48.433(10)
(10) Any person, including this state or any political subdivision of this state, who participates in good faith in any requirement of this section shall have immunity from any liability, civil or criminal, that results from his or her actions. In any proceeding, civil or criminal, the good faith of any person participating in the requirements of this section shall be presumed.
48.433(11)
(11) The department shall promulgate rules to implement this section and may contract with an agency to administer this section.
48.433 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ch.
DCF 53, Wis. adm. code.
48.434
48.434
Release of identifying information by an agency when authorization is granted. 48.434(1)(a)
(a) "Adoptive parent" means a person who has adopted a child in this state or who has adopted in another state a child who was placed for adoption with that person in this state.
48.434(2)
(2) Any birth parent of a child may file with the agency that placed the child for adoption under
s. 48.833 or that was appointed the guardian of the child under
s. 48.837 (6) (d) a written authorization for the agency to release any available information about the birth parent's identity and location to one or both adoptive parents of the child.
48.434(3)
(3) Any adoptive parent of a child may file with the agency that placed the child for adoption under
s. 48.833 or that was appointed the guardian of the child under
s. 48.837 (6) (d) a written authorization for the agency to release any available information about the adoptive parent's identity and location to one or both birth parents of the child.
48.434(4)
(4) A written authorization filed under
sub. (2) or
(3) may be revoked at any time by notifying the agency in writing.
48.434(5)
(5) Upon the request of an adoptive parent of a child, the agency receiving the request shall provide to the adoptive parent any available information about the identity and location of a birth parent of the child if the agency has on file an unrevoked written authorization filed by that birth parent under
sub. (2) authorizing the release of that information to the adoptive parent.
48.434(6)
(6) Upon the request of a birth parent of a child, the agency receiving the request shall provide to the birth parent any available information about the identity and location of an adoptive parent of the child if the agency has on file an unrevoked written authorization filed by that adoptive parent under
sub. (3) authorizing the release of that information to the birth parent.
48.434(7)
(7) This section does not apply if the adopted child is 21 years of age or over.
48.434(8)
(8) Any person, including this state or any political subdivision of this state, who participates in good faith in any requirement of this section shall have immunity from any liability, civil or criminal, that results from his or her actions. In any proceeding, civil or criminal, the good faith of any person participating in the requirements of this section shall be presumed.
48.434(9)
(9) An agency may assess a reasonable fee for responding to a request for information or a request to file a written authorization under this section.
48.434(10)
(10) No agency may contact any person for the purpose of determining whether the person wishes to authorize the agency to release information under this section. An agency may contact the birth parent or adoptive parent of a child who was adopted before April 29, 1998, one time, by mail, to inform them of the procedure by which identifying information may be released under this section.
48.434(11)
(11) A written authorization filed with an agency under this section shall be notarized.
48.434 History
History: 1997 a. 104.
48.434 Note
NOTE: 1997 Wis. Act 104, which affected this section, contains explanatory notes.
48.435
48.435
Custody of children. The mother of a nonmarital child has legal custody of the child unless the court grants legal custody to another person or transfers legal custody to an agency.
48.435 History
History: 1979 c. 330;
1983 a. 447.
JURISDICTION OVER PERSON 17 OR OLDER
48.44
48.44
Jurisdiction over persons 17 or older. 48.44(1)
(1) The court has jurisdiction over persons 17 years of age or older as provided under
ss. 48.133,
48.355 (4) and
48.45 and as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter.
48.44(2)
(2) The court has jurisdiction over a person subject to an order under
s. 48.366 for all matters relating to that order.
48.45
48.45
Orders applicable to adults. 48.45(1)(a)(a) If in the hearing of a case of a child alleged to be in a condition described in
s. 48.13 it appears that any person 17 years of age or older has been guilty of contributing to, encouraging, or tending to cause by any act or omission, such condition of the child, the judge may make orders with respect to the conduct of such person in his or her relationship to the child, including orders determining the ability of the person to provide for the maintenance or care of the child and directing when, how and where funds for the maintenance or care shall be paid.
48.45(1)(am)
(am) If in the hearing of a case of an unborn child and the unborn child's expectant mother alleged to be in a condition described in
s. 48.133 it appears that any person 17 years of age or over has been guilty of contributing to, encouraging, or tending to cause by any act or omission, such condition of the unborn child and expectant mother, the judge may make orders with respect to the conduct of such person in his or her relationship to the unborn child and expectant mother.
48.45(1)(b)
(b) An act or failure to act contributes to a condition of a child as described in
s. 48.13 or an unborn child and the unborn child's expectant mother as described in
s. 48.133, although the child is not actually adjudicated to come within the provisions of
s. 48.13 or the unborn child and expectant mother are not actually adjudicated to come within the provisions of
s. 48.133, if the natural and probable consequences of that act or failure to act would be to cause the child to come within the provisions of
s. 48.13 or the unborn child and expectant mother to come within the provisions of
s. 48.133.
48.45(1m)(a)(a) In a proceeding in which a child has been found to be in need of protection or services under
s. 48.13, the judge may order the child's parent, guardian or legal custodian to comply with any conditions determined by the judge to be necessary for the child's welfare. An order under this paragraph may include an order to participate in mental health treatment, anger management, individual or family counseling or parent training and education and to make a reasonable contribution, based on ability to pay, toward the cost of those services.
48.45(1m)(b)
(b) A judge may not order inpatient treatment under
par. (a) for a child's parent, guardian or legal custodian. All inpatient treatment commitments or admissions must be conducted in accordance with
ch. 51.
48.45(1r)
(1r) In a proceeding in which an unborn child has been found to be in need of protection or services under
s. 48.133, the judge may impose on the expectant mother any disposition permitted under
s. 48.347 (1) to
(6).
48.45(2)
(2) No order under
sub. (1) (a) or
(am) or
(1m) (a) may be entered until the person who is the subject of the contemplated order is given an opportunity to be heard on the contemplated order. The court shall cause notice of the time, place and purpose of the hearing to be served on the person personally at least 10 days before the date of hearing. The procedure in these cases shall, as far as practicable, be the same as in other cases in the court. At the hearing the person may be represented by counsel and may produce and cross-examine witnesses. Any person who fails to comply with any order issued by a court under
sub. (1) (a) or
(am) or
(1m) (a) may be proceeded against for contempt of court. If the person's conduct involves a crime, the person may be proceeded against under the criminal law.
48.45(3)
(3) If it appears at a court hearing that any person 17 years of age or older has violated
s. 948.40, the judge shall refer the record to the district attorney for criminal proceedings as may be warranted in the district attorney's judgment. This subsection does not prevent prosecution of violations of
s. 948.40 without the prior reference by the judge to the district attorney, as in other criminal cases.
48.45 Annotation
Involuntary commitment was not authorized by this section. Contempt In Interest of J. S.,
137 Wis. 2d 217,
404 N.W.2d 79 (Ct. App. 1987).
REHEARING AND APPEAL
48.46
48.46
New evidence; relief from judgment terminating parental rights. 48.46(1)(1) Except as provided in
subs. (1m),
(2) and
(3), the child whose status is adjudicated by the court, the parent, guardian or legal custodian of that child, the unborn child whose status is adjudicated by the court or the expectant mother of that unborn child may at any time within one year after the entering of the court's order petition the court for a rehearing on the ground that new evidence has been discovered affecting the advisability of the court's original adjudication. Upon a showing that such evidence does exist, the court shall order a new hearing.
48.46(1m)
(1m) Except as provided in
sub. (2), the parent, guardian or legal custodian of the child or the child whose status is adjudicated by the court in an order entered under
s. 48.43 or an order adjudicating paternity under
subch. VIII may, within the time permitted under this subsection, petition the court for a rehearing on the ground that new evidence has been discovered affecting the advisability of the court's adjudication. Upon a showing that such evidence does exist, the court shall order a new hearing. A petition under this subsection shall be filed within one year after the date on which the order under
s. 48.43 or order adjudicating paternity under
subch. VIII is entered, unless within that one-year period a court in this state or in another jurisdiction enters an order granting adoption of the child, in which case a petition under this subsection shall be filed before the date on which the order granting adoption is entered or within 30 days after the date on which the order under
s. 48.43 or order adjudicating paternity under
subch. VIII is entered, whichever is later.
48.46(2)
(2) A parent who has consented to the termination of his or her parental rights under
s. 48.41 or who did not contest the petition initiating the proceeding in which his or her parental rights were terminated may move the court for relief from the judgment on any of the grounds specified in
s. 806.07 (1) (a),
(b),
(c),
(d) or
(f). Any such motion shall be filed within 30 days after the entry of the judgment or order terminating parental rights, unless the parent files a timely notice of intent to pursue relief from the judgment under
s. 808.04 (7m), in which case the motion shall be filed within the time permitted by
s. 809.107 (5). A motion under this subsection does not affect the finality or suspend the operation of the judgment or order terminating parental rights. A parent who has consented to the termination of his or her parental rights to an Indian child under
s. 48.41 (2) (e) may also move for relief from the judgment under
s. 48.028 (5) (c) or
(6). Motions under this subsection or
s. 48.028 (5) (c) or
(6) and appeals to the court of appeals shall be the exclusive remedies for such a parent to obtain a new hearing in a termination of parental rights proceeding.
48.46(3)
(3) An adoptive parent who has been granted adoption of a child under
s. 48.91 (3) may not petition the court for a rehearing under
sub. (1) or move the court under
s. 806.07 for relief from the order granting adoption. A petition for termination of parental rights under
s. 48.42 and an appeal to the court of appeals shall be the exclusive remedies for an adoptive parent who wishes to end his or her parental relationship with his or her adopted child.
48.46 History
History: 1977 c. 449;
1979 c. 300;
1987 a. 383; Sup. Ct. Order, 146 Wis. 2d xxxiii (1988);
1995 a. 275;
1997 a. 104,
114,
252,
292;
2009 a. 94.
48.46 Note
Judicial Council Note, 1988: Sub. (2) limits the remedies for relief from a judgment or order terminating parental rights when the aggrieved party is a parent whose rights were terminated by consent or who has failed to contest the petition. The motion for relief from the judgment or order must be filed within 40 days after entry of the judgment or order terminating parental rights, unless the appellate process is timely initiated, in which case the motion must be filed within 60 days after service of the transcript. The court must grant a rehearing upon a prima facie showing of one or more of the following grounds: mistake, inadvertence, surprise or excusable neglect; newly discovered evidence justifying a new hearing under s. 805.15 (3); fraud, misrepresentation or other misconduct of an adverse party; the judgment or order is void; the judgment or order is based upon a prior judgment which has been reversed or otherwise vacated. [Re Order effective Jan. 1, 1989]
48.46 Annotation
Affidavits by a mother that she consented to a termination of her parental rights under duress and by her attorney as to what he expected to prove were not sufficient for a rehearing. Schroud v. Milwaukee County Department of Public Welfare,
53 Wis. 2d 650,
193 N.W.2d 671 (1972).
48.465
48.465
Motion for postdisposition relief and appeal. 48.465(1)(1)
Appeal by respondent. A motion for postdisposition relief from a final order or judgment by a person subject to this chapter shall be made in the time and manner provided in
ss. 809.30 to
809.32. An appeal from a final order or judgment entered under this chapter or from an order denying a motion for postdisposition relief by a person subject to this chapter shall be taken in the time and manner provided in
ss. 808.04 (3) and
809.30 to
809.32. The person shall file a motion for postdisposition relief in circuit court before a notice of appeal is filed unless the grounds for seeking relief are sufficiency of the evidence or issues previously raised.
48.465(2)
(2) Appeal by state. An appeal by the state from a final judgment or order under this chapter may be taken to the court of appeals within the time specified in
s. 808.04 (4) and in the manner provided for civil appeals under
chs. 808 and
809.
48.465(3)
(3) Exceptions. This section does not apply to a termination of parental rights case under
s. 48.43 or to a parental consent to abortion case under
s. 48.375 (7).
48.465 History
History: 2009 a. 26.
PURPOSE, DUTIES, AND AUTHORITY OF DEPARTMENT
48.468
48.468
Purpose of department. The purpose of the department is to focus on integrating the child welfare, child care, and child support services provided in this state and the services provided under the Wisconsin Works program and on increasing collaboration and efficiency in providing those services.
48.468 History
History: 2007 a. 20.
48.47
48.47
Duties of department. The department shall do all of the following:
48.47(3)
(3) Trustee duty. When ordered by the court, act as trustee of funds paid for the support of any child if appointed by the court or a circuit court commissioner under
s. 767.82 (7).
48.47(4)
(4) Education and prevention. Develop and maintain education and prevention programs that the department considers to be proper.
48.47(7)(cm)(cm) Promote the establishment of adequate child care facilities and services in this state by providing start-up grants to newly operating child care facilities and services under rules promulgated by the department.
48.47(7)(d)
(d) With the assistance of the judicial conference, develop simplified forms for filing petitions for child abuse restraining orders and injunctions under
s. 813.122. The department shall provide these forms to clerks of circuit court without cost.
48.47(7)(f)
(f) As part of its biennial budget request under
s. 16.42, submit a request for funding for child abuse prevention efforts in an amount equal to or greater than 1% of the total proposed budget of the department of corrections for the same biennium, as indicated by the estimate provided by the department of corrections under
s. 301.03 (14).
48.47(7)(h)
(h) Contract for the provision of a centralized unit for determining whether the cost of providing care for a child is eligible for reimbursement under
42 USC 670 to
679a.
48.47(7g)
(7g) Statewide automated child welfare information system. Establish a statewide automated child welfare information system. Notwithstanding
ss. 46.2895 (9),
48.396 (1) and
(2) (a),
48.78 (2) (a),
48.981 (7),
49.45 (4),
49.83,
51.30,
51.45 (14) (a),
55.22 (3),
146.82,
252.11 (7),
252.15,
253.07 (3) (c),
938.396 (1) (a) and
(2), and
938.78 (2) (a), the department may enter the content of any record kept or information received by the department into the statewide automated child welfare information system, and a county department under
s. 46.215,
46.22, or
46.23, the department, or any other organization that has entered into an information sharing and access agreement with the department or any of those county departments and that has been approved for access to the statewide automated child welfare information system by the department may have access to information that is maintained in that system, if necessary to enable the county department, department, or organization to perform its duties under this chapter,
ch. 46,
51,
55, or
938, or
42 USC 670 to 679b or to coordinate the delivery of services under this chapter,
ch. 46,
51,
55, or
938, or
42 USC 670 to 679b. The department may also transfer information that is maintained in the system to a court under
s. 48.396 (3) (b), and the court and the director of state courts may allow access to that information as provided in
s. 48.396 (3) (c) 2.
48.47(39)
(39) Adolescent programming recommendations. Identify and provide ways to improve coordination of adolescent and parent educational programs and services at the state and local levels by doing all of the following:
48.47(39)(a)
(a) Identifying and recommending ways to eliminate governmental barriers to local development of coordinated educational programs and services for adolescents and parents of adolescents.
48.47(39)(b)
(b) Identifying and recommending ways to support and involve parents of adolescents in the planning, coordination and delivery of services for adolescents.
48.47(40)
(40) Foster care public information. Conduct a foster care public information campaign.
48.48
48.48
Authority of department. The department shall have authority:
48.48(1)
(1) To promote the enforcement of the laws relating to nonmarital children, children in need of protection or services including developmentally disabled children and unborn children in need of protection or services and to take the initiative in all matters involving the interests of those children and unborn children when adequate provision for those interests is not made. This duty shall be discharged in cooperation with the courts, county departments, licensed child welfare agencies and with parents, expectant mothers and other individuals interested in the welfare of children and unborn children.
48.48(2)
(2) To assist in extending and strengthening child welfare services with appropriate federal agencies and in conformity with the federal social security act and in cooperation with parents, other individuals and other agencies so that all children needing such services are reached.
48.48(2b)
(2b) To accept gifts, grants, or donations of money or of property from private sources to be administered by the department for the execution of its functions. All moneys so received shall be paid into the general fund and may be appropriated from that fund as provided in
s. 20.437 (1) (i).
48.48(3)
(3) To accept guardianship of children when appointed by the court, and to provide special treatment or care when directed by the court. A court may not direct the department to administer psychotropic medications to children who receive special treatment or care under this subsection.
48.48(3m)
(3m) To accept appointment by a tribal court in this state as guardian of a child for the purpose of making an adoptive placement for the child if all of the following conditions exist:
48.48(3m)(a)
(a) The child does not have parents or a guardian or the parental rights to the child have been terminated by a tribal court in accordance with procedures that are substantially equivalent to the procedures specified in
subch. VIII.
48.48(3m)(b)
(b) The tribal court has transferred the guardianship or legal custody, or both, of the child to the department, if the child does not have parents or a guardian.
48.48(3m)(c)
(c) The tribal court's judgment for termination of parental rights identifies the department as the agency that will receive guardianship or legal custody, or both, of the child upon termination, if the parental rights to the child have been terminated.
48.48(3m)(d)
(d) The tribal court has signed a written contract that addresses federal and state law and that provides that the tribal court will accept the return of the legal custody or the legal custody and guardianship of the child if the department petitions the tribal court to do so under
s. 48.485.
48.48(4)
(4) In order to discharge more effectively its responsibilities under this chapter and other relevant provisions of the statutes, to study causes and methods of prevention and treatment of problems among children and families and related social problems. The department may utilize all powers provided by the statutes, including the authority to accept grants of money or property from federal, state, or private sources, and enlist the cooperation of other appropriate agencies and state departments.
48.48(8)
(8) To place children under its guardianship for adoption.
48.48(8m)
(8m) To enter into agreements with Indian tribes in this state to implement the federal Indian Child Welfare Act,
25 USC 1901 to
1963.
48.48(8p)
(8p) To reimburse tribes and county departments, from the appropriation under
s. 20.437 (1) (kz), for unexpected or unusually high-cost out-of-home care placements of Indian children by tribal courts. In this subsection, "unusually high-cost out-of-home care placements" means the amount by which the cost to a tribe or to a county department of out-of-home care placements of Indian children by tribal courts exceeds $50,000 in a fiscal year.
48.48(9)
(9) To license foster homes or treatment foster homes as provided in
s. 48.66 (1) (a) for its own use or for the use of licensed child welfare agencies or, if requested to do so, for the use of county departments.
