Senate Bill 198 proposes various amendments to Wisconsin's unemployment insurance (UI) laws, primarily focusing on the definition of misconduct and the requirements for claimants. The bill modifies the definition of misconduct to include unauthorized possession of an employer's property, theft or unauthorized distribution of confidential information, and the destruction of employer records. It also changes the criteria for absenteeism and tardiness, stating that misconduct includes violations of an employer's reasonable policies regarding these issues, provided the policies are documented in an employment manual acknowledged by the employee. Additionally, the bill mandates that claimants residing outside the state must register with their local job center and requires the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) to conduct random audits of work search actions reported by claimants.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a requirement for the Joint Committee on Finance to review any federally authorized UI benefit augmentations before they can be implemented. This includes notifying the committee of proposed benefit changes and ensuring that such augmentations can be terminated or canceled by the committee. The changes to the definition of misconduct under UI law will also apply to workers' compensation claims, ensuring consistency across both areas of law. Overall, the bill aims to tighten the eligibility criteria for UI benefits and enhance 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