SB451: Bill Text

SB451, s. 23 Section 23. 48.685 (3) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

SB451,15,16 48.685 (3) (c) Every 4 years or at any time within that period that a person required to obtain the information specified in sub. (2) (b) 1m. a. to e. considers appropriate, that person shall request that information for all persons who are employes, contractors or volunteers of a court-appointed special advocate program.

SB451, s. 24 Section 24. 48.685 (3m) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

SB451,16,2 48.685 (3m) Notwithstanding subs. (2) (b) 1. and 1m. and (3) (b) and (c), if the department, a county department or a school board has obtained the information required under sub. (2) (am) or (3) (a) with respect to a person specified in sub. (2) (a) (intro.) and that person is also an employe, contractor or resident of an entity, or is also an employe, contractor or volunteer of a court-appointed special advocate program, the entity or person who is required to obtain the information under sub. (2) (b) 1m. or (3) (c) is not required to obtain the information specified in sub. (2) (b) 1. or 1m. or (3) (b) or (c) with respect to that person.

SB451, s. 25 Section 25. 48.685 (4) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

SB451,16,7 48.685 (4) An entity or a court-appointed special advocate program that violates sub. (2) or (3) may be required to forfeit not more than $1,000 and may be subject to other sanctions specified by the department by rule.

SB451, s. 26 Section 26. 48.685 (5) (intro.) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

SB451,16,24 48.685 (5) (intro.) The department may license to operate an entity, a county department may certify under s. 48.651 and a school board may contract with under s. 120.13 (14) a person who otherwise may not be licensed, certified or contracted with for a reason specified in sub. (2) (a) 1. to 5., and an entity may employ, contract with or permit to reside at the entity a person who otherwise may not be employed, contracted with or permitted to reside at the entity for a reason specified in sub. (2) (ag) 1. to 5. and a court-appointed special advocate program may employe, contract with or appoint as a volunteer a person who otherwise may not be employed, contracted with or appointed as a volunteer of the court-appointed special advocate program for a reason specified in sub. (2) (ag) 1. to 5., if the person demonstrates to the department, the county department or the, licensed child welfare agency, county board or school board by clear and convincing evidence and in accordance with procedures established by the department by rule that he or she has been rehabilitated. No person who has been convicted of any of the following offenses may be permitted to demonstrate that he or she has been rehabilitated:

SB451, s. 27 Section 27. 48.685 (5c) (a) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

SB451,17,8 48.685 (5c) (a) Any person who is permitted but fails under sub. (5) to demonstrate to the department or to a licensed child welfare agency that he or she has been rehabilitated may appeal to the secretary of health and family services or his or her designee. Any person who is adversely affected by a decision of the secretary or his or her designee under this paragraph has a right to a contested case hearing under ch. 227.

SB451, s. 28 Section 28. 48.685 (5c) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:

SB451,17,17 48.685 (5c) (bm) Any person who is permitted but fails under sub. (5) to demonstrate to the county board that he or she has been rehabilitated may appeal to the chairperson of the county board or his or her designee or, in a county that has a county executive or a county administrator, to the county executive or county administrator or his or her designee. Any person who is adversely affected by a decision of the chairperson of the county board, the county executive, the county administrator or his or her designee under this paragraph has a right to appeal the decision under ch. 68.

SB451, s. 29 Section 29. 48.685 (5m) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

SB451,18,6 48.685 (5m) Notwithstanding s. 111.335, the department may refuse to license a person to operate an entity, a county department may refuse to certify a day care provider under s. 48.651, a school board may refuse to contract with a person under s. 120.13 (14), and an entity may refuse to employ, contract with or permit to reside at the entity a person specified in sub. (2) (ag) (intro.) and a court-appointed special advocate program may refuse to employe, contract with or appoint as a volunteer a person specified in sub. (2) (ag) (intro.) if the person has been convicted of an offense that the department has not defined as a "serious crime" by rule promulgated under sub. (7) (a), or specified in the list established by rule under sub. (7) (b), but that is, in the estimation of the department, county department, licensed child welfare agency, county board, school board or entity, substantially related to the care of a client.

SB451, s. 30 Section 30. 48.685 (6) (ap) of the statutes is created to read:

SB451,18,13 48.685 (6) (ap) Every 4 years a court-appointed special advocate program shall require all employes, prospective employes, contractors, prospective contractors, volunteers and prospective volunteers who will be under the control of the court-appointed special advocate program and who have, or are expected to have, access to its clients to complete a background information form that is provided by the department.

SB451, s. 31 Section 31. 48.685 (6) (b) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

SB451,18,23 48.685 (6) (b) For persons specified under par. (a) who are regulated, licensed or certified by, or registered with, the department, for persons specified in par. (am) 2., and for other persons specified by the department by rule, the entity shall send the background information form to the department. For all other persons specified in par. (a) and for persons specified under par. (am) 1. or (ap), the entity or court-appointed special advocate program shall maintain the background information form on file for inspection by the department, county department, county board, licensed child welfare agency or school board, whichever is applicable.

SB451, s. 32 Section 32. 48.981 (7) (a) 11r. of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

SB451,19,9 48.981 (7) (a) 11r. A volunteer appointed or person employed by or an employe of a court-appointed special advocate program recognized by the county board or 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, to the extent necessary to perform the advocacy services in proceedings related to a petition under s. 48.13 for which the court-appointed special advocate program is recognized by the county board, 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.

SB451, s. 33 Section 33. 59.53 (7m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB451,19,13 59.53 (7m) Court-appointed special advocate programs. The board may recognize court-appointed special advocate programs to perform advocacy services for a child who is the subject of a proceeding related to a petition under s. 48.13.

SB451, s. 34 Section 34. 895.56 of the statutes is created to read:

SB451,19,21 895.56 Civil liability exemption; court-appointed special advocates. (1) In this section, "court-appointed special advocate program" means a program that is recognized by a county board, a county department, as defined in s. 48.02 (2g), or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with that department to perform advocacy services for a child who is the subject of a proceeding related to a petition under s. 48.13.

SB451,20,2 (2) Any volunteer appointed by or employe of a court-appointed special advocate program is immune from civil liability for any act or omission of the volunteer or employe done within the scope of his or her duty and authority as a volunteer appointed by or an employe of the court-appointed special advocate program.

SB451,20,10 (3) The immunity under sub. (2) does not apply if the act or omission of the volunteer appointed by or the employe of the court-appointed special advocate program was not done in good faith. The good faith of a volunteer appointed by or an employe of a court-appointed special advocate program acting within the scope of his or her duty and authority as a volunteer appointed by or an employe of the court-appointed special advocate program is presumed in a civil action. Any person who asserts that a volunteer appointed by or an employe of a court-appointed special advocate program did not act in good faith has the burden of proving that assertion.

SB451, s. 35 Section 35. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after publication, except as follows:

SB451,20,16 (1) The treatment of sections 48.685 (2) (am) 5., (b) 1. e., 1m., 1p., 2. and 3., (bg), (bm) and (c), (3) (c), (3m), (4), (5) (intro.), (5c) (a) and (bm), (5m) and (6) (ap) and (b) of the statutes and the amendment of section 48.685 (2) (ag) (intro.) of the statutes take effect on October 1, 1998, or on the day after publication, whichever is later.

SB451,20,18 (2) The repeal and recreation of section 48.685 (2) (ag) (intro.) of the statutes takes effect on October 1, 1999, or on the day after publication, whichever is later.

SB451,20,19 (End)