AB296: Bill Text

Note: Modifies the current definition of "service system" to instead define "system of care" and modifies the definition.

AB296, s. 24 Section 24. 46.56 (1) (op) of the statutes is created to read:

AB296,11,17 46.56 (1) (op) "Severely emotionally disturbed child" has the meaning given in s. 49.45 (25) (a).

Note: Defines "severely emotionally disturbed child" using the definition for medical assistance case management services. Under that definition, a severely emotionally disturbed child is an individual under 21 years of age who has emotional and behavioral problems that: (a) are severe in degree; (b) are expected to persist for at least one year; (c) substantially interfere with the individual's functioning in his or her family, school or community and with his or her ability to cope with the ordinary demands of life; and (d) cause the individual to need services from 2 or more agencies or organizations that provide social services or services or treatment for mental health, juvenile justice, child welfare, special education or health.

AB296, s. 25 Section 25. 46.56 (1) (p) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB296,12,3 46.56 (1) (p) "Treatment services" means the individualized social, emotional, behavioral and medical services designed to bring about habilitation, rehabilitation and appropriate developmental growth of a child with severe disabilities.

Note: Modifies the definition of "treatment services".

AB296, s. 26 Section 26. 46.56 (1) (q) of the statutes is created to read:

AB296,12,6 46.56 (1) (q) "Tribe" means a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state.

Note: Creates a definition of "tribe".

AB296, s. 27 Section 27. 46.56 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB296,12,14 46.56 (2) Establishment of programs Coordinating committee; administering agency; initiative funding. If a county board of supervisors establishes a program an initiative under s. 59.53 (7), it or if a tribe establishes an initiative, the county board or tribe shall appoint a coordinating committee and designate an administering agency. The program initiative may be funded by the county or tribe or the county board of supervisors or tribe may apply for funding by the state in accordance with sub. (15).

Note: Provides that a county board or tribe that establishes a coordinated services initiative must appoint a coordinating committee and designate an administering agency. Also provides that the initiative may be funded by the county or tribe, or the county board or tribe may apply for state funding.

AB296, s. 28 Section 28. 46.56 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB296,12,17 46.56 (3) (a) The coordinating committee shall have the responsibilities specified in par. (d) and shall include representatives from all of the following:

AB296,12,20 1. The county department responsible for child welfare and protection services or, for an initiative established by a tribe, the tribal agency responsible for child welfare and protection services.

AB296,13,3 2. The county department responsible for mental health and alcohol and drug abuse services for children and families or, for an initiative established by a tribe, the tribal agency responsible for these services.

AB296,13,6 3. The county department responsible for providing services for children who are developmentally disabled have developmental disability or, for an initiative established by a tribe, the tribal agency responsible for providing these services.

AB296,13,8 4. The family support program under s. 46.985 if the county or tribe has a family support program.

AB296,13,11 5. The juvenile court administrator or another representative appointed by the judge responsible for cases heard under chs. 48 and 938 or, for an initiative established by a tribe, a representative of the tribal court.

AB296,13,20 6. The largest school district in the county and any cooperative educational service agency, if it provides special education in the county, or any county children with disabilities education board in the county, and any other school district in the county that is willing to participate in the program initiative, at the discretion of the administering agency. For an initiative established by a tribe, the coordinating committee shall include a representative of the school district serving the majority of pupils who reside on the reservation of the tribe or on trust lands held for the tribe and any cooperative educational service agency providing special education services to these pupils.

AB296,13,24 7. At least 2 parents of children with severe disabilities, or the number of parents of children with severe disabilities that it will take to make the parent representation equal to equals 25% of the coordinating committee's membership, whichever is greater, of children who are involved in 2 or more systems of care.

Note: Modifies the required membership for the coordinating committee to include membership options if coordinated services initiatives are established by a tribe. In addition, modifies the provision relating to the parent members to provide that the parents must be parents of a child who is involved in 2 or more systems of care. Under current law, each parent member must be a parent of a child with severe disabilities.

AB296, s. 29 Section 29. 46.56 (3) (a) 8. of the statutes is created to read:

AB296,14,2 46.56 (3) (a) 8. The agency responsible for economic support programs.

AB296, s. 30 Section 30. 46.56 (3) (b) 1., 2., 4., 5. and 7. of the statutes are amended to read:

AB296,14,6 46.56 (3) (b) 1. Representatives of the vocational rehabilitation office that provides services to the county or, for an initiative established by a tribe, that provides services to the tribe.

Note: Adds the agency responsible for economic support programs to the required members of the coordinating committee.

AB296,14,8 2. Representatives of a technical college district that is located in the county or, for an initiative established by a tribe, that serves members of the tribe.

AB296,14,11 4. Representatives of health maintenance organizations that are operating in the county or, for an initiative established by a tribe, are serving members of the tribe.

AB296,14,14 5. Representatives of law enforcement agencies that are located in the county or, for an initiative established by a tribe, are representatives of a tribal law enforcement agency.

AB296,14,16 7. Representatives of agencies that are located in the county or, for an initiative established by a tribe, are serving members of the tribe.

Note: Modifies the discretionary membership for the coordinating committee to include options for membership for coordinated services initiatives established by a tribe.

AB296, s. 31 Section 31. 46.56 (3) (b) 8. to 16. of the statutes are created to read:

AB296,14,18 46.56 (3) (b) 8. Local elected officials.

AB296,14,19 9. Representatives of a vocational and technical school.

AB296,14,20 10. Local business representatives.

AB296,15,2 11. Representatives of the county board or, for an initiative established by a tribe, representatives of the elected governing body of the tribe.

AB296,15,3 12. Representatives of the regional offices of the department.

AB296,15,4 13. Representatives of the local faith-based community.

AB296,15,5 14. Representatives of probation and parole agencies.

AB296,15,7 15. Representatives of economic support agencies and the Wisconsin Works agency under subch. III of ch. 49, if a different agency.

AB296,15,8 16. Representatives of vocational rehabilitation programs.

Note: Adds individuals who may be included in coordinating committee membership.

AB296, s. 32 Section 32. 46.56 (3) (d) 1. (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 46.56 (3) (d) (intro.).

AB296, s. 33 Section 33. 46.56 (3) (d) 1. a. to d. of the statutes are renumbered 46.56 (3) (d) 4. to 7. and amended to read:

AB296,15,15 46.56 (3) (d) 4. Prepare one or more interagency agreements in accordance with sub. (5) that all participatory organizations in the program initiative agree to follow in creating and operating a program an initiative.

AB296,15,19 5. Assess how the program initiative relates to other service coordination programs operating at the county, tribal, or local level and take steps to work with the other service coordination programs and to avoid duplication of activities, services, and resources.

AB296,15,21 6. If a county or tribe applies for funding under sub. (15), assist the administering agency in developing the application required under sub. (15) (b).

AB296,16,5 7. Review determinations by the service coordination agency regarding eligibility, for assessment, appropriate services family resources, or funding of services, at the request of any applicant, recipient, parent of a child who is involved in 2 or more systems of care, or participating county department , or tribal agency, school district, cooperative educational service agencies agency, or county children with disabilities education boards board. The coordinating committee shall adopt written procedures for conducting reviews.

Note: Modifies the duties of the coordinating committee.

AB296, s. 34 Section 34. 46.56 (3) (d) 2. (intro.) of the statutes is repealed.

Note: Deletes the provision setting forth optional actions of the coordinating committee.

AB296, s. 35 Section 35. 46.56 (3) (d) 2. a. and b. of the statutes are renumbered 46.56 (3) (d) 13. and 14. and amended to read:

AB296,16,17 46.56 (3) (d) 13. Act Plan for sustainability of the system change started by the initiative beginning in the first year of any funding received for the initiative and thereafter by acting as a consortium to pursue additional funding for the program initiative through grants from the state or federal government or private foundations; maintaining formal collaborative agency relationships; including families in the process by emphasizing rights and advocacy; addressing funding and issues related to providing matching funds required under sub. (15) (c); and recommending a plan for realized savings from substitute care budgets to be reinvested in community-based care.

AB296,16,23 14. Establish target groups of children with severe disabilities who are involved in 2 or more systems of care and their families to be served based on disability of the child, age of the child, geographic areas within the county and other factors with the approval of the department. If by the initiative. For a county or tribe that applies for funding under sub. (15), severely emotionally disturbed children with severe emotional disabilities are required to be a priority target group.

Note: Modifies the optional actions of the coordinating committee so that they are mandatory and modifies those actions.

AB296, s. 36 Section 36. 46.56 (3) (d) 3. of the statutes is created to read:

AB296,17,2 46.56 (3) (d) 3. Oversee the development and implementation of the initiative.

AB296, s. 37 Section 37. 46.56 (3) (d) 8. to 12. of the statutes are created to read:

AB296,17,6 46.56 (3) (d) 8. Establish operational policies and procedures, such as referral and screening procedures, a conflict management policy, and a flexible funding policy, and ensure that the policies and procedures are monitored and adhered to.

AB296,17,8 9. Ensure quality, including adherence to core values as adopted by the state advisory committee established under sub. (14) (a).

AB296,17,11 10. Develop a plan for orientation of new coordinating committee members and coordinated services team members to the coordinated services team approach to providing services to a child and his or her family.

AB296,17,13 11. Identify and address gaps in services for children and families who are enrolled in the initiative.

AB296,17,15 12. Ensure client and partner agency satisfaction through performance of a client and partner agency satisfaction survey.

AB296, s. 38 Section 38. 46.56 (3) (d) 15. of the statutes is created to read:

AB296,17,19 46.56 (3) (d) 15. Distribute information about the availability and operation of the initiative to the general public and to public or private service providers who might seek to make referrals to the initiative.

Note: Creates additional duties of the coordinating committee.

AB296, s. 39 Section 39. 46.56 (3) (e) of the statutes is created to read:

AB296,17,22 46.56 (3) (e) The coordinating committee may direct the initiative coordinator or another person to do any of the following:

AB296,17,23 1. Maintain data of enrollments in the initiative and results of screening.

AB296,18,1 2. Establish and report monitoring and evaluation results.

AB296,18,4 3. Monitor, or ensure proper monitoring by the appropriate entity of, targeted case management and in-home services provided under the Medical Assistance Program, under subch. IV of ch. 49, including record-keeping and billing processes.

AB296,18,6 4. Assist in developing and maintaining additional funding sources, including collaborative efforts with system partners.

AB296,18,7 5. Assist in the development and implementation of advocacy for families.

Note: Permits the coordinating committee to direct the initiative coordinator or another person to perform specified additional duties.

AB296, s. 40 Section 40. 46.56 (4) (a) to (e) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB296,18,11 46.56 (4) (a) Oversee Assist the coordinating committee in overseeing the development and implementation of the program initiative and designate the staff needed for the program initiative.

AB296,18,14 (b) Assist the coordinating committee in drafting and executing interagency agreements and any other operations policies and procedures necessary for the start-up and operation of the program initiative.

AB296,18,18 (c) Distribute Assist the coordinating committee in distributing information about the availability and operation of the program initiative to the general public as well as and to public or private service providers who might seek to make referrals to the program initiative.

AB296,18,21 (d) If the county board of supervisors or tribe decides to seek state funding under sub. (15), develop the application in cooperation with the coordinating committee.

AB296,19,2 (e) Undertake such other activities in compliance with another provision of the other statutes, department rules and, department guidelines, interagency agreements, and the directions of the coordinating committee as are necessary to ensure the effective and efficient operation of the program initiative.

Note: Modifies the role of the administering agency. The administering agency is defined in Section 5 as the department designated by a county board or by a tribe to administer a coordinated services initiative.

AB296, s. 41 Section 41. 46.56 (5) (a), (b) and (d) to (i) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB296,19,7 46.56 (5) (a) The identity of every county department, tribal agency, agency, school district, cooperative educational service agency or , county children with disabilities education board, technical college district, or other organization that will participate in the program initiative.

AB296,19,14 (b) The identification of services and resources that the participating organizations will commit to the program initiative or will seek to obtain, including joint funding of services and resources and funding for the qualified staff needed to support the program initiative, such as by cash or contribution of in-kind services and resources as determined by the department under sub. (15) (c). This identification shall specify the roles and responsibilities of the coordinated services team and the coordinating committee.

AB296,19,16 (d) The identification of any group of children with severe disabilities who will be targeted for services and resources through the program initiative.

AB296,19,18 (e) The procedures for outreach, referral, intake, assessment, case planning, and service coordination that the program initiative will use.

AB296,19,21 (f) The specific criteria, based on sub. (7), that will be used for deciding whether a child with severe disabilities and his or her family are eligible for services and resources through the program initiative.