SB569: Bill Text

SB569,1,2 An Act to amend 48.67 (4) (a) (intro.), 2., 3., 5. and 6. and (c); and to repeal and recreate 48.67 (4) of the statutes; relating to: training for foster parents.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill is explained in the Notes provided by the Joint Legislative Council in the bill.

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:

Joint Legislative Council prefatory note: This bill was prepared for the Special Committee on Strengthening Wisconsin Families.

2009 Wisconsin Act 28, the biennial budget act, requires that all foster parents complete training in the care and support needs of foster children. The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is required to monitor compliance with the training requirements and promulgate rules prescribing the training.

This bill requires that the training be completed before the first child is placed with a foster parent and on an ongoing basis. The training must be available to kinship care relatives. In addition, the training must include training in parenting skills; teaching and encouraging independent living skills; issues that may confront foster parents; child abuse and neglect prevention; the proper use of foster care payments; the availability of resources for foster parents in the local community; and other topics, as determined by DCF.

SB569, s. 1 Section 1 . 48.67 (4) of the statutes, as affected by 2009 Wisconsin Act 28, sections 1062 and 1062b, is repealed and recreated to read:

SB569,2,9 48.67 (4) (a) That all foster parents and treatment foster parents successfully complete training in the care and support needs of children who are placed in foster care or treatment foster care that has been approved by the department. The training shall be completed on an ongoing basis, as determined by the department. The department shall promulgate rules prescribing the training that is required under this subsection and shall monitor compliance with this subsection according to those rules. The training shall include training in all of the following:

SB569,2,13 1. Parenting skills, including child development; infant care, if appropriate; the effects of trauma on children; communicating with children in an age-appropriate manner; and recognizing issues such as drug use or addiction or attachment disorder.

SB569,2,17 2. For foster parents or treatment foster parents caring for children 11 years of age or older, teaching and encouraging independent living skills, including budgeting, health and nutrition, and other skills to promote the child's long-term economic independence and well-being.

SB569,2,20 3. Issues that may confront foster parents or treatment foster parents, in general, and that may confront the foster parents or treatment foster parents of children with special needs.

SB569,2,21 4. Child abuse and neglect prevention.

SB569,2,22 5. The proper use of foster care or treatment foster care payments.

SB569,2,24 6. The availability of resources for foster parents or treatment foster parents in the local community.

SB569,2,25 7. Other topics, as determined by the department.

SB569,3,2 (b) The training under par. (a) shall be available to a kinship care relative, as defined in s. 48.40 (1m), upon request of the kinship care relative.

SB569,3,5 (c) For a foster parent or treatment foster parent receiving an initial license, the training under par. (a) shall be completed before the first child is placed with the foster parent or treatment foster parent.

SB569, s. 2 Section 2. 48.67 (4) (a) (intro.), 2., 3., 5. and 6. and (c) of the statutes, as affected by 2009 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), are amended to read:

SB569,3,15 48.67 (4) (a) (intro.) That all foster parents and treatment foster parents successfully complete training in the care and support needs of children who are placed in foster care or treatment foster care that has been approved by the department. The training shall be completed on an ongoing basis, as determined by the department. The department shall promulgate rules prescribing the training that is required under this subsection and shall monitor compliance with this subsection according to those rules. The training shall include training in all of the following:

SB569,3,19 2. For foster parents or treatment foster parents caring for children 11 years of age or older, teaching and encouraging independent living skills, including budgeting, health and nutrition, and other skills to promote the child's long-term economic independence and well-being.

SB569,3,22 3. Issues that may confront the foster parents or treatment foster parents, in general, and that may confront the foster parents or treatment foster parents of children with special needs.

SB569,3,23 5. The proper use of foster care or treatment foster care payments.

SB569,3,25 6. The availability of resources for foster parents or treatment foster parents in the local community.

SB569,4,3 (c) For a foster parent or treatment foster parent receiving an initial license, the training under par. (a) shall be completed before the first child is placed with the foster parent or treatment foster parent.

SB569, s. 3 Section 3. Initial applicability.

SB569,4,7 (1) The repeal and recreation of section 48.67 (4) (c) of the statutes first applies to a foster parent or treatment foster parent receiving an initial license on the effective date of this subsection.

SB569, s. 4 Section 4. Effective dates. This act takes effect on January 1, 2010, or on the day after publication, whichever is later, except as follows:

SB569,4,13 (1) The amendment of section 48.67 (4) (a) (intro.), 2., 3., 5., and 6. and (c) of the statutes takes effect on the date stated in the notice provided by the secretary of children and families and published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register under section 48.62 (9) of the statutes.

SB569,4,14 (End)