Senate Bill 486 proposes various amendments to Wisconsin's unemployment insurance and workers' compensation laws. Notably, it repeals the provision regarding "substantial fault" that previously rendered claimants ineligible for unemployment benefits if their work was terminated due to substantial fault connected to their work. The bill also repeals the language concerning excessive tardiness as a form of misconduct and reverses a court ruling that allowed employers to set their own standards for absenteeism and tardiness. Instead, it establishes that a claimant's notice and reason for absenteeism or tardiness will be evaluated under a common law misconduct standard, while still permitting employers to maintain stricter attendance policies.

Additionally, the bill eliminates the requirement for a drug testing program for unemployment insurance claimants and repeals related provisions regarding preemployment drug testing. It also modifies the definition of misconduct in the context of workers' compensation, aligning it with the changes made to the unemployment insurance law. The bill aims to streamline the administration of these laws by repealing certain appropriations and replacing them with a general appropriation for the administration of unemployment insurance. Overall, the bill seeks to simplify the eligibility criteria for unemployment benefits and clarify the definitions of misconduct and substantial fault.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 49.791(4)(f)(intro.), 49.791, 102.43(9)(e), 102.43, 108.04(5g), 108.04, 108.04(8)(a), 108.04(8)(b), 108.133, 108.14(8n)(e), 108.14, 108.141(7)(a), 108.141