 103.28, 103.32, 103.34, 103.455, 104.12, 109.03, 109.07, 109.075, 146.997, or 995.55, or ss. 101.58 to 101.599 or 103.64 to 103.82.

AB538,4 Section 4. 111.322 (2m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB538,9,4 111.322 (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, 103.11, 103.13, 103.135, 103.28, 103.32, 103.34, 103.455, 104.12, 109.03, 109.07, 109.075, 146.997, or 995.55, or ss. 101.58 to 101.599 or 103.64 to 103.82.

AB538,5 Section 5. 814.04 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB538,9,10 814.04 Items of costs. (intro.) Except as provided in ss. 93.20, 100.195 (5m) (b), 100.30 (5m), 103.135 (4) (d), 106.50 (6) (i) and (6m) (a), 115.80 (9), 767.553 (4) (d), 769.313, 802.05, 814.245, 895.035 (4), 895.044, 895.443 (3), 895.444 (2), 895.445 (3), 895.446 (3), 895.506, 943.212 (2) (b), 943.245 (2) (d), 943.51 (2) (b), and 995.10 (3), when allowed costs shall be as follows:

AB538,6 Section 6. Initial applicability.

AB538,9,14 (1) Employment discrimination damages. This act first applies to acts of employment discrimination under s. 103.135 committed on the effective date of this subsection.

AB538,9,18 (2) Collective bargaining agreement. This act first applies to an employee 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.

AB538,7 Section 7. Effective date.

AB538,9,21 (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 6th month beginning after publication.

AB538,9,22 (End)