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Bills from the 2009–10 session

Senate Bill 20

Authorizing the circuit court to order a person who engages in discrimination in employment to pay compensatory and punitive damages and a surcharge and making an appropriation

Topics: Circuit court, Damage (personal injury), Discrimination in employment, Genetics and genetic testing, Labor and Industry Review Commission, Lie detector, Workforce Development, Department of

Became law

The governor signed it on Jun 8, 2009. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Jan 28, 2009

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Apr 28, 2009

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed 51 to 47

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2009 Wisconsin Act 20

Latest entry in the official record, Jun 12, 2009: “Published 6-22-2009.”

Read the bill

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What it does

Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Under the current fair employment law, if the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) finds that a person has refused to hire an individual, terminated an individual's employment, or discriminated against an individual in promotion, in compensation, or in terms, conditions, or privileges of employment on the basis of the individual's age, race, creed, color, disability, marital status, sex, national origin, ancestry, arrest or conviction record, membership in the national guard or military reserves, or use or nonuse of a lawful product during nonwork hours, DWD may order the person to take such action as will effectuate the purpose of the fair employment law. That action may include reinstating the employee, providing back pay for not more than two years before the filing of the complaint, and paying costs and attorney fees. Current law, however, does not authorize DWD to order the payment of compensatory or punitive damages or any other surcharges or penalties in a case of employment discrimination.

This bill permits a person who has been discriminated against or DWD to bring an action in circuit court to recover damages caused by the act of discrimination.

Read the full summary

Under the bill, if the circuit court finds that a defendant has committed an act of discrimination, the circuit court must order the defendant to pay to the person discriminated against compensatory and punitive damages in an amount that the circuit court finds appropriate and to pay to the circuit court a surcharge equal to 10 percent of the amount of compensatory and punitive damages ordered. Surcharges collected under the bill must be transmitted to the secretary of administration, deposited into the general fund, and credited to an appropriation account of DWD, which must use those surcharges for the administration of the fair employment law.

Who's behind it

8 senators are its ⁠. All 8 are Democrats.

40 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 48 names

Authors (8)

Signed on in support (40)

What it would cost

State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

Versions and amendments

Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.

How lawmakers voted

There were 9 votes on this bill.

Senate Committee on Labor vote on an amendment

Passed, 3 to 2 · Apr 14, 2009

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote

Passed, 5 to 0 · Apr 23, 2009

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Referred to joint committee on Finance by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 18 to 15 · Apr 28, 2009

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Senate amendment 3 to Senate substitute amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 18, Noes 15”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 18 to 15 · Apr 28, 2009

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Senate amendment 4 to Senate substitute amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 18, Noes 15”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 17 to 16 · Apr 28, 2009

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Senate amendment 9 to Senate substitute amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 17, Noes 16”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 18 to 15 · Apr 28, 2009

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Read a third time and passed, Ayes 18, Noes 15”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote to pass it

Passed, 51 to 47 · Apr 29, 2009

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 51, Noes 47”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 49 to 48 · Apr 29, 2009

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Assembly amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 49, Noes 48”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 50 to 47 · Apr 29, 2009

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Assembly amendment 2 laid on table, Ayes 50, Noes 47”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Jun 12, 2009

    The new law was published.

  2. Jun 8, 2009

    The governor signed it. It became 2009 Wisconsin Act 20.

  3. Jun 5, 2009

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Apr 29, 2009

    The Assembly passed it too, 51 to 47.

  5. Apr 28, 2009

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  6. Apr 28, 2009

    The Assembly received it.

  7. Apr 28, 2009

    The Senate passed it, 18 to 15.

  8. Apr 28, 2009

    The Senate adopted it.

  9. Apr 28, 2009

    “Placed at the foot of the calendar of 4-28-2009” (the official wording)

  10. Apr 23, 2009

    “Withdrawn from joint committee on Finance and made Available for Scheduling by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  11. Apr 23, 2009

    Sent to the Joint Committee on Finance.

  12. Apr 14, 2009

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 3 to 2.

  13. Apr 14, 2009

    “Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs, Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)

  14. Mar 20, 2009

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  15. Mar 12, 2009

    The committee held a public hearing.

  16. Feb 11, 2009

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  17. Feb 10, 2009

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  18. Feb 5, 2009

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs,.

  19. Jan 28, 2009

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, and Housing.

  20. Jan 28, 2009

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Jan 28, 2009 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Hansen, Robson, Lassa, Lehman, Miller, Vinehout, Taylor and Erpenbach;Cosponsored by Representatives Sinicki, Jorgensen, Sheridan, Pocan, Nelson, Seidel, Colon, Parisi, Grigsby, Sherman, Shilling, Mason, Van Akkeren, Toles, Benedict, Soletski, Molepske Jr., Roys, Fields, Pasch, A. Williams, Young, Dexter, Richards, Hilgenberg, Pope-Roberts, Black, Garthwaite, Hixson, Berceau, Hintz, Smith, Turner, Vruwink, Zepnick, Cullen, Clark, Steinbrink, Schneider and Hubler

  2. Jan 28, 2009 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, and Housing

  3. Feb 5, 2009 · Senate

    Withdrawn from committee on Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, and Housing and rereferred to committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs, pursuant to Senate Rule 46 (2)(c)

  4. Feb 10, 2009 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  5. Feb 11, 2009 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  6. Mar 12, 2009 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  7. Mar 20, 2009 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  8. Apr 8, 2009 · Senate

    Senate substitute amendment 1 offered by Senator Hansen

  9. Apr 14, 2009 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  10. Apr 14, 2009 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  11. Apr 14, 2009 · Senate

    Report passage as amended recommended by committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  12. Apr 14, 2009 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  13. Apr 23, 2009 · Senate

    Referred to joint committee on Finance by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 5, Noes 0

  14. Apr 23, 2009 · Senate

    Withdrawn from joint committee on Finance and made Available for Scheduling by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 5, Noes 0

  15. Apr 23, 2009 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 4-28-2009 by committee on Senate Organization

  16. Apr 28, 2009 · Senate

    Read a second time

  17. Apr 28, 2009 · Senate

    Placed at the foot of the calendar of 4-28-2009

  18. Apr 28, 2009 · Senate

    Senate amendment 1 to Senate substitute amendment 1 offered by Senator Grothman

  19. Apr 28, 2009 · Senate

    Senate amendment 1 to Senate substitute amendment 1 withdrawn and returned to author

  20. Apr 28, 2009 · Senate

    Senate amendment 2 to Senate substitute amendment 1 offered by Senator Grothman

  21. Apr 28, 2009 · Senate

    Senate amendment 2 to Senate substitute amendment 1 withdrawn and returned to author

  22. Apr 28, 2009 · Senate

    Senate amendment 3 to Senate substitute amendment 1 offered by Senator Grothman

  23. Apr 28, 2009 · Senate

    Senate amendment 4 to Senate substitute amendment 1 offered by Senator Grothman

  24. Apr 28, 2009 · Senate

    Senate amendment 5 to Senate substitute amendment 1 offered by Senator Grothman

  25. Apr 28, 2009 · Senate

    Senate amendment 5 to Senate substitute amendment 1 withdrawn and returned to author

  26. Apr 28, 2009 · Senate

    Senate amendment 3 to Senate substitute amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 18, Noes 15

  27. Apr 28, 2009 · Senate

    Senate amendment 4 to Senate substitute amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 18, Noes 15

  28. Apr 28, 2009 · Senate

    Senate amendment 6 to Senate substitute amendment 1 offered by Senator Hansen

  29. Apr 28, 2009 · Senate

    Senate amendment 6 to Senate substitute amendment 1 adopted

  30. Apr 28, 2009 · Senate

    Senate amendment 7 to Senate substitute amendment 1 offered by Senator Hansen

  31. Apr 28, 2009 · Senate

    Senate amendment 7 to Senate substitute amendment 1 adopted

  32. Apr 28, 2009 · Senate

    Senate amendment 8 to Senate substitute amendment 1 offered by Senator Hansen

  33. Apr 28, 2009 · Senate

    Senate amendment 8 to Senate substitute amendment 1 adopted

  34. Apr 28, 2009 · Senate

    Senate amendment 9 to Senate substitute amendment 1 offered by Senator Grothman

  35. Apr 28, 2009 · Senate

    Senate amendment 9 to Senate substitute amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 17, Noes 16

  36. Apr 28, 2009 · Senate

    Senate substitute amendment 1 adopted

  37. Apr 28, 2009 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  38. Apr 28, 2009 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  39. Apr 28, 2009 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 18, Noes 15

  40. Apr 28, 2009 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  41. Apr 28, 2009 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  42. Apr 28, 2009 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Rules

  43. Apr 28, 2009 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 1 offered by Representative Honadel

  44. Apr 28, 2009 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 2 offered by Representative Honadel

  45. Apr 28, 2009 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 7:04 A.M. on 4-29-2009 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 8

  46. Apr 29, 2009 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  47. Apr 29, 2009 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 49, Noes 48

  48. Apr 29, 2009 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 2 laid on table, Ayes 50, Noes 47

  49. Apr 29, 2009 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  50. Apr 29, 2009 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  51. Apr 29, 2009 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 51, Noes 47

  52. Apr 29, 2009 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  53. Apr 29, 2009 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  54. Apr 29, 2009 · Senate

    LRB correction (Assembly amendment 2)

  55. May 1, 2009 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled on 5-1-2009

  56. Jun 5, 2009 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 6-5-2009

  57. Jun 8, 2009 · Senate

    Report approved by the Governor on 6-8-2009. 2009 Wisconsin Act 20

  58. Jun 12, 2009 · Senate

    Published 6-22-2009.

Terms on this page

Wisconsin Act

The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.

Official term: Act. More in the glossary

Legislative Reference Bureau

The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.

Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary

Author

A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary

Signed on in support

Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.

Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary

Cost estimate

A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.

Official term: Fiscal estimate. More in the glossary

Roll call

A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.

Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary

From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source

Wisconsin Act

The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.

Official term: Act

More in the glossary

Legislative Reference Bureau

The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.

Official term: LRB analysis

More in the glossary

Author

A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Official term: Author, coauthor

More in the glossary

Signed on in support

Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.

Official term: Cosponsor

More in the glossary

Cost estimate

A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.

Official term: Fiscal estimate

More in the glossary

Roll call

A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.

Official term: Roll call vote

More in the glossary