Wisconsin Assembly Bill 651 was introduced, which proposes several different changes to existing workers’ comp law.

Currently, there is a statute of limitations for bringing claims to worker’s comp. For occupational disease, the limit is 12 years, and in the case of traumatic injury, the limit is six years. However, this statute of limitations does not apply to occupational disease or traumatic injuries that cause the need for an artificial spinal disc or a total or partial knee or hip replacement.

The bill would add traumatic injuries causing the need for a shoulder replacement or a reverse shoulder replacement to the list of injuries for which there is no statute of limitations.

Additionally, the state’s PTSD presumption, which currently applies to police officers and full-time firefighters, would be extended to emergency medical responders, EMS practitioners, and volunteer firefighters.

Penalties for employer failure to maintain workers’ comp coverage would increase from $1,000 for a first violation to $4,000. Fraud reporting requirements would be updated to include worker misclassification.

The bill also increases the maximum weekly compensation rate for permanent partial disability from $446 to $454 for injuries occurring before January 1, 2027, and to $462 for injuries occurring on or after that date. Additionally, the bill would extend the availability of supplemental benefits to injured employees with injuries before January 1, 2020, including certain employees who had preexisting injuries and receive compensation for permanent and total disability under what is commonly referred to as the second injury fund.