48.52 (1) (a) Receiving homes to be used for the temporary care of children;.
SECTION 87. 48.52 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.52 (1) (b) Foster homes or treatment foster homes;.
SECTION 88. 48.52 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.52 (1) (c) Group homes; and.
SECTION 89. 48.569 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.569 (1) (d) From the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (b) and (o), the department shall distribute the funding for children and family services, including funding for foster care, treatment foster care, or subsidized guardianship care of a child on whose behalf aid is received under s. 48.645 to county departments as provided under s. 48.563. County matching funds are required for the distribution under s. 48.563 (2). Each county's required match for the distribution under s. 48.563 (2) shall be specified in a schedule established annually by the department. Matching funds may be from county tax levies, federal and state revenue sharing funds, or private donations to the county that meet the requirements specified in sub. (1m). Private donations may not exceed 25 percent 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.
SECTION 90. 48.57 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
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.
SECTION 91. 48.57 (1) (hm) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.57 (1) (hm) If a county department in a county with a population of less than 500,000, to accept guardianship, when appointed by the court, of a child whom the county department has placed in a foster home or treatment foster home under a court order or voluntary agreement under s. 48.63 and to place that child under its guardianship for adoption by the foster parent or treatment foster parent.
SECTION 92. 48.57 (1) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.57 (1) (i) To license foster homes or treatment foster homes in accordance with s. 48.75.
SECTION 93. 48.57 (3) (a) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:
48.57 (3) (a) 4. Is living in a foster home, treatment foster home, group home, residential care center for children and youth, or subsidized guardianship home under s. 48.62 (5).
SECTION 94. 48.57 (3m) of the statutes, as affected by 2009 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), sections * and *, is repealed.
****NOTE: This is reconciled s. 48.57 (3m). This SECTION has been affected by drafts with the following LRB numbers: LRB-0238/2, LRB-0317/1, and LRB-0884/2.
SECTION 95. 48.57 (3n) of the statutes, as affected by 2009 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), sections * and *, is repealed.
****NOTE: This is reconciled s. 48.57 (3n). This SECTION has been affected by drafts with the following LRB numbers: LRB-0238/2, LRB-0317/1, and LRB-0884/2.
SECTION 96. 48.57 (3p) of the statutes is repealed.
SECTION 97. 48.57 (3t) of the statutes is repealed.
SECTION 98. 48.60 (2) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.60 (2) (e) A licensed foster home or a licensed treatment foster home.
SECTION 99. 48.61 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
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).
SECTION 100. 48.61 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.61 (7) To license foster homes or treatment foster homes in accordance with s. 48.75 if licensed to do so.
SECTION 101. 48.615 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
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.
SECTION 102. Subchapter XIV (title) of chapter 48 [precedes 48.619] of the statutes is amended to read:
CHAPTER 48
SUBCHAPTER XIV
FOSTER HOMES AND TREATMENT FOSTER HOMES
SECTION 103. 48.619 of the statutes is amended to read:
48.619 Definition. In this subchapter, "child" means a person under 18 years of age and also includes, for purposes of counting the number of children for whom a foster home, treatment foster home, or group home may provide care and maintenance, a person 18 years of age or over, but under 19 years of age, who is a full-time student at a secondary school or its vocational or technical equivalent, who is reasonably expected to complete the program before reaching 19 years of age, who was residing in the foster home, treatment foster home, or group home immediately prior to his or her 18th birthday, and who continues to reside in that foster home, treatment foster home, or group home.
SECTION 104. 48.62 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.62 (title) Licensing of foster homes and treatment foster homes; rates.
SECTION 105. 48.62 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 48.62 (1).
SECTION 106. 48.62 (1) (b) of the statutes is repealed.
SECTION 107. 48.62 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.62 (2) A relative,, or a guardian of a child who provides care and maintenance for the child is not required to obtain the license specified in this section. The department, county department, or licensed child welfare agency as provided in s. 48.75 may issue a license to operate a foster home or a treatment foster home to a relative who has no duty of support under s. 49.90 (1) (a) and who requests a license to operate a foster home or treatment foster home for a specific child who is either placed by court order or who is the subject of a voluntary placement agreement under s. 48.63. The department, a county department, or a licensed child welfare agency may, at the request of a guardian appointed under s. 48.977 or 48.978, ch. 54, or ch. 880, 2003 stats., license the guardian's home as a foster home or treatment foster home for the guardian's minor ward who is living in the home and who is placed in the home by court order. Relatives with no duty of support and guardians appointed under s. 48.977 or 48.978, ch. 54, or ch. 880, 2003 stats., who are licensed to operate foster homes or treatment foster homes are subject to the department's licensing rules.
SECTION 108. 48.62 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.62 (3) When the department, a county department, or a child welfare agency issues a license to operate a foster home or a treatment foster home, the department, county department, or child welfare agency shall notify the clerk of the school district in which the foster home or treatment foster home is located that a foster home or treatment foster home has been licensed in the school district.
SECTION 109. 48.62 (5) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.62 (5) (a) (intro.) 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:
SECTION 110. 48.62 (5) (c) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
48.62 (5) (c) 2. The A criminal history and child abuse record search is conducted under s. 48.685 and 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 the requirements specified in s. 48.685 have been met.
SECTION 111. 48.62 (5) (d) of the statutes, as affected by 2009 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:
48.62 (5) (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. 20.437 (1) (dd) and (pd). 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. 48.569 (1) (d).
****NOTE: This is reconciled s. 48.62 (5) (d). This SECTION has been affected by drafts with the following LRB numbers: LRB-0292/1 and LRB-0884/2.
SECTION 112. 48.62 (5) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.62 (5) (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).
SECTION 113. 48.62 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
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 those 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 those 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.
SECTION 114. 48.62 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.62 (7) In each federal fiscal year, the department shall ensure that there are no more than 2,200 children in foster care and treatment foster care placements for more than 24 months, consistent with the best interests of each child. Services provided in connection with this requirement shall comply with the requirements under P.L. 96-272.
SECTION 115. 48.62 (8) of the statutes is created to read:
48.62 (8) The department shall promulgate rules relating to foster homes as follows:
(a) Rules providing levels of care that a foster home is licensed to provide. Those levels of care shall be based on the level of knowledge, skill, training, experience, and other qualifications that are required of the licensee, the level of responsibilities that are expected of the licensee, the needs of the children who are placed with the licensee, and any other requirements relating to the ability of the licensee to provide for those needs that the department may promulgate by rule.
(b) Rules establishing a standardized assessment tool to assess the needs of a child placed or to be placed outside the home, to determine the level of care that is required to meet those needs, and to place the child in a placement that meets those needs. A foster home that is licensed to provide a given level of care under par. (a) may provide foster care for any child whose needs are assessed to be at or below the level of care that the foster home is licensed to provide.
(c) Rules providing monthly rates of reimbursement for foster care that are commensurate with the level of care that the foster home is licensed to provide and the needs of the child who is placed in the foster home. Those rates shall include rates for supplemental payments for special needs, exceptional circumstances, and initial clothing allowances for children placed in a foster home.
(d) Rules providing a monthly retainer fee for a foster home that agrees to maintain openings for emergency placements.
SECTION 116. 48.625 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.625 (3) This section does not apply to a foster home licensed under s. 48.62 (1) (a) or to a treatment foster home licensed under s. 48.62 (1) (b).
SECTION 117. 48.627 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.627 (title) Foster, treatment foster and family-operated group home parent insurance and liability.
SECTION 118. 48.627 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.627 (2) (a) Before the department, a county department, or a licensed child welfare agency may issue, renew, or continue a foster home, treatment foster home or family-operated group home license, the licensing agency shall require the applicant to furnish proof satisfactory to the licensing agency that he or she has homeowner's or renter's liability insurance that provides coverage for negligent acts or omissions by children placed in a foster home, treatment foster home or family-operated group home that result in bodily injury or property damage to 3rd parties.
SECTION 119. 48.627 (2c) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.627 (2c) The department shall determine the cost-effectiveness of purchasing private insurance that would provide coverage to foster, treatment foster, and family-operated group home parents for acts or omissions by or affecting a child who is placed in a foster home, a treatment foster home, or a family-operated group home. If this private insurance is cost-effective and available, the department shall purchase the insurance from the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (cf) and (pd). If the insurance is unavailable, payment of claims for acts or omissions by or affecting a child who is placed in a foster home, a treatment foster home, or a family-operated group home shall be in accordance with subs. (2m) to (3).
SECTION 120. 48.627 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.627 (2m) Within the limits of the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (cf) and (pd), the department shall pay claims to the extent not covered by any other insurance and subject to the limitations specified in sub. (3), for bodily injury or property damage sustained by a licensed foster, treatment foster, or family-operated group home parent or a member of the foster, treatment foster, or family-operated group home parent's family as a result of the act of a child in the foster, treatment foster, or family-operated group home parent's care.
SECTION 121. 48.627 (2s) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.627 (2s) (a) Acts or omissions of the foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent that result in bodily injury to the child who is placed in the foster home, treatment foster home or family-operated group home or that form the basis for a civil action for damages by the foster child's parent against the foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent.
SECTION 122. 48.627 (2s) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.627 (2s) (b) Bodily injury or property damage caused by an act or omission of a child who is placed in the foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent's care for which the foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent becomes legally liable.
SECTION 123. 48.627 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.627 (3) (b) A claim under sub. (2m) shall be submitted to the department within 90 days after the bodily injury or property damage occurs. A claim under sub. (2s) shall be submitted within 90 days after a foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent learns that a legal action has been commenced against that parent. No claim may be paid under this subsection unless it is submitted within the time limits specified in this paragraph.
SECTION 124. 48.627 (3) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.627 (3) (d) No claim may be approved in an amount exceeding the total amount available for paying claims under this subsection in the fiscal year during which the claim is submitted. No claim for property damage sustained by a foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent or a member of a foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent's family may be approved in an amount exceeding $250,000.
SECTION 125. 48.627 (3) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.627 (3) (e) The department may not approve a claim unless the foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent submits with the claim evidence that is satisfactory to the department of the cause and value of the claim and evidence that insurance coverage is unavailable or inadequate to cover the claim. If insurance is available but inadequate, the department may approve a claim only for the amount of the value of the claim that it determines is in excess of the amount covered by insurance.
SECTION 126. 48.627 (3) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.627 (3) (f) If the total amount of the claims approved during any calendar quarter exceeds 25% of the total funds available during the fiscal year for purposes of this subsection plus any unencumbered funds remaining from the previous quarter, the department shall prorate the available funds among the claimants with approved claims. The department shall also prorate any unencumbered funds remaining in the appropriation under s. 20.437 (1) (cf) at the end of each fiscal year among the claimants whose claims were prorated during the fiscal year. Payment of a prorated amount from unencumbered funds remaining at the end of the fiscal year constitutes a complete payment of the claim for purposes of this program, but does not prohibit a foster parent or treatment foster parent family-operated group home parent from submitting a claim under s. 16.007 for the unpaid portion.
SECTION 127. 48.627 (3) (h) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.627 (3) (h) If a claim by a foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent or a member of the foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent's family is approved, the department shall deduct from the amount approved $100 less any amount deducted by an insurance company from a payment for the same claim, except that a foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent and his or her family are subject to only one deductible for all claims filed in a fiscal year.
SECTION 128. 48.627 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.627 (4) Except as provided in s. 895.485, the department is not liable for any act or omission by or affecting a child who is placed in a foster home, treatment foster home, or family-operated group home, but shall, as provided in this section, pay claims described under sub. (2m) and may pay claims described under sub. (2s) or may purchase insurance to cover such claims as provided for under sub. (2c), within the limits of the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (cf) and (pd).
SECTION 129. 48.627 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.627 (5) The attorney general may represent a foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent in any civil action arising out of an act or omission of the foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent while acting in his or her capacity as a foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent.
SECTION 130. 48.63 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.63 (1) Acting under court order or voluntary agreement, the child's parent or guardian or the department, the department of corrections, a county department, or a child welfare agency licensed to place children in foster homes, treatment foster homes, or group homes may place a child or negotiate or act as intermediary for the placement of a child in a foster home, treatment foster home, or group home. Voluntary agreements under this subsection may not be used for placements in facilities other than foster, treatment foster, homes or group homes and may not be extended. A foster home or treatment foster home placement under a voluntary agreement may not exceed 180 days from the date on which the child was removed from the home under the voluntary agreement. A group home placement under a voluntary agreement may not exceed 15 days from the date on which the child was removed from the home under the voluntary agreement, except as provided in sub. (5). These time periods do not apply to placements made under s. 48.345, 938.183, 938.34, or 938.345. Voluntary agreements may be made only under this subsection and sub. (5) (b) and shall be in writing and shall specifically state that the agreement may be terminated at any time by the parent or guardian or by the child if the child's consent to the agreement is required. The child's consent to the agreement is required whenever the child is 12 years of age or older. If a county department, the department, or the department of corrections places a child or negotiates or acts as intermediary for the placement of a child under this subsection, the voluntary agreement shall also specifically state that the county department, department, or department of corrections has placement and care responsibility for the child as required under 42 USC 672 (a) (2) and has primary responsibility for providing services to the child.
SECTION 131. 48.63 (3) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
48.63 (3) (b) 2. The department, a county department under s. 48.57 (1) (e) or (hm), or a child welfare agency licensed under s. 48.60 may place a child under subd. 1. in the home of a proposed adoptive parent or parents who reside in this state if that home is licensed as a foster home or treatment foster home under s. 48.62.
SECTION 132. 48.63 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
