1999 WISCONSIN ACT 162
An Act to amend 40.08 (9), 46.95 (1) (b), 48.57 (3m) (a), 48.57 (3n) (a), 51.20 (9) (a), 77.25 (15), 77.25 (15m), 77.25 (15s), 102.07 (5) (c), 102.51 (2) (a), 103.90 (3) (a) 2., 106.04 (1m) (q), 146.34 (1) (j), 182.001 (1) (a), 196.52 (1) (g), 242.01 (11), 243.10 (1), 252.15 (1) (eg), 421.301 (32) (c), 421.301 (32) (d), 421.301 (33) (d), 615.03 (1) (c), 631.07 (3) (a) 5., 632.32 (6) (b) 1., 767.08 (1) (b), 805.08 (1), 813.12 (1) (b), 815.18 (3) (j) 6. b., 889.19, 908.03 (11), 938.02 (15) and 946.47 (3); and to repeal and recreate 979.05 (3) of the statutes; relating to: including relatives by adoption on the same basis as relatives by blood in certain definitions and references in the statutes.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
162,1
Section
1. 40.08 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:
40.08 (9) Payments of benefits to minors and incompetents. In any case in which a benefit amount becomes payable to a minor or to a person adjudged mentally incompetent, the department may waive guardianship proceedings, and pay the benefit to the person providing for or caring for the minor, or to the spouse,
or the parent or blood other relative by blood or adoption providing for or caring for the incompetent person.
162,2
Section
2. 46.95 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
46.95 (1) (b) "Family member" means a spouse, a parent, a child or a person related by consanguinity
blood or adoption to another person.
162,3
Section
3. 48.57 (3m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.57 (3m) (a) In this subsection, "kinship care relative" means a stepparent, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, first cousin, nephew, niece, aunt, uncle or any person of a preceding generation as denoted by the prefix of grand, great or great-great, whether by consanguinity, direct affinity blood, marriage or legal adoption, or the spouse of any person named in this paragraph, even if the marriage is terminated by death or divorce.
162,4
Section
4. 48.57 (3n) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.57 (3n) (a) In this subsection, "long-term kinship care relative" means a stepparent, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, first cousin, nephew, niece, aunt, uncle or any person of a preceding generation as denoted by the prefix of grand, great or great-great, whether by consanguinity, direct affinity blood, marriage or legal adoption, or the spouse of any person named in this paragraph, even if the marriage is terminated by death or divorce.
162,5
Section
5. 51.20 (9) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
51.20 (9) (a) If the court finds after the hearing that there is probable cause to believe the allegations under sub. (1), it shall appoint 2 licensed physicians specializing in psychiatry, or one licensed physician and one licensed psychologist, or 2 licensed physicians one of whom shall have specialized training in psychiatry, if available, or 2 physicians, to personally examine the subject individual. Such examiners shall have the specialized knowledge determined by the court to be appropriate to the needs of the subject individual. One of the examiners may be selected by the subject individual if such person makes his or her selection known to the court within 24 hours after completion of the hearing to determine probable cause for commitment. The court may deny the subject individual's selection if the examiner does not meet the requirements of this paragraph or such person is not available. If requested by the subject individual, the individual's attorney or any other interested party with court permission, the individual has a right at his or her own expense or if indigent with approval of the court hearing the petition, at the reasonable expense of the individual's county of legal residence, to secure an additional medical or psychological examination, and to offer the evaluator's personal testimony, as evidence at the hearing. The examiners may not be related to the subject individual by blood or, marriage or adoption, and may have no interest in his or her property. Prior to the examination the subject individual shall be informed that his or her statements can be used as a basis for commitment and that he or she has the right to remain silent, and that the examiner is required to make a report to the court even if the subject individual remains silent. A written report shall be made of all such examinations and filed with the court. The issuance of such a warning to the subject individual prior to each examination establishes a presumption that the individual understands that he or she need not speak to the examiner. The examiners shall personally observe and examine the subject individual at any suitable place and satisfy themselves, if reasonably possible, as to the individual's mental condition, and shall make independent reports to the court. The subject individual's treatment records shall be available to the examiners. If the subject individual is not detained pending the hearing, the court shall designate the time and place where the examination is to be held and shall require the individual's appearance. The report and testimony, if any, by the examiners shall be based on beliefs to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, or professional certainty if an examiner is a psychologist, in regard to the existence of the conditions described in sub. (1), and the appropriateness of various treatment modalities or facilities. If the examiners are unable to make conclusions to a reasonable degree of medical or professional certainty, the examiners shall so state in their report and testimony, if any.
162,6
Section
6. 77.25 (15) of the statutes is amended to read:
77.25 (15) Between a corporation and its shareholders if all of the stock is owned by persons who are related to each other as spouses, as lineal ascendants, lineal descendants, or siblings, whether by blood or by adoption, or as spouses of siblings, if the transfer is for no consideration except the assumption of debt or stock of the corporation and if the corporation owned the property for at least 3 years.
162,7
Section
7. 77.25 (15m) of the statutes is amended to read:
77.25 (15m) Between a partnership and one or more of its partners if all of the partners are related to each other as spouses, as lineal ascendants, lineal descendants
, or siblings, whether by blood or by adoption, or as spouses of siblings and if the transfer is for no consideration other than the assumption of debt or an interest in the partnership.
162,8
Section
8. 77.25 (15s) of the statutes is amended to read:
77.25 (15s) Between a limited liability company and one or more of its members if all of the members are related to each other as spouses, as lineal ascendants, lineal descendants, or siblings, whether by blood or by adoption, or as spouses of siblings and if the transfer is for no consideration other than the assumption of debt or an interest in the limited liability company.
162,9
Section
9. 102.07 (5) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
102.07 (5) (c) A shareholder-employe of a family farm corporation shall be deemed a "farmer" for purposes of this chapter and shall not be deemed an employe of a farmer. A "family farm corporation" means a corporation engaged in farming all of whose shareholders are related as lineal ancestors or lineal descendants, whether by blood or by adoption, or as spouses, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, cousins, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, fathers-in-law, mothers-in-law, brothers-in-law or sisters-in-law of such lineal ancestors or lineal descendants.
162,10
Section
10. 102.51 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
102.51 (2) (a) No person shall be considered a dependent unless a member of the family or that person is a spouse, or a divorced spouse who has not remarried
, or a lineal descendant or, lineal ancestor, or brother or, sister or other member of the family, whether by blood or by adoption, of the deceased employe.
162,11
Section
11. 103.90 (3) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
103.90 (3) (a) 2. Any other person who is not related by blood or, marriage or adoption to his or her employer and who occasionally or habitually leaves an established place of residence to travel to another locality to accept seasonal employment in the planting, cultivating, raising, harvesting, handling, drying, packing, packaging, processing, freezing, grading or storing of any agricultural or horticultural commodity in its unmanufactured state.
162,12
Section
12. 106.04 (1m) (q) of the statutes is amended to read:
106.04 (1m) (q) "Relative" means a parent, grandparent, greatgrandparent, stepparent, step grandparent, brother, sister, child, stepchild, grandchild, step grandchild, greatgrandchild, first cousin, 2nd cousin, nephew, niece, uncle, aunt, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother or half sister or any other person related by blood, marriage, consanguinity or affinity or adoption.
162,13
Section
13. 146.34 (1) (j) of the statutes is amended to read:
146.34 (1) (j) "Relative" means a parent, grandparent, stepparent, brother, sister, first cousin, nephew or niece; or uncle or aunt within the 3rd degree of kinship as computed under s. 852.03 (2), 1995 stats. This relationship may be by consanguinity or direct affinity blood, marriage or adoption.
162,14
Section
14. 182.001 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
182.001 (1) (a) Its shareholders or beneficiaries do not exceed 15 in number. Lineal ancestors and lineal descendants, whether by blood or by adoption, and aunts, uncles and 1st cousins thereof count collectively as one shareholder or beneficiary for purposes of this paragraph, but this collective authorization shall not be used for more than one family in a single corporation or trust.
162,15
Section
15. 196.52 (1) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:
196.52 (1) (g) Any other person whom the commission determines as a matter of fact after investigation and hearing to be actually exercising substantial influence over the policies and actions of the public utility in conjunction with one or more other persons with whom they are related by ownership or, by blood
relationship or adoption or by action in concert that together they are affiliated with such public utility for the purpose of this section, even though no one of them alone is so affiliated under pars. (a) to (f).
162,16
Section
16. 242.01 (11) of the statutes is amended to read:
242.01 (11) "Relative" means an individual related by consanguinity blood within the 3rd degree of kinship as computed under s. 852.03 (2), 1995 stats., a spouse or an individual related to a spouse within the 3rd degree as so computed, and includes an individual in an adoptive relationship within the 3rd degree.
162,17
Section
17. 243.10 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
243.10 (1) Form. The following is the form for the Wisconsin basic power of attorney for finances and property:
WISCONSIN BASIC POWER OF ATTORNEY
FOR FINANCES AND PROPERTY
NOTICE: THIS IS AN IMPORTANT DOCUMENT. BEFORE SIGNING THIS DOCUMENT, YOU SHOULD KNOW THESE IMPORTANT FACTS. BY SIGNING THIS DOCUMENT, YOU ARE NOT GIVING UP ANY POWERS OR RIGHTS TO CONTROL YOUR FINANCES AND PROPERTY YOURSELF. IN ADDITION TO YOUR OWN POWERS AND RIGHTS, YOU ARE GIVING ANOTHER PERSON, YOUR AGENT, BROAD POWERS TO HANDLE YOUR FINANCES AND PROPERTY. THIS BASIC POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR FINANCES AND PROPERTY MAY GIVE THE PERSON WHOM YOU DESIGNATE (YOUR "AGENT") BROAD POWERS TO HANDLE YOUR FINANCES AND PROPERTY, WHICH MAY INCLUDE POWERS TO ENCUMBER, SELL OR OTHERWISE DISPOSE OF ANY REAL OR PERSONAL PROPERTY WITHOUT ADVANCE NOTICE TO YOU OR APPROVAL BY YOU. THE POWERS WILL EXIST AFTER YOU BECOME DISABLED, OR INCAPACITATED, IF YOU CHOOSE THAT PROVISION. THIS DOCUMENT DOES NOT AUTHORIZE ANYONE TO MAKE MEDICAL OR OTHER HEALTH CARE DECISIONS FOR YOU. IF YOU OWN COMPLEX OR SPECIAL ASSETS SUCH AS A BUSINESS, OR IF THERE IS ANYTHING ABOUT THIS FORM THAT YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND, YOU SHOULD ASK A LAWYER TO EXPLAIN THIS FORM TO YOU BEFORE YOU SIGN IT.
IF YOU WISH TO CHANGE YOUR BASIC POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR FINANCES AND PROPERTY, YOU MUST COMPLETE A NEW DOCUMENT AND REVOKE THIS ONE. YOU MAY REVOKE THIS DOCUMENT AT ANY TIME BY DESTROYING IT, BY DIRECTING ANOTHER PERSON TO DESTROY IT IN YOUR PRESENCE OR BY SIGNING A WRITTEN AND DATED STATEMENT EXPRESSING YOUR INTENT TO REVOKE THIS DOCUMENT. IF YOU REVOKE THIS DOCUMENT, YOU SHOULD NOTIFY YOUR AGENT AND ANY OTHER PERSON TO WHOM YOU HAVE GIVEN A COPY OF THE FORM. YOU ALSO SHOULD NOTIFY ALL PARTIES HAVING CUSTODY OF YOUR ASSETS. THESE PARTIES HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY TO YOU UNLESS YOU ACTUALLY NOTIFY THEM OF THE REVOCATION. IF YOUR AGENT IS YOUR SPOUSE AND YOUR MARRIAGE IS ANNULLED, OR YOU ARE DIVORCED AFTER SIGNING THIS DOCUMENT, THIS DOCUMENT IS INVALID.
SINCE SOME 3RD PARTIES OR SOME TRANSACTIONS MAY NOT PERMIT USE OF THIS DOCUMENT, IT IS ADVISABLE TO CHECK IN ADVANCE, IF POSSIBLE, FOR ANY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS THAT MAY BE IMPOSED.
YOU SHOULD SIGN THIS FORM ONLY IF THE AGENT YOU NAME IS RELIABLE, TRUSTWORTHY AND COMPETENT TO MANAGE YOUR AFFAIRS.
I .... (insert your name and address) appoint .... (insert the name and address of the person appointed) as my agent to act for me in any lawful way with respect to the powers initialed below. If the person appointed is unable or unwilling to act as my agent, I appoint .... (insert name and address of alternate person appointed) to act for me in any lawful way with respect to the powers initialed below.
TO GRANT ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING POWERS, INITIAL THE LINE IN FRONT OF EACH POWER YOU ARE GRANTING.
TO WITHHOLD A POWER, DO NOT INITIAL THE LINE IN FRONT OF IT. YOU MAY, BUT NEED NOT, CROSS OUT EACH POWER WITHHELD.
handling my money and property
Initials
_____ 1. PAYMENTS OF BILLS: My agent may make payments that are necessary or appropriate in connection with the administration of my affairs.
_____ 2. BANKING: My agent may conduct business with financial institutions, including endorsing all checks and drafts made payable to my order and collecting the proceeds; signing in my name checks or orders on all accounts in my name or for my benefit; withdrawing funds from accounts in my name; opening accounts in my name; and entering into and removing articles from my safe deposit box.
_____ 3. INSURANCE: My agent may obtain insurance of all types, as considered necessary or appropriate, settle and adjust insurance claims and borrow from insurers and 3rd parties using insurance policies as collateral.
_____ 4. ACCOUNTS: My agent may ask for, collect and receive money, dividends, interest, legacies and property due or that may become due and owing to me and give receipt for those payments.
_____ 5. REAL ESTATE: My agent may manage real property; sell, convey and mortgage realty for prices and on terms as considered advisable; foreclose mortgages and take title to property in my name; and execute deeds, mortgages, releases, satisfactions and other instruments relating to realty.
_____ 6. BORROWING: My agent may borrow money and encumber my assets for loans as considered necessary.
_____ 7. SECURITIES: My agent may buy, sell, pledge and exchange securities of all kinds in my name; sign and deliver in my name transfers and assignments of securities; and consent in my name to reorganizations, mergers or exchange of securities for new securities.
_____ 8. INCOME TAXES: My agent may make and sign tax returns; represent me in all income tax matters before any federal, state, or local tax collecting agency; and receive confidential information and perform any acts that I may perform, including receiving refund checks and the signing of returns.
_____ 9. TRUSTS: My agent may transfer at any time any of my property to a living trust that has been established by me before the execution of this document.
Professional and technical assistance
Initials
_____ 10. LEGAL ACTIONS: My agent may retain attorneys on my behalf; appear for me in all actions and proceedings to which I may be a party; commence actions and proceedings in my name; and sign in my name all documents or pleadings of every description.
_____ 11. PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE: My agent may hire accountants, attorneys, clerks, workers and others for the management, preservation and protection of my property and estate.
General Authority
Initials
_____ 12. GENERAL: My agent may do any act or thing that I could do in my own proper person if personally present, including managing or selling tangible assets, disclaiming a probate or nonprobate inheritance and providing support for a minor child or dependent adult. The specifically enumerated powers of the basic power of attorney for finances and property are not a limitation of this intended broad general power except that my agent may not take any action prohibited by law and my agent under this document may not:
a. Make medical or health care decisions for me.
b. Make, modify or revoke a will for me.
c. Other than a burial trust agreement under section 445.125, Wisconsin Statutes, enter into a trust agreement on my behalf or amend or revoke a trust agreement, entered into by me.
d. Change any beneficiary designation of any life insurance policy, qualified retirement plan, individual retirement account or payable on death account or the like whether directly or by canceling and replacing the policy or roll over to another plan or account.
e. Forgive debts owed to me or disclaim or waive benefits payable to me, except a probate or nonprobate inheritance.
f. Appoint a substitute or successor agent for me.
g. Make gifts.