>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.

>> I DO NOT SEE THIS AS A BAIL-OUT FOR MILWAUKEE.

I SEE THIS AS GIVING THEM THE TOOLS TO SOLVE THEIR OWN ISSUES.

>> MILWAUKEE TAKES CENTER STAGE IN THE DEBATE OVER LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING.

NEW FEDERAL PROTECTIONS FOR PREGNANT WORKERS ARE SET TO TAKE EFFECT IN JUNE.

AND 'TIS THE SEASON FOR TICKS.

I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," WHAT PEOPLE OF MILWAUKEE THINK ABOUT PLANS IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR THE STATE'S LARGEST CITY.

WE LOOK AT DETAILS IN THE PREGNANT WOMEN FAIRNESS ACT AND AS YOU HEAD OUTDOORS, WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TICKS THIS SEASON.

IT'S HERE AND NOW FOR MAY 26.

FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNAL AND I AM FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.

>> AT THE STATE CAPITOL THIS WEEK, LAWMAKERS FROM THE SENATE CONSIDERED THEIR VERSION OF THE SHARED REVENUE BILL TO INCREASE FUNDING TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AS THE VERY SURVIVAL OF THE BILL HANGS IN THE BALANCE.

THE TIPPING POINT, WHETHER OR NOT TO BRING A REFERENDUM QUESTION BEFORE MILWAUKEE VOTERS TO INCREASE THE SALES TAX BY 2% FOR THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE AND BY.375% FOR THE COUNTY TO PAY FOR OUTSTANDING PENSION OBLIGATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN GROWING FOR YEARS.

LAST WEEK, ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS SAID THEIR VERSION OF THE BILL REQUIRES THE REFERENDUM AND THEY ARE DONE NEGOTIATING.

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER DEVIN LeMAHIEU TOOK ISSUE WITH THAT, CONCERNED THAT THE REFERENDUM COULD FAIL.

SPEAKING BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE THIS WEEK WAS MILWAUKEE MAYOR KAVA A LOT OF CR JOHNSON.

HE JOINS US.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO FROM YOUR UNDERSTANDING, WHERE DOES THIS SHARED REVENUE BILL STAND AS OF THIS MOMENT?

IS THERE ROOM FOR NEGOTIATION?

>> FREDERICA, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THERE IS ROOM FOR NEGOTIATION.

LOOK.

I'VE NOT HAD THE ABILITY, THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE IN A BICAMERAL LEGISLATIVE BODY SUCH AS WE HAVE IN OUR STATE LEGISLATURE, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING, THOUGH, IS THAT ONE HOUSE CREATES A BILL, AND IF THERE'S ANY DIFFERENCE WITH THE OTHER HOUSE, THEY COME TOGETHER, THEY CONFERENCE THE BILL.

THAT'S NEGOTIATION.

AND SO I WOULD SUSPECT THAT THERE STILL WOULD BE ROOM FOR BOTH THE ASSEMBLY AS WELL AS THE SENATE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AND PUT FORWARD A BILL THAT CAN PASS BOTH HOUSES THAT CAN GET THE SUPPORT THAT IT NEEDS IN THE LEGISLATURE THAT CAN ALSO BE SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.

>> WHAT ARE YOU SPECIFICALLY LOBBYING FOR?

>> LOOK.

IN THE BILL, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN LOBBYING FOR.

YOU MENTIONED THE ISSUE ABOUT WHETHER IT'S A REFERENDUM OR WHETHER IT'S ENABLING LEGISLATIVE ALLOWING FOR BOTH MILWAUKEE COUNTY COUNCIL AS WELL AS MILWAUKEE COUNTY BOARD TO PASS LEGISLATION GOING TO BE SIGNED BY THE EXECUTIVES IN THOSE JURISDICTIONS, MYSELF BEING ONE OF THEM.

LOOK.

I'D LIKE FURTHER TO BE CONSISTENCY HERE.

WHEN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN ALLOWS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO IMPLEMENT OR INCREASE A TAX, WHETHER IT'S A COUNTY SALES TAX, .5% SALES TAX, THAT'S 68 OF OUR 72 COUNTIES HAVE IMPLEMENTED, THOSE HAPPEN BY A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF THE LEGISLATIVE BODY.

THEY ARE NOT SENT TO REFERENDUM.

WHEN STATE OF WISCONSIN ALLOWS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ENACT A PLEA MERE RESORT AREA TAX, PREMIER, THOSE ARE IMPOSED VIA A BOAT OF THE LEGISLATIVE BODY.

THEY ARE NOT SENT OUT TO THE MASSES VIA REFERENDUM.

SO I'M LOOKING FOR CONSISTENCY HERE FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE IN ALLOWING US TO IMPLEMENT 2% SALES TAX IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE ALLOWING THE COUNCIL TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON THAT AND THEN ME, AS THE EXECUTIVE OF THIS GINGERBREAD, TO BE ABLE TO SIGN THAT INTO LAW AND IMPLEMENT IT.

THERE ARE SOME OTHER MILWAUKEE-SPECIFIC ITEMS IN THE BILL AND MY REQUEST HAS BEEN ON THOSE THINGS TO ALLOW LOCAL OFFICIALS TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS THAT PURELY AFFECT US AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT TAKING THAT EXTRA 2% SALES TAX TO VOTERS?

DO YOU THINK IT WOULDN'T PASS?

I HAVE GREAT CONCERNS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT A REFERENDUM WOULD BE ABLE TO PASS IN MILWAUKEE.

A NUMBER OF CONCERNS ABOUT IT.

THE QUESTION, I THINK, POSED WOULD BE TOO LARGE, TOO OVERLY CONFUSING, TOO OVERLY CUMBERSOME FOR US TO BE ABLE TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE DIRE NEED THAT'S AVAILABLE HERE, AND THEN THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER REASONS WHY.

I'VE GOT SEVERE CONCERNS.

IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE, IN YEARS PAST, WHAT WE HAD DONE BEFORE WE IMPLEMENTED A WHEEL TAX, THAT'S 20 BUCKS A YEAR THAT PEOPLE PAY WHEN THEY REGISTER THEIR VEHICLE, WE ESSENTIALLY HAD A REFERENDUM WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS WOULD GO TO A PARTICULAR STREET IN THE CITY TO RECONSTRUCT THAT STREET.

WE WOULD SENDS OUT A POSTCARD TO THE RESIDENTS ON THAT BLOCK AND SAY, HEY, WE'RE COMING TO RECONSTRUCT THE STREET.

IT'S GOING TO COST YOU ROUGHLY $3,000.

THAT WAS A REFERENDUM AND FOLKS WOULD VOTE THOSE DOWN CONSISTENTLY BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T WANT TO PAY THE ADDITIONAL DOLLAR.

WHAT HAPPENED, THOUGH, WAS THEN THAT WE WOULD HAVE A STREET AND SEVERAL STREETS THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT WOULD BE REDUCED TO GRAVEL.

SO THERE ARE THOSE SORT OF CONCERNS ABOUT A REFERENDUM.

WE NEED THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO THESE THINGS, TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE CITY SERVICES, JUST LIKE WE DID BEFORE WITH FIXING THE STREET.

THE OTHER THING THAT I HAVE A GRAVE CONCERN WITH IS THAT IN MILWAUKEE, TALKING ABOUT ISSUES AROUND PENSIONS, I THINK IT'S TABOO.

FOLKS RECALL ABOUT TWO DECADES AGO OR SO SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT HAPPENED AROUND PENSIONS IN MILWAUKEE, AND I DON'T WANT THOSE BAD FEELINGS FROM THE PAST TO BE INTERMINGLED WITH WHAT WE NEED TO ACCOMPLISH HERE RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF GETTING MORE REVENUES TO US AT THE LOCAL LEVEL SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN SERVICES HERE IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE, INCLUDING MAKING SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN AND INCREASE POLICE SERVICE, THAT WE MAINTAIN AND INCREASE FIRE SERVICE, AND ALSO THAT WE MAINTAIN OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO CITIZENS ALL ACROSS THE CITY.

>> WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE ABOUT HOW DIRE THINGS ARE FISCALLY IN MILWAUKEE RIGHT NOW IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY KIND OF EVEN OVERALL BOOST IN SHARED REVENUE FROM THE STATE?

>> WELL, FREDERICA, WHAT HAPPENS IN MILWAUKEE HAS AN OUTSIDE IMPACT ON THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.

IT REALLY, REALLY DOES.

YOU THINK ABOUT THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE HERE.

THEY ARE GOOD, NOT JUST FOR MY CONSTITUENTS, THE RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE; THEY'RE GOOD FOR OUR REGIONAL ECONOMY AND WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO DRIVE INTO THE CITY EACH AND EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR WORK AND FOR DINING AND THE LIKE, AND FROM THE WAUKESHA, WASHINGTON COUNTY SUBURBS.

WE, IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE AND MILWAUKEE GENERALLY, WE'RE THE LARGEST TOURISM DESTINY IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, ABOUT A QUARTER OF ALL TOURISTS WHO INTERFACE WITH OUR STATE AND THEN THEREFORE PAY SALES TAX THAT GO TO MADISON AND THEN ARE DIVERTED TO OTHER COMMUNITIES AROUND THE STATE.

THEY COME TO MILWAUKEE.

RIGHT?

AND EXPERIENCE THE HOSPITALITY, THE TOURISM THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THIS CITY.

AND THEN OF COURSE SOME OF THE MOST ICONIC BUSINESSES IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN ARE LOCATED RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE.

NOW, IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE ALL OF THOSE CITY SERVICES THAT ALL OF THOSE CONSTITUENCIES DEPEND ON, THAT WOULD PUT NE US IN A DIRE SITUAN WHERE THOSE BUSINESSES DON'T COME, WHERE THOSE BUSINESSES DECIDE TO LEAVE, AND IF THOSE THINGS WERE TO HAPPEN, THE RIPPLE EFFECT DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE.

IT HAPPENS IN THE REGION AND IT HAPPENS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN AS WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE LEAVE IT THERE.

MAYOR CAVALIER JOHNSON, THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> OKAY.

FREDERICA, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> OTHERS IN MILWAUKEE ARE AN UNEQUIVOCAL HARD "NO" ON THIS PROPOSAL.

OUR NEXT GUEST SAYS THIS DEAL IN THE LEGISLATURE FAILS MILWAUKEE BY OVERINVESTING IN POLICE AND TAXING THE POOREST RESIDENTS.

DEVIN ANDERSON IS CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ROUNDTABLE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO YOUR ORGANIZATION IS HIGHLY CRITICAL OF THIS SHARED REVENUE PLAN AS IT AFFECTS MILWAUKEE.

IN YOUR MIND, WHAT IS THE WORST OF IT?

>> YEAH.

ALL OF IT IS PRETTY BAD, BUT I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT IT IN ITS TOTALITY, THE PROVISIONS THAT IT PLACES ON MILWAUKEE IN PARTICULAR BRINGING COPS BACK INTO SCHOOL, FRIENDS AT LEADERS IGNITING STRONG ORGANIZING TO GET COPS OUT OF SCHOOL IF YOU LOOK AT JUST THE CONTINUED INVESTMENT THAT MILWAUKEE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE INTO POLICING, PART OF THE REASON MILWAUKEE'S IN THE PROBLEM, THE BUDGET PROBLEM THAT IT HAS IS BECAUSE OF ITS OVERINVESTMENT IN POLICING AND SO THIS BILL DOUBLES DOWN ON THAT INVESTMENT AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN TO THE 2% SALES TAX.

THAT'S A REGRESSIVE TAX, AND A REGRESSIVE TAX IMPACTS THE POOREST RESIDENTS, AND IT'S SOMETHING WHERE PEOPLE, RESIDENTS OF MILWAUKEE ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND ADDING A 2% SALES TAX WHEN THEY'RE REALLY GETTING NO INCREASE IN SERVICES IS A BAD DEAL.

>> SO DO YOU THINK CITY RESIDENTS WOULD CONSIDER VOTING TO APPROVE A 2% SALES TAX THAT GOES TO PAY FOR POLICE PENSIONS?

NO.

I THINK THE ANSWER IS NO AND I THINK THAT'S WHY WE'VE SEEN THE PIVOT FROM THE LEADERSHIP AT THE CITY AND COUNTY ASKING FOR THIS TO BE APPROVED VIA THE RESPECTED LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES RATHER THAN GOING TO REFERENDUM.

I THINK PEOPLE IN MILWAUKEE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING AND DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY OF THEIR SERVICES CUT, BUT WHAT THEY KNOW IS THEY DON'T WANT TO BE FORCED TO PAY ADDITIONAL REVENUE AND NOT SEE ANY EXPANSION IN SERVICES.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE BILL AS INTRODUCED, INCLUDING THAT REFERENDUM, TAKING THE 2% SALES TAX TO VOTERS, WHEREAS THAT IS NOT REQUIRED ELSEWHERE?

>> YEAH.

I THINK OUR POSITION IS STILL WE'RE GOING TO OPPOSE A 2% SALES TAX.

ONE THING WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO LIFT UP IS THAT WISCONSIN HAS A $7 BILLION SURPLUS.

SO INSTEAD OF ASKING VOTERS IN MILWAUKEE TO DIG DEEPER INTO THEIR POCKETS TO PAY TO MAINTAIN SERVICES, THE STATE SHOULD WRITE THE CHECK.

OVER THE LAST YEAR, AND I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT, EVERYBODY ALWAYS SAYS MILWAUKEE IS THE ECONOMIC ENGINE OF THE STATE, BUT MILWAUKEE DOESN'T RECEIVE ITS FAIR SHARE OF SHARED REVENUE.

OUR FOGS AND WHAT WE'VE FIGURE OUT FOR OVER THE LAST YEARS HAS ALWAYS BEEN MORE INVESTMENT INTO OUR COMMUNITIES.

SINCE WE LAUNCHED OUR CAMPAIGN IN 2019, THAT'S BEEN CENTRAL TO OUR DEMANDS, THAT OUR COMMUNITIES NEED MORE.

THEY NEED MORE ACCESS TO PUBLIC HEALTH, THEY NEED LONGER HOURS AT THE LIBRARIES, THEY NEED THEIR ROADS TO BE REPAIRED.

BUT OUR VISION OF HOW WE GET THERE IS NOT TO INCREASE TAXES ON THE POOREST PEOPLE OF MILWAUKEE.

IT'S NOT TO SIGN DEALS THAT CONTINUE TO ADD TO MORE POLICE.

AND INSTEAD, IT'S DEMANDING THAT THE STATE GIVE ITS FAIR SHARE BACK TO THE RESIDENTS OF MILWAUKEE WHO PROVIDE SO MUCH TO THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.

>> WHAT CONCERNS DO YOU AND OTHERS HAVE THAT IN THE KIND OF WRANGLING ABOUT THE PROCESS AND THE SPECIFICS OF THIS BILL, THAT THE WHOLE THING COULD GO DOWN AND THEN MILWAUKEE AND OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS DON'T GET THIS SORELY NEEDED BOOST?

>> YEAH.

I THINK OUR CONCERNS ALWAYS LIE WITHIN OUR RESIDENTS.

FOR TOO LONG, THE RESIDENTS THAT WE'VE TALKED TO HAVE NOTED THAT THEY ALREADY DON'T SEE THE IMPACTS OF CITY GOVERNMENT.

AND SO OUR CONCERNS IS LIKE LIFTING UP THEIR VOICE AND NAMING RIGHT NOW THAT WE CAN'T SIGN THIS DEAL JUST BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY DEAL ON THE TABLE; WE HAVE TO ASK FOR MORE.

WE HAVE TO DEMAND MORE.

OUR COMMUNITIES DESERVE SO MUCH MORE FROM OUR GOVERNMENT AND WE HAVE TO BE DEMANDING THAT HAVE AND NOT ACCEPTING THE SCRAPS LEFT ON THE TABLE FOR US.

>> ARE YOUR SPROISES BEING HEARD VOICES BEING HEARD IN ALL OF THIS?

>> NO.

NO, THEY AREN'T.

WE'VE MADE IT LOUD AND CLEAR THE LAST YEARS THROUGHOUT THE CITY BUDGET PROCESS THAT ACTUALLY WHAT MILWAUKEE RESIDENTS WANT IS THEY WANT TO SEE MORE INVESTMENTS INTO PROGRAMS LIKE PUBLIC HEALTH, THEY WANT TO SEE THEIR LIBRARIES EXPANDED, THEY WANT TO SEE LESS MONEY SPENT ON POLICE.

BUT INSTEAD WE CONTINUE TO SEE STATUS QUO BUDGETS, WE CONTINUE TO SEE ELECTION OFFICIALS MAKING EXCUSES AROUND WHY FOLKS -- ALWAYS TALK ABOUT HOW MILWAUKEE IS GOING TOWARDS THIS FINANCIAL CLIFF, BUT WE'VE NEVER SEEN ANY CHANGES IN TERMS OF THEIR INVESTMENT AND SUPPORT FOR POLICE AND POLICING.

AND SO FOR US, IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, CITY LEADERSHIP WILL TALK ABOUT LIKE HOW PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE LED US TO THIS MOMENT, BUT ACTUALLY, THEIR ADMINISTRATION AND THE BUDGETS THEY PASSED LAST YEAR HAVE CONTINUED TO PUSH US TOWARDS THIS MOMENT AND WE SHOULDN'T BE ASKING MILWAUKEE'S X X POOREST RESIDENTS TO BAIL US OUT IN THIS MOMENT.

>> DEVIN ANDERSON, WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE.

WE APPRECIATE HEARING YOUR VOICE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> LAST AUGUST, WAL-MART EMPLOYEES IN WISCONSIN REPRESENTED BY THE U.S.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION LOST A FEDERAL COURT CASE THAT TRIED TO ARGUE PREGNANT WORKERS, LIKE WORKERS INJURED ON THE JOB, SHOULD RECEIVE TEMPORARY LIGHT-DUTY WORK.

NOW A NEW LAW REQUIRING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PREGNANT WORKERS TAKES EFFECT NEXT MONTH.

THE PREGNANT WORKERS FAIRNESS ACT PASSED IN DECEMBER AS PART OF-TRILLION-DOLLAR INFLATION REDUCTION ACT.

FOR MORE ON WHAT'S BEING CALLED A LANDMARK NEW WILL YOU TAKING EFFECT JUNE 27th, WE TURN TO SHARYN TEJANI, ASSOCIATE LEGAL COUNSEL AT THE E.E.O.C.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO IN YOUR MIND, HOW BIG OF A GAME-CHANGER IS THIS FOR PREGNANT WORKERS?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT CHANGE FOR PREGNANT WORKERS.

RIGHT NOW, UNDERS CERTAIN LAWS, PREGNANT WORKERS CAN GET ACCOMMODATIONS, BUT IT CAN BE DIFFICULT.

THIS WEEK GIVES PREGNANT WORKERS A DIRECT WAY TO GET AN ACCOMMODATION.

OF COURSE WHAT THIS PROVIDES FOR IS ACCOMMODATIONS AS LONG AS THEY DON'T CAUSE AN UNDUE HARDSHIP.

IT'S NOT AN AUTOMATIC THING THAT A PERSPECTIVE WORKER WILL GET PREGNANT WORKER WILL GET AN ACCOMMODATION, BUT RATHER THAN SOMETHING TO DISCUSS WITH THEIR EMPLOYER AND SEE IF IT WORKS.

>> WHAT WILL THE PERSPECTIVE FAIRNESS WORKERS ACT REQUIRE SPECIFICALLY IN TERMS OF THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS?

WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES THAT A PREGNANT WOMAN COULD SEE?

>> SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT CONGRESS WAS TALKING ABOUT WHEN IT WAS PASSING THIS LAW, SOME OF THE ACCOMMODATIONS THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT WERE INCREDIBLY SIMPLE THINGS, THINGS LIKE CARRYING AROUND A BOTTLE OF WATER, ADDITIONAL BREAKS TO GO TO THE BATHROOM, A STOOL IF YOU NORMALLY HAVE TO STAND DURING -- WHEN YOU'RE DOING YOUR JOB, AND LEAVE TO RECOVER FROM CHILDBIRTH AND OCCASIONALLY HAVING PARTS OF YOUR JOB EXCUSED BECAUSE OF YOUR PREGNANCY, YOU'RE UNABLE TO DO THEM, SOMETHING LIKE HEAVY LIFTING.

>> IT SEEMS KIND OF INCREDIBLE THAT THERE WOULD NEED TO BE A FEDERAL LAW TO HAVE THESE ACCOMMODATIONS IN THE WORKPLACE.

>> WELL, YES, BUT THERE DID NEED TO BE ONE.

SOME EMPLOYERS OBVIOUSLY PROVIDE THESE KINDS OF THINGS TO THEIR EMPLOYEES AS A MATTER OF COURSE, AND IN CERTAIN TYPES OF JOBS, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE WORKING IN AN OFFICE, FOR EXAMPLE, LAWYERS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHO WORK IN A LAW FIRM, THE IDEA THAT THEY WOULD NEED A FEDERAL LAW IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO CARRY WATER AROUND WITH THEM, OF COURSE NOT.

MOST PEOPLE WHO WORK IN OFFICES ARE ABLE TO DO THAT.

BUT DIFFERENT KINDS OF JOBS HAVE CERTAIN RULES AND FOR THOSE KINDS OF JOBS, THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY IMPORTANT THING FOR PERSPECTIVE WORKERS UP UNTIL NOW DIDN'T HAVE A DIRECT PATH IN ORDER TO GET THESSALONIANS KINDS OF ACCOMMODATIONS THEN THESE KINDS OF ACCOMMODATIONS.

>> HOW DOES A PREGNANT WORKER PROVE LIMITATIONS REQUIRING PREGNANCY?

IS PREGNANCY ITSELF A KNOWN LIMITATION?

>> WELL, THE STATUTE SAYS THAT A KNOWN LIMITATION IS A PHYSICAL OR MENTAL CONDITION RELATED TO ARISING OUT OF OUR AFFECTED BY PREGNANCY, CHILDBIRTH OR ANY RELATED MEDICAL CONDITIONS SO THERE AREN'T SPECIFIC EXAMPLES WITHIN THE STATUTE, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT CONGRESS WAS TALKING ABOUT, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE CARRYING AROUND A BOTTLE OF WATER, SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT NEED IN ORDER TO KEEP HEALTHY WHILE YOU'RE PREGNANT AND ALSO SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT NEED, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOUR ANKLES ARE SWELLING AND YOU NEED TO SIT DOWN, SO IT COULD BE ANY OF THOSE THINGS, BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT IT SEEMS THAT THEY WERE AIMING AT KIND OF SIMPLE THINGS THAT SHOULDN'T BE A BIG CHANGE IN HOW THE WORKPLACE IS FUNCTIONING BUT, RATHER, WHAT WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR A PREGNANT WORKER TO DO THEIR JOB.

>> ARE ALL PREGNANT WORKERS COVERED UNDER THIS LAW?

>> THEY ARE COVERED IF THEY WORK FOR A COVERED EMPLOYER, AND THOSE ARE EMPLOYERS THAT HAVE AT LEAST 15 EMPLOYEES AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>> YOU SPOKE TO THIS EARLIER, WHAT IF THE EMPLOYER SAYS THE ACCOMMODATION CAUSES THEM UNDUE HARD SMP?

WHAT CONSTITUTES UNDUE HARDSHIP AND DOES THAT PRESENTLY A LOOPHOLE WHERE WORKERS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET THESE ACCOMMODATIONS?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S A LOOPHOLE.

IT'S A DEFENSE.

IF THE PLAYER CAN SHOW THAT WOULD CAUSE SIGNIFICANT IS DIFFICULTY OR EXPENSE, THEN THE EMPLOYER DOES NOT HAVE TO PROVIDE THE ACCOMMODATION, AND SO IT BALANCES THE NEEDS OF THE PREGNANT WORKERS AND THE NEEDS OF THE EMPLOYERS OVER WHAT THE EMPLOYER HAS TO SHOW IS A SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTY OR EXPENSE IN GIVING SIMPLE ACCOMMODATIONS THAT MIGHT BE NECESSARY.

HOPEFULLY THAT WON'T BE WHAT THE EMPLOYERS ARE SAYING.

>> HOW DOES AN EMPLOYEE ASSERT THEIR RIGHT TO THESE ACCOMMODATIONS UNDER THIS LAW?

>> WELL, THE EMPLOYER ONLY HAS TO ACCOMMODATE THINGS THAT IT KNOWS ABOUT.

SO IN THE FIRST STEP, IT'S THE EMPLOYEE SAYING, I NEED AN ACCOMMODATION AND THIS IS WHY.

THEN THE LAW TALKS ABOUT USING SOMETHING CALLED THE INTERACTIVE PROCESS, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT'S FROM THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, WHERE THE EMPLOYER AND THE EMPLOYEE JUST CAN TALK OR EMAIL OR SOMEHOW COMMUNICATE ABOUT WHAT THE EMPLOYEE NEEDS AND WHAT THE EMPLOYER CAN GIVE.

>> WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO PREGNANT WORKERS BEFORE THIS LAW THAT REALLY REQUIRED IT TO BE PUT IN PLACE?

SO PREGNANT WORKERS WERE OFTEN FACED WITH A VERY DIFFICULT CHOICE.

THEY COULD EITHER KEEP THEIR PAYCHECK OR DO SOMETHING THAT EITHER CAUSED THEM PAIN, THAT THEY COULDN'T DO BECAUSE OF THEIR PREGNANCY OR THAT THEY THOUGHT PUT THEIR PREGNANCY OR THEIR OWN HEALTH AT RISK, AND WITH THIS LAW, ABSENT UNDUE HARDSHIP, HOPEFULLY THAT WON'T BE HAPPENING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WE APPRECIATE YOUR EXPERTISE ON THIS, SHARYN TEJANI, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> IN OTHER NEWS, TICK POPULATIONS IN WISCONSIN HAVE BEEN GROWING SLOWLY FOR DECADES.

THIS SPRING, HOWEVER, NEW AND EARLY ACTIVITY HAS THE ATTENTION OF SCIENTISTS WHO STUDY THESE TINY CARRIERS OF DISEASE.

MARISA WOJCIK TOOK A WALK IN THE WOODS WITH DIRECTOR OF THE UPPER MIDWESTERN CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IS FOR VECTOR-BORNE DISEASE, SUSAN PASKEWITZ, TO LEARN MORE.

>> WE'RE SEEING MORE TICKS IN MORE PLACES.

>> SUSAN PASKEWITZ'S JOB IS TO SEEK OUT THE CRAWLING CREATURES THAT MAKE THE REST OF US CRINGE.

TICKS.

>> THEY'VE INVADED A LOT OF LOCATIONS IN THE STATE WHERE WE DIDN'T USED TO BE ABLE TO FIND THEM AND THAT'S PARTICULARLY DOWN IN THE SOUTHERN QUARTER AND THEN THE EASTERN, SAY, QUARTER TO THIRD OF THE STATE EXPERT IMMATURE STAGES ARE GOING TO BE REALLY LOW SO DOWN HERE IN THE LEAF LITTER, THEY MAY BE UP ON TOP OF THIS VEGETATION, AND OUR RESEARCH REALLY FOCUSES ON WHAT INCREASES PEOPLE'S RISK OF EXPOSURE AND THEN, TWO, WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT.

>> SHE DRAGS HER WHITE CANVAS OVER THE FOREST FLOOR TO FIND THESE MINUTE E MINUSCULE SPARE .

>> THEY ARE IN WOODED LOCATIONS.

>> AND THE RESEARCH POINTS TO A GROWING POPULATION.

>> 10, 20 YEARS AGO, MAYBE 50 OF THE 72 WISCONSIN COUNTIES HAD AN ESTABLISHED POPULATION OF DEER TICKS AND NOW THERE'S ONLY ONE COUNTY WHERE WE DON'T FINDS THEM.

>> WHILE THAT GROWTH HAS TAKEN DECADES, THIS SPRING, THERE'S A NEW DEVELOPMENT.

>> ONE NEW THING WE'VE SEEN THIS YEAR IS EARLIER ACTIVITY OF THE JUVENILE STAGE THAT WE CALL A NYMPH.

>> OR, AS SHE REFERRED TO THEM, TEENAGER TICKS.

>> THE NYMPHS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT STAGE IN TERMS OF DISEASE TRANSMISSION AND WE THINK THAT THAT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE SO MUCH SMALLER THAN THE ADULT DEER TICKS.

>> DEER TICKS ARE THE SMALLEST AND MOST COMMONLY KNOWN TO SPREAD LYME DISEASE.

>> ADULT DEER TICKS ARE BIG ENOUGH SO THAT YOU'RE GOING TO FEEL THEM WHEN THEY'RE CRAWLING ON YOU, USUALLY, OR EVEN IF YOU DON'T, WHEN YOU'RE CHECKING YOUR BODY, YOU MAY FEEL A LITTLE LUMP AND SO YOU RECOGNIZE AND YOU CAN REMOVE THOSE QUICKLY.

THE NYMPHS, THOUGH, THEY REALLY DON'T TRIGGER ANY KIND OF A RESPONSE.

YOU DON'T FEEL THEM MOVING ON SO YOU AND THEY'RE SO SMALL, LIKE THE SIZE OF A POPPY SEED OR SMALL FRECKLE, BUT THEY ARE ACTUALLY HARD TO DETECT ON YOUR BODY.

>> THE EARLIER ACTIVITY OF THE NYMPH MEANS MORE CHANCES TO SPREAD LYME.

>> THIS YEAR, WE SAW NYMPHS IN MIDDLE MAY FOR THE FIRST TIME SO A GOOD WEEK TO TWO WEEKS BEFORE WE'D USUALLY BE ABLE TO PICK THEM UP, AND THAT IS PROBABLY RELATED TO WARMER SPRINGS, WARMER TEMPERATURES AND THEY'RE GETTING ACTIVE EARLIER.

>> IN TERMS OF LYME DISEASE, WHICH IS THE DISEASE THAT WE SEE THE MOST ANAHEIM CASES IN OUR STATE -- HUMAN CASES IN OUR STATE, WE'VE BEEN SEEING A STEADY INCREASE.

I THINK LAST YEAR, IT WAS OVER 4,000 CASES THAT WERE REPORTED TO THE STATE.

>> LYME DISEASE IS USUALLY SPOTTED BY A TELLTALE SIGN.

>> FOR PEOPLE WHO GET A BULL'S-EYE RASH AT THE SITE OF THE TICK BITE OR DOESN'T ALWAYS LOOK LIKE A BULL'S-EYE BUT A LARGE RASH THERE, IT'S NOT HARD.

A DOCTOR WILL KNOW RIGHT AWAY WHAT THAT IS AND HOW TO TREAT IT.

>> TO HELP THE HUMAN TUSSLE WITH TICKS, THEY'RE USING TECHNOLOGY.

>> THE TICK APP IS A RESEARCH TOOL THAT WE DEVELOPED TO BOTH EDUCATE PEOPLE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT WHERE TICKS AND LYME DISEASE ARE BEING FOUND.

>> YOU'D HAVE THIS OPTION, IF YOU DID GET ANY TICKS ON YOU, TO TAKE PICTURES, SEND THEM DIRECTLY TO THE SCIENTISTS.

WE CAN IDENTIFY THEM, GIVE YOU AN ESTIMATE FOR HOW LONG THE TICK HAS BEEN FEEDING AND THEN MAKE SOME SUGGESTIONS ABOUT WHAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO DO AS YOUR NEXT STEPS.

IT ALSO HAS SOME REALLY GREAT INFORMATION IN IT THAT YOU CAN USE TO IDENTIFY THE TICK YOURSELF.

>> AND PERHAPS ONE DAY HARNESS MACHINE LEARNING TO IDENTIFY TICKS.

IN THE MEANTIME, RESEARCHERS LIKE PASKEWITZ ARE ALSO LEARNING ABOUT HUMANS.

>> SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE LEARNED FROM OUR TICK APP TOOL ARE THAT PEOPLE MAYBE DON'T REALLY REALIZE WHERE THEY'RE BEING EXPOSED TO TICKS.

AN ADULT TICK WOULDN'T BE ON YOU FOR MORE THAN A WEEK, SEVEN DAYS, AND YET WE HAVE PEOPLE TELLING US THAT THEY PICKED UP TICKS IN PLACES THAT THEY VISITED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

MANY PEOPLE ARE IMAGINING THAT IT'S WHEN THEY GO TO THEIR CABINS OR WHEN THEY'RE OUT IN THE WOODS HIKING, INSTEAD OF IN THEIR OWN YARDS.

IN SPITE OF ALL THIS, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU STILL CAN'T GET OUTDOORS.

>> WE CERTAINLY WANT PEOPLE TO BE OUT ENJOYING OUR BEAUTIFUL WOODS IN WISCONSIN AND NOT TO BE AFRAID TO DO THAT BECAUSE OF TICKS, BUT THEY SHOULD JUST TAKE THE PRECAUTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY, THEIR KIDS, THEIR PETS ARE PROTECTED.

WEARING LIGHT-COLORED CLOTHING SO THAT IF YOU GET A TICK ON YOU, YOU'D BE ABLE TO SEE IT AGAINST THAT BACKGROUND.

IF YOU POTENTIALLY HAVE SOME TICKS THAT ARE ON THE CLOTHING THAT MAYBE YOU DON'T SEE, IF YOU PUT THEM IN THE DRIER AT A HIGH TEMPERATURE FOR 20, 30 MINUTES THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF THAT.

WE ALSO RECOMMEND THAT PEOPLE USE A REPELLANT AND THAT CAN BE THE SAME KIND OF REPELLANTS THAT YOU USE FOR MOSQUITO PREVENTION, AND THEN DO A SHOWER WHERE YOU'RE JUST REMOVING ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE ON EUROPE PERSON, PERHAPS NOT -- YOUR PERSON, PERHAPS NOT YET ATTACHED AND TRYING TO FEED.

>> REPORTING FROM THE WOODS, I'M MARISA WOJCIK FOR "HERE AND NOW."

>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT PBS WISCONSIN DOT-ORG, AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.

THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.

I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

(CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY RIVERSIDE CAPTIONING COMPANY) >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.