AB100: Bill Text Engrossed

AB100-engrossed, s. 920 Section 920. 46.995 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,465,18 46.995 (2) Adolescent self-sufficiency services. From the allocations allocation under sub. (1m), the department may provide a grant annually in the amount of $85,000 to the elected governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band to provide services for adolescent parents which shall emphasize high school graduation and vocational preparation, training, and experience and may be structured so as to strengthen the adolescent parent's capacity to fulfill parental responsibilities by developing social skills and increasing parenting skills. The tribe or band seeking to receive a grant to provide these services shall develop a proposed service plan that is approved by the department.

AB100-engrossed, s. 921 Section 921. 46.995 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,466,2 46.995 (3) (b) From the allocations allocation under sub. (1m), the department may provide a grant annually in the amount of $65,000 to the elected governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band to provide to high-risk adolescents pregnancy and parenthood prevention services which shall be structured so as to increase development of decision-making and communications skills, promote graduation from high school, and expand career and other options and which may address needs of adolescents with respect to pregnancy prevention.

AB100-engrossed, s. 922 Section 922. 46.995 (4m) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,466,10 46.995 (4m) (b) (intro.) From the allocations allocation under sub. (1m), the department may provide a grant annually in the amount of $60,000 to the elected governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band for the provision of information to members of the tribe or band in order to increase community knowledge about problems of adolescents and information to and activities for adolescents, particularly female adolescents, in order to enable the adolescents to develop skills with respect to all of the following:

AB100-engrossed, s. 924 Section 924. 48.33 (4) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,466,17 48.33 (4) Other out-of-home placements. (intro.) A report recommending placement of an adult expectant mother outside of her home shall be in writing. A report recommending placement of a child in a foster home, treatment foster home, group home, or residential care center for children and youth or, in the home of a relative other than a parent, or in the home of a guardian under s. 48.977 (2) shall be in writing and shall include all of the following:

AB100-engrossed, s. 925 Section 925. 48.345 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,466,21 48.345 (3) (c) A foster home or treatment foster home licensed under s. 48.62 or, a group home licensed under s. 48.625 , or in the home of a guardian under s. 48.977 (2).

AB100-engrossed, s. 926 Section 926. 48.356 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,467,7 48.356 (1) Whenever the court orders a child to be placed outside his or her home, orders an expectant mother of an unborn child to be placed outside of her home, or denies a parent visitation because the child or unborn child has been adjudged to be in need of protection or services under s. 48.345, 48.347, 48.357, 48.363, or 48.365 or whenever the court appoints a guardian for a child under s. 48.977 (2), the court shall orally inform the parent or parents who appear in court or the expectant mother who appears in court of any grounds for termination of parental rights under s. 48.415 which that may be applicable and of the conditions necessary for the child or expectant mother to be returned to the home or for the parent to be granted visitation.

AB100-engrossed, s. 927 Section 927. 48.425 (1) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,467,16 48.425 (1) (g) If an agency designated under s. 48.427 (3m) (a) 1. to 4. determines that it is unlikely that the child will be adopted, or if adoption would not be in the best interests of the child, the report shall include a plan for placing the child in a permanent family setting. The plan shall include a recommendation as to the agency to be named guardian of the child or, a recommendation that the person appointed as the guardian of the child under s. 48.977 (2) continue to be the guardian of the child, or a recommendation that a guardian be appointed for the child under s. 48.977 (2).

AB100-engrossed, s. 928 Section 928. 48.427 (3m) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,467,20 48.427 (3m) (intro.) If the rights of both parents or of the only living parent are terminated under sub. (3) and if a guardian has not been appointed under s. 48.977, the court shall either do one of the following:

AB100-engrossed, s. 929 Section 929. 48.427 (3m) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

AB100-engrossed,467,23 48.427 (3m) (c) Appoint a guardian under s. 48.977 and transfer guardianship and custody of the child to the guardian.

AB100-engrossed, s. 930 Section 930. 48.427 (3p) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,468,5 48.427 (3p) If the rights of both parents or of the only living parent are terminated under sub. (3) and if a guardian has been appointed under s. 48.977, the court may enter one of the orders specified in sub. (3m) (a) or (b). If the court enters an order under this subsection, the court shall terminate the guardianship under s. 48.977.

AB100-engrossed, s. 932 Section 932. 48.48 (17) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,468,19 48.48 (17) (a) 3. Provide appropriate protection and services for children and the expectant mothers of unborn children in its care, including providing services for those children and their families and for those expectant mothers in their own homes, placing the children in licensed foster homes, treatment foster homes, or group homes in this state or another state within a reasonable proximity to the agency with legal custody, placing the children in the homes of guardians under s. 48.977 (2), or contracting for services for those children by licensed child welfare agencies, except that the department may not purchase the educational component of private day treatment programs unless the department, the school board, as defined in s. 115.001 (7), and the state superintendent of public instruction all determine that an appropriate public education program is not available. Disputes between the department and the school district shall be resolved by the state superintendent of public instruction.

AB100-engrossed, s. 933 Section 933. 48.48 (17) (c) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,468,23 48.48 (17) (c) 4. Is living in a foster home, treatment foster home, group home, or, residential care center for children and youth, or subsidized guardianship home under s. 48.62 (5).

AB100-engrossed, s. 934 Section 934. 48.57 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,469,13 48.57 (1) (c) To provide appropriate protection and services for children and the expectant mothers of unborn children in its care, including providing services for those children and their families and for those expectant mothers in their own homes, placing those children in licensed foster homes, treatment foster homes, or group homes in this state or another state within a reasonable proximity to the agency with legal custody, placing those children in the homes of guardians under s. 48.977 (2), or contracting for services for those children by licensed child welfare agencies, except that the county department may not purchase the educational component of private day treatment programs unless the county department, the school board, as defined in s. 115.001 (7), and the state superintendent of public instruction all determine that an appropriate public education program is not available. Disputes between the county department and the school district shall be resolved by the state superintendent of public instruction.

AB100-engrossed, s. 935 Section 935. 48.57 (3) (a) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,469,17 48.57 (3) (a) 4. Is living in a foster home, treatment foster home, group home, or, residential care center for children and youth, or subsidized guardianship home under s. 48.62 (5).

AB100-engrossed, s. 936 Section 936. 48.57 (3m) (cm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,469,21 48.57 (3m) (cm) A kinship care relative who receives a payment under par. (am) for providing care and maintenance for a child is not eligible to receive a payment under sub. (3n) or s. 48.62 (4) or (5) for that child.

AB100-engrossed, s. 937 Section 937. 48.57 (3m) (h) of the statutes is created to read:

AB100-engrossed,470,5 48.57 (3m) (h) A county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department may recover an overpayment made under par. (am) from a kinship care relative who continues to receive payments under par. (am) by reducing the amount of the kinship care relative's monthly payment. The department may by rule specify other methods for recovering overpayments made under par. (am). A county department that recovers an overpayment under this paragraph due to the efforts of its officers and employees may retain a portion of the amount recovered, as provided by the department by rule.

AB100-engrossed, s. 938 Section 938. 48.57 (3n) (cm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,470,9 48.57 (3n) (cm) A long-term kinship care relative who receives a payment under par. (am) for providing care and maintenance for a child is not eligible to receive a payment under sub. (3m) or s. 48.62 (4) or (5) for that child.

AB100-engrossed, s. 939 Section 939. 48.57 (3n) (h) of the statutes is created to read:

AB100-engrossed,470,18 48.57 (3n) (h) A county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department may recover an overpayment made under par. (am) from a long-term kinship care relative who continues to receive payments under par. (am) by reducing the amount of the long-term kinship care relative's monthly payment. The department may by rule specify other methods for recovering overpayments made under par. (am). A county department that recovers an overpayment under this paragraph due to the efforts of its officers and employees may retain a portion of the amount recovered, as provided by the department by rule.

AB100-engrossed, s. 940 Section 940. 48.57 (3p) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,470,25 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) or s. 48.62 (5) (a) or (b) 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) or s. 48.62 (5) (a) or (b).

AB100-engrossed, s. 941 Section 941. 48.57 (3p) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,471,6 48.57 (3p) (b) 1. After receipt of an application for payments under sub. (3m) or (3n) or s. 48.62 (5) (a) or (b), 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.

AB100-engrossed, s. 942 Section 942. 48.57 (3p) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,471,13 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) or s. 48.62 (5) (a) or (b) at any time that the county department or department of health and family services considers to be appropriate.

AB100-engrossed, s. 943 Section 943. 48.57 (3p) (c) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,471,21 48.57 (3p) (c) 1. After receipt of an application for payments under sub. (3m) or (3n) or s. 48.62 (5) (a) or (b), 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 employees and prospective employees 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.

AB100-engrossed, s. 944 Section 944. 48.57 (3p) (c) 2m. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,472,5 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 employees or prospective employees of any person who is receiving payments under sub. (3n) or s. 48.62 (5) (a) or (b) 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.

AB100-engrossed, s. 945 Section 945. 48.57 (3p) (c) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,472,14 48.57 (3p) (c) 3. Before a person who is receiving payments under sub. (3m) or (3n) or s. 48.62 (5) (a) or (b) 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 employee or prospective adult resident unless that person has already been investigated under subd. 1., 2. or 2m.

AB100-engrossed, s. 946 Section 946. 48.57 (3p) (fm) 1m. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,473,13 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. or make payments under s. 48.62 (5) (a) or (b) 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 applicant'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) or s. 48.62 (5) (a) or (b) 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 applicant's ability to care for the child.

AB100-engrossed, s. 947 Section 947. 48.57 (3p) (fm) 2m. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,475,2 48.57 (3p) (fm) 2m. A person receiving payments under sub. (3n) or s. 48.62 (5) (a) or (b) 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 employee 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) or s. 48.62 (5) (a) or (b) 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 of the person receiving payments 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) or s. 48.62 (5) (a) or (b). A person receiving payments under sub. (3n) or s. 48.62 (5) (a) or (b) 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 of the person receiving payments to care for the child.

AB100-engrossed, s. 948 Section 948. 48.57 (3p) (hm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,475,13 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) or s. 48.62 (5) (a) or (b) and a person receiving payments under sub. (3n) or s. 48.62 (5) (a) or (b) 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 person's ability to care for the child.

AB100-engrossed, s. 949 Section 949. 48.61 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,475,18 48.61 (3) To provide appropriate care and training for children in its legal or physical custody and, if licensed to do so, to place children in licensed foster homes, licensed treatment foster homes, and licensed group homes and in the homes of guardians under s. 48.977 (2).

AB100-engrossed, s. 950 Section 950. 48.615 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,475,24 48.615 (1) (b) Before the department may issue a license under s. 48.60 (1) to a child welfare agency that places children in licensed foster homes, licensed treatment foster homes, and licensed group homes and in the homes of guardians under s. 48.977 (2), the child welfare agency must pay to the department a biennial fee of $254.10.

AB100-engrossed, s. 951d Section 951d. 48.62 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,476,15 48.62 (4) Monthly payments in foster care shall be provided according to the age-related rates specified in this subsection. Beginning on January 1, 2000, the age-related rates are: $299 for children aged 4 and under; $326 for children aged 5 to 11; $371 for children aged 12 to 14 and $387 for children aged 15 to 17. Beginning on January 1, 2001, the age-related rates are: $302 for children aged 4 and under; $329 for children aged 5 to 11; $375 for children aged 12 to 14; and $391 for children aged 15 to 17 2006, the age-related rates are $310 for a child under 5 years of age; $337 for a child 5 to 11 years of age; $384 for a child 12 to 14 years of age; and $401 for a child 15 years of age or over. Beginning on January 1, 2007, the age-related rates are $317 for a child under 5 years of age; $346 for a child 5 to 11 years of age; $394 for a child 12 to 14 years of age; and $411 for a child 15 years of age or over. In addition to these grants for basic maintenance, the department shall make supplemental payments for special needs, exceptional circumstances, care in a treatment foster home, and initial clothing allowances according to rules promulgated by the department.

AB100-engrossed, s. 952 Section 952. 48.62 (5) of the statutes is created to read:

AB100-engrossed,476,25 48.62 (5) (a) Subject to par. (d), a county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department shall provide monthly subsidized guardianship payments in the amount specified in par. (e) to a guardian of a child under s. 48.977 (2) or under a substantially similar tribal law or law of another state who was licensed as the child's foster parent or treatment foster parent before the guardianship appointment and who has entered into a subsidized guardianship agreement with the county department or department if the guardian meets the conditions specified in par. (c) 1. and 2. and if the child meets any of the following conditions:

AB100-engrossed,477,10 1. The child has been placed outside of his or her home, as described in s. 48.365 (1), for a cumulative total period of one year or longer, the court has found that the agency primarily responsible for providing services to the child under a court order has made reasonable efforts to make it possible for the child to return to his or her home, while assuring that the child's health and safety are the paramount concerns, but that reunification of the child with the child's parent or parents is unlikely or contrary to the best interests of the child and that further reunification efforts are unlikely to be made or are contrary to the best interests of the child, or that any of the circumstances specified in s. 48.355 (2d) (b) 1. to 5. apply, and the court has found that appointment of a guardian for the child is in the best interests of the child.

AB100-engrossed,477,15 2. The child does not meet the conditions specified in subd. 1., but the county department or department has determined, and a court has confirmed under s. 48.977 (3r) or under a substantially similar tribal law or law of another state, that appointing a guardian for the child and providing monthly subsidized guardianship payments to the guardian are in the best interests of the child.

AB100-engrossed,477,21 (b) Subject to par. (d), on the death, incapacity, resignation, or removal of a guardian receiving payments under par. (a), a county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department shall provide monthly subsidized guardianship payments in the amount specified in par. (e) for a period of up to 12 months to an interim caretaker who meets all of the conditions specified in par. (c).

AB100-engrossed,477,24 (c) A county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department may not provide monthly subsidized guardianship payments under par. (a) or (b) unless all of the following conditions are met:

AB100-engrossed,478,4 1. The county department or department inspects the home of the guardian or interim caretaker, interviews the guardian or interim caretaker, and determines that placement of the child with the guardian or interim caretaker is in the best interests of the child.

AB100-engrossed,478,12 2. The county department or department conducts a background investigation under s. 48.57 (3p) of the guardian or interim caretaker, the employees and prospective employees of the guardian or interim caretaker who have or would have regular contact with the child for whom the payments would be made, and any other adult resident, as defined in s. 48.57 (3p) (a), of the home of the guardian or interim caretaker and determines that those individuals do not have any arrests or convictions that are likely to adversely affect the child or the ability of the guardian or interim caretaker to care for the child.

AB100-engrossed,478,15 3. In the case of an interim caretaker, the interim caretaker cooperates with the county department or department in finding a permanent placement for the child.

AB100-engrossed,479,4 (d) The department shall request from the secretary of the federal department of health and human services a waiver of the requirements under 42 USC 670 to 679a that would authorize the state to receive federal foster care and adoption assistance reimbursement under 42 USC 670 to 679a for the costs of providing care for a child who is in the care of a guardian who was licensed as the child's foster parent or treatment foster parent before the guardianship appointment and who has entered into a subsidized guardianship agreement with the county department or department. If the waiver is approved for a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department shall provide the monthly payments under par. (a) from the appropriations under s. 20.435 (3) (cx), (gx), (kw), and (mx). If the waiver is approved for any other county, the department shall determine which counties are authorized to provide monthly payments under par. (a) or (b), and the county departments of those counties shall provide those payments from moneys received under s. 46.495 (1) (d).

AB100-engrossed,479,9 (e) The amount of a monthly payment under par. (a) or (b) for the care of a child shall equal the amount received under sub. (4) by the guardian of the child for the month immediately preceding the month in which the guardianship order was granted. A guardian or an interim caretaker who receives a monthly payment under par. (a) or (b) is not eligible to receive a payment under sub. (4) or s. 48.57 (3m) or (3n).

AB100-engrossed, s. 953 Section 953. 48.62 (6) of the statutes is created to read:

AB100-engrossed,479,18 48.62 (6) The department or a county department may recover an overpayment made under sub. (4) or (5) from a foster parent, treatment foster parent, guardian, or interim caretaker who continues to receive payments under sub. (4) or (5) by reducing the amount of the person's monthly payment. The department may by rule specify other methods for recovering overpayments made under sub. (4) or (5). A county department that recovers an overpayment under this subsection due to the efforts of its officers and employees may retain a portion of the amount recovered, as provided by the department by rule.

****Note: This is reconciled s. 48.62 (6). This Section has been affected by drafts with the following LRB numbers: LRB-0265/2 and LRB-0084/2.

AB100-engrossed, s. 962d Section 962d. 48.65 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,480,7 48.65 (3) (a) Before the department may issue a license under sub. (1) to a day care center that provides care and supervision for 4 to 8 children, the day care center must pay to the department a biennial fee of $60.50. Before the department may issue a license under sub. (1) to a day care center that provides care and supervision for 9 or more children, the day care center must pay to the department a biennial fee of $30.25, plus a biennial fee of $8.47 $10.33 per child, based on the number of children that the day care center is licensed to serve. A day care center that wishes to continue a license issued under sub. (1) shall pay the applicable fee under this paragraph by the continuation date of the license. A new day care center shall pay the applicable fee under this paragraph no later than 30 days before the opening of the day care center.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1023 Section 1023. 48.78 (2) (h) of the statutes is created to read:

AB100-engrossed,481,3 48.78 (2) (h) Paragraph (a) does not prohibit the department, a county department, or a licensed child welfare agency from entering the content of any record kept or information received about an individual in its care or legal custody into the statewide automated child welfare information system established under s. 46.03 (7) (g). Paragraph (a) also does not prohibit 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 from having access to information concerning a client of that county department, department, or organization under this chapter or ch. 51 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. 51 or 938 or to coordinate the delivery of services under this chapter or ch. 51 or 938 to the client. Before entering any information about an individual into the statewide automated child welfare information system, the department, county department, or licensed child welfare agency entering the information shall notify the individual that the information entered may be disclosed as provided in this paragraph.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1024 Section 1024. 48.975 (3) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,481,11 48.975 (3) (a) 1. Except as provided in subd. 3., for support of a child who was in foster care or, treatment foster care, or subsidized guardianship care immediately prior to placement for adoption, the initial amount of adoption assistance for maintenance shall be equivalent to the amount of that child's foster care or, treatment foster care, or subsidized guardianship care payment at the time that the agreement under sub. (4) (a) is signed or a lesser amount if agreed to by the proposed adoptive parents and specified in that agreement.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1025 Section 1025. 48.975 (3) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,481,18 48.975 (3) (a) 2. Except as provided in subd. 3., for support of a child not in foster care or, treatment foster care, or subsidized guardianship care immediately prior to placement for adoption, the initial amount of adoption assistance for maintenance shall be equivalent to the uniform foster care rate in effect at the time that the agreement under sub. (4) (a) is signed or a lesser amount if agreed to by the proposed adoptive parents and specified in that agreement.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1026 Section 1026. 48.975 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,482,2 48.975 (4) (a) Except in extenuating circumstances, as defined by the department by rule promulgated under sub. (5) (a), a written agreement to provide adoption assistance shall be made prior to adoption. An agreement to provide adoption assistance may be made only for a child who, at the time of placement for adoption, is in the guardianship of the department or other agency authorized to place children for adoption or, in the guardianship of an American Indian tribal agency in this state, or in a subsidized guardianship under s. 48.62 (5).

AB100-engrossed, s. 1027 Section 1027. 48.975 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB100-engrossed,482,9 48.975 (4m) Recovery of incorrect payments. The department may recover an overpayment of adoption assistance from an adoptive parent who continues to receive adoption assistance for maintenance by reducing the amount of the adoptive parent's monthly payment of adoption assistance for maintenance. The department may by rule specify other methods for recovering overpayments of adoption assistance.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1028 Section 1028. 48.977 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,482,12 48.977 (title) Appointment of relatives as guardians for certain children in need of protection or services.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1029 Section 1029. 48.977 (1) of the statutes is repealed.