1997 Wisconsin Act 105

(e) The department shall determine whether the child is eligible for medical assistance under ss. 49.43 to 49.47.

(f) Any person whose application for payments under par. (am) is not acted on promptly or is denied on the grounds that a condition specified in par. (am) 1., 2., 5., 5m. or 5r. has not been met and any person whose payments under par. (am) are discontinued under par. (d) may petition the department under par. (g) for a review of that action or failure to act. Review is unavailable if the action or failure to act arose more than 45 days before submission of the petition for review.

(g) 1. Upon receipt of a timely petition under par. (f) the department shall give the applicant or recipient reasonable notice and an opportunity for a fair hearing. The department may make such additional investigation as it considers necessary. Notice of the hearing shall be given to the applicant or recipient and to the county department or subunit of the department whose action or failure to act is the subject of the petition. That county department or subunit of the department may be represented at the hearing. The department shall render its decision as soon as possible after the hearing and shall send a certified copy of its decision to the applicant or recipient and to the county department or subunit of the department whose action or failure to act is the subject of the petition. The decision of the department shall have the same effect as an order of the county department or subunit of the department whose action or failure to act is the subject of the petition. The decision shall be final, but may be revoked or modified as altered conditions may require. The department shall deny a petition for review or shall refuse to grant relief if any of the following applies:

a. The petitioner withdraws the petition in writing.

b. The sole issue in the petition concerns an automatic payment adjustment or change that affects an entire class of recipients and is the result of a change in state law.

c. The petitioner abandons the petition. Abandonment occurs if the petitioner fails to appear in person or by a representative at a scheduled hearing without good cause, as determined by the department.

2. If a recipient requests a hearing within 10 days after the date of notice that his or her payments under par. (am) are being discontinued, those payments may not be discontinued until a decision is rendered after the hearing but payments made pending the hearing decision may be recovered by the department if the contested action or failure to act is upheld. The department shall promptly notify the county department of the county in which the recipient resides or, if the recipient resides in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the subunit of the department administering of the long-term kinship care program in that county that the recipient has requested a hearing. Payments under par. (am) shall be discontinued if any of the following applies:

a. The recipient is contesting a state law or a change in state law and not the determination of the payment made on the recipient's behalf.

b. The recipient is notified of a change in his or her payments under par. (am) while the hearing decision is pending but the recipient fails to request a hearing on the change.

3. The recipient shall be promptly informed in writing if his or her payments under par. (am) are to be discontinued pending the hearing decision.

Note: Creates the long-term kinship care program described above in the Prefatory note.

105,10 Section 10 . 48.57 (3p) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.57 (3p) (a) In this subsection, “adult resident" means a person 18 years of age or over who lives at the home of a person who has applied for or is receiving payments under sub. (3m) or (3n) with the intent of making that home his or her home or who lives for more than 30 days cumulative in any 6-month period at the home of a person who has applied for or is receiving payments under sub. (3m) or (3n).

Note: With respect to the definition of “adult resident" for purposes of criminal background investigations, reflects the creation of the long-term kinship care program by this bill.

105,11d Section 11d. 48.57 (3p) (b) 1. of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

48.57 (3p) (b) 1. After receipt of an application for payments under sub. (3m) or (3n), the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services, with the assistance of the department of justice, shall conduct a background investigation of the applicant.

105,12 Section 12 . 48.57 (3p) (b) 3. of the statutes is created to read:

48.57 (3p) (b) 3. The county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services, with the assistance of the department of justice, may conduct a background investigation of any person who is receiving payments under sub. (3n) at any time that the county department or department of health and family services considers to be appropriate.

105,13d Section 13d. 48.57 (3p) (c) 1. of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

48.57 (3p) (c) 1. After receipt of an application for payments under sub. (3m) or (3n), the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services, with the assistance of the department of justice, shall, in addition to the investigation under par. (b) 1., conduct a background investigation of all employes and prospective employes of the applicant who have or would have regular contact with the child for whom those payments are being made and of each adult resident.

105,14 Section 14 . 48.57 (3p) (c) 2m. of the statutes is created to read:

48.57 (3p) (c) 2m. The county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services, with the assistance of the department of justice, may conduct a background investigation of any of the employes or prospective employes of any person who is receiving payments under sub. (3n) who have or would have regular contact with the child for whom payments are being made and of each adult resident at any time that the county department or department of health and family services considers to be appropriate.

105,15d Section 15d. 48.57 (3p) (c) 3. of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Acts 27 and 35, is amended to read:

48.57 (3p) (c) 3. Before a person who is receiving payments under sub. (3m) or (3n) may employ any person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom those payments are being made or permit any person to be an adult resident, the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services, with the assistance of the department of justice, shall conduct a background investigation of the prospective employe or prospective adult resident unless that person has already been investigated under subd. 1. or , 2. or 2m.

105,16 Section 16 . 48.57 (3p) (fm) 1m. of the statutes is created to read:

48.57 (3p) (fm) 1m. The county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services may not enter into the agreement under sub. (3n) (am) 6. unless the county department or department of health and family services receives information from the department of justice relating to the conviction record of the applicant under the law of this state and that record indicates either that the applicant has not been arrested or convicted or that the applicant has been arrested or convicted but the director of the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the person designated by the secretary of health and family services to review conviction records under this subdivision determines that the conviction record is satisfactory because it does not include any arrest or conviction that the director or person designated by the secretary determines is likely to adversely affect the child or the long-term kinship care relative's ability to care for the child. The county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services may make payments under sub. (3n) conditioned on the receipt of information from the federal bureau of investigation indicating that the person's conviction record under the law of any other state or under federal law is satisfactory because the conviction record does not include any arrest or conviction that the director of the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the person designated by the secretary of health and family services to review conviction records under this subdivision determines is likely to adversely affect the child or the long-term kinship care relative's ability to care for the child.

105,17 Section 17 . 48.57 (3p) (fm) 2m. of the statutes is created to read:

48.57 (3p) (fm) 2m. A person receiving payments under sub. (3n) may provisionally employ a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom those payments are being made or provisionally permit a person to be an adult resident if the person receiving those payments states to the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services that, to the best of his or her knowledge, the employe or adult resident does not have any arrests or convictions that could adversely affect the child or the ability of the person receiving payments to care for the child. A person receiving payment under sub. (3n) may not finally employ a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom those payments are being made or finally permit a person to be an adult resident until the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services receives information from the department of justice relating to the person's conviction record under the law of this state and that record indicates either that the person has not been arrested or convicted or that the person has been arrested or convicted but the director of the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the person designated by the secretary of health and family services to review conviction records under this subdivision determines that the conviction record is satisfactory because it does not include any arrest or conviction that is likely to adversely affect the child or the long-term kinship care relative's ability to care for the child and the county department or department of health and family services so advises the person receiving payments under sub. (3n). A person receiving payments under sub. (3n) may finally employ a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom those payments are being made or finally permit a person to be an adult resident conditioned on the receipt of information from the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services that the federal bureau of investigation indicates that the person's conviction record under the law of any other state or under federal law is satisfactory because the conviction record does not include any arrest or conviction that the director of the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the person designated by the secretary of health and family services to review conviction records under this subdivision determines is likely to adversely affect the child or the long-term kinship care relative's ability to care for the child.

105,18 Section 18 . 48.57 (3p) (hm) of the statutes is created to read:

48.57 (3p) (hm) A county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department may not make payments to a person under sub. (3n) and a person receiving payments under sub. (3n) may not employ a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom payments are being made or permit a person to be an adult resident if the director of the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the person designated by the secretary to review conviction records under this paragraph determines that the person has any arrest or conviction that is likely to adversely affect the child or the long-term kinship care relative's ability to care for the child.

105,19d Section 19d. 48.57 (3t) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

48.57 (3t) Notwithstanding subs. (3m), (3n) and (3p), the department may enter into an agreement with the governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band to allow that governing body to administer the program under subs. (3m), (3n) and (3p) within the boundaries of that reservation. Any agreement under this subsection relating to the administration of the program under sub. (3m) shall specify the person with whom a request for review under sub. (3p) (h) 2. may be filed and the person who has been designated by the governing body to conduct the review under sub. (3p) (h) 3. and make the determination under sub. (3p) (h) 4. Any agreement under this subsection relating to the administration of the program under sub. (3n) shall specify who is to make any determination as to whether a conviction record is satisfactory.

Note: Does the following:

1. Amends the provision which allows DHFS to enter into an agreement with an Indian tribe to administer the kinship care program to add a parallel provision for the long-term kinship care program and a parallel provision for an Indian band.

2. Provides that with respect to the long-term kinship care program, the agreement must specify who is to make the decision as to whether a conviction record is satisfactory.

105,20d Section 20d. 49.155 (1m) (a) (intro.) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

49.155 (1m) (a) (intro.) The individual is a parent of a child who is under the age of 13, or is a person who, under s. 48.57 (3m) or (3n), is providing care and maintenance for a child who is under the age of 13, and child care services for that child are needed in order for the individual to do any of the following:

Note: Current law provides, in pertinent part, that a kinship care relative who is providing care and maintenance for a child who is under age 13 may be eligible for a Wisconsin works child care subsidy under certain circumstances. This bill adds a parallel provision for a long-term kinship care relative, as defined in s. 48.57 (3n), stats., as created by the bill.

105,20g Section 20g. 49.155 (1m) (a) 1m. b. of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 41, is amended to read:

49.155 (1m) (a) 1m. b. The individual has not yet attained the age of 18 years and the individual resides with his or her custodial parent or with a kinship care relative under s. 48.57 (3m) or with a long-term kinship care relative under s. 48.57 (3n) or is in a foster home or treatment foster home licensed under s. 48.62, a group home or an independent living arrangement supervised by an adult.

105,20m Section 20m. 49.175 (1) (w) 1. of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

49.175 (1) (w) 1. (title) `Kinship care and long-term kinship care assistance.' For the kinship care program and long-term kinship care programs under s. 48.57 (3m), (3n) and (3p), $15,720,400 in fiscal year 1997-98 and $22,116,400 in fiscal year 1998-99.

105,21d Section 21d. 49.22 (6) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

49.22 (6) The department shall establish, pursuant to federal and state laws, rules and regulations, a uniform system of fees for services provided under this section to individuals not receiving aid under s. 46.261, 49.19 or 49.47 or benefits under s. 49.148 or 49.155 and to individuals not receiving kinship care payments under s. 48.57 (3m) or long-term kinship care payments under s. 48.57 (3n). The system of fees may take into account an individual's ability to pay. Any fee paid and collected under this subsection may be retained by the county providing the service except for the fee specified in 42 USC 653 (e) (2) for federal parent locator services.

Note: Current law provides that the uniform system of fees established by DHFS for services under s. 49.22, stats., that is, for services related to the child and spousal support and establishment of paternity and medical liability support program, do not apply to certain persons, including individuals receiving kinship care payments under s. 48.57 (3m), stats. This bill adds a parallel provision for individuals receiving long-term kinship care payments under s. 48.57 (3n), stats., as created by the bill.

105,22 Section 22 . 49.22 (7m) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.22 (7m) The department may contract with or employ a collection agency or other person to enforce a support obligation of a parent who is delinquent in making support payments and may contract with or employ an attorney to appear in an action in state or federal court to enforce such an obligation. To pay for the department's administrative costs of implementing this subsection, the department may charge a fee to counties, retain up to 50% of any incentive payment made to this state under 42 USC 658 for a collection under this subsection, and retain 30% of this state's share of a collection made under this subsection on behalf of a recipient of aid to families with dependent children or a recipient of kinship care payments under s. 48.57 (3m) or long-term kinship care payments under s. 48.57 (3n).

Note: With respect to collections made under the child and spousal support enforcement program, adds a provision to include collections made on behalf of a recipient of long-term kinship care payments under s. 48.57 (3n), stats., as created by the bill, on the same basis as collections made on behalf of a recipient of kinship care payments under s. 48.57 (3m), stats.

105,23 Section 23 . 49.23 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.23 (1) From the appropriation under s. 20.445 (3) (cb), the department shall award grants to counties for programs to revise child support orders. Each county receiving a grant shall review child support orders awarded to persons who receive benefits under s. 48.57 (3m) or (3n) or 49.148 or whose children receive benefits under s. 49.19 and to persons who do not receive benefits under s. 48.57 (3m) or (3n) or 49.148 and whose children do not receive benefits under s. 49.19 and shall initiate actions to revise the orders based on that review. Each county receiving a grant shall review child support orders awarded to persons who receive benefits under s. 48.57 (3m) or (3n) or 49.148 or whose children receive benefits under s. 49.19 and child support orders awarded to persons who do not receive benefits under s. 48.57 (3m) or (3n) or 49.148 and whose children do not receive benefits under s. 49.19 in proportion to the number of those 2 categories of orders in the county's child support case load. Before a county may initiate an action to revise a child support order under this subsection for a person who does not receive benefits under s. 48.57 (3m) or (3n) or 49.148 and whose children do not receive benefits under s. 49.19, the custodial parent of the children must voluntarily consent to the revision.

Note: With respect to the child support order revision program, adds provisions to include child support orders awarded to persons who receive long-term kinship care payments under s. 48.57 (3n), stats., as created by the bill, on the same basis as child support orders awarded to persons who receive kinship care payments under s. 48.57 (3m), stats.

105,24 Section 24 . 49.23 (2) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

49.23 (2) (a) 1. Provides an incentive for a county to increase its child support collections for persons who receive benefits under s. 48.57 (3m) or (3n) or 49.148 or whose children receive benefits under s. 46.261 or 49.19 as well as for persons who do not receive benefits under s. 48.57 (3m) or (3n) or 49.148 and whose children do not receive benefits under s. 46.261 or 49.19.

Note: With respect to the child support collection incentive program, adds provisions to include child support collections for person who receive long-term kinship care payments under s. 48.57 (3n), stats., as created by the bill, on the same basis as child support collections for persons who receive kinship care payments under s. 48.57 (3m), stats.

105,25 Section 25 . 49.46 (1) (a) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

49.46 (1) (a) 5. Any child in an adoption assistance, foster care, kinship care, long-term kinship care or treatment foster care placement under ch. 48 or 938, as determined by the department.

Note: See Note following the next Section.

105,26 Section 26 . 49.46 (1) (a) 16. of the statutes is amended to read:

49.46 (1) (a) 16. Any child who is living with a relative who is eligible to receive payments under s. 48.57 (3m) or (3n) with respect to that child, if the department determines that no other insurance is available to the child.

Note: Current law provides that certain individuals are eligible for MA, including a child who is in a kinship care placement under ch. 48, stats., as determined by DHFS, or a child who is living with a relative who is eligible to receive kinship care payments with respect to the child, if DHFS determines that no other insurance is available to the child. This bill adds a parallel provision for a long-term kinship care relative, as defined in s. 48.57 (3n), stats., as created by this bill.

105,27 Section 27 . 49.96 of the statutes is amended to read:

49.96 Assistance grants exempt from levy. All grants of aid to families with dependent children, payments made under ss. 48.57 (3m) or (3n) or 49.148 (1) (b) to 49.159, payments made for social services, cash benefits paid by counties under s. 59.53 (21), and benefits under s. 49.77 or federal Title XVI, are exempt from every tax, and from execution, garnishment, attachment and every other process and shall be inalienable.

Note: Current law provides that certain types of assistance payments, including kinship care payments under s. 48.57 (3m), stats., are exempt from levy. This bill adds a parallel exemption for long-term kinship care payments under s. 48.57 (3n), stats., as created by the bill.

105,27g Section 27g. 49.96 of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Acts 27 and .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

49.96 Assistance grants exempt from levy. All grants of aid to families with dependent children, payments made under ss. 48.57 (3m) or (3n), 49.148 (1) (b) 1. or (c) or (1m) or 49.149 to 49.159, payments made for social services, cash benefits paid by counties under s. 59.53 (21), and benefits under s. 49.77 or federal Title XVI, are exempt from every tax, and from execution, garnishment, attachment and every other process and shall be inalienable.

105,27m Section 27m. 50.065 (1) (c) 2. of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

50.065 (1) (c) 2. Kinship care under s. 48.57 (3m) or long-term kinship care under s. 48.57 (3n).

105,28 Section 28 . 767.045 (1) (c) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

767.045 (1) (c) 1. Aid is provided under s. 46.261, 48.57 (3m) or (3n), 49.19 or 49.45 on behalf of the child, or benefits are provided to the child's custodial parent under ss. 49.141 to 49.161, but the state and its delegate under s. 49.22 (7) are barred by a statute of limitations from commencing an action under s. 767.45 on behalf of the child.

Note: With respect to the circumstances under which a guardian ad litem is appointed for a child in an action involving the family when requested by the IV-D attorney, adds a provision to require the court, if so requested, to appoint a guardian ad litem, if long-term kinship care payments under s. 48.57 (3n), stats., as created by the bill, are paid on behalf of the child on the same basis as if kinship care payments under s. 48.57 (3m), stats., are paid on behalf of the child.

105,29 Section 29 . 767.075 (1) (c) and (cm) of the statutes are amended to read:

767.075 (1) (c) Whenever aid under s. 46.261, 48.57 (3m) or (3n), 49.19 or 49.45 is provided on behalf of a dependent child or benefits are provided to the child's custodial parent under ss. 49.141 to 49.161.

(cm) Whenever aid under s. 46.261, 48.57 (3m) or (3n), 49.19 or 49.45 has, in the past, been provided on behalf of a dependent child, or benefits have, in the past, been provided to the child's custodial parent under ss. 49.141 to 49.161, and the child's family is eligible for continuing child support services under 45 CFR 302.33.

Note: With respect to the circumstances under which the state is a real party in interest for purposes of establishing paternity and securing reimbursement of aid paid, future support and costs as appropriate in an action affecting the family, adds a provision to provide that the state is a real party in interest when long-term kinship care payments under s. 48.57 (3n), stats., as created by the bill, are provided or in the past have been provided on behalf of a dependent child on the same basis as the state is a real party in interest when kinship care payments under s. 48.57 (3m), stats., are provided or in the past have been provided on behalf of a dependent child.

105,30d Section 30d. 767.077 (intro.) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

767.077 Support for dependent child. (intro.) The state or its delegate under s. 49.22 (7) shall bring an action for support of a minor child under s. 767.02 (1) (f) or, if appropriate, for paternity determination and child support under s. 767.45 whenever the child's right to support is assigned to the state under s. 46.261, 48.57 (3m) (b) 2. or (3n) (b) 2., 49.145 (2) (s), 49.19 (4) (h) 1. b. or 49.775 (2) (bm) if all of the following apply:

Note: With respect to when the state must bring an action for paternity determination and child support, adds a provision to require the state to bring such an action when the child's right to support is assigned to the state under the long-term kinship care program under s. 48.57 (3n) (b) 2., stats., as created by the bill, on the same basis as the state is required to bring such an action when the child's right to support is assigned to the state under the kinship care program under s. 48.57 (3m) (b) 2., stats.

105,31 Section 31 . 767.078 (1) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

767.078 (1) (a) 2. The child's right to support is assigned to the state under s. 48.57 (3m) (b) 2. or (3n) (b) 2. or 49.19 (4) (h) 1. b.

Note: With respect to orders for a parent to seek employment or to participate in job training in a “case involving a dependent child", as defined in s. 767.078, stats., includes in that definition an action in which the child's right to support is assigned to the state under the long-term kinship care program under s. 48.57 (3n) (b) 2., stats., as created by the bill, on the same basis as that definition includes an action in which the child's right to support is assigned to the state under the kinship care program under s. 48.57 (3m) (b) 2., stats.

105,32 Section 32 . 767.29 (1m) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

767.29 (1m) (c) The party entitled to the support or maintenance money has applied for or is receiving aid to families with dependent children and there is an assignment to the state under s. 48.57 (3m) (b) 2. or 49.19 (4) (h) 1. b. of the party's right to the support or maintenance money.

Note: See Note following the next Section.

105,33 Section 33 . 767.29 (1m) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:

767.29 (1m) (cm) A kinship care relative or a long-term kinship care relative of the child who is entitled to the support money has applied for or is receiving kinship care payments or long-term kinship care payments for that child and there is an assignment to the state under s. 48.57 (3m) (b) 2. or (3n) (b) 2. of the child's right to the support money.

Note: With respect to the receipt and disbursement of child support and family support payments, permits the clerk of court or the support collection designee to hold any overpayment if a long-term kinship care relative of the child who is entitled to the payment has applied for or is receiving long-term kinship care payments and there is an assignment to the state of the child's right to support under the long-term kinship care program under s. 48.57 (3n) (b) 2., stats., as created by the bill, on the same basis as the clerk of court or the support collection designee may hold any overpayment if a kinship care relative of the child who is entitled to the payment has applied for or is receiving kinship care payments and there is an assignment to the state of the child's right to support under the kinship care program under s. 48.57 (3m) (b) 2., stats.

105,34 Section 34 . 767.29 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

767.29 (2) If any party entitled to maintenance payments or support money, or both, is receiving public assistance under ch. 49, the party may assign the party's right thereto to the county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23 granting such assistance. Such assignment shall be approved by order of the court granting the maintenance payments or support money, and may be terminated in like manner; except that it shall not be terminated in cases where there is any delinquency in the amount of maintenance payments and support money previously ordered or adjudged to be paid to the assignee without the written consent of the assignee or upon notice to the assignee and hearing. When an assignment of maintenance payments or support money, or both, has been approved by the order, the assignee shall be deemed a real party in interest within s. 803.01 but solely for the purpose of securing payment of unpaid maintenance payments or support money adjudged or ordered to be paid, by participating in proceedings to secure the payment thereof. Notwithstanding assignment under this subsection, and without further order of the court, the clerk of court or support collection designee, upon receiving notice that a party or a minor child of the parties is receiving aid under s. 49.19 or that a kinship care relative or long-term kinship care relative of the minor child is receiving kinship care payments or long-term kinship care payments for the minor child, shall forward all support assigned under s. 48.57 (3m) (b) 2. or (3n) (b) 2., 49.19 (4) (h) 1. or 49.45 (19) to the department.

Note: With respect to the receipt and disbursement of child support and family support payments, requires the clerk of court or support collection designee, on receiving notice that a long-term kinship care relative of a minor child who is entitled to child support is receiving long-term kinship care payments, to forward all support assigned under the long-term kinship care program under s. 48.57 (3n) (b) 2., stats., as created by the bill, to DHFS on the same basis as the clerk of court or support collection designee, on receiving notice that a kinship care relative of a minor child who is entitled to child support is receiving kinship care payments, forwards all support assigned under the kinship care program under s. 48.57 (3m) (b) 2., stats., to DHFS.