Senate Bill 486 proposes various amendments to Wisconsin's unemployment insurance and workers' compensation laws. Notably, it repeals the provision regarding "substantial fault," which 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 and modifies the definition of misconduct to align with common law standards, ensuring that employers cannot impose their own policies on absenteeism and tardiness without adhering to these standards. Additionally, the bill eliminates the requirement for a drug testing program for unemployment insurance claimants and repeals related provisions regarding preemployment drug testing.

Furthermore, the bill amends several sections related to the calculation of benefits and the responsibilities of the Department of Workforce Development (DWD). It introduces a new appropriation for the general administration of unemployment insurance while repealing previous appropriations related to drug testing and substance abuse treatment. The changes aim to streamline the unemployment insurance process and clarify the definitions and criteria for misconduct, thereby impacting how benefits are administered and the responsibilities of both employers and employees in the context of unemployment claims.

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