health and human services
Children
Recently, the U.S. Congress enacted the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (P.L. 109-248) (Adam Walsh Act), which amends Title IV-E of the federal Social Security Act to require the states to provide procedures for criminal records checks, including fingerprint-based checks of national crime information databases, of prospective foster or adoptive parents before those parents may be finally approved for placement of a child, regardless of whether foster care maintenance or adoption assistance payments are to be made. Prior federal law required criminal records checks, but not fingerprint-based checks, of those prospective parents and required criminal records checks of those prospective parents only if the placement involved a child on whose behalf those payments were to be made.
The Adam Walsh Act also requires a state to check any child abuse or neglect registry maintained by the state for information on any prospective foster or adoptive parent and on any other adult living in the home of that prospective parent (adult resident), and to check any child abuse or neglect registry maintained by any other state in which any prospective foster or adoptive parent or adult resident has resided in the preceding five years, before the prospective foster or adoptive parent may be finally approved for placement of a child, regardless of whether foster care maintenance or adoption assistance payments are to be provided on behalf of the child.
This bill conforms state law relating to criminal history and child abuse or neglect record searches (background checks) of prospective foster, treatment foster, and adoptive homes to federal law, as affected by the Adam Walsh Act. Specifically, the bill requires DHFS, a county department of human services or social services (county department), or a child welfare agency to conduct a background check of a person who is seeking a license to operate a foster or treatment foster home, of a person licensed to operate a foster or treatment foster home who is seeking to adopt a child, and of any adult resident of the home, regardless of whether foster care maintenance or adoption assistance payments will be provided after the placement is made or the adoption is finalized.
The bill also requires DHFS, a county department, or a child welfare agency to request a fingerprint-based check of the national crime information databases for a person who is seeking an initial license to operate a foster or treatment foster home or relicensure after a break in licensure and of a person who was required to obtain an initial license to operate a foster or treatment foster home or relicensure after a break in licensure before placement of a child for adoption. In addition, if at any time within the five years preceding the date of the background check that person or an adult resident has not been a resident of this state, the bill requires DHFS, a county department, or a child welfare agency to check any child abuse or neglect registry maintained by any state or other United States jurisdiction in which the person or adult resident was a resident within those preceding five years.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 48.685 (1) (bg) of the statutes is repealed.
SECTION 2. 48.685 (1) (d) of the statutes is repealed.
SECTION 3. 48.685 (2) (b) 1. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.685 (2) (b) 1. (intro.) Every entity shall obtain all of the following with respect to a caregiver specified in sub. (1) (ag) 1. a. of the entity:
SECTION 4. 48.685 (2) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
48.685 (2) (c) 1. If the person who is the subject of the search under par. (am) is seeking an initial license to operate a foster home or treatment foster home or is seeking relicensure after a break in licensure, the department, county department, or child welfare agency shall request under 42 USC 16962 (b) a fingerprint-based check of the national crime information databases, as defined in 28 USC 534 (f) (3) (A). The department, county department, or child welfare agency may release any information obtained under this subdivision only as permitted under 42 USC 16962 (e).
2. If the person who is the subject of the search under par. (am) is seeking a license to operate a foster home or treatment foster home or is an adult nonclient resident of the foster home or treatment foster home and if the person is not, or at any time within the 5 years preceding the date of the search has not been, a resident of this state, the department, county department, or child welfare agency shall check any child abuse or neglect registry maintained by any state or other U.S. jurisdiction in which the person is a resident or was a resident within those 5 years for information that is equivalent to the information specified in par. (am) 4. The department, county department, or child welfare agency may not use any information obtained under this subdivision for any purpose other than a search of the person's background under par. (am).
SECTION 5. 48.685 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.685 (3) (a) Every 4 years or at any time within that period that the department, a county department, a child welfare agency, or a school board considers appropriate, the department, county department, child welfare agency, or school board shall request the information specified in sub. (2) (am) 1. to 5. for all persons caregivers specified in sub. (1) (ag) 1. b. who are licensed, certified, or contracted to operate an entity, for all persons who are nonclient residents of an entity such a caregiver, and for all persons under 18 years of age, but not under 12 years of age, who are caregivers of a day care center that is licensed under s. 48.65 or established or contracted for under s. 120.13 (4) or of a day care provider that is certified under s. 48.651.
SECTION 6. 48.685 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.685 (3) (b) Every 4 years or at any time within that period that an entity considers appropriate, the entity shall request the information specified in sub. (2) (b) 1. a. to e. for all persons who are caregivers specified in sub. (1) (ag) 1. a. of the entity other than persons under 18 years of age, but not under 12 years of age, who are caregivers of a day care center that is licensed under s. 48.65 or established or contracted for under s. 120.13 (14) or of a day care provider that is certified under s. 48.651.
SECTION 7. 48.685 (4m) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.685 (4m) (b) (intro.) Notwithstanding s. 111.335, and except as provided in sub. (5), an entity may not employ or contract with a caregiver specified in sub. (1) (ag) 1. a. or permit a nonclient resident to reside at the entity if the entity knows or should have known any of the following:
SECTION 8. 48.685 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.685 (5) (a) The Subject to par. (bm), the department may license to operate an entity, a county department may certify under s. 48.651, a county department or a child welfare agency may license under s. 48.62 and a school board may contract with under s. 120.13 (14) a person who otherwise may not be licensed, certified or contracted with for a reason specified in sub. (4m) (a) 1. to 5., and an entity may employ, contract with, or permit to reside at the entity a person who otherwise may not be employed, contracted with, or permitted to reside at the entity for a reason specified in sub. (4m) (b) 1. to 5., if the person demonstrates to the department, the county department, the child welfare agency, or the school board or, in the case of an entity that is located within the boundaries of a reservation, to the person or body designated by the tribe under sub. (5d) (a) 3., by clear and convincing evidence and in accordance with procedures established by the department by rule or by the tribe that he or she has been rehabilitated.
SECTION 9. 48.685 (5) (bm) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.685 (5) (bm) (intro.) For purposes of licensing a foster home or treatment foster home for the placement of a child on whose behalf foster care maintenance payments under s. 48.62 (4) will be provided, no person who has been convicted of any of the following offenses may be permitted to demonstrate that he or she has been rehabilitated:
SECTION 10. 48.88 (2) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
48.88 (2) (am) 1. If the petitioner was required to obtain an initial license to operate a foster home or treatment foster home before placement of the child for adoption or relicensure after a break in licensure, the agency making the investigation shall obtain a criminal history search from the records maintained by the department of justice and request under 42 USC 16962 (b) a fingerprint-based check of the national crime information databases, as defined in 28 USC 534 (f) (3) (A), with respect to the petitioner. The agency may release any information obtained under this subdivision only as permitted under 42 USC 16962 (e). In the case of a child on whose behalf adoption assistance payments will be provided under s. 48.975, if the petitioner has been convicted of any of the offenses specified in s. 48.685 (5) (bm) 1. to 4., the agency may not report that the petitioner's home is suitable for the child.
2. If the petitioner was required to obtain a license to operate a foster home or treatment foster home before placement of the child for adoption, the agency making the investigation shall obtain information maintained by the department regarding any substantiated reports of child abuse or neglect against the petitioner and any other adult residing in the petitioner's home. If the petitioner or other adult residing in the petitioner's home is not, or at any time within the 5 years preceding the date of the search has not been, a resident of this state, the agency shall check any child abuse or neglect registry maintained by any state or other U.S. jurisdiction in which the petitioner or other adult is a resident or was a resident within those 5 years for information that is equivalent to the information maintained by the department regarding substantiated reports of child abuse or neglect. The agency may not use any information obtained under this subdivision for any purpose other than a background search under this subdivision.
SECTION 11. 48.981 (3) (c) 8. of the statutes is amended to read:
48.981 (3) (c) 8. Using the format prescribed by the department, each county department shall provide the department with information about each report that the county department receives or that is received by a licensed child welfare agency that is under contract with the county department and about each investigation that the county department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the county department conducts. Using the format prescribed by the department, a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department shall provide the department with information about each report that the child welfare agency receives and about each investigation that the child welfare agency conducts. This information shall be used by the The department shall use the information to monitor services provided by county departments or licensed child welfare agencies under contract with county departments or the department. The department shall use nonidentifying information to maintain statewide statistics on child abuse and neglect and on unborn child abuse, and for planning and policy development purposes.
SECTION 9321. Initial applicability; Health and Family Services.
(1) BACKGROUND CHECKS OF FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE HOMES. The treatment of sections 48.685 (1) (bg) and (d), (2) (b) 1. (intro.) and (c), (3) (a) and (b), (4m) (b) (intro.), and (5) (a) and (bm) (intro.), and 48.88 (2) (am) of the statutes first applies to a person who applies for a license to operate a foster home or treatment foster home or for an investigation of a proposed adoptive home on the effective date of this subsection.
SECTION 9421. Effective dates; Health and Family Services.
(1) BACKGROUND CHECKS OF FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE HOMES AND CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT APPEALS. The treatment of sections 48.685 (1) (bg) and (d), (2) (b) 1. (intro.) and (c), (3) (a) and (b), (4m) (b) (intro.), and (5) (a) and (bm) (intro.), 48.88 (2) (am), and 48.981 (3) (c) 8. of the statutes takes effect on January 1, 2008.
(End)
LRB-0878LRB-0878/5
DAK:lmk&wlj:rs
2007 - 2008 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Milioto, BB0174 - Council on Developmental Disabilities
For 2007-09 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
2007 BILL
AN ACT ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
health and human services
Mental illness, alcoholism, and developmental disabilities
Currently, the Council on Developmental Disabilities is attached to DHFS and performs numerous duties, including developing, approving, and continuing modification of the statewide plan for delivery of services to individuals with developmental disabilities. The Council on Developmental Disabilities is funded, in part, by a federal grant.
This bill transfers the Council on Developmental Disabilities to DOA and creates an appropriation in DOA for receipt and distribution of federal moneys for the Council on Developmental Disabilities. The bill requires DHFS to ensure that the matching funds requirement under the federal grant that provides funds for the Council on Developmental Disabilities is met by reporting expenditures made for the provision of developmental disabilities services under the Community Aids Program.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 15.197 (11n) of the statutes is renumbered 15.107 (7), and 15.107 (7) (ag), as renumbered, is amended to read:
15.107 (7) (ag) There is created a council on developmental disabilities, attached to the department of health and family services administration under s. 15.03.
SECTION 2. 20.505 (4) (mg) of the statutes is created to read:
20.505 (4) (mg) Council on developmental disabilities; federal aid. All federal moneys received under 42 USC 15021 to 15029 for the council on developmental disabilities, for the purposes for which provided.
****NOTE: This SECTION involves a change in an appropriation that must be reflected in the revised schedule in s. 20.005, stats.
SECTION 3. 51.437 (14) (i) of the statutes is created to read:
51.437 (14) (i) Ensure that the matching funds requirement for the state developmental disabilities councils grant, as received from the federal department of health and human services, is met by reporting to the federal department of health and human services expenditures made for the provision of developmental disabilities services under the basic county allocation distributed under s. 46.40 (2).
SECTION 9121. Nonstatutory provisions; Health and Family Services.
(1) TRANSFER OF COUNCIL ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.
(a) Assets and liabilities. On the effective date of this paragraph, the assets and liabilities of the department of health and family services primarily related to the council on developmental disabilities, as determined by the secretary of administration, shall become the assets and liabilities of the department of administration.
(b) Employee transfers. All incumbent employees holding positions in the department of health and family services performing duties primarily related to the functions of the council on developmental disabilities, as determined by the secretary of administration, are transferred on the effective date of this paragraph to the department of administration.
(c) Employee status. Employees transferred under paragraph (b) have all the rights and the same status under subchapter V of chapter 111 and under chapter 230 of the statutes in the department of administration that they enjoyed in the department of health and family services immediately before the transfer. Notwithstanding section 230.28 (4) of the statutes, no employee so transferred who has attained permanent status in class is required to serve a probationary period.
(d) Tangible personal property. On the effective date of this paragraph, all tangible personal property, including records, of the department of health and family services that is primarily related to the functions of the council on developmental disabilities, as determined by the secretary of administration, is transferred to the department of administration.
(e) Contracts.
1. All contracts entered into by the council on developmental disabilities in effect on the effective date of this paragraph remain in effect and are transferred to the council on developmental disabilities in the department of administration. The council on developmental disabilities shall carry out any obligations under such a contract until the contract expires or is modified or rescinded by the council on developmental disabilities to the extent allowed under the contract.
2. All contracts entered into by the department of health and family services in effect on the effective date of this paragraph that are primarily related to the functions of the council on developmental disabilities, as determined by the secretary of administration, remain in effect and are transferred to the department of administration. The department of administration shall carry out any obligations under such a contract until the contract is modified or rescinded by the department of administration to the extent allowed under the contract.
(End)
LRB-0891LRB-0891/1
MES:wlj:pg
2007 - 2008 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Easton, BB0186 - Administration of tax appeals commission deposits by department of revenue
For 2007-09 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
2007 BILL
AN ACT ...; relating to: transferring the administration of tax appeals commission deposits from the department of administration to the department of revenue.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
taxation
Other taxation
Currently, if a taxpayer files with the tax appeals commission an appeal of a DOR ruling related to taxes, the taxpayer may deposit the entire amount of the additional taxes DOR claims is due, plus interest, with the secretary of administration while the appeal is pending. DOR is required under current law to issue a certificate to DOA authorizing the secretary to administer the deposit and issue any refund that is due the taxpayer following the conclusion of the appeals process. Currently, similar procedures for the deposit of tax assessments, and the issuance of a refund that may be due, also apply to other taxes including the oil and gas severance tax, the motor vehicle fuel floor tax, the intoxicating liquor floor tax, and the cigarette inventory tax.
Under this bill, such deposits will be made, and such refunds will be issued, by DOR directly, and DOA will no longer administer the deposits or issue any refund that may be due.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 71.74 (14) of the statutes is amended to read:
71.74 (14) ADDITIONAL REMEDY TO COLLECT TAX. The department may also proceed under s. 71.91 (5) for the collection of any additional assessment of income or franchise taxes or surtaxes, after notice thereof has been given under sub. (11) and before the same shall have become delinquent, when it has reasonable grounds to believe that the collection of such additional assessment will be jeopardized by delay. In such cases notice of the intention to so proceed shall be given by registered mail to the taxpayer, and the warrant of the department shall not issue if the taxpayer within 10 days after such notice furnishes a bond in such amount, not exceeding double the amount of the tax, and with such sureties as the department shall approve, conditioned upon the payment of so much of the additional taxes as shall finally be determined to be due, together with interest thereon as provided by s. 71.82 (1) (a). Nothing in this subsection shall affect the review of additional assessments provided by ss. 71.88 (1) (a) and (2) (a), 71.89 (2), 73.01, and 73.015, and any amounts collected under this subsection shall be deposited with the secretary of administration department and disbursed after final determination of the taxes as are amounts deposited under s. 71.90 (2).
SECTION 2. 71.90 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
71.90 (2) DEPOSIT WITH THE SECRETARY OF ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT. At any time while the petition is pending before the tax appeals commission or an appeal in regard to that petition is pending in a court, the taxpayer may offer to deposit the entire amount of the additional taxes, penalties, and fines, together with interest, with the secretary of administration. If an offer to deposit is made, the department of revenue shall issue a certificate to the secretary of administration authorizing the secretary to accept payment of such taxes together with interest to the first day of the succeeding month and to give a receipt. A copy of the certificate shall be mailed to the taxpayer who shall pay the taxes and interest to the secretary of administration within 30 days. A copy of the receipt of the secretary of administration shall be filed with the department. The department shall, upon final determination of the appeal, certify to the secretary of administration the amount of the taxes as finally determined and direct the secretary of administration to refund to the appellant any portion of such payment which has been found to have been improperly assessed, including interest. The secretary of administration shall make the refunds directed by the certificate within 30 days after receipt. Taxes paid to the secretary of administration under this subsection shall be subject to the interest provided by ss. 71.82 and 71.91 (1) (c) only to the extent of the interest accrued on the taxes prior to the first day of the month succeeding the application for hearing. Any portion of the amount deposited with the secretary of administration which is refunded to the taxpayer shall bear interest at the rate of 9% per year during the time that the funds are on deposit.
SECTION 3. 77.59 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:
77.59 (7) If the department believes that the collection of any tax imposed by this subchapter will be jeopardized by delay, it shall notify the person determined to owe the tax of its intention to proceed under s. 71.91 (5) for collection of the amount determined to be owing, including penalties and interest. Such notice shall be by certified or registered mail or by personal service and the warrant of the department shall not issue if the person, within 10 days after such notice furnishes a bond in such amount not exceeding double the amount determined to be owing and with such sureties as the department approves, conditioned upon the payment of so much of the taxes, interest, and penalties as shall finally be determined to be due. Nothing in this subsection shall affect the review of determinations of tax as provided in this subchapter and any amounts collected under this subsection shall be deposited with the secretary of administration department and disbursed after final determination of the taxes as are amounts deposited under ss. 71.89 (1) and 71.90 (2).
(End)
LRB-0892LRB-0892/12
JK&DAK&PJK:all:rs
2007 - 2008 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Easton, BB0175 - Increase excise tax rate on cigarette and tobacco products sales; health care quality fund
For 2007-09 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
2007 BILL
AN ACT ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
taxation