AB243: Bill Text

LRB-3236/1

KSH:jrd:km

1995 - 1996 LEGISLATURE

1995 Assembly BILL 243

March 21, 1995 - Introduced by Representatives Prosser, Krusick, Wasserman, Gunderson and Walker. Referred to Committee on Mandates.

AB243,1,3 An Act to amend 49.01 (5m) and 49.02 (1m); and to create 49.032 (1) (g) of the statutes; relating to: standards of need and benefits under the general relief program.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, counties are required to provide general relief to eligible dependent persons. Current law defines a minimum monthly benefit under the general relief program, although a general relief agency is required to provide more than that benefit if additional services, commodities or money are reasonable and necessary under the circumstances to provide the eligible dependent person with food, housing, clothing, fuel, light, water, medical, dental and surgical treatment (including hospital care), optometric services, nursing, transportation and funeral expenses. This bill amends these provisions to so that, except to pay funeral expenses of an eligible dependent person, a county is not required to provide more than the minimum monthly benefit to meet an eligible dependent person's nonmedical needs.

Under current law, counties are required to establish written standards of need to be used to determine the type and amount of general relief to be furnished and counties must update the standards of need at least annually. This bill repeals the requirement that counties establish written standards of need for general relief.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB243, s. 1 Section 1. 49.01 (5m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB243,2,13 49.01 (5m) "General relief" means such services, commodities or money as are reasonable and necessary under the circumstances to provide food, housing, clothing, fuel, light, water, medicine, provided by a general relief agency to eligible dependent persons under this chapter. "General relief" includes the benefits under s. 49.032, medical, dental, and surgical treatment (including hospital care), optometrical services, nursing, transportation, and funeral expenses, and include wages for work relief. The food furnished shall be of a kind and quantity sufficient to provide a nourishing diet. The housing provided shall be adequate for health and decency. Where there are children of school age the general relief furnished shall include necessities for which no other provision is made by law. The general relief furnished, whether by money or otherwise, shall be at such times and in such amounts, as will in the discretion of the general relief official or agency meet the needs of the recipient and protect the public.

AB243, s. 2 Section 2. 49.02 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB243,2,22 49.02 (1m) Every county shall furnish general relief to all eligible dependent persons within the county and shall establish or designate a general relief agency to administer general relief. The general relief agency shall establish written criteria to be used to determine dependency and shall establish written standards of need to be used to determine the type and amount of general relief to be furnished. The general relief agency shall review the standards of need at least annually. The general relief agency may establish work-seeking rules for general relief applicants and recipients.

AB243, s. 3 Section 3. 49.032 (1) (g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB243,3,2 49.032 (1) (g) Except to pay the funeral expenses of an eligible dependent person, a general relief agency is not required to make a general relief payment that exceeds the minimum monthly benefit amount determined under pars. (c) and (d) to meet an eligible dependent person's nonmedical needs.

AB243,3,3 (End)