AB785: Bill Text

LRB-4925/2

EHS:klm&wlj

2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE

2017 Assembly BILL 785

December 27, 2017 - Introduced by Representatives Snyder, Doyle, Katsma, Billings, Kitchens, Crowley, Rodriguez, Meyers, Pronschinske, Subeck, Novak, Ballweg, Anderson, Barca, Berceau, E. Brooks, Genrich, Jacque, Jagler, Krug, Kulp, Mursau, Petersen, Petryk, Quinn, Ripp, Rohrkaste, Sargent, Schraa, Shankland, Sinicki, Spiros, Spreitzer, Steineke, Summerfield, C. Taylor, Tittl, Tranel, VanderMeer and Vruwink, cosponsored by Senators Petrowski, Johnson, Bewley, Larson, Olsen, L. Taylor and Vinehout. Referred to Committee on Children and Families.

AB785,1,2 An Act to create 49.175 (1) (uk) of the statutes; relating to: funding for child abuse and neglect prevention grants.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the Department of Children and Families is directed to allocate in each fiscal year specific amounts of money, including federal moneys received under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant program, for various public assistance programs. This bill directs $500,000 of TANF funding in each fiscal year to be used for grants to counties, nonprofit organizations, or tribes to fund child abuse and neglect prevention services. The bill requires DCF to award the grants with the purpose of encouraging innovative practices aimed at reducing the contact that families may have with the child welfare system and preventing the removal of children from their homes. The bill requires a grant recipient to provide matching funds equal to 9.89 percent of the grant amount awarded. The bill requires DCF to evaluate the grant program and, starting June 30, 2021, and in each odd-numbered year thereafter, report on the evaluation to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature.

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:

AB785,1 Section 1. 49.175 (1) (uk) of the statutes is created to read:

AB785,2,11 49.175 (1) (uk) Grants for prevention services. For grants to counties, nonprofit organizations, or tribes to fund child abuse and neglect prevention services, $500,000 in each fiscal year. The department shall award the grants with the purpose of encouraging innovative practices aimed at reducing the contact that families have with the child welfare system and preventing the removal of children from their homes. A grant recipient shall provide matching funds equal to 9.89 percent of the grant amount awarded. The department shall conduct an evaluation of the effectiveness of the grant program in achieving its stated goals and, by June 30, 2021, and each odd-numbered year thereafter, shall submit a report on that evaluation to the appropriate standing committees under s. 13.172 (3).

AB785,2,12 (End)