An Act to repeal 40.04 (8); to amend 40.02 (2), 40.02 (25) (a) 4., 40.05 (1) (a) 5. and 40.05 (3) of the statutes; Relating to: correcting terminology for making additional contributions to the Wisconsin Retirement System; eliminating a social security account maintained in the public employee trust fund and removing a provision regarding liability for state employer social security remittances; and clarifying who may participate in an income continuation insurance plan provided by the Group Insurance Board (suggested as remedial legislation by the Department of Employee Trust Funds).
Summary
AB929 is a remedial bill affecting the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) and related state employee benefit statutes. It makes several technical and clarifying changes: it replaces the term “participant” with “participating employee” in provisions governing additional contributions to retirement accounts, clarifies that certain employees eligible for state group health insurance may also participate in an income continuation insurance plan, and repeals an obsolete statutory requirement for a social security account in the public employee trust fund.
The bill also updates a provision concerning Social Security/FICA remittances by removing language that made the state liable for delinquent employer remittances under a state-federal agreement, reflecting that the provision is no longer needed under federal law. According to the prefatory note, the Law Revision Committee viewed the measure as remedial legislation requested by the Department of Employee Trust Funds and concluded that it makes minor substantive changes that are desirable as a matter of public policy.
Impact
AB929 amends Wisconsin Statutes chapter 40, which governs the Wisconsin Retirement System and state employee insurance programs. Its practical effect is to modernize terminology, remove obsolete references tied to federal Social Security administration, and clarify eligibility for income continuation insurance under the Group Insurance Board. The bill affects participating employees, employers under the WRS, the Department of Employee Trust Funds, and the administration of state employee benefit plans, but it does not appear to create a major policy shift or broad new benefit entitlement.
Sentiment
The available context suggests generally favorable and noncontroversial sentiment. The bill was introduced as remedial legislation by the Law Revision Committee at the request of the Department of Employee Trust Funds, and the prefatory note states that the committee determined the changes were minor but desirable as a matter of public policy. No committee transcripts or recorded votes are provided, and the text itself is framed as technical cleanup rather than a contested policy proposal.
Contention
There is little evidence of substantive opposition in the available materials. The only potentially notable issues are the removal of obsolete Social Security-related provisions and the clarification that certain employees may participate in income continuation insurance, but these are presented as technical corrections rather than disputed policy choices. Any contention would likely be limited to administrative or drafting details, not to the underlying direction of the bill.
Crossfiled
An Act to repeal 40.04 (8); to amend 40.02 (2), 40.02 (25) (a) 4., 40.05 (1) (a) 5. and 40.05 (3) of the statutes; Relating to: correcting terminology for making additional contributions to the Wisconsin Retirement System; eliminating a social security account maintained in the public employee trust fund and removing a provision regarding liability for state employer social security remittances; and clarifying who may participate in an income continuation insurance plan provided by the Group Insurance Board (suggested as remedial legislation by the Department of Employee Trust Funds).
Correcting terminology for making additional contributions to the Wisconsin Retirement System; eliminating a social security account maintained in the public employee trust fund and removing a provision regarding liability for state employer social security remittances; and clarifying who may participate in an income continuation insurance plan provided by the Group Insurance Board (suggested as remedial legislation by the Department of Employee Trust Funds).
Prohibiting the employment of unauthorized employees; requiring hotel and lodging industry employers to verify the Social Security numbers of employees; imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry; and imposing penalties.
Providing additional plan choice to members of the teachers' retirement system plans 2 and 3, the school employees' retirement system plans 2 and 3, and the public employees' retirement systems plans 2 and 3.
Prohibiting the employment of unauthorized employees; requiring meat packing and food preparation industry employers to verify the Social Security numbers of employees; imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry; and imposing penalties.
To Amend The Law Under Title 24, Chapter 4, Subchapter 2 Of The Arkansas Code Regarding Delinquent Employer And Employee Contributions To The Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System By A Local Government Participating Employer.