License denial, nonrenewal, discontinuation, suspension and revocation based on delinquent unemployment insurance contributions
Wis. Stat. § 108.227
in effect(1) Definitions. In this section:
(a) “Contribution” includes contributions under ss. 108.17 and 108.18, interest for a nontimely payment or a fee assessed on an employer, an assessment under s. 108.19, any payment due for a forfeiture imposed upon an employing unit under s. 108.04 (11) (c), and any other penalty assessed by the department under this chapter against an employing unit.
(b) “Credential” has the meaning given in s. 440.01 (2) (a).
(c) “Credentialing board” means a board, examining board or affiliated credentialing board in the department of safety and professional services that grants a credential.
(d) “Liable for delinquent contributions” means that a person has exhausted all of the person’s remedies under s. 108.10 to challenge the assertion that the person owes the department any contributions and the person is delinquent in the payment of those contributions.
(e) “License” means any of the following:
1. An approval specified in s. 29.024 (2r) or a license specified in s. 169.35.
2. A license issued by the department of children and families under s. 48.66 (1) (a) to a child welfare agency, group home, shelter care facility, or child care center, as required by s. 48.60, 48.625, 48.65, or 938.22 (7).
3. A license, certificate of approval, provisional license, conditional license, certification, certification card, registration, permit, training permit or approval specified in s. 50.35, 50.49 (6) (a) or (10), 51.038, 51.04, 51.42 (7) (b) 11., 51.421 (3) (a), 51.45 (8), 146.40 (3), (3g), or (3m), 254.176, 254.20 (3), 256.15 (5) (a) or (b), (6g) (a), (7), or (8) (a) or (f) or 343.305 (6) (a) or a license for operation of a campground specified in s. 97.67 (1).
5. An occupational license, as defined in s. 101.02 (1) (a) 2.
6. A license or certificate of registration issued by the department of financial institutions, or a division of it, under ss. 138.09, 138.12, 138.14, 202.12 to 202.14, 202.22, 203.03, 217.05, 218.0101 to 218.0163, 218.02, 218.04, 218.05, 224.72, 224.725, 224.93 or under subch. IV of ch. 551.
6m. A certificate or registration issued under s. 168.23 (3).
7. A license described in s. 218.0114 (14) (a) and (g), a license described in s. 218.0114 (14) (b), (c) or (e), a license issued under s. 218.11, 218.12, 218.22, 218.32, 218.41, 343.61 or 343.62, a buyer identification card issued under s. 218.51 or a certificate of registration issued under s. 341.51.
7m. A license issued under s. 562.05 or 563.24.
8. A license, registration or certification specified in s. 299.07 (1) (a).
9. A credential.
10. A license or permit granted by the department of public instruction.
11. A license to practice law.
12. A license issued under s. 628.04, 628.92 (1), 632.69 (2), or 633.14, a registration under s. 628.92 (2), or a temporary license issued under s. 628.09.
13. A license issued by the ethics commission under s. 13.63 (1).
14. A permit under s. 170.12.
15. A certification under s. 73.09.
16. A license issued by the division of hearings and appeals under s. 102.17 (1) (c).
(f) “Licensing department” means the department of administration; the division of hearings and appeals; the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection; the board of commissioners of public lands; the department of children and families; the ethics commission; the department of financial institutions; the department of health services; the department of natural resources; the department of public instruction; the department of revenue; the department of safety and professional services; the office of the commissioner of insurance; or the department of transportation.
(g) “Nondelinquency certificate” means a certificate that the department of workforce development issues to a person and that states that the person is not liable for delinquent contributions.
(1m) General provisions. The department shall promulgate rules specifying procedures to be used before taking action under sub. (3) (b) or s. 103.275 (2) (bt), 103.34 (10) (d), 103.91 (4) (d), 103.92 (8), 104.07 (7), or 105.13 (4) with respect to a person whose license or credential is to be denied, not renewed, discontinued, suspended, or revoked, including rules with respect to all of the following:
(a) Permitting the department to take action only when all of the remedies available to the department under this chapter have been exhausted.
(b) Providing persons with a certified notice of liability for delinquent contributions.
(c) Allowing persons to make full payment of contributions owed or to negotiate with the department for a payment plan to pay the delinquent contributions. The rules shall include provisions to consider the ability of persons to pay and provisions to allow persons sufficient time and payment terms for paying delinquent contributions.
(2) Duties and powers of licensing departments.
(a) Each licensing department and the supreme court, if the supreme court agrees, shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the department of workforce development under sub. (4) (a) that requires the licensing department or supreme court to do all of the following:
1. Request the department of workforce development to certify whether an applicant for a license or license renewal or continuation is liable for delinquent contributions. With respect to an applicant for a license granted by a credentialing board, the department of safety and professional services shall make a request under this subdivision. This subdivision does not apply to the department of transportation with respect to licenses described in sub. (1) (e) 7.
2. Request the department of workforce development to certify whether a license holder is liable for delinquent contributions. With respect to a holder of a license granted by a credentialing board, the department of safety and professional services shall make a request under this subdivision.
(b) Each licensing department and the supreme court, if the supreme court agrees, shall do all of the following:
1.
a. If, after a request is made under par. (a) 1. or 2., the department of workforce development certifies that the license holder or applicant for a license or license renewal or continuation is liable for delinquent contributions, revoke the license or deny the application for the license or license renewal or continuation. The department of transportation may suspend licenses described in sub. (1) (e) 7. in lieu of revoking those licenses. A suspension, revocation, or denial under this subd. 1. a. is not subject to administrative review or, except as provided in sub. (6), judicial review. With respect to a license granted by a credentialing board, the department of safety and professional services shall make a revocation or denial under this subd. 1. a. With respect to a license to practice law, the department of workforce development shall not submit a certification under this subd. 1. a. to the supreme court until after the license holder or applicant has exhausted his or her remedies under subs. (5) (a) and (6) or has failed to make use of such remedies.
b. Mail a notice of suspension, revocation, or denial under subd. 1. a. to the license holder or applicant. The notice shall include a statement of the facts that warrant the suspension, revocation, or denial and a statement that the license holder or applicant may, within 30 days after the date on which the notice of suspension, revocation, or denial is mailed, file a written request with the department of workforce development to have the certification of contribution delinquency on which the suspension, revocation, or denial is based reviewed at a hearing under sub. (5) (a) and that the license holder or applicant may seek judicial review under sub. (6) of an affirmation under sub. (5) (b) 2. that the person is liable for delinquent contributions. With respect to a license granted by a credentialing board, the department of safety and professional services shall mail a notice under this subd. 1. b. With respect to a license to practice law, the department of workforce development shall mail a notice under this subd. 1. b. and the notice shall indicate that the license holder or applicant may request a hearing under sub. (5) (a) and may request judicial review under sub. (6) and that the department of workforce development will submit a certificate of delinquency to suspend, revoke, or deny a license to practice law to the supreme court after the license holder or applicant has exhausted his or her remedies under subs. (5) (a) and (6) or has failed to make use of such remedies. A notice sent to a person who holds a license to practice law or who is an applicant for a license to practice law shall also indicate that the department of workforce development may not submit a certificate of delinquency to the supreme court if the license holder or applicant pays the delinquent contributions in full or enters into an agreement with the department of workforce development to satisfy the delinquency.
2. Except as provided in subd. 2m., if notified by the department of workforce development that the department of workforce development has affirmed a certification of contribution delinquency after a hearing under sub. (5) (a), affirm a suspension, revocation, or denial under subd. 1. a. With respect to a license granted by a credentialing board, the department of safety and professional services shall make an affirmation under this subdivision.
2m. With respect to a license to practice law, if notified by the department of workforce development that the department of workforce development has affirmed a certification of contribution delinquency after any requested review under subs. (5) (a) and (6), decide whether to suspend, revoke, or deny a license to practice law.
3. If a person submits a nondelinquency certificate issued under sub. (5) (b) 1., reinstate the license or grant the application for the license or license renewal or continuation, unless there are other grounds for suspending or revoking the license or for denying the application for the license or license renewal or continuation. If reinstatement is required under this subdivision, a person is not required to submit a new application or other material or to take a new test. No separate fee may be charged for reinstatement of a license under this subdivision. With respect to a license granted by a credentialing board, the department of safety and professional services shall reinstate a license or grant an application under this subdivision.
4. If a person whose license has been suspended or revoked or whose application for a license or license renewal or continuation has been denied under subd. 1. a. submits a nondelinquency certificate issued under sub. (3) (a) 2., reinstate the license or grant the person’s application for the license or license renewal or continuation, unless there are other grounds for not reinstating the license or for denying the application for the license or license renewal or continuation. With respect to a license granted by a credentialing board, the department of safety and professional services shall reinstate a license or grant an application under this subdivision.
(c)
1. Each licensing department and the supreme court may require a license holder or an applicant for a license or license renewal or continuation to provide the following information upon request:
a. If the license holder or applicant is an individual and has a social security number, the license holder’s or applicant’s social security number.
am. If the license holder or applicant is an individual and does not have a social security number, a statement made or subscribed under oath or affirmation that the license holder or applicant does not have a social security number. The form of the statement shall be prescribed by the department of children and families. A license issued in reliance upon a false statement submitted under this subd. 1. am. is invalid.
b. If the license holder or applicant is not an individual, the license holder’s or applicant’s federal employer identification number.
2. A licensing department may not disclose any information received under subd. 1. a. or b. to any person except to the department of workforce development for the purpose of requesting certifications under par. (a) 1. or 2. in accordance with the memorandum of understanding under sub. (4) and administering the unemployment insurance program, to the department of revenue for the purpose of requesting certifications under s. 73.0301 (2) (a) 1. or 2. in accordance with the memorandum of understanding under s. 73.0301 (4) and administering state taxes, and to the department of children and families for the purpose of administering s. 49.22.
(3) Duties and powers of department of workforce development.
(a) The department of workforce development shall do all of the following:
1. Enter into a memorandum of understanding with each licensing department and the supreme court, if the supreme court agrees, under sub. (4) (a).
2. Upon the request of any applicant for issuance, renewal, continuation, or reinstatement of a license whose license has been previously revoked or suspended or whose application for a license or license renewal or continuation has been previously denied under sub. (2) (b) 1. a., issue a nondelinquency certificate to the applicant if the applicant is not liable for delinquent contributions.
3. Upon the request of any person whose license or certificate has been previously revoked or denied under s. 103.275 (2) (bt), 103.34 (10) (d), 103.91 (4) (d), 103.92 (8), 104.07 (7), or 105.13 (4), reinstate the license or certificate if the applicant is not liable for delinquent contributions.
(b) If a request for certification is made under sub. (2) (a) 1. or 2., the department of workforce development may, in accordance with a memorandum of understanding entered into under par. (a) 1., certify to the licensing department or the supreme court that the applicant or license holder is liable for delinquent contributions.
(4) Memorandum of understanding.
(a) Each memorandum of understanding shall include procedures that do all of the following:
1. Establish requirements for making requests under sub. (2) (a) 1. and 2., including specifying the time when a licensing department or the supreme court shall make requests under sub. (2) (a) 1. and 2., and for making certifications under sub. (3) (b).
2. Implement the requirements specified in sub. (2) (b) 3. and 4.
(b) The department of workforce development and the licensing department shall consider all of the following factors in establishing requirements under par. (a) 1.:
1. The need to issue licenses in a timely manner.
2. The convenience of applicants.
3. The impact on collecting delinquent contributions.
4. The effects on program administration.
5. Whether a suspension, revocation, or denial under sub. (2) (b) 1. a. will have an impact on public health, safety, or welfare or the environment.
(5) Hearing.
(a) The department of workforce development shall conduct a hearing requested by a license holder or applicant for a license or license renewal or continuation under sub. (2) (b) 1. b., or as requested under s. 103.275 (2) (bt), 103.34 (10) (d), 103.91 (4) (d), 103.92 (8), 104.07 (7), or 105.13 (4), to review a certification or determination of contribution delinquency that is the basis of a denial, suspension, or revocation of a license or certificate in accordance with this section or an action taken under s. 103.275 (2) (bt), 103.34 (10) (d), 103.91 (4) (d), 103.92 (8), 104.07 (7), or 105.13 (4). A hearing under this paragraph is limited to questions of mistaken identity of the license or certificate holder or applicant and of prior payment of the contributions that the department of workforce development certified or determined the license or certificate holder or applicant owes the department. At a hearing under this paragraph, any statement filed by the department of workforce development, the licensing department, or the supreme court, if the supreme court agrees, may be admitted into evidence and is prima facie evidence of the facts that it contains. Notwithstanding ch. 227, a person entitled to a hearing under this paragraph is not entitled to any other notice, hearing, or review, except as provided in sub. (6).
(b) After a hearing conducted under par. (a) or, in the case of a determination related to a license to practice law, after a hearing under par. (a) or, if the hearing is appealed, after judicial review under sub. (6), the department of workforce development shall do one of the following:
1. Issue a nondelinquency certificate to a license holder or an applicant for a license or license renewal or continuation if the department determines that the license holder or applicant is not liable for delinquent contributions. For a hearing requested in response to an action taken under s. 103.275 (2) (bt), 103.34 (10) (d), 103.91 (4) (d), 103.92 (8), 104.07 (7), or 105.13 (4), the department shall grant a license or certificate or reinstate a license or certificate if the department determines that the applicant for or the holder of the license or certificate is not liable for delinquent contributions, unless there are other grounds for denying the application or revoking the license or certificate.
2. Provide notice that the department of workforce development has affirmed its certification of contribution delinquency to a license holder; to an applicant for a license, a license renewal, or a license continuation; and to the licensing department or the supreme court, if the supreme court agrees. For a hearing requested in response to an action taken under s. 103.275 (2) (bt), 103.34 (10) (d), 103.91 (4) (d), 103.92 (8), 104.07 (7), or 105.13 (4), the department of workforce development shall provide notice to the license or certificate holder or applicant that the department of workforce development has affirmed its determination of contribution delinquency.
(6) Judicial review. A license holder or applicant may seek judicial review under ss. 227.52 to 227.60 of an affirmation under sub. (5) (b) 2. that the person is liable for delinquent contributions, except that the review shall be in the circuit court for Dane County.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/108.227Fetched: 10/7/2026