Child care center operations
Under current law, no person may for compensation provide care and
supervision for four or more children under the age of seven for less than 24 hours
a day unless that person obtains from DCF a license to operate a child care center.
Current law requires DCF to promulgate rules establishing standards for the
operation of child care centers.
Those rules include a rule requiring a child care center providing care and
supervision for not more than eight children (family child care center) to provide
written information to parents on whether the family child care center has insurance
coverage on vehicles, if transportation is provided by the family child care center.
This bill eliminates that requirement.
Those rules also include a rule requiring a family child care center to maintain
for each child enrolled in the family child care center a written record of enrollment
information and health history on a form provided by DCF. This bill requires
enrollment information and health history to be maintained on separate forms
provided by DCF.
In addition, those rules include: 1) a rule requiring a child receiving care from
a family child care center or a child care center providing care and supervision for
more than eight children (group child care center) to have an initial health
examination no later than three months after being admitted to the child care center
and to have followup health examinations at certain intervals after that; and 2) a
rule requiring a report on such a health examination to be made on a form provided
by DCF that is signed and dated by a licensed physician, physician assistant, or
HealthCheck provider, which is a provider of health assessment and evaluation
services certified by the Department of Health Services. This bill permits a health
examination report to be made on an electronic printout from a licensed physician,
physician assistant, or HealthCheck provider.
Finally, the bill corrects, in the DCF rules relating to child care, certain
cross-references to the rules governing the responsibilities and qualifications of
group child care center program directors, teachers, and assistant teachers.
Child welfare agency licensing
Under current law, no person may provide care and maintenance for four or
more children for 75 days in a 12-month period unless the person obtains from DCF
a license to operate a child welfare agency. A child welfare agency license is valid
until revoked or suspended, but must be reviewed every two years. To continue a
child welfare agency license for an additional two years, a child welfare agency must
submit an application for continuance of the license to DCF at least 30 days prior to
the continuation date of the license. If DCF approves the application, DCF must
continue the license for an additional two years.

Current rules promulgated by DCF governing the licensing of child welfare
agencies, however, require a subsequent application by a child welfare agency to be
submitted to DCF at least three weeks prior to the expiration of the current license.
This bill conforms those rules to the statutes by modifying those rules to require a
subsequent application by a child welfare agency to be submitted to DCF at least 30
days
prior to the continuation date of the current license.
Public assistance records and transitional jobs demonstration project
The transitional jobs demonstration project, under which DCF provides a wage
subsidy to an employer who employs an individual who is at least 21 but not more
than 64 years of age, is ineligible for Wisconsin Works (W-2), has an annual
household income that is below 150 percent of the poverty line, is unemployed for at
least four weeks, and is not eligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits, was
repealed on July 1, 2013. This bill eliminates rules DCF was required to promulgate
to operate the transitional jobs demonstration project.
Under current DCF rules, a county, tribal, or W-2 agency that contracts with
DCF to administer one or more public assistance programs (income maintenance
agency) is required to retain certain items used to verify information related to a
public assistance case for certain amounts of time. For example, under current DCF
rules, an income maintenance agency must retain items to verify an applicant's
social security number, birth information, alien status, and medicare enrollment, if
required to determine eligibility for public assistance, while the public assistance
case is open. Current DCF rules also provide the conditions under which original
case records that are copied in microfilm reproduction, optical disk, or electronic
format may be destroyed. Finally, current DCF rules require that destruction of
public assistance records must be done in a manner that make the records
unreadable. This bill eliminates DCF's rules related to retaining public assistance
case records.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB677,1 1Section 1. 13.92 (4) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:
AB677,5,42 13.92 (4) (bm) If 2 or more rules filed under s. 227.20 or modified under s.
3227.265 affect the same unit of the Wisconsin administrative code without taking
4cognizance of the effect thereon of the other rules and if the legislative reference
5bureau finds that there is no mutual inconsistency in the changes made by each such
6rule, the legislative reference bureau shall incorporate the changes made by each
7rule into the text of the unit and document the incorporation in a note to the unit.

1For each such incorporation, the legislative reference bureau shall include in a
2correction bill a provision formally validating the incorporation. Section 227.27 (2)
3is not affected by printing decisions made by the legislative reference bureau under
4this paragraph.
AB677,2 5Section 2. 13.92 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB677,5,76 13.92 (4) (c) The legislative reference bureau may insert in the Wisconsin
7administrative code a note explaining any change made under par. (b) or (bm).
AB677,3 8Section 3. 13.92 (4) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB677,5,109 13.92 (4) (d) Sections 227.114, 227.116, 227.135, and 227.14 to 227.24 do not
10apply to any change made by the legislative reference bureau under par. (b) or (bm).
AB677,4 11Section 4. 13.92 (4) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB677,5,1312 13.92 (4) (e) The legislative reference bureau shall prepare and keep on file a
13record of each change made under par. (b) or (bm).
AB677,5 14Section 5. 13.92 (4) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB677,5,1615 13.92 (4) (f) The legislative reference bureau shall notify the agency involved
16of each change made under par. (b) or (bm).
AB677,6 17Section 6. 35.93 (2) (b) 4. of the statutes, as affected by 2013 Wisconsin Act 20,
18is amended to read:
AB677,5,2119 35.93 (2) (b) 4. Copies of all rules filed with the legislative reference bureau
20under s. 227.20 (1) or modified under s. 227.265 since the compilation of the
21preceding register, including emergency rules filed under s. 227.24 (3).
AB677,7 22Section 7. 35.93 (2) (c) 1. of the statutes, as affected by 2013 Wisconsin Act 20,
23is amended to read:
AB677,6,3
135.93 (2) (c) 1. Each chapter of the Wisconsin administrative code that has been
2affected by rules filed with legislative reference bureau under s. 227.20 (1) or
3modified under s. 227.265
, in accordance with sub. (3) (e) 1.
AB677,8 4Section 8. 35.93 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB677,6,185 35.93 (3) The legislative reference bureau shall compile and deliver to the
6department for printing copy for a register which shall contain all the rules filed
7under s. 227.20 or modified under s. 227.265 since the compilation of rules for the
8preceding issue of the register was made and those executive orders which are to be
9in effect for more than 90 days or an informative summary thereof. The complete
10register shall be compiled and published before the first day of each month and a
11notice section of the register shall be compiled and published before the 15th day of
12each month. Each issue of the register shall contain a title page with the name
13"Wisconsin administrative register", the number and date of the register, and a table
14of contents. Each page of the register shall also contain the date and number of the
15register of which it is a part in addition to the other necessary code titles and page
16numbers. The legislative reference bureau may include in the register such
17instructions or information as in the bureau's judgment will help the user to correctly
18make insertions and deletions in the code and to keep the code current.
AB677,9 19Section 9. 35.93 (3) (e) (intro.) of the statutes, as affected by 2013 Wisconsin
20Act 20
, is amended to read:
AB677,6,2521 35.93 (3) (e) (intro.) The legislative reference bureau shall incorporate into the
22appropriate chapters of the Wisconsin administrative code each permanent rule filed
23with the legislative reference bureau under s. 227.20 (1) or modified under s. 227.265
24and, for each chapter of the administrative code affected by a rule, do all of the
25following:
AB677,10
1Section 10. 35.93 (3) (e) 1. of the statutes, as affected by 2013 Wisconsin Act
220
, is amended to read:
AB677,7,83 35.93 (3) (e) 1. Publish the chapter in the appropriate end-of-month register
4in accordance with the filing deadline for publication established in the rules
5procedures manual published under s. 227.15 (7) or, in an end-of-month register
6agreed to by the submitting agency and the legislative reference bureau , or, in the
7case of a rule modified under s. 227.265, in the end-of-month register for the month
8in which the bill modifying the rule is enacted
.
AB677,11 9Section 11. 227.01 (13) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB677,7,1610 227.01 (13) (intro.) "Rule" means a regulation, standard, statement of policy,
11or general order of general application which has the effect of law and which is issued
12by an agency to implement, interpret, or make specific legislation enforced or
13administered by the agency or to govern the organization or procedure of the agency.
14"Rule" includes a modification of a rule under s. 227.265. "Rule" does not include, and
15s. 227.10 does not apply to, any action or inaction of an agency, whether it would
16otherwise meet the definition under this subsection, which:
AB677,12 17Section 12. 227.11 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB677,7,1918 227.11 (2) (intro.) Rule-making authority is expressly conferred on an agency
19as follows:
AB677,13 20Section 13. 227.265 of the statutes is created to read:
AB677,7,25 21227.265 Repeal or modification of rules. If a bill to repeal or modify a rule
22is enacted, the procedures under ss. 227.114 to 227.21 and 227.26 do not apply.
23Instead, the legislative reference bureau shall publish the repeal or modification in
24the Wisconsin administrative code and register as required under s. 35.93, and the
25repeal or modification shall take effect as provided in s. 227.22.
AB677,14
1Section 14. 227.27 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB677,8,72 227.27 (2) The code shall be prima facie evidence in all courts and proceedings
3as provided by s. 889.01, but this does not preclude reference to or, in case of a
4discrepancy, control over a rule filed with the legislative reference bureau or the
5secretary of state
under s. 227.20 or modified under s. 227.265, and the certified copy
6of a rule shall also and in the same degree be prima facie evidence in all courts and
7proceedings.
AB677,15 8Section 15. DCF 54.02 (3) (d) 1. of the administrative code is amended to read:
AB677,8,109 DCF 54.02 (3) (d) 1. At least 3 weeks 30 days prior to the expiration
10continuation date of the current licensing license.
AB677,16 11Section 16. Ch. DCF 110 of the administrative code is repealed.
AB677,17 12Section 17. Ch. DCF 121 of the administrative code is repealed.
AB677,18 13Section 18. DCF 201.02 (2m) of the administrative code is amended to read:
AB677,8,1914 DCF 201.02 (2m) "Certification agency" means the department in a county
15having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more, a county department of social
16services established under s. 46.22, Stats., a county department of human services
17established under s. 46.23, Stats., a tribal agency,
or any agency that has a contract
18contracts with the department any of those entities to certify child care providers
19under s. 48.651, Stats., and ch. DCF 202 in a particular county or tribal area.
AB677,19 20Section 19. DCF 202.01 (2) of the administrative code is amended to read:
AB677,8,2521 DCF 202.01 (2) Applicability. This chapter applies to county and tribal
22certification agencies and to all providers of child care who receive reimbursement
23with state or federal child care funds and who are not required to be licensed under
24s. 48.65, Stats., including providers of child care for 1 to 3 children, providers of child
25care for a child in the child's home, and providers of child care for school-age children.
AB677,20
1Section 20. DCF 202.02 (1) of the administrative code is repealed.
AB677,21 2Section 21. DCF 202.02 (1s) of the administrative code is created to read:
AB677,9,73 DCF 202.02 (1s) "Certification agency" means the department in a county
4having a population of 750,000 or more, a county department of social services
5established under s. 46.22, Stats., a county department of human services
6established under s. 46.23, Stats., a tribal agency, or any agency that contracts with
7any of those entities to certify child care operators under s. 48.651, Stats.
AB677,22 8Section 22. DCF 202.02 (2) of the administrative code is amended to read:
AB677,9,129 DCF 202.02 (2) "Certified child care home" or "home" means the residence in
10which the certified child care operator provides care of children and which meets the
11standards under s. DCF 202.08 for reimbursement of care by county or tribal
12certification agencies.
AB677,23 13Section 23. DCF 202.02 (3h) of the administrative code is amended to read:
AB677,9,1714 DCF 202.02 (3h) "Child care certification worker" means a person employed
15by a county, a governing body of a federally-recognized American Indian tribe, or
16an agency under contract with a county or tribe whose duties include determination
17of eligibility for child care certification.
AB677,24 18Section 24. DCF 202.02 (4) of the administrative code is repealed.
AB677,25 19Section 25. DCF 202.04 (3) (a) of the administrative code is amended to read:
AB677,9,2320 DCF 202.04 (3) (a) Form. Application for certification shall be made on a form
21available from the county or tribal certification agency in the county or tribal
22territory where the child care is provided. The applicant shall submit the completed
23form to that county or tribal certification agency.
AB677,26 24Section 26. DCF 202.04 (3) (d) of the administrative code is amended to read:
AB677,10,2
1DCF 202.04 (3) (d) Compliance with standards and certification. The county
2or tribal
certification agency shall process all certification applications as follows:
AB677,10,53 1. If the application is for certification under sub. (2) (a), the county or tribal
4certification agency shall review the application for compliance with standards
5under s. DCF 202.08 prior to issuing a certificate.
AB677,10,116 2. If the application is for certification under sub. (2) (b), the county or tribal
7certification agency shall refer the application to a licensing representative in the
8department regional office. The licensing representative shall determine whether
9the applicant is in compliance with all standards under s. DCF 202.09 and report
10back to the county or tribal certification agency. The county or tribal certification
11agency may issue a certificate based on the licensing representative's report.
AB677,27 12Section 27. DCF 202.04 (3) (e) (intro.) of the administrative code is amended
13to read:
AB677,10,2014 DCF 202.04 (3) (e) Approval. (intro.) Within 60 days after receiving a
15completed application for certification or recertification and satisfactory
16investigation and determination that the applicant is fit, the county or tribal
17certification agency shall either approve the application and issue a certificate or
18deny the application. Fit "Fit" means the applicant displays the capacity to
19successfully nurture and care for children and includes consideration of any of the
20following:
AB677,28 21Section 28. DCF 202.04 (3) (f) of the administrative code is amended to read:
AB677,10,2422 DCF 202.04 (3) (f) The county or tribal certification agency may backdate a
23certificate of approval to the date that the county or tribal certification agency
24received the applicant's completed application for certification.
AB677,29 25Section 29. DCF 202.04 (4) (a) of the administrative code is amended to read:
AB677,11,5
1DCF 202.04 (4) (a) A county or tribal certification agency may charge a fee for
2family child care certification not to exceed 150 percent of the licensing fee for a
3family child care center that provides care and supervision for 4 to 8 children, under
4s. 48.65 (3) (a), Stats., plus the costs of criminal record checks required under s.
548.685, Stats.
AB677,30 6Section 30. DCF 202.04 (4) (b) of the administrative code is amended to read:
AB677,11,107 DCF 202.04 (4) (b) The county or tribal certification agency may charge a fee
8for school-age child care certification not to exceed the licensing fee for a group child
9care center that provides care and supervision for 9 or more children under s. 48.65
10(3) (a), Stats., plus the costs of criminal record checks required under s. 48.685, Stats.
AB677,31 11Section 31. DCF 202.04 (5) (intro.) of the administrative code is amended to
12read:
AB677,11,1513 DCF 202.04 (5) Categories of family certification. (intro.) Certification of
14 a provider an operator by a county or tribal certification agency shall be Level I
15(regular) or Level II (provisional) as follows:
AB677,32 16Section 32. DCF 202.04 (6) (a) of the administrative code is amended to read:
AB677,11,1917 DCF 202.04 (6) (a) The county or tribal certification agency responsible for
18certification of a provider an operator shall be determined by the geographic area
19in which the child care is provided.
AB677,33 20Section 33. DCF 202.04 (6) (b) of the administrative code is amended to read:
AB677,11,2321 DCF 202.04 (6) (b) Certification issued to a provider an operator by a county
22or tribal
certification agency shall be accepted as valid by all other agencies
23authorized to certify providers.
AB677,34 24Section 34. DCF 202.04 (6) (c) of the administrative code is amended to read:
AB677,12,3
1DCF 202.04 (6) (c) The county or tribal certification agency shall ensure that
2each new day care certification worker completes the department-approved
3certification training during the first 6 months of employment.
AB677,35 4Section 35. DCF 202.04 (7) (a) of the administrative code is amended to read:
AB677,12,75 DCF 202.04 (7) (a) Qualifications of certified child care operators. County and
6tribal
Certification agencies shall maintain records demonstrating child care
7operator compliance with s. DCF 202.08 (1).
AB677,36 8Section 36. DCF 202.04 (7) (b) 1. of the administrative code is amended to read:
AB677,12,119 DCF 202.04 (7) (b) 1. `General.' County and tribal Certification agencies shall
10help assure operator compliance with s. DCF 202.08 (2) to (12) in accordance with
11this section.
AB677,37 12Section 37. DCF 202.04 (7) (b) 2. (intro.) of the administrative code is amended
13to read:
AB677,12,1514 DCF 202.04 (7) (b) 2. `Required procedures.' (intro.) A county or tribal
15certification agency shall:
AB677,38 16Section 38. DCF 202.04 (7) (b) 3. (intro.) of the administrative code is amended
17to read:
AB677,12,1918 DCF 202.04 (7) (b) 3. `Optional procedures.' (intro.) A county or tribal
19certification agency may:
AB677,39 20Section 39. DCF 202.04 (7) (b) 3. e. of the administrative code is amended to
21read:
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