2005 Wisconsin Act 25

(c) A person is not liable to any person for any of the following:

1. Allowing access to financial or other records by the department, a county department, or a tribal governing body in response to a request under par. (a) or a subpoena described in par. (b).

2. Disclosing information from financial or other records to the department, a county department, or a tribal governing body in response to a request under par. (a) or a subpoena described in par. (b).

3. Any other action taken in good faith to comply with this subsection or a subpoena described in par. (b) or to comply with a request for information or access to records from the department, a county department, or a tribal governing body for determining or verifying eligibility or benefits for a recipient under any income maintenance program.

25,1191 Section 1191. 49.785 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.785 (2) From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (4) (bn), the department shall reimburse a county or applicable tribal governing body or organization for any amount that the county or applicable tribal governing body or organization is required to pay under sub. (1) if the county or applicable tribal governing body or organization complies with sub. (3). From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (4) (bn), the department shall reimburse a county or applicable tribal governing body or organization for cemetery expenses or for funeral and burial expenses for persons a person described under sub. (1) that the county or applicable tribal governing body or organization is not required to pay under subs. (1) and (1m) only if the department approves the reimbursement due to unusual circumstances and if the county or applicable tribal governing body or organization complies with sub. (3).

25,1191c Section 1191c. 49.785 (3) of the statutes is created to read:

49.785 (3) As a condition for reimbursement under sub. (2) for amounts paid on behalf of a deceased recipient, a county or applicable tribal governing body or organization shall provide to the department all of the following information with respect to the deceased recipient:

(a) The total cemetery expenses.

(b) The total funeral and burial expenses.

(c) The total amount of each of the expenses under pars. (a) and (b) that the county or tribal governing body or organization paid on behalf of the deceased recipient.

25,1192 Section 1192. 49.79 (9) of the statutes is repealed.

25,1193 Section 1193. 49.82 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.82 (2) Eligibility verification. Proof shall be provided for each person included in an application for public assistance under this chapter, except for a child who is eligible for medical assistance under s. 49.46 or 49.47 because of 42 USC 1396a (e) (4) or an unborn child who is eligible for coverage under the Badger Care health care program under s. 49.665 (4) (ap), of his or her social security number or that an application for a social security number has been made.

25,1194 Section 1194. 49.83 of the statutes is amended to read:

49.83 Limitation on giving information. Except as provided under s. 49.32 (9), (10), and (10m), no person may use or disclose information concerning applicants and recipients of relief funded by a relief block grant, aid to families with dependent children, Wisconsin works Works under ss. 49.141 to 49.161, social services, child and spousal support and establishment of paternity and medical support liability services under s. 49.22, or supplemental payments under s. 49.77 for any purpose not connected with the administration of the programs, except that the department of workforce development may disclose such information to the department of revenue for the sole purpose of administering state taxes. Any person violating this section may be fined not less than $25 nor more than $500 or imprisoned in the county jail not less than 10 days nor more than one year or both.

25,1195 Section 1195. 49.845 of the statutes is created to read:

49.845 Fraud investigation and error reduction. (1) Fraud investigation. From the appropriations under s. 20.435 (4) (bn), (kz), (L), and (nn), the department of health and family services shall establish a program to investigate suspected fraudulent activity on the part of recipients of medical assistance under subch. IV, food stamp benefits under the food stamp program under 7 USC 2011 to 2036, supplemental security income payments under s. 49.77, payments for the support of children of supplemental security income recipients under s. 49.775, and health care benefits under the Badger Care health care program under s. 49.665 and, if the department of workforce development contracts with the department of health and family services under sub. (4), on the part of recipients of aid to families with dependent children under s. 49.19 and participants in the Wisconsin Works program under ss. 49.141 to 49.161. The activities of the department of health and family services under this subsection may include comparisons of information provided to the department by an applicant and information provided by the applicant to other federal, state, and local agencies, development of an advisory welfare investigation prosecution standard, and provision of funds to county departments under ss. 46.215, 46.22, and 46.23 and to Wisconsin Works agencies to encourage activities to detect fraud. The department of health and family services shall cooperate with district attorneys regarding fraud prosecutions.

(2) State error reduction activities. The department of health and family services shall conduct activities to reduce payment errors in the Medical Assistance program under subch. IV, the food stamp program under 7 USC 2011 to 2036, the supplemental security income payments program under s. 49.77, the program providing payments for the support of children of supplemental security income recipients under s. 49.775, and the Badger Care health care program under s. 49.665 and, if the department of workforce development contracts with the department of health and family services under sub. (4), in Wisconsin Works under ss. 49.141 to 49.161.

(3) Wisconsin Works agency error reduction. If the department of workforce development contracts with the department of health and family services under sub. (4), the department of health and family services shall provide funds from the appropriation under s. 20.435 (4) (kz) to Wisconsin Works agencies to offset the administrative costs of reducing payment errors in Wisconsin Works under ss. 49.141 to 49.161.

(4) Contract for Wisconsin Works. Notwithstanding s. 49.197 (1m) and (3), the department of workforce development may contract with the department of health and family services to investigate suspected fraudulent activity on the part of recipients of aid to families with dependent children under s. 49.19 and participants in Wisconsin Works under ss. 49.141 to 49.161 and to conduct activities to reduce payment errors in Wisconsin Works under ss. 49.141 to 49.161, as provided in this section.

25,1196 Section 1196. 49.847 of the statutes is created to read:

49.847 Recovery of incorrect payments under certain public assistance programs. (1) Subject to ss. 49.497 (1) and 49.793 (1), the department of health and family services, or a county or elected governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band acting on behalf of the department, may recover benefits incorrectly paid under any of the programs administered by the department under this chapter.

(2) The department, county, or elected governing body may recover an overpayment from a family or individual who continues to receive benefits under any program administered by the department under this chapter by reducing the family's or individual's benefit amount. Subject to s. 49.793 (1), the department may by rule specify other methods for recovering incorrectly paid benefits.

(3) Subject to ss. 49.497 (2) and 49.793 (2), a county or elected governing body may retain a portion of an amount recovered under this section due to the efforts of an employee or officer of the county, tribe, or band, as provided by the department by rule.

25,1197 Section 1197. 49.85 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.85 (1) Department notification requirement. If a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23 or a governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band determines that the department of health and family services may recover an amount under s. 49.497, 49.793, or 49.847, or that the department of workforce development may recover an amount under s. 49.161, or 49.195 (3), or 49.793, or collect an amount under s. 49.147 (6) (cm), the county department or governing body shall notify the affected department of the determination. If a Wisconsin works Works agency determines that the department of workforce development may recover an amount under s. 49.161 or 49.195 (3), or collect an amount under s. 49.147 (6) (cm), the Wisconsin works Works agency shall notify the department of workforce development of the determination.

25,1198 Section 1198. 49.85 (2) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 49.85 (2) (a) (intro.) and amended to read:

49.85 (2) (a) (intro.) At least annually, the department of health and family services shall certify to the department of revenue the amounts that, based on the notifications received under sub. (1) and on other information received by the department of health and family services, the department of health and family services has determined that it may recover under s. 49.45 (2) (a) 10. or , 49.497, 49.793, or 49.847, except that the department of health and family services may not certify an amount under this subsection unless it all of the following apply:

1. The department has met the notice requirements under sub. (3) and unless its.

2. The department's determination has either not been appealed or is no longer under appeal.

25,1199 Section 1199. 49.85 (2) (a) 3. of the statutes is created to read:

49.85 (2) (a) 3. If the determination relates to recovery of an amount under s. 49.497, the determination was rendered to a judgment under s. 49.497 (1m) (b).

25,1200 Section 1200. 49.85 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.85 (2) (b) At least annually, the department of workforce development shall certify to the department of revenue the amounts that, based on the notifications received under sub. (1) and on other information received by the department of workforce development, the department of workforce development has determined that it may recover under ss. 49.161, and 49.195 (3), and 49.793, and collect under s. 49.147 (6) (cm), except that the department of workforce development may not certify an amount under this subsection unless it has met the notice requirements under sub. (3) and unless its determination has either not been appealed or is no longer under appeal.

25,1201 Section 1201. 49.85 (3) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

49.85 (3) (a) 1. Inform the person that the department of health and family services intends to certify to the department of revenue an amount that the department of health and family services has determined to be due under s. 49.45 (2) (a) 10. or, 49.497 , 49.793, or 49.847, for setoff from any state tax refund that may be due the person.

25,1202 Section 1202. 49.85 (3) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

49.85 (3) (b) 1. Inform the person that the department of workforce development intends to certify to the department of revenue an amount that the department of workforce development has determined to be due under s. 49.161, or 49.195 (3), or 49.793, or to be delinquent under a repayment agreement for a loan under s. 49.147 (6), for setoff from any state tax refund that may be due the person.

25,1203 Section 1203. 49.855 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.855 (6) If the state implements the child and spousal support and establishment of paternity and medical support liability program under ss. 49.22 and 59.53 (5), the state may act under this section in place of the county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5).

25,1205 Section 1205. 49.857 (1) (d) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

49.857 (1) (d) 4. A certification, license, training permit, registration, approval or certificate issued under s. 49.45 (2) (a) 11., 146.50 (5) (a) or (b), (6g) (a) or (8) (a), 250.05 (5), 252.23 (2), 252.24 (2), 254.176 (1) or (3) (a), 254.178 (2) (a), 254.20 (2), (3) or (4), 254.47 (1), 254.64 (1) (a) or (b), 254.71 (2) or 255.08 (2).

25,1217r Section 1217r. 50.04 (2d) of the statutes is created to read:

50.04 (2d) Resident levels of care. The department may not require a nursing home to use the criteria for functional eligibility specified in s. 46.286 (1) (a) to determine resident levels of care under sub. (2) (d).

25,1218 Section 1218. 50.065 (2) (bg) of the statutes is amended to read:

50.065 (2) (bg) If an entity hires or contracts with a caregiver for whom, within the last 4 years, the information required under par. (b) 1. to 3. and 5. has already been obtained by another entity, the entity may obtain that information from that other entity, which, notwithstanding par. (br), shall provide the information, if possible, to the requesting entity. If an entity cannot obtain the information required under par. (b) 1. to 3. and 5. from another entity or if an entity has reasonable grounds to believe that any information obtained from another entity is no longer accurate, the entity shall obtain that information from the sources specified in par. (b) 1. to 3. and 5.

25,1219 Section 1219. 50.065 (2) (br) of the statutes is created to read:

50.065 (2) (br) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2, an entity that receives information regarding the arrest or conviction of a caregiver from the federal bureau of investigation in connection with a criminal history search under this section may use the information only to determine whether the caregiver's arrest or conviction record disqualifies him or her from serving as a caregiver. An entity is immune from civil liability to a caregiver for using arrest or conviction information provided by the federal bureau of investigation to make an employment determination regarding the caregiver.

2. Subdivision 1. does not apply to use by an entity of arrest or conviction information that the entity requests from the federal bureau of investigation after September 30, 2007.

25,1220 Section 1220. 50.065 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

50.065 (8) The department may charge a fee for obtaining the information required under sub. (2) (am) or (3) (a) or for providing information to an entity to enable the entity to comply with sub. (2) (b) or (3) (b). The fee may not exceed the reasonable cost of obtaining the information. No fee may be charged to a nurse's assistant, as defined in s. 146.40 (1) (d), for obtaining or maintaining the information if to do so would be inconsistent with federal law.

25,1221 Section 1221. 50.135 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

50.135 (2) (c) The fees collected under par. (a) shall be credited to the appropriations appropriation account under s. 20.435 (4) (gm) and (6) (jm) as specified in those appropriations for licensing, review and certifying activities.

25,1222m Section 1222m. 50.14 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

50.14 (2) (intro.) For the privilege of doing business in this state, there is imposed on all licensed beds of a facility an assessment that may not exceed $445 per calendar month per licensed bed of an intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded may not exceed $435 in fiscal year 2003-04 and may not exceed $445 in fiscal year 2004-05 and an assessment that may not exceed $75 per calendar month per licensed bed of a nursing home. The assessment moneys collected shall be deposited in the general fund, except that in fiscal year 2003-04, amounts in excess of $14,300,000, in fiscal year 2004-05, amounts in excess of $13,800,000, and, beginning July 1, 2005, in each fiscal year, amounts in excess of 45% of the money received from the assessment shall be deposited in the Medical Assistance trust fund. In determining the number of licensed beds, all of the following apply:

25,1223 Section 1223. 50.14 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

50.14 (4) Sections 77.59 (1) to (5), (6) (intro.), (a) and (c) and (7) to (10), 77.60 (1) to (7), (9) and (10), 77.61 (9) and (12) to (14) and 77.62, as they apply to the taxes under subch. III of ch. 77, apply to the assessment under this section, except that the amount of any assessment collected under s. 77.59 (7) in excess of $14,300,000 in fiscal year 2003-04, in excess of $13,800,000 in fiscal year 2004-05, and, beginning July 1, 2005, in excess of 45% in each fiscal year in a fiscal year shall be deposited in the Medical Assistance trust fund.

25,1224 Section 1224. 51.05 (3g) of the statutes is repealed.

25,1225 Section 1225. 51.05 (3m) of the statutes is repealed.

25,1225m Section 1225m. 51.06 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

51.06 (7) Joint services programs. The department of health and family services, the department of veterans affairs, and the department of corrections shall, if the report specified under 2005 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), section 9121 (12q), is approved by the joint committee on finance, jointly fund and implement the programs proposed in the report at the Northern Center for the Developmentally Disabled and the Southern Center for the Developmentally Disabled for the joint provision, for all programs that each agency conducts at these places, of personnel, payroll, purchasing, custodianship, grounds and maintenance, distribution, warehouse, and security services.

25,1226 Section 1226. 51.30 (4) (b) 27. of the statutes is created to read:

51.30 (4) (b) 27. For the purpose of entering information concerning the subject individual into the statewide automated child welfare information system established under s. 46.03 (7) (g). A county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, 46.23, 51.42, or 51.437, the department of health and family services, the department of corrections, or any other organization that has entered into an information sharing and access agreement with one of those county departments or departments and that has been approved for access to the statewide automated child welfare information system by the department of health and family services may have access to information concerning a client of that county department, department, or organization under this chapter or ch. 48 or 938 that is maintained in the statewide automated child welfare information system, if necessary to enable the county department, department, or organization to perform its duties under this chapter or ch. 48 or 938 or to coordinate the delivery of services under this chapter or ch. 48 or 938 to the client. Before entering any information about an individual into the statewide automated child welfare information system, the person entering the information shall notify the individual that the information entered may be disclosed as provided in this subdivision.

25,1227 Section 1227. 51.423 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

51.423 (1) The department shall fund, within the limits of the department's allocation for mental health services under s. 20.435 (3) (o) and (7) (b) and (o) and subject to this section, services for mental illness, developmental disability, alcoholism, and drug abuse to meet standards of service quality and accessibility. The department's primary responsibility is to guarantee that county departments established under either s. 51.42 or 51.437 receive a reasonably uniform minimum level of funding and its secondary responsibility is to fund programs which meet exceptional community needs or provide specialized or innovative services. Moneys appropriated under s. 20.435 (7) (b) and earmarked by the department for mental health services under s. 20.435 (7) (o) shall be allocated by the department to county departments under s. 51.42 or 51.437 in the manner set forth in this section.

25,1228 Section 1228. 51.423 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

51.423 (2) From the appropriations under s. 20.435 (3) (o) and (7) (b) and (o), the department shall distribute the funding for services provided or purchased by county departments under s. 46.23, 51.42, or 51.437 to such county departments as provided under s. 46.40. County matching funds are required for the distributions under s. 46.40 (2) and (9) (b). Each county's required match for the distributions under s. 46.40 (2) for a year equals 9.89% of the total of the county's distributions under s. 46.40 (2) for that year for which matching funds are required plus the amount the county was required by s. 46.26 (2) (c), 1985 stats., to spend for juvenile delinquency-related services from its distribution for 1987. Each county's required match for the distribution under s. 46.40 (9) (b) for a year equals 9.89% of that county's amounts described in s. 46.40 (9) (a) (intro.) for that year. Matching funds may be from county tax levies, federal and state revenue sharing funds, or private donations to the counties that meet the requirements specified in sub. (5). Private donations may not exceed 25% of the total county match. If the county match is less than the amount required to generate the full amount of state and federal funds distributed for this period, the decrease in the amount of state and federal funds equals the difference between the required and the actual amount of county matching funds.

25,1229 Section 1229. 51.437 (4rm) (c) 2. b. of the statutes is amended to read:

51.437 (4rm) (c) 2. b. Bill the county department of developmental disabilities services for services provided on or after December 31, 1997, at $48 per day, if an independent professional review established under 42 USC 1396a (a) (31) designates the person served as appropriate for community care, including persons who have been admitted for more than 180 consecutive days and for whom the cost of care in the community would be equal to or less than $184 per day the daily rate for services under s. 46.275. The department of health and family services shall use money it receives from the county department of developmental disabilities services to offset the state's share of medical assistance. Payment is due from the county department of developmental disabilities services within 60 days of the billing date, subject to provisions of the contract. If the department of health and family services does not receive any payment within 60 days, it shall deduct all or part of the amount due from any payment the department of health and family services is required to make to the county department of developmental disabilities services. The department of health and family services shall first use collections received under s. 46.10 as a result of care at a center for the developmentally disabled to reduce the costs paid by medical assistance, and shall remit the remainder to the county department of developmental disabilities services up to the portion billed. The department of health and family services shall use the appropriation under s. 20.435 (2) (gk) to remit collection credits and other appropriate refunds to county departments of developmental disabilities services.

25,1230 Section 1230. 59.40 (2) (p) of the statutes is amended to read:

59.40 (2) (p) Cooperate with the department of workforce development with respect to the child and spousal support and establishment of paternity and medical liability support liability program under ss. 49.22 and 59.53 (5), and provide that department with any information from court records which it requires to administer that program.

25,1231 Section 1231. 59.43 (1) (u) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

59.43 (1) (u) Submit that portion of recording fees collected under sub. (2) (ag) 1. and (e) and not retained by the county to the department of administration under s. 59.72 (5).

25,1232 Section 1232. 59.43 (1) (um) of the statutes is repealed.

25,1233 Section 1233. 59.43 (2) (ag) 1. of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

59.43 (2) (ag) 1. Subject to s. 59.72 (5), for recording any instrument entitled to be recorded in the office of the register of deeds, $11 for the first page and $2 for each additional page, except that no fee may be collected for recording a change of address that is exempt from a filing fee under s. 185.83 (1) (b).

25,1234 Section 1234. 59.43 (2) (e) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

59.43 (2) (e) Subject to s. 59.72 (5), for filing any instrument which is entitled to be filed in the office of register of deeds and for which no other specific fee is specified, $11 for the first page and $2 for each additional page.

25,1235b Section 1235b. 59.58 (6) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

59.58 (6) (title) Regional transportation transit authority.

25,1235c Section 1235c. 59.58 (6) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

59.58 (6) (a) 1. "Authority" means the regional transportation transit authority.

25,1235d Section 1235d. 59.58 (6) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

59.58 (6) (a) 2. "Region" means the geographic area composed of the counties of Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, and Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha.

25,1235e Section 1235e. 59.58 (6) (b) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read: