Government Law Short Reports
Parts of Collective Bargaining Legislation Struck Down
April 2nd, 2012
On Friday, March 30, 2012, the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin struck down two key provisions of Wisconsin’s new public sector collective bargaining law. Importantly, however, the Court left in place all of the bargaining restrictions, thus severely limiting what a Union can ask to bargain over.
Changes May Be Necessary to Local Zoning Rules Regarding Wireless Facilities
March 30th, 2012
As part of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011, recently passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama, municipalities are required to approve certain applications for modification of “an existing wireless tower or base station.”
WERC Guidance on Budget Bill’s Health Insurance “Plan Design” Collective Bargaining Restrictions
February 27th, 2012
In a closely watched case, a divided Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission (WERC) held that a police association’s attempt to bargain over a health insurance plan’s deductibles was prohibited under language included in the new Budget Bill.
New DNR Permits for Application of Pesticides To or Near Waterways
December 6th, 2011
On October 31, 2011 the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issued general permits covering the application of pesticides to or near waters of the State under the Clean Water Act.
Understanding the Impact of the WRS Changes
November 25th, 2011
While it’s been only a couple of months since the Budget Repair Bill and the State Budget became law, there is already an important arbitration decision on police contributions to the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) and some changes to the WRS employee categories. This short report addresses these issues and ends with a short word on the upcoming union representation elections.
The Budget Repair Bill
March 10th, 2011
Following yesterday’s dramatic developments in the State Senate, the Legislature appears poised to pass Special Session SB 11/AB 11, commonly referred to as the Budget Repair Bill. As you are all undoubtedly aware, the legislation dramatically impacts public sector labor relations in Wisconsin.
Notices Required by the Health Care Reform Act
November 18th, 2010
Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, group health plans or issuers of insurance coverage must provide certain notices to health plan participants, and in some cases, to all employees
Subdivision Platting Requirements Changed
November 15th, 2010
The Wisconsin Legislature made a number of changes to the subdivision platting requirements contained in Chapter 236 of the Wisconsin Statutes, including limiting a municipality’s authority to deviate from time limits and other requirements contained in the statutes.
Updating Handbooks to Include Break Time for Nursing Mothers
July 22nd, 2010
Most employers are aware that federal law now requires them to provide a reasonable amount of unpaid break time to a nursing mother to express milk. Many, however, have yet to amend their handbooks to include a policy reflecting the federal law.
Low Speed Vehicles on Highways
May 18th, 2010
A bill signed into law on March 12, 2010 amends the law governing operation of Low-Speed Vehicles on certain highways, and gives municipalities some authority over this issue.
Changes to TID Administrative Procedures
May 17th, 2010
A new law signed March 12, 2010 changes several administrative procedures that apply to tax incremental districts, including how the 12 percent test is calculated.
Help for Distressed Tax Incremental Districts
May 14th, 2010
Legislation was signed into law on May 12, 2010 that allows a municipality to designate a tax incremental district as a distressed or severely distressed district by resolution, thereby extending its receipt of positive increment over a longer lifetime.
2009 Wisconsin Act 173 Creates Consistency and Clarity
March 24th, 2010
The recently enacted 2009 Wisconsin Act 173 modifies numerous statutes related to compensation of elected officials, the bidding procedure for public works contracts and restrictions on contracts for police services.
COBRA Subsidy Eligibility Extended
March 15th, 2010
On March 2, 2010, President Obama signed the Temporary Extension Act of 2010 that extends the COBRA subsidy eligibility period to include individuals who are involuntarily terminated on or before March 31, 2010.
COBRA Subsidy Extended
January 11th, 2010
On December 19, 2009, President Obama signed legislation extending the COBRA subsidy rights created earlier this year by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Municipalities May Prolong the Use of Positive Environmental Remediation Tax Increment
November 25th, 2009
Under a new law, a municipality may donate positive tax increment from an existing environmental remediation tax incremental district (ERTID) to another ERTID created by the same municipality, even after all eligible costs from the donor ERTID have been recovered.
FMLA Coverage Expanded for Family Members of Military Service Personnel
November 16th, 2009
Employers may need to revise their Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) policies to reflect an expansion in coverage to family members of military service personnel.
Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act Becomes Effective November 21, 2009
November 10th, 2009
The federal Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (GINA) was enacted in 2008 to prevent discrimination in the workplace on the basis of genetic information. However, the effective date of the law was delayed. The workplace discrimination provisions will be effective November 21, 2009.
How Municipalities May Apply For Federal Economic Stimulus Funding
March 12th, 2009
portion of the funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will go towards job creation and infrastructure projects that are “shovel-ready,” in other words, projects that are already in progress and ready to start construction in the next few months.
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Imposes New COBRA Burdens on Employers
March 10th, 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, signed by President Obama on February 17, 2009, imposes new obligations related to COBRA or Wisconsin’s continuation of coverage law on employers.
