Senate Bill 197 proposes significant changes to Wisconsin's unemployment insurance (UI) law, renaming it to "reemployment assistance" and establishing a new Division of Reemployment Assistance within the Department of Workforce Development (DWD). The bill mandates that claimants for reemployment assistance must register for work, be available and able to work, and conduct a minimum of four work search actions weekly, with at least two of those being direct contacts with potential employers for the third week of their claim. Additionally, claimants are required to submit a current resume to DWD's job center website and complete a reemployment counseling session if they have less than three weeks of benefits remaining. The bill also stipulates that DWD must provide at least four potential job opportunities each week to claimants.

Furthermore, the bill requires DWD to continue participating in the federal Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) program, ensuring that all UI claimants receive certain RESEA services. The legislation includes various amendments to existing statutes, replacing references to "unemployment insurance" with "reemployment assistance" and repealing outdated provisions. Notably, it emphasizes the importance of active job searching and participation in workshops or training programs, particularly for those likely to exhaust their benefits. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the support provided to individuals seeking reemployment while streamlining the administrative processes associated with these services.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 40.02(22)(b)3, 40.02, 40.65(5)(b)2, 40.65, 49.147(3)(ac)2, 49.147, 49.163(3)(a)3.c, 49.163, 71.67(7)(title), 71.67, 105.01(1)(b)1, 105.01, 105.115(2)(b), 105.115, 105.115(2)(c), 105.115(3)(a)1, 105.115(4)(b)1, 105.115(4)(b)3, 106.38(3)(c)3, 106.38