On April 15, 2020, the Wisconsin State Senate passed a COVID-19 relief bill and Governor Tony Evers immediately signed it into law. The new law makes changes such as:
- UI payments for COVID-19 related layoffs will not result in any charges to the employer’s “experience account”. The benefits will be paid from the UI trust fund. However, if the UI trust fund balance drops below $1.2 billion on June 30th, solvency tax rates may be increased. The current balance of the UI trust fund is $1.9 billion.
- eliminates 1-week waiting period for unemployment benefits until February 2021
- authorizes accepting $2 billion in federal funds from the CARES Act to supplement the Medicaid program
- requires Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to submit a report to the Legislature by June 30, 2020 that outlines how the state should support large state industries who have been affected by COVID-19, including tourism, manufacturing, agriculture, construction, retail, and services
- authorizes Department of Administration Secretary Joel Brennan to transfer state employees from any executive branch agency to another executive branch agency during the public health emergency
To read the law in its entirety, please click the link below:
