Senate Bill 539 proposes to repeal existing prohibitions that prevent local governments in Wisconsin—such as cities, counties, towns, and villages—from enacting and administering ordinances that require employers to provide family or medical leave to employees. The bill seeks to amend several sections of the statutes, including the definitions of "employee" and "employer," and it renumbers a specific provision related to employment benefits. Notably, the bill repeals the entirety of section 103.10 (1m), which previously restricted local governments from implementing such leave ordinances.

Additionally, the bill amends sections 103.12 (3) (a) and (b) to clarify that local governments may now enact ordinances regarding employment benefits, overriding previous restrictions. The amendments also include changes to the definitions of "employee" and "employer," expanding the scope of who qualifies under these terms. Overall, this legislation aims to empower local governments to establish their own family and medical leave policies, thereby enhancing employee rights at the local level.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 103.10(1)(b), 103.10, 103.10(1)(c), 103.12(3)(a), 103.12, 103.12(3)(b), 165.68(1)(a)3, 165.68