Governor Evers Releases State COVID-19 Bill

Governor Evers released a 65-page draft piece of legislation and a draft joint resolution on Saturday night aimed at addressing COVID-19. The Governor also released a chart outlining the proposal.  

In a memo to legislative leaders the Legislative Fiscal Bureau provides a Summary of provisions of Governor Evers’ proposed legislation and Joint Resolution indefinitely extending public health emergency

In a letter to Governor Evers last night, Republican legislative leaders have said they will not move forward on this bill and are working on their own proposal. 

Highlights of Governor Evers’ proposed legislation:

Education 

The bill includes many provisions related to education. Specifically, it:

• Requires all schools (public, charter and school choice schools) to continue paying employees at their regular rate when schools are closed for a public health emergency, regardless of whether the current employee is required to report to work while schools are closed.
• Prohibits all schools from laying off staff when schools are closed for a public health emergency. 
• Waives the requirement that DPI publish school report cards (accountability reports) for the 2019-20 school year.
• Gives DPI the authority to waive any state education statute or rule that places requirements on school districts or private schools when schools are closed during a public health emergency. 

WRS Retirees Returning to Work During the Public Health Emergency

• Allows Wisconsin Retirement System retirees to return to work without losing their retirement payment if they are returning to a “critical position” as determined by the Department of Health Services during the public health emergency.

Emergency Preparedness 

• Provides $300 million to the Department of Military Affairs to respond to the public health emergency. 
• Provides $200 million to the Department of Administration to respond to the public health emergency. 

Voting

The bill contains several provisions related to voting during public health emergencies. Specifically, for elections held during a declared public health emergency, it would: 

• Require elections held during public health emergencies to be held by mail. 
• Waive the state’s Photo ID requirement.
• Waive the requirement that mail-in absentee ballots need a witness signature.
• Allow mail-in ballots to be counted as long as they are postmarked by Election Day.
• Allow voters to register electronically until 5 days before the election.

Housing

• Prohibits a landlord from serving an eviction notice to a tenant for failure to pay rent during a public health emergency and for 45 days after the public health emergency.

Employment 

• Suspends the requirement that an employer provide an employee with their personnel record within 7 working days of the request during a public health emergency. 

Unemployment Insurance

• Eliminates the one-week waiting period for Unemployment Insurance.