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 actions such as unauthorized possession of an employer's property, theft of confidential information, and violations of reasonable employer policies regarding absenteeism and social media use. It eliminates the requirement for intent to permanently deprive the employer of property and introduces a new standard for absenteeism, which allows for termination based on violations of employer policies that have been 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 establishes a process for reviewing federally authorized UI benefit augmentations by the Joint Committee on Finance, requiring notification and a seven-day passive review period before any such benefits can be enacted. It also aligns the definition of misconduct under the UI law with the workers' compensation law, ensuring that employers are not liable for temporary disability benefits if an employee is terminated for misconduct as defined in the UI 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