SB18: Bill Text

SB18,12,13 1. "Abuse" has the meaning given in s. 48.02 (1), except that "physical injury," as used in that definition, includes lacerations, fractured bones, burns, internal injuries, bruising, or great bodily harm, as defined in s. 939.22 (14).

SB18,12,16 2. "Neglect" means failure, refusal, or inability on the part of a caregiver to provide necessary care, food, clothing, medical or dental care, or shelter so as to seriously endanger the physical health of the child.

Note: For purposes of mandated reporting of child abuse and neglect, amends the definition of "physical injury" to remove the words "severe and frequent" from the phrase "severe and frequent bruising", and creates a definition of "neglect" that does not require that a caregiver's failure, refusal, or inability to provide necessary care, food, clothing, medical or dental care, or shelter be caused by reasons other than poverty.

SB18,18 Section 18. 48.981 (2) (ar) 16r., 30. and 31. of the statutes are created to read:

SB18,13,4 48.981 (2) (ar) 16r. An employee, contractor, or volunteer of an institution of higher education, other than a child, who has regular, ongoing contact with children, other than matriculated students of the institution, in a professional or primary setting.

SB18,13,5 30. A probation agent.

SB18,13,6 31. A parole agent.

Note: Amends the list of mandated reporters to include probation agents, parole agents, and any employee, contractor, or volunteer of an institution of higher education, other than a child, who has regular, ongoing contact with children, other than matriculated students of the institution, in a professional or primary setting.

SB18,19 Section 19. 48.981 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB18,13,14 48.981 (2) (b) Mandatory reporters; court-appointed special advocates. A Except as provided in subs. (2m) and (2r), a court-appointed special advocate who has reasonable cause to suspect that a child seen in the course of activities under s. 48.236 (3) has been abused or neglected or who has reason to believe that a child seen in the course of those activities has been threatened with abuse and neglect and that abuse or neglect of the child will occur shall, except as provided in subs. (2m) and (2r), report as provided in sub. (3).

SB18,20 Section 20. 48.981 (2) (bm) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB18,13,16 48.981 (2) (bm) Mandatory reporters; members of the clergy.

SB18,21 Section 21. 48.981 (2) (bm) 1. (intro.), a. and b. of the statutes are consolidated, renumbered 48.981 (2) (bm) 1g. and amended to read:

SB18,14,2 48.981 (2) (bm) 1g. Except as provided in subd. 3. and subs. (2m) and (2r), a member of the clergy shall report as provided in sub. (3) if the member of the clergy has reasonable cause to suspect that a child seen by the member of the clergy in the course of his or her professional duties: a. Has has been abused, as defined in s. 48.02 (1) (b) to (f); or b. Has or has been threatened with abuse, as defined in s. 48.02 (1) (b) to (f), and abuse of the child will likely occur.

SB18,22 Section 22. 48.981 (2) (bm) 1d. of the statutes is created to read:

SB18,14,4 48.981 (2) (bm) 1d. In this paragraph:

SB18,14,5 a. "Abuse" has the meaning given in s. 48.02 (1) (b) to (f).

Note: Creates a definition for "abuse" in s. 48.981 (2) (bm), stats., so that the definition need not be repeated each time the term appears within the paragraph.

SB18,23 Section 23. 48.981 (2) (bm) 2. (intro.), a. and b. of the statutes are consolidated, renumbered 48.981 (2) (bm) 2. and amended to read:

SB18,14,14 48.981 (2) (bm) 2. Except as provided in subd. 3. and subs. (2m) and (2r), a member of the clergy shall report as provided in sub. (3) if the member of the clergy has reasonable cause, based on observations made or information that he or she receives, to suspect that a member of the clergy has done any of the following: a. Abused abused a child, as defined in s. 48.02 (1) (b) to (f). b. Threatened or threatened a child with abuse, as defined in s. 48.02 (1) (b) to (f), and abuse of the child will likely occur.

SB18,24 Section 24. 48.981 (2) (bm) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB18,14,22 48.981 (2) (bm) 3. A member of the clergy is not required to report child abuse information under subd. 1. 1g. or 2. that he or she receives solely through confidential communications made to him or her privately or in a confessional setting if he or she is authorized to hear or is accustomed to hearing such communications and, under the disciplines, tenets, or traditions of his or her religion, has a duty or is expected to keep those communications secret. Those disciplines, tenets, or traditions need not be in writing.

SB18,25 Section 25. 48.981 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB18,15,5 48.981 (2) (c) Discretionary reporters; child abuse and neglect. Any person not otherwise specified in par. (a) (ar), (b), or (bm), including an attorney, who has reason to suspect that a child has been abused or neglected or who has reason to believe that a child has been threatened with abuse or neglect and that abuse or neglect of the child will occur may report as provided in sub. (3).

Note: Removes the clause "including an attorney" from the phrase "Any person not otherwise specified", including an attorney" to reduce redundancy.

SB18,26 Section 26. 48.981 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB18,15,10 48.981 (2) (d) Discretionary reporters; unborn child abuse. Any person, including an attorney, who has reason to suspect that an unborn child has been abused or who has reason to believe that an unborn child is at substantial risk of abuse may report as provided in sub. (3).

Note: Removes the clause "including an attorney" from the phrase "Any person, including an attorney" to reduce redundancy.

SB18,27 Section 27. 48.981 (2m) (a) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB18,15,12 48.981 (2m) (a) (title) Purpose.

SB18,28 Section 28. 48.981 (2m) (b) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB18,15,14 48.981 (2m) (b) (title) Definitions.

SB18,29 Section 29. 48.981 (2m) (c) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB18,15,16 48.981 (2m) (c) (title) Reporting not required.

SB18,30 Section 30. 48.981 (2m) (d) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB18,15,18 48.981 (2m) (d) (title) Reporting required.

SB18,31 Section 31. 48.981 (2m) (e) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB18,15,20 48.981 (2m) (e) (title) Additional reporting requirement.

SB18,32 Section 32. 48.981 (2r) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB18,16,7 48.981 (2r) Exception to reporting requirement; person delegated parental powers. A person delegated care and custody of a child under s. 48.979 is not required to report as provided in sub. (3) any suspected or threatened abuse or neglect of the child as required under sub. (2) (a) (ar), (b), or (bm) or (2m) (d) or (e). Such a person who has reason to suspect that the child has been abused or neglected or who has reason to believe that the child has been threatened with abuse or neglect and that abuse or neglect of the child will occur may report as provided in sub. (3).

SB18,33 Section 33. 48.981 (2s) of the statutes is created to read:

SB18,16,14 48.981 (2s) Training of mandated reporters. The department shall promulgate rules specifying criteria for training courses required to be completed by persons required to report suspected child abuse and neglect under sub. (2) as a condition of licensure, certification, employment, appointment, or assignment. The rules shall specify the required content of an approved training course and the qualifications required for the providers of such training courses.

Note: Directs DCF to promulgate rules specifying criteria for training courses for mandated reporters.

SB18,34 Section 34. 48.981 (3) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB18,16,16 48.981 (3) (title) Reports; investigation referral of report.

SB18,35 Section 35. 48.981 (3) (a) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (3) (a) and amended to read:

SB18,17,2 48.981 (3) (a) Referral of report Immediate reporting required. A person required to report under sub. (2) shall immediately inform, by telephone or personally, the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department the agency or the sheriff or city, village, or town police department of the facts and circumstances contributing to a suspicion of child abuse or neglect or of unborn child abuse or to a belief that abuse or neglect will occur.

SB18,36 Section 36. 48.981 (3) (a) 2. (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (3) (bg) (intro.) and amended to read:

SB18,17,11 48.981 (3) (bg) (intro.) Mandatory referral to agency. The Within 12 hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays, after receiving a report under par. (a), the sheriff or police department shall within 12 hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays, refer to the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department agency all of the following types of cases reported to the sheriff or police department:

SB18,37 Section 37. 48.981 (3) (a) 2. a. to d. of the statutes are renumbered 48.981 (3) (bg) 1. to 4.

SB18,38 Section 38. 48.981 (3) (a) 2d. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (3) (bp) and amended to read:

SB18,17,21 48.981 (3) (bp) Discretionary referral to agency. The sheriff or police department may refer to the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department agency a case reported to the sheriff or police department in which a person who is not a caregiver is suspected of abuse or of threatened abuse of a child.

SB18,39 Section 39. 48.981 (3) (a) 2g. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (3) (br) and amended to read:

SB18,18,3 48.981 (3) (br) Subsequent report in writing. The county department, department, or licensed child welfare agency may require that a subsequent report of a case referred under subd. 2. or 2d. par. (bg) or (bp) be made in writing.

SB18,40 Section 40. 48.981 (3) (a) 3. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (3) (cg) and amended to read:

SB18,18,15 48.981 (3) (cg) Referral to law enforcement. Except as provided in sub. (3m), a county department, the department, or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department shall within 12 hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays, after receiving a report under par. (a), the agency shall refer to the sheriff or police department all cases of suspected or threatened abuse, as defined in s. 48.02 (1) (b) to (f), reported to it. For cases of suspected or threatened abuse, as defined in s. 48.02 (1) (a), (am), (g), or (gm), or neglect, each county department, the department, and a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department agency shall adopt a written policy specifying the kinds of reports it will routinely report to local law enforcement authorities.

SB18,41 Section 41. 48.981 (3) (a) 4. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (3) (dg) and amended to read:

SB18,18,22 48.981 (3) (dg) Coordination of investigation. If the report is of suspected or threatened abuse, as defined in s. 48.02 (1) (b) to (f), the sheriff or police department and the county department, department, or licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department agency shall coordinate the planning and execution of the investigation of the report.

SB18,42 Section 42. 48.981 (3) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (3d).

SB18,43 Section 43. 48.981 (3) (bm) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (3f) (bm) and amended to read:

SB18,19,18 48.981 (3f) (bm) Notice of report to Indian to tribal agent. In a county that has wholly or partially within its boundaries a federally recognized Indian reservation or a bureau of Indian affairs service area for the Ho-Chunk tribe, if a county department An agency that receives a report under par. (a) sub. (3) pertaining to a child or an unborn child whom the agency knows or has reason to know that the child is an Indian child who resides in the county or that the unborn child is or an Indian unborn child whose expectant mother resides in the county, the county department shall, if the agency knows or has reason to know with which Indian tribe the Indian child is affiliated or with which Indian tribe the Indian unborn child may, when born, be eligible for affiliation, provide notice, which of the report to the tribal agent of that tribe. Notice shall consist only, at a minimum, of the name and address of the Indian child or expectant mother, the address of the Indian child or expectant mother or another address where the Indian child or expectant mother may be located, and the fact that a report has been received about that Indian child or Indian unborn child, and shall be made within 24 hours to one of the following: after receipt of the report or identification of the Indian child's tribe. Notice may also contain any additional information allowed by law. This paragraph does not constitute notice under s. 48.028 (4) (a) or 25 USC 1912 (a) or any other law.

Note: Applies tribal notification requirement to child protective service agencies in all counties. Eliminates the requirement that an agency provide notice if it does not know with the tribe with which the child is affiliated. Eliminates restrictions on the types of information the notice may include. Specifies that notice to a tribe of a report of suspected child abuse or neglect does not satisfy the notice obligations of any other law, including the Wisconsin Indian Child Welfare Act or the federal Indian Child Welfare Act.

SB18,44 Section 44. 48.981 (3) (bm) 1. to 3. of the statutes are repealed.

SB18,45 Section 45. 48.981 (3) (c) (title) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (3g) (title) and amended to read:

SB18,19,22 48.981 (3g) (title) Duties of county departments agencies.

SB18,46 Section 46. 48.981 (3) (c) 1. a. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (3g) (a) 1. a. and amended to read:

SB18,20,18 48.981 (3g) (a) 1. a. Immediately after receiving a report under par. (a) sub. (3), the agency shall evaluate the report to determine whether there is reason to suspect that a caregiver has abused or neglected the child, has threatened the child with abuse or neglect, or has facilitated or failed to take action to prevent the suspected or threatened abuse or neglect of the child. Except as provided in sub. (3m), if the agency determines that a caregiver is suspected of abuse or neglect or, of threatened abuse or neglect of the child, determines that a caregiver is suspected, or of facilitating or failing to take action to prevent the suspected or threatened abuse or neglect of the child, or if the agency cannot determine who abused or neglected the child, within 24 hours after receiving the report the agency shall , in accordance with the authority granted to the department under s. 48.48 (17) (a) 1. or the county department under s. 48.57 (1) (a), initiate a diligent investigation to determine if the child is in need of protection or services. If the agency determines that a person who is not a caregiver is suspected of abuse or of threatened abuse, the agency may, in accordance with that authority, initiate a diligent investigation to determine if the child is in need or of protection or services.

SB18,20,22 b. Within 24 hours after receiving a report under par. (a) sub. (3) of suspected unborn child abuse, the agency, in accordance with that authority, shall initiate a diligent investigation to determine if the unborn child is in need of protection or services.

SB18,21,3 c. An investigation under this subd. 1. a. or b. shall be conducted in accordance with the authority granted to the department under s. 48.48 (17) (a) 1. or the county department under s. 48.57 (1) (a) and in accordance with standards established by the department for conducting child abuse and neglect investigations or unborn child abuse investigations. Notwithstanding s. 227.10 (1), the department need not promulgate those standards as rules under ch. 227.

Note: Reorganizes language to make the subdivision easier to read.

SB18,47 Section 47. 48.981 (3) (c) 1. b. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (3g) (a) 2. and amended to read:

SB18,21,24 48.981 (3g) (a) 2. If the investigation is of a report of child abuse or neglect or of threatened child abuse or neglect by a caregiver specified in sub. (1) (am) 5. to 8. who continues to have access to the child or a caregiver specified in sub. (1) (am) 1. to 4., or of a report that does not disclose who is suspected of the child abuse or neglect and in which the investigation does not disclose who abused or neglected the child, the investigation shall also include observation of or an interview with the child, or both, and, if possible, an interview with the child's parents, guardian, or legal custodian. If the investigation is of a report of child abuse or neglect or threatened child abuse or neglect by a caregiver who continues to reside in the same dwelling as the child, the investigation shall also include, if possible, a visit to that dwelling. At the initial visit to the child's dwelling, the person making the investigation shall identify himself or herself and the agency involved to the child's parents, guardian, or legal custodian. The agency may contact, observe, or interview the child at any location without permission from the child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian if necessary to determine if the child is in need of protection or services , except that the person making the investigation may enter a child's dwelling only with permission from the child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian or after obtaining a court order permitting the person to do so to the extent permitted under the U.S. Constitution and the Wisconsin Constitution.

Note: Amends the authority for interviewing children absent consent by limiting such authority to that permitted under the U.S. and Wisconsin constitutions. This change responds to federal case law, such as the holding by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Doe v. Heck, 327 F.3d 492 (2003), that raises constitutional concerns regarding interviews conducted absent consent.

SB18,48 Section 48. 48.981 (3) (c) 2. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (3g) (b).

SB18,49 Section 49. 48.981 (3) (c) 2m. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (3g) (bm).

SB18,50 Section 50. 48.981 (3) (c) 3. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (3g) (c) and amended to read:

SB18,22,18 48.981 (3g) (c) Offer of services; filing of petitions. If the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department agency determines that a child, any member of the child's family, or the child's guardian or legal custodian is in need of services or that the expectant mother of an unborn child is in need of services, the county department, department or licensed child welfare agency shall offer to provide appropriate services or to make arrangements for the provision of services. If the child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian or the expectant mother refuses to accept the services, the county department, department or licensed child welfare agency may request that a petition be filed under s. 48.13 alleging that the child who is the subject of the report or any other child in the home is in need of protection or services or that a petition be filed under s. 48.133 alleging that the unborn child who is the subject of the report is in need of protection or services. The agency may also petition for child abuse restraining orders and injunctions under s. 48.25 (6).

Note: Consolidates 2 provisions by adding the authority to file petitions for restraining orders and injunctions with the authority to file petitions alleging that a child is in need of protective services.

SB18,51 Section 51. 48.981 (3) (c) 4. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (3g) (d) and amended to read:

SB18,23,16 48.981 (3g) (d) Abuse or neglect determination. The county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department shall determine, If a report is investigated under par. (a), within 60 days after receipt of a report that the county department, department, or licensed child welfare agency investigates under subd. 1., the report the agency shall determine whether abuse or neglect has occurred or is likely to occur. The determination shall be based on a preponderance of the evidence produced by the investigation. A determination that abuse or neglect has occurred may not be based solely on the fact that the child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian in good faith selects and relies on prayer or other religious means for treatment of disease or for remedial care of the child. In making a determination that emotional damage has occurred, the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department agency shall give due regard to the culture of the subjects. This subdivision paragraph does not prohibit a court from ordering medical services for the child if the child's health requires it those services.

SB18,52 Section 52. 48.981 (3) (c) 5. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (3g) (h) 1.

Note: Renumbers a provision regarding agency recordkeeping requirements to place it near other recordkeeping requirements.

SB18,53 Section 53. 48.981 (3) (c) 5m. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (3g) (e) and amended to read:

SB18,24,13 48.981 (3g) (e) Right to appeal determination. If the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department determines Within 15 days after a determination is made under subd. 4. par. (d) that a specific person has abused or neglected a child, the county department, department or licensed child welfare agency, within 15 days after the date of the determination, agency shall notify the person in writing of the determination, the person's right to appeal the determination, and the procedure by which the person may appeal the determination, and the person may appeal the determination in accordance with the procedures established by the department under this subdivision paragraph. The department shall promulgate rules establishing procedures for conducting an appeal under this subdivision paragraph. Those procedures shall include a procedure permitting such an appeal under this subdivision to be held in abeyance pending the outcome of any criminal investigation or proceedings or any investigation or proceedings under s. 48.13 based on the alleged abuse or neglect or the outcome of any investigation that may lead to the filing of a criminal complaint or a petition under s. 48.13 based on the alleged abuse or neglect.

SB18,54 Section 54. 48.981 (3) (c) 5r. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (3g) (h) 2. and amended to read:

SB18,24,23 48.981 (3g) (h) 2. If the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department determines under subd. 4. Within 15 days after a determination is made under par. (d) that a specific person has abused or neglected a child, the county department, department, or licensed child welfare agency, within 15 days after the date of the determination, agency shall provide the subunit of the department that administers s. 48.685 with information about the person who has been determined to have abused or neglected the child.

SB18,55 Section 55. 48.981 (3) (c) 6. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (3g) (f) and amended to read:

SB18,25,5 48.981 (3g) (f) Action taken; information to mandatory reporter. The agency shall, within Within 60 days after it receives receiving a report from a person required under sub. (2) to report, the agency shall inform the reporter what action, if any, was taken to protect the health and welfare of the child or unborn child who is the subject of the report.

SB18,56 Section 56. 48.981 (3) (c) 6m. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (3g) (fm) and amended to read: