(e) If the department finds that the interests of the state will not be jeopardized, the department may issue a release of any warrant with respect to any real or personal property upon which the warrant is a lien or cloud upon title. Upon presentation to the clerk and payment of the fee for filing the release, the clerk shall enter the release of record. The release is conclusive that the lien or cloud upon the title of the property covered by the release is extinguished.
(f) Notwithstanding s. 49.96, at any time after the filing of a warrant, the department may commence and maintain a garnishee action as provided by ch. 812 or may use the remedy of attachment as provided by ch. 811 for actions to enforce a judgment. The place of trial of such an action may be either in Dane County or the county where the debtor resides and may not be changed from the county in which that action is commenced, except upon consent of the parties.
(g) If the department issues an erroneous warrant, the department shall issue a notice of withdrawal of the warrant to the clerk of circuit court for the county in which the warrant is filed. The clerk shall void the warrant and any resulting liens.
SECTION 1342. 49.195 (3n) of the statutes is created to read:
49.195 (3n) (a) In this subsection:
1. "Debt" means the amount of liability determined under sub. (3).
2. "Debtor" means an individual who is liable under sub. (3).
3. "Disposable earnings" means that part of the earnings of any debtor after the deduction from those earnings of any amounts required by law to be withheld, any life, health, dental or similar type of insurance premiums, union dues, any amount necessary to comply with a court order to contribute to the support of minor children, and any levy, wage assignment or garnishment executed prior to the date of a levy under this subsection.
4. "Federal minimum hourly wage" means that wage prescribed by 29 USC 206 (a) (1).
5. "Levy" means all powers of distraint and seizure.
6. "Property" includes all tangible and intangible personal property and rights to such property, including compensation paid or payable for personal services, whether denominated as wages, salary, commission, bonus or otherwise, periodic payments received pursuant to a pension or retirement program, rents, proceeds of insurance and contract payments.
(b) If any debtor neglects or refuses to pay a debt after the department has made demand for payment, the department may collect that debt and the expenses of the levy by levy upon any property belonging to the debtor. Whenever the value of any property that has been levied upon under this section is not sufficient to satisfy the claim of the department, the department may levy upon any additional property of the person until the debt and expenses of the levy are fully paid.
(c) Any person in possession of or obligated with respect to property or rights to property that is subject to levy and upon which a levy has been made shall, upon demand of the department, surrender the property or rights or discharge the obligation to the department, except that part of the property or rights which is, at the time of the demand, subject to any prior attachment or execution under any judicial process.
(d) 1. Any debtor who fails or refuses to surrender any property or rights to property that is subject to levy, upon demand by the department, is subject to proceedings to enforce the amount of the levy.
2. Any 3rd party who fails to surrender any property or rights to property subject to levy, upon demand of the department, is subject to proceedings to enforce the levy. The 3rd party is not liable to the department under this subdivision for more than 25% of the debt. The department shall serve the levy as provided under par. (m) on any 3rd party who fails to surrender property under this subdivision. Proceedings may not be initiated by the department until 5 days after service of the demand.
3. When a 3rd party surrenders the property or rights to the property on demand of the department or discharges the obligation to the department for which the levy is made, the 3rd party is discharged from any obligation or liability to the debtor with respect to the property or rights to the property arising from the surrender or payment to the department.
(e) 1. If the department has levied upon property, any person, other than the debtor who is liable to pay the debt out of which the levy arose, who claims an interest in or lien on that property and claims that that property was wrongfully levied upon may bring a civil action against the state in the circuit court for Dane County. That action may be brought whether or not that property has been surrendered to the department. The court may grant only the relief under subd. 2. No other action to question the validity of or restrain or enjoin a levy by the department may be maintained.
2. In an action under subd. 1., if a levy would irreparably injure rights to property, the court may enjoin the enforcement of that levy. If the court determines that the property has been wrongfully levied upon, it may grant a judgment for the amount of money obtained by levy.
3. For purposes of an adjudication under this paragraph, the determination of the debt upon which the interest or lien of the department is based is conclusively presumed to be valid.
(f) The department shall determine its costs and expenses to be paid in all cases of levy.
(g) 1. The department shall apply all money obtained under this subsection first against the expenses of the proceedings and then against the liability in respect to which the levy was made and any other liability owed to the department by the debtor.
2. The department may refund or credit any amount left after the applications under subd. 1., upon submission of a claim for that amount and satisfactory proof of the claim, to the person entitled to that amount.
(h) The department may release the levy upon all or part of property levied upon to facilitate the collection of the liability or to grant relief from a wrongful levy, but that release does not prevent any later levy.
(j) If the department determines that property has been wrongfully levied upon, the department may return the property at any time, or may return an amount of money equal to the amount of money levied upon.
(k) Any person who removes, deposits or conceals or aids in removing, depositing or concealing any property upon which a levy is authorized under this subsection with intent to evade or defeat the assessment or collection of any debt may be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned for not more than 3 years or both, and shall be liable to the state for the costs of prosecution.
(L) If no appeal or other proceeding for review permitted by law is pending and the time for taking an appeal or petitioning for review has expired, the department shall make a demand to the debtor for payment of the debt which is subject to levy and give notice that the department may pursue legal action for collection of the debt against the debtor. The department shall make the demand for payment and give the notice at least 10 days prior to the levy, personally or by any type of mail service which requires a signature of acceptance, at the address of the debtor as it appears on the records of the department. The demand for payment and notice shall include a statement of the amount of the debt, including interest and penalties, and the name of the debtor who is liable for the debt. The debtor's refusal or failure to accept or receive the notice does not prevent the department from making the levy. Notice prior to levy is not required for a subsequent levy on any debt of the same debtor within one year of the date of service of the original levy.
(m) 1. The department shall serve the levy upon the debtor and 3rd party by personal service or by any type of mail service which requires a signature of acceptance.
2. Personal service shall be made upon an individual, other than a minor or incapacitated person, by delivering a copy of the levy to the debtor or 3rd party personally; by leaving a copy of the levy at the debtor's dwelling or usual place of abode with some person of suitable age and discretion residing there; by leaving a copy of the levy at the business establishment with an officer or employe of the establishment; or by delivering a copy of the levy to an agent authorized by law to receive service of process.
3. The department representative who serves the levy shall certify service of process on the notice of levy form and the person served shall acknowledge receipt of the certification by signing and dating it. If service is made by mail, the return receipt is the certificate of service of the levy.
4. The debtor's or 3rd party's failure to accept or receive service of the levy does not invalidate the levy.
(n) Within 20 days after the service of the levy upon a 3rd party, the 3rd party shall file an answer with the department stating whether the 3rd party is in possession of or obligated with respect to property or rights to property of the debtor, including a description of the property or the rights to property and the nature and dollar amount of any such obligation.
(p) A levy is effective from the date on which the levy is first served on the 3rd party until the liability out of which the levy arose is satisfied, until the levy is released or until one year from the date of service, whichever occurs first.
(q) 1. The debtor is entitled to an exemption from levy of the greater of the following:
a. A subsistence allowance of 75% of the debtor's disposable earnings then due and owing.
b. An amount equal to 30 times the federal minimum hourly wage for each full week of the debtor's pay period; or, in the case of earnings for a period other than a week, a subsistence allowance computed so that it is equivalent to that amount using a multiple of the federal minimum hourly wage prescribed by the department by rule.
2. The first $1,000 of an account in a depository institution is exempt from any levy to recover a benefit overpayment.
(r) No employer may discharge or otherwise discriminate with respect to the terms and conditions of employment against any employe by reason of the fact that his or her earnings have been subject to levy for any one levy or because of compliance with any provision of this subsection. Any person who violates this paragraph may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year or both.
(s) Any debtor who is subject to a levy proceeding made by the department has the right to appeal the levy proceeding under ch. 227.44. The appeal is limited to questions of prior payment of the debt that the department is proceeding against, and mistaken identity of the debtor. The levy is not stayed pending an appeal in any case where property is secured through the levy.
(t) Any 3rd party is entitled to a levy fee of $5 for each levy in any case where property is secured through the levy. The 3rd party shall deduct the fee from the proceeds of the levy.
SECTION 1343. 49.195 (3n) (k) of the statutes, as created by 1999 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:
49.195 (3n) (k) Any person who removes, deposits or conceals or aids in removing, depositing or concealing any property upon which a levy is authorized under this subsection with intent to evade or defeat the assessment or collection of any debt may be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned for not more than 3 years 4 years and 6 months or both, and shall be liable to the state for the costs of prosecution.
SECTION 1344. 49.195 (3n) (r) of the statutes, as created by 1999 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:
49.195 (3n) (r) No employer may discharge or otherwise discriminate with respect to the terms and conditions of employment against any employe by reason of the fact that his or her earnings have been subject to levy for any one levy or because of compliance with any provision of this subsection. Any person who violates this paragraph may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year 2 years or both.
SECTION 1345. 49.195 (3p) of the statutes is created to read:
49.195 (3p) The availability of the remedies under subs. (3m) and (3n) does not abridge the right of the department to pursue other remedies.
SECTION 1346. 49.195 (3r) of the statutes is created to read:
49.195 (3r) From the appropriation under s. 20.445 (3) (L) the department may contract with or employ a collection agency or other person to enforce a repayment obligation of a person who is found liable under sub. (3) who is delinquent in making repayments.
SECTION 1347. 49.20 of the statutes is repealed.
SECTION 1348. 49.21 of the statutes is repealed.
SECTION 1350m. 49.23 of the statutes is repealed.
SECTION 1352. 49.24 (1) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, section 1882n, is amended to read:
49.24 (1) From the appropriation under s. 20.445 (3) (k), the department shall provide child support incentive payments to counties to offset reduced federal child support incentive payments. Total payments under this subsection may not exceed $3,178,000 in fiscal year 1997-98 or $3,850,000 in fiscal year 1998-99 $5,690,000 per year.
SECTION 1352f. 49.24 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 49.24 (2) (a) and amended to read:
49.24 (2) (a) The department shall distribute the payments under sub. (1) in accordance with a formula developed by the department, in consultation with representatives of counties, promulgate a rule that specifies the formula according to which the payments under sub. (1) and federal child support incentive payments will be distributed to counties. The rule shall provide that the total of state and federal incentive payments per year to a county may not exceed the costs per year of the county's child support program under s. 49.22.
(b) The total of payments made to counties under sub. (1) and in federal child support incentive payments may not exceed $10,500,000 in a state fiscal $12,340,000 per year.
SECTION 1352g. 49.24 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.24 (3) A county that receives any state child support incentive payment under sub. (1) or any federal child support incentive payment may use the funds only to pay costs under its child support program under s. 49.22.
SECTION 1353. 49.25 of the statutes is repealed.
SECTION 1354. 49.26 (1) (h) 1. as. of the statutes is amended to read:
49.26 (1) (h) 1. as. The individual has failed to request a hearing or has failed to show good cause for not cooperating with case management efforts in a hearing. If the individual is a recipient of aid under s. 49.19, the hearing shall be requested and held under s. 49.21 (1). If the individual is a member of a Wisconsin works group, as defined in s. 49.141 (1) (s), the The hearing shall be requested and held under s. 49.152. The department shall determine by rule the criteria for good cause.
SECTION 1355. 49.27 of the statutes is repealed.
SECTION 1356. 49.30 (1m) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
49.30 (1m) (c) If a request for payment under sub. (1) is made more than 12 months after the death of the recipient, the county or applicable tribal governing body or organization responsible for burial of the recipient is not required to make a payment for cemetery, funeral or burial expenses.
SECTION 1356m. 49.33 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.33 (1) (b) "Income maintenance program" means aid to families with dependent children under s. 49.19, Wisconsin works under ss. 49.141 to 49.161, medical assistance under subch. IV of ch. 49 or the food stamp program under 7 USC 2011 to 2029.
SECTION 1356n. 49.33 (8) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.33 (8) (a) The department shall reimburse each county for reasonable costs of income maintenance relating to the administration of the programs under this subchapter and subch. IV according to a formula based on workload within the limits of available state and federal funds under s. 20.445 (3) (dz), (md) and (nL) by contract under s. 49.33 (2). The amount of reimbursement calculated under this paragraph and par. (b) is in addition to any reimbursement provided to a county for fraud and error reduction under s. 49.197 (1m) and (4).
SECTION 1357. 49.36 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.36 (2) The department may contract with any county or Wisconsin works agency to administer a work experience and job training program for parents who are not custodial parents and who fail to pay child support or to meet their children's needs for support as a result of unemployment or underemployment. The program may provide the kinds of work experience and job training services available from the program under s. 49.193, 1997 stats., or s. 49.147 (3) or (4). The program may also include job search and job orientation activities. The department shall fund the program from the appropriation under s. 20.445 (3) (dz).
SECTION 1358. 49.36 (3) (g) of the statutes is repealed.
SECTION 1359. 49.36 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.36 (7) The department shall pay a county or Wisconsin works agency $200 $400 for each person who participates in the program under this section in the region in which the county or Wisconsin works agency administers the program under this section. The county or Wisconsin works agency shall pay any additional costs of the program.
SECTION 1360. 49.37 of the statutes is repealed.
SECTION 1361. 49.43 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.43 (8) "Medical assistance" means any services or items under ss. 49.45 to 49.47 49.472, except s. 49.472 (6), and under ss. 49.49 to 49.497, or any payment or reimbursement made for such services or items.
SECTION 1361v. 49.45 (2) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
49.45 (2) (a) 3. Determine the eligibility of persons for medical assistance, rehabilitative and social services under ss. 49.46, 49.468 and 49.47 and rules and policies adopted by the department and may designate this function to the county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23 or, to the extent permitted by federal law or a waiver from federal secretary of health and human services, to a Wisconsin works agency. Any person who determines eligibility for medical assistance in a location other than in an office of the department or of a county department of human services or of social services shall be permitted to review and update information on existing records of an individual who is seeking from that person an eligibility determination for medical assistance, even if the individual's case was assigned to a different person as a result of the individual's seeking or receiving other public assistance.
SECTION 1362. 49.45 (2) (a) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:
49.45 (2) (a) 4. To the extent funds are available under s. 20.435 (1) (4) (bm), certify all proper charges and claims for administrative services to the department of administration for payment and the department of administration shall draw its warrant forthwith.
SECTION 1371. 49.45 (2) (a) 17. of the statutes is amended to read:
49.45 (2) (a) 17. Notify the governor, the joint committee on legislative organization, the joint committee on finance and appropriate standing committees, as determined by the presiding officer of each house, if the appropriation under s. 20.435 (5) (4) (b) is insufficient to provide the state share of medical assistance.
SECTION 1373v. 49.45 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.45 (3) (a) Reimbursement shall be made to each county department under ss. 46.215, 46.22 and 46.23 for the administrative services performed in the medical assistance program on the basis of s. 49.33 (8) according to a formula based on workload. For purposes of reimbursement under this paragraph, assessments completed under s. 46.27 (6) (a) are administrative services performed in the medical assistance program.
SECTION 1374. 49.45 (3) (ag) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.45 (3) (ag) Reimbursement shall be made to each entity contracted with under s. 46.271 (2m) 46.281 (1) (d) for assessments completed functional screens performed under s. 46.271 (2m) (a) 2. 46.281 (1) (d).
SECTION 1375. 49.45 (3) (am) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
49.45 (3) (am) 1. From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (1) (4) (bm), the department shall make incentive payments to counties to encourage counties to identify medical assistance applicants and recipients who have other health care coverage and the providers of the health care coverage and give that information to the department.
SECTION 1376m. 49.45 (3) (fm) of the statutes is created to read:
49.45 (3) (fm) The department shall seek, on behalf of dentists who are providers, federal reimbursement for the cost of any equipment that the department requires dentists to use to verify medical assistance eligibility electronically. If the department is successful in obtaining federal reimbursement of that expense, the department shall reimburse dentists who are providers for the portion of the cost of the equipment that is reimbursed by the federal government.
