LRB-4279/1
AJM:klm
2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE
October 26, 2017 - Introduced by Representatives Shankland, Anderson,
Berceau, Billings, Brostoff, Considine, Crowley, Fields, Goyke, Hebl,
Hesselbein, Hintz, Kolste, Mason, Ohnstad, Pope, Sinicki, Spreitzer, C.
Taylor
, Vruwink, Wachs, Zamarripa and Barca, cosponsored by Senators
Erpenbach, Vinehout, Hansen, Larson, Ringhand and Wirch. Referred to
Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs.
AB591,1,2 1An Act to create 13.94 (1) (bv) of the statutes; relating to: receiving reports of
2mismanagement, abuse, or neglect at state veterans homes.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires the Legislative Audit Bureau to maintain a toll-free
telephone number for the purpose of receiving reports of mismanagement, abuse, or
neglect at the state veterans homes from the veterans homes' employees, residents,
or families of residents. Under the bill, the LAB is required to conduct an
investigation of the report or refer the report to a department to conduct the
investigation. The bill requires the LAB to keep the identity of any informant
confidential unless the informant expressly agrees to the release of records that
reveal the informant's identity. Except as necessary to complete an investigation, the
LAB must keep confidential a report, an investigation of that report, and any
information from that investigation until the investigation is complete.
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:
AB591,1 3Section 1. 13.94 (1) (bv) of the statutes is created to read:
AB591,2,134 13.94 (1) (bv) 1. Maintain a toll-free telephone number with voice mail at the
5bureau's office to receive reports of any mismanagement, abuse, or neglect at state

1veterans homes, as defined under s. 45.01 (12m), from employees, residents of the
2veterans homes, or residents' families. Except as provided in subd. 2., the bureau
3shall relay these reports to the appropriate bureau employee for investigation. If the
4bureau has a bureau employee investigate the report, the employee may, subject to
5subd. 3., consult with any department for any purpose related to the investigation.
6The bureau shall publicize the toll-free telephone number on the bureau's Internet
7site. The bureau shall maintain records that permit the release of information
8provided by informants while protecting the identity of the informant. Any records
9maintained by the bureau that relate to the identity of informants shall be only for
10the confidential use of the bureau in the administration of this section, unless the
11informant expressly agrees to release the records. Appearance in court as a witness
12shall not be considered consent by an informant to release confidential records
13maintained by the bureau.
AB591,2,1714 2. In lieu of requiring a bureau employee to conduct an investigation of a report
15received under subd. 1., the bureau may refer a report to a department for
16investigation. The department shall conduct the investigation and deliver the
17results of the investigation to the bureau in a timely manner.
AB591,2,2118 3. The bureau shall at all times before an investigation of a report received
19under subd. 1. is completed keep confidential the report and investigation and any
20information arising from the investigation, except as necessary to conduct the
21investigation.
AB591,2,2222 (End)
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