49.143 (2) (b) Establish a children's services network. The children's services network shall provide information about community resources available to the dependent children in a Wisconsin works group, including charitable food and clothing centers; subsidized and low-income housing; transportation subsidies; the state supplemental food program for women, infants and children under s. 253.06 49.17; and child care programs. In a county having a population of 500,000 or more, a children's services network shall, in addition, provide a forum for those persons who are interested in the delivery of child welfare services and other services to children and families in the geographical area under sub. (6) served by that children's services network to communicate with and make recommendations to the providers of those services in that geographical area with respect to the delivery of those services in that area.
SECTION 523. 49.147 (6) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.147 (6) (c) Distribution and administration. From the appropriation under s. 20.445 (3) 20.437 (2) (jL), the department shall distribute funds for job access loans to a Wisconsin Works agency, which shall administer the loans in accordance with rules promulgated by the department.
SECTION 524. 49.147 (6) (cm) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
49.147 (6) (cm) 1. The department of workforce development may, in the manner provided in s. 49.85, collect job access loan repayments that are delinquent under the terms of a repayment agreement. The department of workforce development shall credit all delinquent repayments collected by the department of revenue as a setoff under s. 71.93 to the appropriation account under s. 20.445 (3) 20.437 (2) (jL). Use of the process under s. 49.85 does not preclude the department of workforce development from collecting delinquent repayments through other legal means.
SECTION 525. 49.155 (1g) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.155 (1g) (b) From the appropriations under s. 20.445 (3) 20.437 (2) (cm), (kx), and (mc), distribute $5,488,500 in each fiscal year for grants under s. 49.134 (2) for child day care resource and referral services, for grants under s. 49.137 (4m), for a child care scholarship and bonus program, for administration of the department's office of child care and for the department's share of the costs for the Child Care Information Center operated by the division for libraries, technology, and community learning in the department of public instruction.
SECTION 526. 49.155 (1g) (c) of the statutes, as affected by 2007 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:
49.155 (1g) (c) From the appropriation account under s. 20.445 (3) 20.437 (2) (mc), transfer $5,236,800 in fiscal year 2007-08 and $5,245,500 in fiscal year 2008-09 to the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (3) 20.437 (1) (kx).
****NOTE: This is reconciled s. 49.155 (1g) (c). This SECTION has been affected by drafts with the following LRB numbers: -0267 and -1261.
SECTION 527. 49.155 (1g) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.155 (1g) (d) From the appropriation under s. 20.445 (3) (md), 2005 stats., distribute $3,378,500 in fiscal year 2005-06 and $3,378,500 in fiscal year 2006-07 for grants under s. 49.134 (2) for child day care resource and referral services, for contracts under s. 49.137 (4) for training and technical assistance, for grants under s. 49.137 (4m), and for a child care scholarship and bonus program.
SECTION 528. 49.1635 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.1635 (1) To the extent permitted under federal law and subject to sub. (2), from the appropriation under s. 20.445 (3) 20.437 (2) (md) the department may distribute funds to the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation in an amount up to the amount received by the foundation from private donations, but not to exceed $100,000 in a fiscal year. Except as provided in sub. (4), funds distributed under this subsection may be used only for the provision of legal services to individuals who are eligible for temporary assistance for needy families under 42 USC 601 et seq. and whose incomes are at or below 200% of the poverty line.
SECTION 529. 49.175 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.175 (1) ALLOCATION OF FUNDS. (intro.) Except as provided in sub. (2), within the limits of the appropriations under s. 20.445 (3) 20.437 (2) (a), (cm), (dz), (k), (kx), (L), (mc), (md), (me), and (s), the department shall allocate the following amounts for the following purposes:
SECTION 530. 49.175 (1) (ze) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.175 (1) (ze) (title) Programs administered by the department of health and family services relating to children and families.
SECTION 531. 49.175 (1) (ze) 10m. of the statutes, as affected by 2007 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:
49.175 (1) (ze) 10m. 'Safety and out-of-home placement services.' For services provided in counties having a population of 500,000 or more to ensure the safety of children who the department of health and family services determines may remain at home if appropriate services are provided and for ongoing services provided in those counties to families with children placed in out-of-home care, $5,631,300 in each fiscal year.
****NOTE: This is reconciled s. 49.175 (1) (ze) 10m. This SECTION has been affected by drafts with the following LRB numbers: -0267 and -1261.
SECTION 532. 49.175 (1) (zh) of the statutes, as affected by 2007 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:
49.175 (1) (zh) Earned income tax credit supplement. For the transfer of moneys from the appropriation account under s. 20.445 (3) 20.437 (2) (md) to the appropriation account under s. 20.835 (2) (kf) for the earned income tax credit, $30,616,700 in fiscal year 2007-08 and $25,004,300 in fiscal year 2008-09.
****NOTE: This is reconciled s. 49.175 (1) (zh). This SECTION has been affected by drafts with the following LRB numbers: -0267 and -1261.
SECTION 533. 49.175 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.175 (2) (c) If the amounts of federal block grant moneys that are required to be credited to the appropriation accounts under s. 20.445 (3) 20.437 (2) (mc) and (md) are less than the amounts appropriated under s. 20.445 (3) 20.437 (2) (mc) and (md), the department shall submit a plan to the secretary of administration for reducing the amounts of moneys allocated under sub. (1). If the secretary of administration approves the plan, the amounts of moneys required to be allocated under sub. (1) may be reduced as proposed by the department and the department shall allocate the moneys as specified in the plan.
SECTION 534. 49.177 of the statutes, as created by 2007 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:
49.177 Boys and Girls Clubs programs in 1st class cities. From the appropriation account under s. 20.445 (3) 20.437 (2) (kb), the department shall provide grants to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee to fund programs that improve the social, academic, and employment skills of youths who reside in 1st class cities.
****NOTE: This is reconciled s. 49.177. This SECTION has been affected by drafts with the following LRB numbers: -1261 and -1676.
SECTION 535. 49.19 (1) (a) 2. b. of the statutes is amended to read:
49.19 (1) (a) 2. b. Is living in a foster home or treatment foster home licensed under s. 48.62 if a license is required under that section, in a foster home or treatment foster home located within the boundaries of a federally recognized American Indian reservation in this state and licensed by the tribal governing body of the reservation, in a group home licensed under s. 48.625, or in a residential care center for children and youth licensed under s. 48.60, and has been placed in the foster home, treatment foster home, group home, or center by a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23, by the department of health and family services, by the department of corrections, or by a federally recognized American Indian tribal governing body in this state under an agreement with a county department.
SECTION 536. 49.19 (10) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.19 (10) (a) Aid under this section may also be granted to a nonrelative who cares for a child dependent upon the public for proper support in a foster home or treatment foster home having a license under s. 48.62, in a foster home or treatment foster home located within the boundaries of a federally recognized American Indian reservation in this state and licensed by the tribal governing body of the reservation or in a group home licensed under s. 48.625, regardless of the cause or prospective period of dependency. The state shall reimburse counties pursuant to the procedure under s. 46.495 48.569 (2) and the percentage rate of participation set forth in s. 46.495 48.569 (1) (d) for aid granted under this subsection except that if the child does not have legal settlement in the granting county, state reimbursement shall be at 100%. The county department under s. 46.215 or 46.22 shall determine the legal settlement of the child. A child under one year of age shall be eligible for aid under this subsection irrespective of any other residence requirement for eligibility within this section.
SECTION 537. 49.19 (10) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.19 (10) (d) Aid may also be paid under this section to a licensed foster home, treatment foster home, group home, or residential care center for children and youth by the state when the child is in the custody or guardianship of the state, when the child is a ward of an American Indian tribal court in this state and the placement is made under an agreement between the department and the tribal governing body, or when the child was part of the state's direct service case load and was removed from the home of a relative specified in sub. (1) (a) as a result of a judicial determination that continuance in the home of a relative would be contrary to the child's welfare for any reason and the child is placed by the department of health and family services or the department of corrections.
SECTION 538. 49.19 (11) (a) 1. a. of the statutes is amended to read:
49.19 (11) (a) 1. a. Except as provided in subs. (11m) and (11s), monthly payments made under s. 20.445 (3) 20.437 (2) (dz) and (md) to persons or to families with dependent children shall be based on family size and shall be at 80% of the total of the allowances under subds. 2. and 4. plus the following standards of assistance beginning on September 1, 1987:
SECTION 539. 49.19 (11s) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.19 (11s) (d) From the appropriation under s. 20.445 (3) 20.437 (2) (a), the department may award grants to county departments under ss. 46.215, 46.22 and 46.23 for providing education services relating to family planning, as defined in s. 253.07 (1) (a), to persons who are subject to par. (b).
SECTION 540. 49.195 (3r) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.195 (3r) From the appropriation under s. 20.445 (3) 20.437 (2) (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 541. 49.197 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.197 (1m) FRAUD INVESTIGATION. From the appropriations under s. 20.445 (3) 20.437 (2) (dz), (kx), (L), (md), (n), and (nL), the department shall establish a program to investigate suspected fraudulent activity on the part of recipients of aid to families with dependent children under s. 49.19, on the part of participants in the Wisconsin Works program under ss. 49.141 to 49.161, and, if the department of health and family services contracts with the department under sub. (5), 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. The department's activities under this subsection may include, but are not limited to, 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 shall cooperate with district attorneys regarding fraud prosecutions.
SECTION 542. 49.197 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.197 (4) COUNTY AND TRIBAL ERROR REDUCTION. If the department of health and family services contracts with the department under sub. (5), the department shall provide funds from the appropriation under s. 20.445 (3) 20.437 (2) (kx) to counties and governing bodies of federally recognized American Indian tribes administering Medical Assistance 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 to offset administrative costs of reducing payment errors in those programs.
SECTION 543. 49.22 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.22 (6) The department shall establish, pursuant to federal and state laws, rules and regulations, a uniform system of fees for services provided under this section to individuals not receiving aid under s. 46.261 48.645, 49.19, or 49.47; benefits under s. 49.148, 49.155, or 49.79; foster care maintenance payments under 42 USC 670 to 679a; or kinship care payments under s. 48.57 (3m) or long-term kinship care payments under s. 48.57 (3n). The system of fees may take into account an individual's ability to pay. Any fee paid and collected under this subsection may be retained by the county providing the service except for the fee specified in 42 USC 653 (e) (2) for federal parent locator services.
SECTION 544. 49.22 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.22 (7) The department may represent the state in any action to establish paternity or to establish or enforce a support or maintenance obligation. The department may delegate its authority to represent the state in any action to establish paternity or to establish or enforce a support or maintenance obligation under this section to an attorney responsible for support enforcement under s. 59.53 (6) (a) pursuant to a contract entered into under s. 59.53 (5). The department shall ensure that any such contract is for an amount reasonable and necessary to assure quality service. The department may, by such a contract, authorize a county to contract with any attorney, collection agency or other person to collect unpaid child support or maintenance. If a county fails to fully implement the programs under s. 59.53 (5), the department may implement them and may contract with any appropriate person to obtain necessary services. The department shall establish a formula for disbursing funds appropriated under s. 20.445 (3) 20.437 (2) (md) to carry out a contract under this subsection.
SECTION 545. 49.24 (1) of the statutes, as affected by 2007 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:
49.24 (1) From the appropriation under s. 20.445 (3) 20.437 (2) (b), the department shall provide child support incentive payments to counties. In fiscal year 2007-08, amounts allocated by the department under this subsection may not exceed $2,750,000, plus any amounts not obligated in the prior fiscal year. Beginning with fiscal year 2008-09, amounts allocated under this subsection may not exceed $5,500,000 per fiscal year, plus any amounts not obligated in the prior fiscal year.
****NOTE: This is reconciled s. 49.24 (1). This SECTION has been affected by drafts with the following LRB numbers: -1261 and -1523.
SECTION 546. 49.26 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.26 (1) (d) A county department or Wisconsin works Works agency that provides services under this subsection directly shall develop a plan, in coordination with the school districts located in whole or in part in the county, describing the assistance that the county department or Wisconsin works Works agency and school districts will provide to individuals receiving services under this subsection, the number of individuals that will be served and the estimated cost of the services. The county department or Wisconsin works Works agency shall submit the plan to the department of workforce development and the department of public instruction by January 15, annually.
SECTION 547. 49.27 of the statutes is created to read:
49.27 Legal actions. The department may sue and be sued.
SECTION 548. 49.273 of the statutes is created to read:
49.273 Research, investigations. The secretary shall plan for and establish within the department a program of research designed to determine the effectiveness of the treatment, curative, and rehabilitative programs of the various divisions of the department. The secretary may inquire into any matter affecting children and families, hold hearings, subpoena witnesses and make recommendations on those matters to the appropriate public or private agencies.
SECTION 549. 49.275 of the statutes is amended to read:
49.275 Cooperation with federal government. The department may cooperate with the federal government in carrying out federal acts concerning public assistance under this subchapter and child welfare under ch. 48 and in other matters of mutual concern under this subchapter pertaining to public welfare and under ch. 48 pertaining to child welfare.
SECTION 550. 49.32 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.32 (1) (a) The Except as provided in s. 49.345 (14) (b) and (c), the department shall establish a uniform system of fees for services provided or purchased under this subchapter and ch. 48 by the department, or a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23, except as provided in s. 49.22 (6) and except where when, as determined by the department, a fee is administratively unfeasible or would significantly prevent accomplishing the purpose of the service. A county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23 shall apply the fees which that it collects under this program to cover the cost of such those services.
SECTION 551. 49.32 (1) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
49.32 (1) (am) Paragraph (a) does not prevent the department from charging and collecting the cost of adoptive placement investigations and child care as authorized under s. 48.837 (7).
SECTION 552. 49.32 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.32 (1) (b) Any Except as provided in s. 49.345 (14) (b) and (c), any person receiving services provided or purchased under par. (a) or the spouse of the person and, in the case of a minor, the parents of the person, and, in the case of a foreign child described in s. 48.839 (1) who became dependent on public funds for his or her primary support before an order granting his or her adoption, the resident of this state appointed guardian of the child by a foreign court who brought the child into this state for the purpose of adoption, shall be liable for the services in the amount of the fee established under par. (a).
SECTION 553. 49.32 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.32 (1) (c) The department shall make collections from the person who in the opinion of the department is best able to pay, giving due regard to the present needs of the person or of his or her lawful dependents. The department may bring an action in the name of the department to enforce the liability established under par. (b). This paragraph does not apply to the recovery of fees for the care and services specified under s. 49.345.
SECTION 554. 49.32 (2) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
49.32 (2) (d) The department shall disburse from state or federal funds or both the entire amount and charge the county for its share under s. 48.569.
SECTION 555. 49.32 (9) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.32 (9) (a) Each county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23 administering aid to families with dependent children shall maintain a monthly report at its office showing the names of all persons receiving aid to families with dependent children together with the amount paid during the preceding month. Each Wisconsin works Works agency administering Wisconsin works Works under ss. 49.141 to 49.161 shall maintain a monthly report at its office showing the names of all persons receiving benefits under s. 49.148 together with the amount paid during the preceding month. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to authorize or require the disclosure in the report of any information (names, amounts of aid or otherwise) pertaining to adoptions, or aid furnished for the care of children in foster homes or treatment foster homes under s. 46.261 48.645 or 49.19 (10).
SECTION 556. 49.32 (11) of the statutes is renumbered 103.005 (21) and amended to read:
103.005 (21) COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES. The department shall distribute all of the funds under s. 20.445 (3) (1) (cr) to community action agencies and organizations, including any of the 11 federally recognized tribal governing bodies in this state and limited-purpose agencies, in proportion to the share of funds actually allocated to these entities under 42 USC 1315 and from other federal and private foundation sources that provide funds for job creation and development for individuals with low incomes.
SECTION 557. 49.32 (11m) of the statutes is created to read:
49.32 (11m) CONSOLIDATION OF ALLOCATED TRIBAL FUNDS. The department may consolidate funds appropriated under s. 20.437 that are authorized or required to be allocated to federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands into a single distribution for each tribe or band in each fiscal year.
SECTION 558. 49.32 (12) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.32 (12) ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS AND APPEALS. Any hearing under s. 227.42 granted by the department under this subchapter or ch. 48 may be conducted before the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration.
SECTION 559. 49.325 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.325 (1) (a) Each county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23 shall submit its final budget for services directly provided or purchased under this subchapter or ch. 48 to the department by December 31 annually.
SECTION 560. 49.325 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.325 (2) ASSESSMENT OF NEEDS. Before developing and submitting a proposed budget for services directly provided or purchased under this subchapter or ch. 48 to the county executive or county administrator or the county board, the county departments listed in sub. (1) shall assess needs and inventory resources and services, using an open public participation process.
SECTION 561. 49.325 (2g) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.325 (2g) (a) The department shall annually submit to the county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county department or the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty department a proposed written contract containing the allocation of funds for services directly provided or purchased under this subchapter or ch. 48 and such administrative requirements as necessary. The contract as approved may contain conditions of participation consistent with federal and state law. The contract may also include provisions necessary to ensure uniform cost accounting of services. Any changes to the proposed contract shall be mutually agreed upon. The county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county department or the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty department shall approve the contract before January 1 of the year in which it takes effect unless the department grants an extension. The county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county department or the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty department may designate an agent to approve addenda to any contract after the contract has been approved.
SECTION 562. 49.325 (2g) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.325 (2g) (c) The joint committee on finance may require the department to submit contracts between county departments under ss. 46.215, 46.22, and 46.23 and providers of services under this subchapter or ch. 48 to the committee for review and approval.
SECTION 563. 49.325 (2r) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
49.325 (2r) (a) 1. For services under this subchapter which or ch. 48 that duplicate or are inconsistent with services being provided or purchased by the department or other county departments receiving grants-in-aid or reimbursement from the department.
SECTION 564. 49.325 (2r) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
49.325 (2r) (a) 2. Inconsistent with state or federal statutes, rules, or regulations, in which case the department may also arrange for provision of services under this subchapter or ch. 48 by an alternate agency. The department may not arrange for provision of services by an alternate agency unless the joint committee on finance or a review body designated by the committee reviews and approves the department's determination.
SECTION 565. 49.325 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.325 (3) (a) Citizen advisory committee. Except as provided in par. (b), the county board of supervisors of each county or the county boards of supervisors of 2 or more counties jointly shall establish a citizen advisory committee to the county departments under ss. 46.215, 46.22 and 46.23. The citizen advisory committee shall advise in the formulation of the budget under sub. (1). Membership on the committee shall be determined by the county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county committee or by the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty committee and shall include representatives of those persons receiving services, providers of services and citizens. A majority of the members of the committee shall be citizens and consumers of services. At least one member of the committee shall be chosen from the governing or administrative board of the community action agency serving the county or counties under s. 49.265, if any. The committee's membership may not consist of more than 25% county supervisors, nor of more than 20% services providers. The chairperson of the committee shall be appointed by the county board of supervisors establishing it. In the case of a multicounty committee, the chairperson shall be nominated by the committee and approved by the county boards of supervisors establishing it. The county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county committee or the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty committee may designate an agent to determine the membership of the committee and to appoint the committee chairperson or approve the nominee.
SECTION 566. 49.34 (1) of the statutes is amended to read: