AB710: Bill Text

LRB-2840/1

TJD:amn

2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE

2015 Assembly BILL 710

January 13, 2016 - Introduced by Representatives Tittl, Ballweg, Billings, Brostoff, Kolste, Krug, Murphy, Petryk, Quinn, Subeck, VanderMeer and Horlacher, cosponsored by Senator Lassa. Referred to Committee on Health.

AB710,1,2 An Act to create 51.02 (3) of the statutes; relating to: stipends for the Wisconsin Council on Mental Health.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill requires the Department of Health Services (DHS) to pay a stipend to public members of the Wisconsin Council on Mental Health who meet certain financial and other criteria if moneys other than general purpose revenue are available. The bill allows DHS to pay a stipend to individuals who serve as appointed members of a committee of the council and who meet certain financial and other criteria if all eligible public members have received a stipend. DHS, in consultation with the council, must determine stipend amounts, minimum financial need criteria, and any other eligibility criteria. Currently, the council is in DHS and is comprised of not less than 21 nor more than 25 members. The council is required to, among other duties, advise DHS, the legislature, and the governor on use of state and federal resources and on provision and administration of programs for persons who have a mental illness; review all DHS plans for services affecting persons with mental illness; and serve as an advocate for persons with mental illness. Under current law, generally, council members may not be compensated for their services but must be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties related to the council.

For further information see the state 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:

AB710,1 Section 1. 51.02 (3) of the statutes is created to read:

AB710,2,3 51.02 (3) (a) Notwithstanding s. 15.09 (6), the department shall pay a stipend to a public member of the council on mental health if all of the following are true:

AB710,2,4 1. Moneys other than general purpose revenue are available to pay the stipend.

AB710,2,6 2. The public member has financial need and meets any other criteria established under par. (c).

AB710,2,9 (b) Notwithstanding s. 15.09 (6), the department may pay a stipend to an individual who is not a public member of the council on mental health but who serves as an appointed member of a committee of the council if all of the following are true:

AB710,2,10 1. Moneys other than general purpose revenue are available to pay the stipend.

AB710,2,12 2. The individual has financial need and meets any other criteria established under par. (c).

AB710,2,14 3. All eligible public members of the council have received a stipend under par. (a).

AB710,2,18 (c) The department, in consultation with the council on mental health, shall determine the amount of a stipend, minimum financial need criteria, and any other criteria a public member or an appointed individual are required to meet to be eligible to receive a stipend under par. (a) or (b).

AB710,2,19 (End)