SB70-AA1,47 Section 47. 40.05 (5) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 40.05 (5) and amended to read:

SB70-AA1,41,7 40.05 (5) Income continuation insurance premiums. For the group income continuation insurance provided under subch. V ss. 40.61 and 40.62, the employee shall pay the amount remaining after the employer has contributed the following an amount equal to the gross premium payable for insurance coverage that includes the longest waiting period available to the employee under the insurance contract by rule or, if different, the amount determined under a collective bargaining agreement under subch. V of ch. 111 or s. 230.12 or 233.10: .

SB70-AA1,48 Section 48. 40.05 (5) (a) of the statutes is repealed.

SB70-AA1,49 Section 49. 40.05 (5) (b) of the statutes is repealed.

SB70-AA1,50 Section 50. 40.23 (1) (bm) of the statutes is renumbered 40.23 (1) (bm) 1. and amended to read:

SB70-AA1,41,18 40.23 (1) (bm) 1. If an application by a participant age 55 or over, or by a protective occupation participant age 50 or over, for group long-term disability insurance benefits under s. 40.64 is disapproved under rules promulgated by the department, the date which would have been the effective date for the insurance benefits shall be is the retirement annuity effective date if requested by the applicant within 60 days of the disapproval or, if the disapproval is appealed, within 60 days of the final disposition of the appeal.

SB70-AA1,51 Section 51. 40.61 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,41,23 40.61 (1) The procedures and provisions pertaining to enrollment, premium transmitted and coverage of eligible employees for group income continuation benefits shall be established by contract or rule except as otherwise specifically provided by this chapter.

SB70-AA1,52 Section 52. 40.61 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,42,17 40.61 (2) Except as provided in sub. (4), any an eligible employee may become covered by group income continuation insurance by electing coverage within 30 days of initial eligibility, to be effective as of the first day of the month that first occurs during the 30-day period, or by electing coverage within 60 days of initially becoming eligible for a higher level of employer contribution towards the premium cost to be effective as of the first day of the month following the date of eligibility for teachers employed by the university and effective as of the following April 1 for all other employees. Any An employee who does not so elect at one of these times, or who subsequently cancels the insurance, may not thereafter become insured unless the employee furnishes evidence of insurability under the terms of the contract, or as otherwise provided by rule for employees under sub. (3), at the employee's own expense or obtains coverage subject to contractual waiting periods if contractual waiting periods are provided for by the contract or by rule for employees under sub. (3). An employee who furnishes satisfactory evidence of insurability under the terms of the contract shall become insured as of the first day of the month following the date of approval of evidence. The method to be used shall be determined by the group insurance board under sub. (1).

SB70-AA1,53 Section 53 . 40.61 (2) of the statutes, as affected by 2023 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,43,11 40.61 (2) Except as provided in sub. (4), an eligible employee may become covered by group income continuation insurance by electing coverage within 30 days of initial eligibility, to be effective as of the first day of the month that first occurs during the 30-day period, or by electing coverage within 60 days of initially becoming eligible for a higher level of employer contribution towards the premium cost to be effective as of the first day of the month following the date of eligibility for teachers employed by the university and effective as of the following April 1 for all other employees. An employee who does not so elect at one of these times, or who subsequently cancels the insurance, may not thereafter become insured unless the employee furnishes evidence of insurability under the terms of the contract, or as otherwise provided by rule for employees under sub. (3), at the employee's own expense or obtains coverage subject to contractual waiting periods if contractual waiting periods are provided for by the contract or by rule for employees under sub. (3). An employee who furnishes satisfactory evidence of insurability under the terms of the contract shall become insured as of the first day of the month following the date of approval of evidence. The method to be used shall be determined by the board under sub. (1).

SB70-AA1,54 Section 54. 40.61 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,43,19 40.61 (3) Any An employer under s. 40.02 (28), other than the state, may offer to all of its employees an a group income continuation insurance plan through a program offered by the group insurance board. Notwithstanding sub. (2) and ss. 40.05 (5) and 40.62, the department may by rule establish different eligibility standards or contribution requirements for such those employees and employers and may by rule limit the categories of employers which that may be included as participating employers under this subchapter.

SB70-AA1,55 Section 55. 40.62 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,44,3 40.62 (1) The group insurance board shall establish an a group income continuation insurance plan providing for full or partial payment of the financial loss of earnings incurred as a result of injury or illness with separate provisions for short-term insurance with a benefit duration of no more than one year and long-term insurance covering injury or illness of indefinite duration. Employees An employee insured under the plan shall be is eligible for benefits upon exhaustion of accumulated sick leave and completion of the elimination waiting period established by the group insurance board.

SB70-AA1,56 Section 56 . 40.62 (1) of the statutes, as affected by 2023 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is renumbered 40.62 and amended to read:

SB70-AA1,44,13 40.62 Income continuation insurance benefits. The board shall establish a group income continuation insurance plan providing for full or partial payment of the financial loss of earnings incurred as a result of injury or illness with separate provisions for short-term insurance with a benefit duration of no more than one year and long-term insurance covering injury or illness of indefinite duration. An employee insured under the plan is eligible for benefits upon exhaustion of accumulated sick leave and completion of the a waiting period selected by the employee from the available options established by the board.

SB70-AA1,57 Section 57. 40.62 (1m) of the statutes is repealed.

SB70-AA1,58 Section 58. 40.62 (2) of the statutes is repealed.

SB70-AA1,59 Section 59. 40.63 (7) of the statutes is renumbered 40.23 (1) (bm) 2.

SB70-AA1,60 Section 60. 40.64 of the statutes is created to read:

SB70-AA1,44,19 40.64 Long-term disability insurance coverage. The board may establish a group long-term disability insurance plan.

SB70-AA1,61 Section 61. 757.02 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,44,25 757.02 (5) Except for retired judges appointed under s. 753.075, each supreme court justice, court of appeals judge and circuit court judge included under ch. 40 shall accrue sick leave at the rate established under s. 230.35 (2) for the purpose of credits under s. 40.05 (4) (b) and for premium payment determinations under s. 40.05 (4) and (5).

SB70-AA1,9113 Section 9113. Nonstatutory provisions; Employee Trust Funds.

SB70-AA1,45,2 (1k) Transfer of oversight of group disability benefit insurance plans.

SB70-AA1,45,7 (a) Tangible personal property. On the effective date of this paragraph, all tangible personal property, including records, of the group insurance board that is primarily related to the group income continuation insurance plan or long-term disability insurance plan, as determined by the secretary of employee trust funds, is transferred to the employee trust funds board.

SB70-AA1,45,14 (b) Contracts. All contracts entered into by the group insurance board in effect on the effective date of this paragraph that are primarily related to the group income continuation insurance plan or long-term disability insurance plan, as determined by the secretary of employee trust funds, remain in effect and are transferred to the employee trust funds board. The employee trust funds board shall carry out any obligations under those contracts unless modified or rescinded by the employee trust funds board to the extent allowed under the contract.