Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

Wisconsin Senate Bill SB197 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
2	2	LRB-2752/1
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4	4	2025 SENATE BILL 197
5	5	April 14, 2025 - Introduced by Senator JACQUE, cosponsored by Representatives B.
6	6	JACOBSON, SNYDER, DALLMAN, DUCHOW, GREEN, GUNDRUM, KNODL,
7	7	KREIBICH, MURPHY, NEDWESKI, O'CONNOR, WICHGERS, WITTKE and ALLEN.
8	8	Referred to Committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic
9	9	Development.
10	10	AN ACT to renumber and amend 108.04 (2) (a) 4., 108.04 (15) (a) 2. and 108.13
11	11	(4) (a) 4.; to consolidate, renumber and amend 108.04 (15) (a) (intro.) and
12	12	1.; to amend 40.02 (22) (b) 3., 40.65 (5) (b) 2., 49.147 (3) (ac) 2., 49.163 (3) (a)
13	13	3. c., 71.67 (7) (title), 105.01 (1) (b) 1., 105.115 (2) (b), 105.115 (2) (c), 105.115
14	14	(3) (a) 1., 105.115 (4) (b) 1., 105.115 (4) (b) 3., 106.38 (3) (c) 3., 108.04 (2) (a) 3.,
15	15	108.04 (12) (b), 108.14 (1), 108.141 (1) (b) 3., 108.142 (1) (h) 3., 108.19 (1m),
16	16	111.39 (4) (c), 230.43 (4), 230.85 (3) (d) and 779.01 (2) (am); to repeal and
17	17	recreate chapter 108 (title); to create 15.223 (2), 108.01 (2m), 108.013, 108.02
18	18	(21r), 108.04 (2) (a) 4. c., 108.04 (2) (a) 5., 108.04 (15) (a) 2. b., 108.04 (15) (am)
19	19	and (ao) and 108.14 (8o) of the statutes; relating to: various changes to the
20	20	unemployment insurance law and federal Reemployment Services and
21	21	Eligibility Assessment grants.
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37	37	Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
38	38	This bill makes various changes in the unemployment insurance (UI) law,
39	39	which is administered by the Department of Workforce Development. Significant
40	40	changes include all of the following:
41	41	Program name change
42	42	The bill changes references in the statutes to Xunemployment insuranceY to
43	43	Xreemployment assistanceY and requires the program and its benefits to be known
44	44	as reemployment assistance. The bill also requires DWD to have a division known
45	45	as the Division of Reemployment Assistance and requires the reemployment
46	46	assistance law to be administered by that division.
47	47	General qualifying requirements
48	48	Under current law, a claimant for UI benefits is generally required to 1)
49	49	register for work, 2) be able to work and available for work, and 3) conduct a work
50	50	search for each week in order to remain eligible. A claimant is required to conduct
51	51	at least four work search actions each week, and DWD may require, by rule, that an
52	52	individual conduct more than four work search actions per week. Finally, if a
53	53	claimant is claiming benefits for a week other than an initial week, the claimant
54	54	must provide information or job application materials that are requested by DWD
55	55	and participate in a public employment office workshop or training program or in
56	56	similar reemployment services required by DWD.
57	57	The bill does the following:
58	58	1. Requires, for the third and subsequent weeks of a claimant[s benefit year,
59	59	that at least two of the required weekly work search actions be direct contacts with
60	60	potential employers.
61	61	2. Requires a claimant who resides in this state, for each week other than an
62	62	initial week, to submit and keep posted on the DWD[s job center website a current
63	63	resume.
64	64	3. Requires, when a claimant is claiming benefits with less than three weeks
65	65	of benefits left, that the claimant complete a reemployment counseling session.
66	66	Additionally, current law allows DWD to use information or job application
67	67	materials described above to assess a claimant[s efforts, skills, and ability to find or
68	68	obtain work and to develop a list of potential opportunities for a claimant to obtain
69	69	suitable work. However, current law provides that a claimant who otherwise
70	70	satisfies the required weekly work search requirement is not required to apply for
71	71	any specific positions on the list of potential opportunities in order to satisfy the
72	72	work search requirement. The bill requires, instead of allows, DWD to provide this
73	73	assistance. The bill also repeals the language in current law providing that a
74	74	claimant who otherwise satisfies the weekly work search requirement is not
75	75	required to apply for specific positions provided by DWD and requires DWD to
76	76	provide each claimant with at least four potential opportunities each week, one or
77	77	more of which may be opportunities with a temporary help company.
78	78	Finally, current law allows DWD to require a claimant to participate in a 2025 - 2026 Legislature
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82	82	SECTION 1
83	83	public employment office workshop or training program. The bill provides that
84	84	DWD must require a claimant to participate in a public employment office
85	85	workshop or training program if the claimant is likely to exhaust regular UI
86	86	benefits. DWD may also require other claimants to participate in a public
87	87	employment office workshop or training program, but must prioritize claimants
88	88	more likely to have difficulty obtaining reemployment.
89	89	Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment grants
90	90	Under federal law, the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) operates
91	91	the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) program,
92	92	whereby grants are awarded to states to provide reemployment services to
93	93	claimants. Participation in the RESEA program is voluntary and requires that a
94	94	state submit a state plan to USDOL that outlines how the state intends to conduct
95	95	a program of reemployment services and eligibility assessments.
96	96	The bill requires that DWD act to continue to participate in the RESEA
97	97	program and requires DWD to provide certain RESEA services to all UI claimants.
98	98	For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
99	99	printed as an appendix to this bill.
100	100	The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
101	101	enact as follows:
102	102	SECTION 1. 15.223 (2) of the statutes is created to read:
103	103	15.223 (2) DIVISION OF REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE. There is created in the
104	104	department of workforce development a division of reemployment assistance.
105	105	SECTION 2. 40.02 (22) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
106	106	40.02 (22) (b) 3. Unemployment insurance or reemployment assistance
107	107	benefits.
108	108	SECTION 3. 40.65 (5) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
109	109	40.65 (5) (b) 2. Any unemployment insurance or reemployment assistance
110	110	benefit payable to the participant because of his or her work record.
111	111	SECTION 4. 49.147 (3) (ac) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
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125	125	SECTION 4
126	126	49.147 (3) (ac) 2. State and federal unemployment reemployment assistance
127	127	contributions or federal unemployment taxes.
128	128	SECTION 5. 49.163 (3) (a) 3. c. of the statutes is amended to read:
129	129	49.163 (3) (a) 3. c. State reemployment assistance contributions and federal
130	130	unemployment insurance contributions or taxes, if any.
131	131	SECTION 6. 71.67 (7) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
132	132	71.67 (7) (title) WITHHOLDING FROM UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION
133	133	INSURANCE REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE.
134	134	SECTION 7. 105.01 (1) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
135	135	105.01 (1) (b) 1. The person employing the individuals in addition to wages or
136	136	salaries pays federal social security taxes, state reemployment assistance
137	137	contributions, and federal unemployment contributions or taxes, carries worker[s
138	138	compensation insurance as required by state law, and maintains liability insurance
139	139	covering the acts of its employees while rendering services to, for or under the
140	140	direction of a 3rd person; and
141	141	SECTION 8. 105.115 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
142	142	105.115 (2) (b) A statement of the employment status of the home care worker,
143	143	specifically, whether the home care worker is an employee of the home care
144	144	placement agency or of the home care consumer or is an independent contractor
145	145	and a statement identifying which party is responsible for paying the wages or
146	146	salary of the home care worker, paying federal social security taxes and state
147	147	reemployment assistance contributions and federal unemployment contributions or
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173	173	SECTION 8
174	174	taxes with respect to the home care worker, and procuring worker[s compensation
175	175	or liability insurance covering injury to the home care worker.
176	176	SECTION 9. 105.115 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
177	177	105.115 (2) (c) A statement that, notwithstanding the employment status of
178	178	the home care worker specified in the notice, the home care consumer may be
179	179	determined to be the employer of the home care worker for purposes of certain state
180	180	and federal labor laws and that, if that is the case, the home care consumer may be
181	181	held responsible for paying the wages or salary of the home care worker, paying
182	182	federal social security taxes and state reemployment assistance contributions and
183	183	federal unemployment contributions or taxes with respect to the home care worker,
184	184	procuring worker[s compensation or liability insurance covering injury to the home
185	185	care worker, and complying with various other state and federal labor laws.
186	186	SECTION 10. 105.115 (3) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
187	187	105.115 (3) (a) 1. A statement identifying which party is responsible for
188	188	paying the wages or salary of the home care worker, paying federal social security
189	189	taxes and state reemployment assistance contributions and federal unemployment
190	190	contributions or taxes with respect to the home care worker, and procuring worker[s
191	191	compensation or liability insurance covering injury to the home care worker.
192	192	SECTION 11. 105.115 (4) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
193	193	105.115 (4) (b) 1. If the department finds that a home care placement agency
194	194	has failed to provide a home care consumer with the notice required under sub. (2)
195	195	and that the home care consumer is liable for the payment of federal social security
196	196	taxes or state reemployment assistance contributions or federal unemployment
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223	223	SECTION 11
224	224	contributions or taxes with respect to the home care worker, for the provision of
225	225	worker[s compensation or liability insurance covering injury to the home care
226	226	worker, for the payment of any fine or penalty imposed on the home care consumer
227	227	for noncompliance with any state or federal labor law with respect to the home care
228	228	worker, or for any injury to the home care worker, the department may recover from
229	229	the home care placement agency, on behalf of the home care consumer, an amount
230	230	equal to the total cost of those liabilities.
231	231	SECTION 12. 105.115 (4) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
232	232	105.115 (4) (b) 3. In the case of a home care consumer who commences an
233	233	action in circuit court under par. (a), if the circuit court finds that the home care
234	234	placement agency has failed to provide the home care consumer with the notice
235	235	required under sub. (2) and that the home care consumer is liable for the payment
236	236	of federal social security taxes or state reemployment assistance contributions or
237	237	federal unemployment contributions or taxes with respect to the home care worker,
238	238	for the provision of worker[s compensation or liability insurance covering injury to
239	239	the home care worker, for the payment of any fine or penalty imposed on the home
240	240	care consumer for noncompliance with any state or federal labor law with respect to
241	241	the home care worker, or for any injury to the home care worker, the court may order
242	242	the home care placement agency to pay to the home care consumer an amount equal
243	243	to the total cost of those liabilities, together with costs under ch. 814 and,
244	244	notwithstanding s. 814.04 (1), reasonable attorney fees.
245	245	SECTION 13. 106.38 (3) (c) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
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271	271	SECTION 13
272	272	106.38 (3) (c) 3. State reemployment assistance contributions and federal
273	273	unemployment insurance contributions or taxes, if any.
274	274	SECTION 14. Chapter 108 (title) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to
275	275	read:
276	276	CHAPTER 108
277	277	REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE
278	278	SECTION 15. 108.01 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
279	279	108.01 (2m) The federal Social Security Act requires that, in order for an
280	280	individual to be eligible for reemployment assistance benefits, the individual must
281	281	be able to work, available to work, and actively seeking work. The reemployment
282	282	assistance program in Wisconsin should enact and focus on policies that
283	283	complement individuals[ efforts to find employment.
284	284	SECTION 16. 108.013 of the statutes is created to read:
285	285	108.013 Name of program. The program established under this chapter
286	286	and administered by the department shall be referred to as the XReemployment
287	287	Assistance Program,Y and the benefits available under this chapter shall be
288	288	referred to as Xreemployment assistance benefits.Y This section applies
289	289	notwithstanding any provision referring to Xunemployment insurance.Y
290	290	SECTION 17. 108.02 (21r) of the statutes is created to read:
291	291	108.02 (21r) REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE. XReemployment assistance,Y when
292	292	used in reference to the law of another state or jurisdiction or the federal
293	293	government, includes an unemployment insurance law of that state or jurisdiction
294	294	or the federal government.
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321	321	SECTION 18
322	322	SECTION 18. 108.04 (2) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
323	323	108.04 (2) (a) 3. The claimant conducts a reasonable search for suitable work
324	324	during that week and provides verification of that search to the department. The
325	325	search for suitable work must include at least 4 actions per week that constitute a
326	326	reasonable search as prescribed by rule of the department. The department shall
327	327	require, for the 3rd or subsequent week of the claimant[s benefit year, that at least
328	328	2 actions per week be direct contacts with potential employing units. In addition,
329	329	the department may, by rule, require a claimant to take more than 4 reasonable
330	330	work search actions in any week. The department shall require a uniform number
331	331	of reasonable work search actions for similar types of claimants. The department
332	332	may require a claimant to apply for one or more of the potential opportunities
333	333	provided to the claimant under sub. (15) (a) 1. and may refer a claimant to
334	334	opportunities with a temporary help company as part of the required search for
335	335	suitable work under this subdivision.
336	336	SECTION 19. 108.04 (2) (a) 4. of the statutes is renumbered 108.04 (2) (a) 4.
337	337	(intro.) and amended to read:
338	338	108.04 (2) (a) 4. (intro.) If the claimant is claiming benefits for a week other
339	339	than an initial week, the claimant provides does all of the following:
340	340	a. Provides information or job application materials that are requested by the
341	341	department and participates.
342	342	b. Participates in a public employment office workshop or training program or
343	343	in similar reemployment services that are required by the department under sub.
344	344	(15) (a) 2.
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371	371	SECTION 20
372	372	SECTION 20. 108.04 (2) (a) 4. c. of the statutes is created to read:
373	373	108.04 (2) (a) 4. c. Submits and keeps posted on the department[s job center
374	374	website a current resume, if the claimant resides in this state.
375	375	SECTION 21. 108.04 (2) (a) 5. of the statutes is created to read:
376	376	108.04 (2) (a) 5. The claimant completes any reemployment counseling
377	377	session required of the claimant under sub. (15) (ao) 1.
378	378	SECTION 22. 108.04 (12) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
379	379	108.04 (12) (b) Any individual who receives, through the department, any
380	380	other type of unemployment or reemployment assistance benefit or allowance for a
381	381	given week is ineligible for benefits for that same week under this chapter, except as
382	382	specifically required for conformity with 19 USC 2101 to 2497b.
383	383	SECTION 23. 108.04 (15) (a) (intro.) and 1. of the statutes are consolidated,
384	384	renumbered 108.04 (15) (a) 1. and amended to read:
385	385	108.04 (15) (a) 1. Except as provided in par. (b), the department may do any of
386	386	the following shall, for the purpose of assisting claimants to find or obtain work: 1.
387	387	Use, use the information or, materials, and resume provided under sub. (2) (a) 4. to
388	388	assess a claimant[s efforts, skills, and ability to find or obtain work and to develop a
389	389	list of potential opportunities for a the claimant to obtain suitable work. A
390	390	claimant who otherwise satisfies the requirement under sub. (2) (a) 3. is not
391	391	required to apply for any specific positions on the list in order to satisfy that
392	392	requirement The department shall provide each claimant, prior to the claimant
393	393	filing a weekly claim for benefits, with at least 4 such potential opportunities each
394	394	week, one or more of which may be opportunities with a temporary help company.
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421	421	SECTION 24
422	422	SECTION 24. 108.04 (15) (a) 2. of the statutes is renumbered 108.04 (15) (a) 2.
423	423	a. and amended to read:
424	424	108.04 (15) (a) 2. a. Require Except as provided in par. (b), the department
425	425	shall require a claimant whom the department identifies as likely to exhaust
426	426	regular benefits to participate in a public employment office workshop or training
427	427	program or in similar reemployment services that do not charge the claimant a
428	428	participation fee and that offer instruction to improve the claimant[s ability to
429	429	obtain suitable work.
430	430	SECTION 25. 108.04 (15) (a) 2. b. of the statutes is created to read:
431	431	108.04 (15) (a) 2. b. Except as provided in par. (b), in addition to the claimants
432	432	described in subd. 2. a., the department may require other claimants to participate
433	433	in the reemployment services described in subd. 2. a., but the department shall
434	434	prioritize claimants who are more likely to have difficulty obtaining reemployment.
435	435	SECTION 26. 108.04 (15) (am) and (ao) of the statutes are created to read:
436	436	108.04 (15) (am) In carrying out this state[s program of reemployment
437	437	services and eligibility assessments using grant funds awarded under 42 USC 506,
438	438	the department shall, except as provided in par. (b), provide reemployment services
439	439	to all claimants receiving benefits, including benefits under ss. 108.141 and
440	440	108.142, including by doing all of the following for each such claimant:
441	441	1. Requiring the claimant to complete an online assessment aimed at
442	442	identifying the claimant[s skills, abilities, and career aptitude.
443	443	2. Coordinating with the claimant to develop an individualized employment
444	444	plan for the claimant.
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471	471	SECTION 26
472	472	3. Requiring the claimant to participate in the services described under par.
473	473	(a) 2. a. as needed pursuant to the individualized employment plan described in
474	474	subd. 2.
475	475	(ao) Except as provided in par. (b), the department shall, when a claimant[s
476	476	remaining benefit entitlement under s. 108.06 (1) is 3 or less times the claimant[s
477	477	weekly benefit rate under s. 108.05 (1), do all of the following:
478	478	1. Require the claimant to participate in a live, one-on-one reemployment
479	479	counseling session between the claimant and an employee of the department.
480	480	2. Provide the claimant information about services and benefits that are
481	481	available to the claimant pursuant to the federal Workforce Innovation and
482	482	Opportunity Act of 2014, 29 USC 3101 to 3361, once the claimant exhausts his or
483	483	her benefit entitlement.
484	484	SECTION 27. 108.13 (4) (a) 4. of the statutes is renumbered 108.13 (4) (a) 2m.
485	485	and amended to read:
486	486	108.13 (4) (a) 2m. XUnemployment insuranceY XReemployment assistanceY
487	487	means any compensation payable under this chapter, including amounts payable by
488	488	the department pursuant to an agreement under any federal law providing for
489	489	compensation, assistance or allowances with respect to unemployment.
490	490	SECTION 28. 108.14 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
491	491	108.14 (1) This chapter shall be administered by the department through its
492	492	division of reemployment assistance.
493	493	SECTION 29. 108.14 (8o) of the statutes is created to read:
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519	519	SECTION 29
520	520	108.14 (8o) The department shall act to continue to receive grants for
521	521	reemployment services and eligibility assessments under 42 USC 506.
522	522	SECTION 30. 108.141 (1) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
523	523	108.141 (1) (b) 3. Has no right to unemployment reemployment assistance
524	524	benefits or allowances, as the case may be, under the railroad unemployment
525	525	insurance act or such other federal laws as are specified in regulations issued by the
526	526	U.S. secretary of labor, and has not received and is not seeking unemployment
527	527	reemployment assistance benefits under the unemployment insurance
528	528	reemployment assistance law of Canada, but if the individual is seeking such
529	529	benefits and the appropriate agency finally determines that he or she is not entitled
530	530	to benefits under such law he or she is an exhaustee.
531	531	SECTION 31. 108.142 (1) (h) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
532	532	108.142 (1) (h) 3. Has no right to unemployment reemployment assistance
533	533	benefits or allowances under the railroad unemployment insurance act or such
534	534	other federal laws as are specified in regulations issued by the U.S. secretary of
535	535	labor, and has not received and is not seeking unemployment reemployment
536	536	assistance benefits under the unemployment insurance reemployment assistance
537	537	law of Canada, but if the individual is seeking such benefits and the appropriate
538	538	agency finally determines that he or she is not entitled to benefits under that law,
539	539	the individual is an XexhausteeY.
540	540	SECTION 32. 108.19 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:
541	541	108.19 (1m) Each employer subject to this chapter as of the date a rate is
542	542	established under this subsection shall pay an assessment to the unemployment
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565	565	23 2025 - 2026 Legislature
566	566	SENATE BILL 197
567	567	- 13 - LRB-2752/1
568	568	MED:skw
569	569	SECTION 32
570	570	reemployment assistance interest payment fund at a rate established by the
571	571	department sufficient to pay interest due on advances from the federal
572	572	unemployment account under Title XII of the federal social security act, 42 USC
573	573	1321 to 1324. The rate established by the department for employers who finance
574	574	benefits under s. 108.15 (2), 108.151 (2), or 108.152 (1) shall be 75 percent of the
575	575	rate established for other employers. The amount of any employer[s assessment
576	576	shall be the product of the rate established for that employer multiplied by the
577	577	employer[s payroll of the previous calendar year as taken from quarterly
578	578	employment and wage reports filed by the employer under s. 108.205 (1) or, in the
579	579	absence of the filing of such reports, estimates made by the department. Each
580	580	assessment made under this subsection is due within 30 days after the date the
581	581	department issues the assessment. If the amounts collected from employers under
582	582	this subsection exceed the amounts needed to pay interest due, the department
583	583	shall use any excess to pay interest owed in subsequent years on advances from the
584	584	federal unemployment account. If the department determines that additional
585	585	interest obligations are unlikely, the department shall transfer the excess to the
586	586	balancing account of the fund, the unemployment reemployment assistance
587	587	program integrity fund, or both in amounts determined by the department.
588	588	SECTION 33. 111.39 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
589	589	111.39 (4) (c) If, after hearing, the examiner finds that the respondent has
590	590	engaged in discrimination, unfair honesty testing or unfair genetic testing, the
591	591	examiner shall make written findings and order such action by the respondent as
592	592	will effectuate the purpose of this subchapter, with or without back pay. If the
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615	615	23 2025 - 2026 Legislature
616	616	SENATE BILL 197
617	617	- 14 - LRB-2752/1
618	618	MED:skw
619	619	SECTION 33
620	620	examiner awards any payment to an employee because of a violation of s. 111.321 by
621	621	an individual employed by the employer, under s. 111.32 (6), the employer of that
622	622	individual is liable for the payment. If the examiner finds a respondent violated s.
623	623	111.322 (2m), the examiner shall award compensation in lieu of reinstatement if
624	624	requested by all parties and may award compensation in lieu of reinstatement if
625	625	requested by any party. Compensation in lieu of reinstatement for a violation of s.
626	626	111.322 (2m) may not be less than 500 times nor more than 1,000 times the hourly
627	627	wage of the person discriminated against when the violation occurred. Back pay
628	628	liability may not accrue from a date more than 2 years prior to the filing of a
629	629	complaint with the department. Interim earnings or amounts earnable with
630	630	reasonable diligence by the person discriminated against or subjected to unfair
631	631	honesty testing or unfair genetic testing shall operate to reduce back pay otherwise
632	632	allowable. Amounts received by the person discriminated against or subject to the
633	633	unfair honesty testing or unfair genetic testing as unemployment reemployment
634	634	assistance benefits or welfare payments shall not reduce the back pay otherwise
635	635	allowable, but shall be withheld from the person discriminated against or subject to
636	636	unfair honesty testing or unfair genetic testing and immediately paid to the
637	637	unemployment reserve fund or, in the case of a welfare payment, to the welfare
638	638	agency making the payment.
639	639	SECTION 34. 230.43 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
640	640	230.43 (4) RIGHTS OF EMPLOYEE. If an employee has been removed, demoted
641	641	or reclassified, from or in any position or employment in contravention or violation
642	642	of this subchapter, and has been restored to such position or employment by order of
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665	665	23 2025 - 2026 Legislature
666	666	SENATE BILL 197
667	667	- 15 - LRB-2752/1
668	668	MED:skw
669	669	SECTION 34
670	670	the commission or any court upon review, the employee shall be entitled to
671	671	compensation therefor from the date of such unlawful removal, demotion or
672	672	reclassification at the rate to which he or she would have been entitled by law but
673	673	for such unlawful removal, demotion or reclassification. Interim earnings or
674	674	amounts earnable with reasonable diligence by the employee shall operate to
675	675	reduce back pay otherwise allowable. Amounts received by the employee as
676	676	unemployment reemployment assistance benefits or welfare payments shall not
677	677	reduce the back pay otherwise allowable, but shall be withheld from the employee
678	678	and immediately paid to the unemployment reserve fund or, in the case of a welfare
679	679	payment, to the welfare agency making such payment. The employee shall be
680	680	entitled to an order of mandamus to enforce the payment or other provisions of such
681	681	order.
682	682	SECTION 35. 230.85 (3) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
683	683	230.85 (3) (d) Interim earnings or amounts earnable with reasonable
684	684	diligence by the person subjected to the retaliatory action or threat shall reduce
685	685	back pay otherwise allowable. Amounts received by the person subjected to the
686	686	retaliatory action or threat as unemployment reemployment assistance benefits or
687	687	welfare payments do not reduce the back pay otherwise allowable, but shall be
688	688	withheld from the person subjected to the retaliatory action or threat and
689	689	immediately paid to the unemployment reserve fund or to the welfare agency
690	690	making the payment.
691	691	SECTION 36. 779.01 (2) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:
692	692	779.01 (2) (am) XLaborY includes any wages and related contributions for
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715	715	23 2025 - 2026 Legislature
716	716	SENATE BILL 197
717	717	- 16 - LRB-2752/1
718	718	MED:skw
719	719	SECTION 36
720	720	state employment taxes, worker[s compensation and unemployment compensation
721	721	insurance reemployment assistance, and other fringe benefits.
722	722	SECTION 37. Terminology changes.
723	723	(1) UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE; TERMINOLOGY CHANGES.
724	724	(a) Wherever Xunemployment insuranceY appears in the following, as affected
725	725	by the acts of 2025, Xreemployment assistanceY is substituted: ss. 6.10 (9), 13.63 (1)
726	726	(b), 15.227 (3), 16.48 (1) (intro.), (am), (bm), and (f) and (3), 19.85 (1) (ee), 29.024 (2r)
727	727	(title) and (d) 1., 46.272 (7) (e), 47.035 (1), 48.715 (7), 49.163 (2) (am) 5., 49.19 (4)
728	728	(dm) 4., 50.498 (title) and (4) (b), 51.032 (title) and (4), 59.40 (2) (e), 59.57 (2) (b),
729	729	66.1103 (1) (a), 71.01 (10) (b), 71.05 (6) (b) 47m., 71.26 (1) (h), 71.45 (1) (c), 71.52 (6),
730	730	71.67 (7) (a) and (b) 2., 71.80 (16) (a) and (b), 73.0301 (2) (c) 2., 73.09 (8), 93.135
731	731	(title) and (4), 101.654 (2) (c), 102.17 (1) (c) 2., 102.28 (7) (b) 2., 102.315 (2m) (d),
732	732	103.34 (10) (title), 103.92 (3) and (8) (title), 105.13 (1), 108.02 (15) (c) 1., (dm) 1., (e),
733	733	(i) 2., and (k) 9., 10., and 19. b., (21) (a) 2. and (b), and (21e) (e), 108.04 (2) (ae), (4)
734	734	(c), (5) (intro.), (5g) (a) (intro.), (7) (a) and (L) (intro.), (8) (a) and (c), (11) (g) 2. d., (12)
735	735	(c) and (d), and (13) (g) 2., 108.06 (5) (a), 108.065 (3), 108.068 (6), 108.07 (3m) and
736	736	(5m), 108.13 (2) and (4) (b), (c) (intro.), (e), and (f), 108.135 (1) (intro.) and (a), 108.14
737	737	(5) (a), (ag), and (ar), (6), (7) (a), (8) (a), (8m) (a), (8n) (a) and (b), (8s) (a) and (b), (8t),
738	738	(9), (13), (14), (18), (19), (23) (b) 1., and (24), 108.141 (1) (h) and (3g) (a) 2., (c), and
739	739	(d), 108.142 (1) (i), 108.155 (6), 108.16 (5) (b), 108.161 (3) and (3e), 108.162 (1),
740	740	108.19 (1e) (d), (1f) (b), and (4), 108.20 (2m), 108.227 (title) and (2) (c) 2., 115.31
741	741	(6m), 116.03 (4), 118.19 (1m) (b), 120.25 (2) (a) and (6), 138.09 (3) (am) 2. and (4) (c),
742	742	138.12 (4) (b) 5m. and (5) (am) 1. b. and 3., 138.14 (5) (b) 2m. and (9) (cm), 146.40
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765	765	23 2025 - 2026 Legislature
766	766	SENATE BILL 197
767	767	- 17 - LRB-2752/1
768	768	MED:skw
769	769	SECTION 37
770	770	(4d) (d), 165.066 (title), 169.35 (title) and (3), 170.12 (8) (b) 1. bm. and 4., 175.46 (5)
771	771	(a), 202.021 (4) (a) 6., 202.06 (2) (g), 202.23 (2), 203.03 (8) (c), 203.07 (3), 217.05 (5)
772	772	(e) 6. and (7) (d), 218.0116 (1g) (b) and (1m) (a) 2m. and (d), 218.02 (3) (dm), (6) (d),
773	773	and (9) (a) 1m., 218.04 (4) (am) 2m. and (5) (at), 218.05 (4) (c) 2m., (11) (bm), and
774	774	(12) (at), 218.11 (6m) (c), 218.12 (3m) (c), 218.22 (3m) (c), 218.32 (3m) (c), 218.41
775	775	(3m) (b) 3., 218.51 (4m) (b) 3., 224.44 (title), 224.72 (7m) (bm), 224.725 (6) (bm),
776	776	224.77 (2m) (e), 224.95 (1) (bm), 230.26 (4), 238.31 (1) (e) 4. c., 238.397 (2) (a) 4. c.,
777	777	254.115 (title) and (5), 254.176 (5), 254.20 (7), 256.18 (title) and (4m), 299.07 (title)
778	778	and (3), 303.08 (3), (4), and (5) (intro.), 341.51 (4m) (c), 343.305 (6) (e) 6., 343.66
779	779	(3m), 440.12 (title) and (2), 463.14 (title) and (5), 551.412 (4g) (a) 2m. and (d), 562.05
780	780	(5) (a) 11. and (8) (f), 563.285 (title) and (1m), 628.097 (title) and (2m), 628.10 (2)
781	781	(cm), 628.93 (2) (title), 632.69 (2) (d) 2. and (4) (d), 633.14 (2m) (b), 633.15 (2) (d),
782	782	751.155 (title) and (3), 815.18 (13) (j), 859.02 (2) (a), and 949.06 (3) (b).
783	783	(b) Wherever Xunemployment compensationY appears in the following, as
784	784	affected by the acts of 2025, Xreemployment assistanceY is substituted: ss. 49.45
785	785	(23b) (a) 2. f., 71.07 (6n) (c) 3., 71.28 (6n) (c) 3., 71.47 (6n) (c) 3., 108.04 (13) (g) 1. b.,
786	786	108.11 (2), 701.0508 (2), 756.04 (2) (c) 4., and 767.75 (3m) (title).
787	787	(c) Wherever XunemploymentY appears in the following, as affected by the acts
788	788	of 2025, Xreemployment assistanceY is substituted: ss. 25.17 (1) (xe) and (xf), 108.04
789	789	(2) (bb) 5., 108.16 (6) (i) and (m) and (6m) (b), 108.19 (title), (1f) (a), (1q), and (1s) (a)
790	790	(intro.) and 2. and (b), 108.221 (3), 108.225 (4) (b), and 111.15.
791	791	(d) The legislative reference bureau shall, when preparing the statutes for
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813	813	22 2025 - 2026 Legislature
814	814	SENATE BILL 197
815	815	- 18 - LRB-2752/1
816	816	MED:skw
817	817	SECTION 37
818	818	publication, make other changes necessary to effect the terminology changes in
819	819	pars. (a) to (c).
820	820	SECTION 38. Nonstatutory provisions.
821	821	(1) The department of workforce development shall submit a notice to the
822	822	legislative reference bureau for publication in the Wisconsin Administrative
823	823	Register when the department determines that the department has any rules in
824	824	place that are necessary to implement the treatment of s. 108.04 (2) (a) 3. by this
825	825	act.
826	826	SECTION 39. Initial applicability.
827	827	(1) The treatment of s. 108.04 (2) (a) 3. first applies with respect to weeks of
828	828	unemployment beginning on the effective date of this subsection.
829	829	(2) The renumbering and amendment of s. 108.04 (2) (a) 4. and (15) (a) 2., the
830	830	consolidation, renumbering, and amendment of s. 108.04 (15) (a) (intro.) and 1., and
831	831	the creation of s. 108.04 (2) (a) 4. c. and 5. and (15) (a) 2. b., (am), and (ao) first apply
832	832	with respect to weeks of unemployment beginning on the effective date of this
833	833	subsection.
834	834	SECTION 40. Effective dates. This act takes effect on July 5, 2026, except as
835	835	follows:
836	836	(1) The treatment of s. 108.04 (2) (a) 3. and SECTION 39 (1) of this act take
837	837	effect on the Sunday after the notice under SECTION 38 (1) of this act is published in
838	838	the Wisconsin Administrative Register or on January 4, 2026, whichever occurs
839	839	first.
840	840	(2) The treatment of ss. 108.01 (2m) and 108.14 (8o) and (30), the
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863	863	23 2025 - 2026 Legislature
864	864	SENATE BILL 197
865	865	- 19 - LRB-2752/1
866	866	MED:skw
867	867	SECTION 40
868	868	renumbering and amendment of s. 108.04 (2) (a) 4. and (15) (a) 2., the consolidation,
869	869	renumbering, and amendment of s. 108.04 (15) (a) (intro.) and 1., and the creation
870	870	of s. 108.04 (2) (a) 4. c. and 5. and (15) (a) 2. b., (am), and (ao) and SECTIONS 38 (1)
871	871	and 39 (2) of this act take effect on the first Sunday after publication.
872	872	(END)
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