Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB120

Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/24/23
• Refer: 3/24/23
• Report Pass: 10/11/23
• Refer: 10/11/23
• Failed: 4/15/24

Caption

The design of health care coverage plans for public safety employees. (FE)

Impact

The proposed changes outlined in AB120 would allow municipal employees, who are classified as public safety workers, to negotiate aspects of their health care plans that were previously prohibited subjects of bargaining. This could enhance the scope of their negotiation power, thereby enabling them to influence which individuals are covered under these plans, which is seen as a significant development in their employment rights. By ensuring that discussions about employee coverage are permissible, the bill intends to strengthen labor relations in the context of public safety employment.

Summary

Assembly Bill 120 seeks to amend existing provisions regarding the bargaining rights of public safety employees in the state of Wisconsin. Specifically, the bill clarifies that public safety employees, such as police officers and fire fighters, are permitted to engage in collective bargaining over who will be covered under health care plans selected by municipal employers. This clarification aims to delineate what constitutes 'design' in the context of health care coverage and asserts that 'design' does not include decisions about coverage eligibility.

Contention

While supporters of AB120 argue that the bill represents a necessary change to uphold the rights of public safety employees in negotiations with their employers, the legislation may face opposition. Critics argue that allowing public safety employees to bargain over health care coverage could result in increased costs for municipal employers, which might impact budget allocations in other critical areas. Furthermore, there may be concerns about the overall effectiveness and feasibility of implementing these changes within existing administrative frameworks.