AB599: Bill Text

LRB-4523/3

TAY:skg:km

1995 - 1996 LEGISLATURE

1995 Assembly BILL 599

October 3, 1995 - Introduced by Representatives Gard, Walker and Riley, cosponsored by Senators Rosenzweig, Buettner, Darling, Panzer and Farrow. Referred to Committee on Welfare Reform.

AB599,1,2 An Act to amend 49.032 (1) (a) and (e) and 59.07 (154) of the statutes; relating to: a relief program operated for a specific class or classes of persons.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, a county may elect not to provide dependent persons with any nonmedical benefits or a county may provide nonmedical benefits to all dependent persons in accordance with written criteria determined by the county. Until January 1, 1996, a county that chooses to provide nonmedical benefits is partially reimbursed by the department of health and social services for the amount paid to eligible dependent persons.

Under this bill only counties with a population of less than 500,000 that provide nonmedical benefits are reimbursed. In addition, under the bill, any county that elects to provide nonmedical benefits may provide them to a specific class or classes of dependent persons, rather than to all dependent persons.

Finally, under current law, beginning January 1, 1996, a county may operate a county-funded relief program for all dependent persons in that county to provide dependent persons with such services, commodities or money as relief, as the county determines to be reasonable and necessary under the circumstances.

This bill allows a county to operate the relief program for a specific class or classes of persons, rather than for all dependent persons.

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:

AB599, s. 1 Section 1. 49.032 (1) (a) and (e) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act 27, section 2717b, are amended to read:

AB599,2,9 49.032 (1) (a) Unless a county makes an election not to provide nonmedical benefits under sub. (2) (a), the general relief agency in that county shall make a benefit payment at least monthly in accordance with written criteria determined by the general relief agency. The general relief agency may provide, in these written criteria, that only a specific class or classes of persons are eligible for nonmedical benefits as dependent persons. Depending on the type and amount of the eligible dependent person's income or resources, if any, or number of days or type of need during a month, the benefit payments under this section may be adjusted in accordance with written criteria established by the general relief agency.

AB599,2,14 (e) If a general relief agency in a county with a population of less than 500,000 provides a monthly general relief benefit to an eligible dependent person under par. (a), the department shall reimburse the general relief agency at the rate set forth under s. 49.035 (1) (d), from the appropriation under s. 20.435 (4) (eb), for the amount paid to the eligible dependent person.

AB599, s. 2 Section 2. 59.07 (154) of the statutes, as created by 1995 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

AB599,3,2 59.07 (154) Operation of relief programs. Operate a program of relief to dependent persons residing in a for a specific class or classes of persons residing in that county. The program may provide dependent persons with such services, commodities or money county may set such eligibility criteria to obtain relief, and may provide such services, commodities or money as relief, as the county determines to be reasonable and necessary under the circumstances. The program may include work components. The county may enact any ordinances necessary or useful to the operation of a relief program under this subsection. Counties may use vehicle registration information from the department of transportation in determining eligibility for relief programs under this subsection.

AB599, s. 3 Section 3. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after publication, except as follows:

AB599,3,6 (1) The treatment of section 59.07 (154) of the statutes takes effect on January 1, 1996, or on the day after publication, whichever is later.

AB599,3,7 (End)