Assembly Bill 167 proposes various amendments to Wisconsin's unemployment insurance (UI) laws, primarily focusing on the definition of misconduct that can disqualify employees from receiving benefits. The bill modifies the existing definition of misconduct by removing the requirement for intent to permanently deprive an employer of property or services and expands the definition to include unauthorized possession of an employer's property, theft of confidential information, and misuse of financial instruments. Additionally, it alters the criteria for absenteeism and tardiness, stipulating that violations of reasonable employer policies, as outlined in an acknowledged employment manual, can also be considered misconduct.

The bill also introduces new requirements for claimants, particularly those residing outside Wisconsin, mandating them to register with local job centers and subjecting their reported work search actions to random audits. Furthermore, it establishes a process for the Joint Committee on Finance to review any federally authorized UI benefit augmentations, ensuring that no such benefits can be implemented without their approval. The changes to the definition of misconduct under UI law will also apply to workers' compensation claims, aligning the two systems. Overall, the bill aims to tighten eligibility criteria for UI benefits while enhancing oversight of benefit augmentations.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 16.54(2)(a)1, 16.54, 108.04(5)(b), 108.04, 108.04(15)(a)1