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2025 SENATE BILL 198
April 14, 2025 - Introduced by Senator WIMBERGER, cosponsored by
Representatives TUCKER, ARMSTRONG, BROOKS, B. JACOBSON, DUCHOW,
MURPHY, O'CONNOR, PENTERMAN, KNODL and GREEN. Referred to Committee
on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development.
AN ACT to renumber and amend 108.04 (2) (a) 4. and 108.04 (5) (e); to amend
16.54 (2) (a) 1., 108.04 (5) (b), 108.04 (15) (a) 1. and 108.14 (20); to create
16.54 (14), 108.04 (2) (a) 4. c., 108.04 (5) (e) (intro.), 108.04 (5) (e) 2. and 108.04
(5) (h) of the statutes; relating to: various changes to the unemployment
insurance law and requiring approval by the Joint Committee on Finance of
certain federally authorized unemployment benefits.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
This bill makes various changes in the unemployment insurance (UI) law,
which is administered by the Department of Workforce Development. Significant
changes include all of the following:
Misconduct
Currently, if an employee is discharged for misconduct connected with his or
her employment, the employee is ineligible to receive UI benefits until certain
requalification criteria are satisfied. In addition, all wages earned with the
employer that discharges the employee are excluded in determining the amount of
any future benefits to which the employee is entitled. Current law provides a
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general definition of misconduct and also specifies a number of specific actions that
constitute misconduct. The bill does all of the following with respect to what is
considered misconduct:
1. Current law specifically provides that misconduct includes theft of an
employer[s property or services with intent to deprive the employer of the property
or services permanently, theft of currency of any value, felonious conduct connected
with an employee[s employment with his or her employer, or intentional or
negligent conduct by an employee that causes substantial damage to his or her
employer[s property. The bill does the following:
a. Eliminates the requirement that the employee have intent to deprive the
employer of the property or services permanently.
b. Provides that intentional or negligent conduct by an employee that causes
the destruction of an employer[s records is also considered misconduct.
c. Adds unauthorized possession of an employer [s property, theft or
unauthorized distribution of an employer[s confidential or proprietary information,
and use of an employer[s credit card or other financial instrument for an
unauthorized or nonbusiness purpose without prior approval from the employer to
the list of what is considered misconduct.
2. Current law specifically provides that misconduct includes absenteeism by
an employee on more than two occasions within the 120-day period before the date
of the employee[s termination, unless otherwise specified by his or her employer in
an employment manual of which the employee has acknowledged receipt with his or
her signature, or excessive tardiness by an employee in violation of a policy of the
employer that has been communicated to the employee, if the employee does not
provide to his or her employer both notice and one or more valid reasons for the
absenteeism or tardiness.
The bill instead provides that misconduct includes both of the following: 1) a
violation of an employer[s reasonable policy that covers employee absenteeism,
tardiness, or both and that results in an employee[s termination, if that termination
is in accordance with that policy and the policy is specified by the employer in an
employment manual of which the employee has acknowledged receipt with his or
her signature; and 2) if an employer does not have a policy covering absenteeism
that meets the criteria just described, absenteeism on more than two occasions
within the 120-day period preceding an employee[s termination, if the employee
does not provide to the employer both notice and one or more valid reasons for the
absenteeism.
3. The bill specifically provides that misconduct includes a violation by an
employee of an employer[s reasonable employment policy that covers the use of
social media specified by the employer in an employment manual of which the
employee has acknowledged receipt with his or her signature.
General qualifying requirements
Under current law, a claimant for UI benefits is generally required to 1)
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search for each week in order to remain eligible. A claimant is required to conduct
at least four work search actions each week, and DWD may require, by rule, that an
individual conduct more than four work search actions per week. Finally, if a
claimant is claiming benefits for a week other than an initial week, the claimant
must provide information or job application materials that are requested by DWD
and participate in a public employment office workshop or training program or in
similar reemployment services required by DWD.
The bill does the following:
1. Requires a claimant who resides outside this state and who is claiming
benefits for a week other than an initial week to register with his or her local job
center website or labor market exchange and requires DWD to verify that each such
claimant has complied with that requirement.
2. Requires DWD to conduct random audits for at least 50 percent of all work
search actions reported to have been performed by claimants. Current law requires
random audits of work search actions, but does not require a specific number or
level of audits.
OTHER CHANGES
UI benefit augmentations subject to review by Joint Committee on Finance
The bill provides that whenever any UI benefit augmentation is provided for
through an act of Congress or by executive action of the president of the United
States, the cochairpersons of the Joint Committee on Finance must be notified, in
writing, of the proposed benefit augmentation. The bill defines Xbenefit
augmentationY to mean any action whereby the governor or any other state official
or agency would encumber or expend moneys received from, or accept
reimbursement from, the federal government or whereby the governor or any other
state agency or official would enter into any contract or agreement with the federal
government or any federal agency to 1) increase the weekly UI benefit rate payable
to claimants above what is provided under state law, or 2) increase the total amount
of UI benefits to which a claimant is entitled above what is provided under state
law. Under the bill, such a benefit augmentation is subject to a seven-day passive
review by the Joint Committee on Finance.
In addition, the bill provides that no benefit augmentation may be effectuated
unless it is subject to termination or cancellation by the Joint Committee on
Finance.
Worker[s compensation; misconduct
Currently, under the worker[s compensation law, an employer is not liable for
temporary disability benefits during an employee[s healing period if the employee is
suspended or terminated from employment due to misconduct, as defined under the
UI law. Under the bill, the changes to the UI law[s definition of misconduct
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SECTION 1
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 16.54 (2) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
16.54 (2) (a) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2. and sub. (14), whenever funds
shall be made available to this state through an act of congress and the funds are
accepted as provided in sub. (1), the governor shall designate the state board,
commission, or department to administer any of such funds, and the board,
commission, or department so designated by the governor is authorized and
directed to administer such funds for the purpose designated by the act of congress
making an appropriation of such funds, or by the department of the United States
government making such funds available to this state. Whenever a block grant is
made to this state, no moneys received as a part of the block grant may be
transferred from use as a part of one such grant to use as a part of another such
grant, regardless of whether a transfer between appropriations is required, unless
the joint committee on finance approves the transfer.
SECTION 2. 16.54 (14) of the statutes is created to read:
16.54 (14) (a) In this subsection, Xbenefit augmentationY means for any state
agency or official, including the governor, to encumber or expend moneys received
from, or accept reimbursement from, the federal government or for any state agency
or official, including the governor, to enter into any contract or agreement with the
federal government or any federal agency, to do any of the following:
1. Increase the weekly unemployment insurance benefit rate payable to
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SECTION 2
claimants to a rate that is higher than what is provided under s. 108.05, including
by providing any stipend or other benefit separately from unemployment insurance
benefits, if eligibility for that stipend or benefit is determined, in whole or in part,
based on an individual[s receipt of, or eligibility for, unemployment insurance
benefits.
2. Increase the total amount of unemployment insurance benefits to which a
claimant is entitled to an amount that is greater than what is provided under s.
108.06 (2), including by providing an increased overall benefit entitlement or
additional weeks of benefits.
(b) 1. Whenever any benefit augmentation is provided for through an act of
congress or by executive action of the president of the United States, the governor or
other state official or state agency shall notify the cochairpersons of the joint
committee on finance, in writing, of the proposed benefit augmentation. The notice
shall contain a detailed description of the proposed benefit augmentation, an
affirmative statement that the proposed benefit augmentation complies with subd.
2., and, if the proposed benefit augmentation requires any contract or agreement
with the federal government or any federal agency, a copy of the proposed contract
or agreement if available. If the cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the
governor, official, or agency that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the
purpose of reviewing the proposed benefit augmentation within 7 working days
after the date of the governor[s, official[s, or agency[s notification, the benefit
augmentation may, subject to subd. 2., be effectuated as proposed by the governor,
official, or agency. If, within 7 working days after the date of the governor[s,
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official[s, or agency[s notification, the cochairpersons of the committee notify the
governor, official, or agency that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the
purpose of reviewing the proposed benefit augmentation, the benefit augmentation
may not be effectuated without the approval of the committee. The committee may
not approve a proposed benefit augmentation unless it complies with subd. 2.
2. No benefit augmentation may be effectuated unless it is subject to
termination or cancellation by the joint committee on finance.
(c) This subsection does not apply with respect to federal extended benefits
under s. 108.141.
SECTION 3. 108.04 (2) (a) 4. of the statutes is renumbered 108.04 (2) (a) 4.
(intro.) and amended to read:
108.04 (2) (a) 4. (intro.) If the claimant is claiming benefits for a week other
than an initial week, the claimant provides does all of the following:
a. Provides information or job application materials that are requested by the
department and participates.
b. Participates in a public employment office workshop or training program or
in similar reemployment services that are required by the department under sub.
(15) (a) 2.
SECTION 4. 108.04 (2) (a) 4. c. of the statutes is created to read:
108.04 (2) (a) 4. c. Registers on his or her local job center website or with his
or her labor market exchange, if the claimant resides outside this state. The
department shall verify that each such claimant has complied with this subd. 4. c.
SECTION 5. 108.04 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
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SECTION 5
108.04 (5) (b) Theft or unauthorized possession of an employer[s property or,
theft of an employer[s services with intent to deprive the employer of the property or
services permanently, theft or unauthorized distribution of an employer[s
confidential or proprietary information, use of an employer[s credit card or other
financial instrument for an unauthorized or nonbusiness purpose without prior
approval from the employer, theft of currency of any value, felonious conduct
connected with an employee[s employment with his or her employer, or intentional
or negligent conduct by an employee that causes the destruction of an employer[s
records or substantial damage to his or her an employer[s property.
SECTION 6. 108.04 (5) (e) (intro.) of the statutes is created to read:
108.04 (5) (e) (intro.) Any of the following:
SECTION 7. 108.04 (5) (e) of the statutes is renumbered 108.04 (5) (e) 1. and
amended to read:
108.04 (5) (e) 1. Absenteeism by an employee on more than 2 occasions within
the 120-day period before the date of the employee[s termination, unless otherwise
specified by his or her employer if the employee does not provide to his or her
employer both notice and one or more valid reasons for the absenteeism. This
subdivision does not apply if the employer has a reasonable policy that covers
absenteeism described in subd. 2. in an employment manual of which the employee
has acknowledged receipt with his or her signature, or excessive tardiness by an
employee in violation of a policy of the employer that has been communicated to the
employee, if the employee does not provide to his or her employer both notice and
one or more valid reasons for the absenteeism or tardiness.
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SECTION 8
SECTION 8. 108.04 (5) (e) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
108.04 (5) (e) 2. A violation of an employer[s reasonable policy that covers
employee absenteeism, tardiness, or both, and that results in an employee[s
termination, if that termination is in accordance with that policy and the policy is
specified by the employer in an employment manual of which the employee has
acknowledged receipt with his or her signature.
SECTION 9. 108.04 (5) (h) of the statutes is created to read:
108.04 (5) (h) A violation by an employee of an employer[s reasonable policy
that covers the use of social media and is substantially related to the employee[s
employment, if the violation results in an employee[s termination and if that
termination is in accordance with that policy and the policy is specified by the
employer in an employment manual of which the employee has acknowledged
receipt with his or her signature.
SECTION 10. 108.04 (15) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
108.04 (15) (a) 1. Use the information or materials provided under sub. (2) (a)
4. a. to assess a claimant[s efforts, skills, and ability to find or obtain work and to
develop a list of potential opportunities for a claimant to obtain suitable work. A
claimant who otherwise satisfies the requirement under sub. (2) (a) 3. is not
required to apply for any specific positions on the list in order to satisfy that
requirement.
SECTION 11. 108.14 (20) of the statutes is amended to read:
108.14 (20) The department shall conduct random audits on claimants for
benefits under this chapter to assess compliance with the work search
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requirements under s. 108.04 (2) (a) 3. The department shall conduct the audits
required under this subsection at a level sufficient for the department to assess at
least 50 percent of all work search actions reported to have been performed by
claimants.
SECTION 12. Nonstatutory provisions.
(1) The department of workforce development shall submit a notice to the
legislative reference bureau for publication in the Wisconsin Administrative
Register when the department determines that the department has any rules in
place that are necessary to implement the renumbering and amendment of s.
108.04 (2) (a) 4. and the creation of s. 108.04 (2) (a) 4. c. by this act.
SECTION 13. Initial applicability.
(1) The renumbering and amendment of s. 108.04 (2) (a) 4. and the creation of
s. 108.04 (2) (a) 4. c. first apply with respect to weeks of unemployment beginning on
the effective date of this subsection.
(2) The renumbering and amendment of s. 108.04 (5) (e), the amendment of s.
108.04 (5) (b), and the creation of s. 108.04 (5) (e) (intro.) and 2. and (h) first apply
with respect to determinations issued under s. 108.09 on the effective date of this
subsection.
SECTION 14. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the Sunday after
publication, except as follows:
(1) The renumbering and amendment of s. 108.04 (2) (a) 4. and the creation of
s. 108.04 (2) (a) 4. c. and SECTION 13 (1) of this act take effect on the Sunday after
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the notice under SECTION 12 (1) of this act is published in the Wisconsin
Administrative Register or on January 4, 2026, whichever occurs first.
(2) The renumbering and amendment of s. 108.04 (5) (e), the amendment of s.
108.04 (5) (b), and the creation of s. 108.04 (5) (e) (intro.) and 2. and (h) and SECTION
13 (2) of this act take effect on January 4, 2026, or on the first Sunday after the
180th day after publication, whichever occurs later.
(END)
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