2011 Wisconsin Act 181

181,32 Section 32. 48.38 (4) (fg) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.38 (4) (fg) 5. Some As provided in par. (fm), some other alternative planned permanent placement living arrangement that includes an appropriate, enduring relationship with an adult, including sustaining care, independent living, or long-term foster care, but not including independent living.

181,33 Section 33. 48.38 (4) (fm) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.38 (4) (fm) If the goal of the permanency plan is to agency determines that there is a compelling reason why it currently would not be in the best interests of the child to return the child to his or her home or to place the child for adoption, with a guardian, or with a fit and willing relative, or as the permanency goal for the child, the permanency goal of placing the child in some other alternative planned permanent placement, living arrangement described in par. (fg) 5. If the agency makes that determination, the plan shall include the efforts made to achieve that permanency goal, including, if appropriate, through an out-of-state placement., a statement of that compelling reason, and, notwithstanding that compelling reason, a concurrent plan under s. 48.355 (2b) towards achieving a goal under par. (fg) 1. to 4. as a concurrent permanency goal in addition to the permanency goal under par. (fg) 5.

181,34 Section 34. 48.38 (4) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.38 (4) (i) A statement as to whether the child's age and developmental level are sufficient for the court to consult with the child at the permanency plan determination hearing under sub. (4m) (c) or at the permanency plan hearing under sub. (5m) (c) 2. or s. 48.43 (5) (b) 2. or for the court or panel to consult with the child at the permanency plan review under sub. (5) (bm) 2. and, if a decision is made that it would not be age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for the court or panel to consult with the child, a statement as to why consultation with the child would not be appropriate.

181,35 Section 35. 48.38 (4m) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.38 (4m) (title) Reasonable efforts not required; Permanency permanency plan determination hearing.

181,36 Section 36. 48.38 (5) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.38 (5) (title) Plan Permanency review.

181,37 Section 37. 48.38 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.38 (5) (a) Except as provided in s. 48.63 (5) (d), the court or a panel appointed under par. (ag) shall review the permanency plan in the manner provided in this subsection not later than 6 months after the date on which the child was first removed from his or her home and every 6 months after a previous review under this subsection for as long as the child is placed outside the home, except that for the review that is required to be conducted not later than 12 months after the child was first removed from his or her home and the reviews that are required to be conducted every 12 months after that review the court shall hold a hearing under sub. (5m) to review the permanency plan, which hearing may be instead of or in addition to the review under this subsection. The 6-month and 12-month periods referred to in this paragraph include trial reunifications under s. 48.358.

181,38 Section 38. 48.38 (5) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.38 (5) (am) The court may appoint an independent agency to designate a panel to conduct a permanency plan review under par. (a). If the court in a county having a population of less than 500,000 appoints an independent agency under this paragraph, the county department of the county of the court shall authorize and contract for the purchase of services from the independent agency. If the court in a county having a population of 500,000 or more appoints an independent agency under this paragraph, the department shall authorize and contract for the purchase of services from the independent agency.

181,39 Section 39. 48.38 (5) (c) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.38 (5) (c) 5. The date by which it is likely that the child will be returned to his or her home or placed for adoption, with a guardian, with a fit and willing relative, or in some other alternative planned permanent placement living arrangement that includes an appropriate, enduring relationship with an adult.

181,40 Section 40. 48.38 (5) (c) 5m. of the statutes is created to read:

48.38 (5) (c) 5m. The continuing appropriateness, according to standards established by the department, of the permanency goal and, if the court or panel considers appropriate, any concurrent permanency goals for the child. If the court or panel does not approve of any of those goals or if the court or panel determines that a concurrent permanency goal is appropriate, the court or panel shall determine the permanency goal and, if appropriate, any concurrent permanency goals for the child.

181,41 Section 41. 48.38 (5) (c) 6. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.38 (5) (c) 6. (intro.) If the child has been placed outside of his or her home, as described in s. 48.365 (1), in a foster home, group home, residential care center for children and youth, or shelter care facility for 15 of the most recent 22 months, not including any period during which the child was a runaway from the out-of-home placement or the first 6 months of any period during which the child was returned to his or her was residing in a trial reunification home for a trial home visit, the appropriateness of the permanency plan and the circumstances which prevent the child from any of the following:

181,42 Section 42. 48.38 (5) (c) 6. d. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.38 (5) (c) 6. d. Being placed in some other alternative planned permanent placement living arrangement that includes an appropriate, enduring relationship with an adult, including sustaining care, independent living, or long-term foster care, but not including independent living.

181,43 Section 43. 48.38 (5) (c) 7. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.38 (5) (c) 7. Whether reasonable efforts were made by the agency to achieve the permanency goal of the permanency plan, including, if appropriate, through an out-of-state placement,.

181,44 Section 44. 48.38 (5) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.38 (5) (f) If the summary prepared under par. (e) indicates that the review panel made recommendations that conflict with the court child's dispositional order or that provide for additional services not specified in the court dispositional order, the agency primarily responsible for providing services to the child shall request a revision of the court dispositional order.

181,45 Section 45. 48.38 (5m) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.38 (5m) (title) Permanency plan hearing.

181,46 Section 46. 48.38 (5m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.38 (5m) (a) The court shall hold a hearing to review the permanency plan and to make the determinations specified in sub. (5) (c) no later than 12 months after the date on which the child was first removed from the home and every 12 months after a previous hearing under this subsection for as long as the child is placed outside the home. The 12-month periods referred to in this paragraph include trial reunifications under s. 48.358.

181,47 Section 47. 48.38 (5m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.38 (5m) (b) Not less than 30 days before the date of the hearing, the court shall notify the child; the child's parent, guardian, and legal custodian; and the child's foster parent, the operator of the facility in which the child is living, or the relative with whom the child is living; of the time, place, and purpose of the hearing, of the issues to be determined at the hearing, and of the fact that they shall have a right to be heard at the hearing as provided in par. (c) 1. and shall notify the child's counsel, the child's guardian ad litem, and the child's court-appointed special advocate; the agency that prepared the permanency plan; the person representing the interests of the public; and, if the child is an Indian child who is placed outside the home of his or her parent or Indian custodian, the Indian child's Indian custodian and tribe of the date, time, and place, and purpose of the hearing, of the issues to be determined at the hearing, and of the fact that they may have an opportunity to be heard at the hearing as provided in par. (c) 1.

181,48 Section 48. 48.38 (5m) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.38 (5m) (f) If the findings of fact and conclusions of law under par. (e) conflict with the child's dispositional order or provide for any additional services not specified in the dispositional order, the court shall revise the dispositional order under s. 48.363 or, order a change in placement under s. 48.357, or order a trial reunification under s. 48.358, as appropriate.

181,49 Section 49. 48.38 (6) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.38 (6) (a) Procedures for conducting permanency plan reviews.

181,50 Section 50. 48.417 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.417 (1) (a) The child has been placed outside of his or her home, as described in s. 48.365 (1) or 938.365 (1), in a foster home, group home, nonsecured residential care center for children and youth, or shelter care facility for 15 of the most recent 22 months, not including any period during which the child was a runaway from the out-of-home placement or the first 6 months of any period during which the child was returned to his or her was residing in a trial reunification home for a trial home visit. If the circumstances specified in this paragraph apply, the petition shall be filed or joined in by the last day of the 15th month, as described in this paragraph, for which the child was placed outside of his or her home.

181,51 Section 51. 48.43 (1) (cm) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.43 (1) (cm) If a permanency plan has previously been prepared for the child, a finding as to whether the agency primarily responsible for providing services to the child has made reasonable efforts to achieve the permanency goal of the child's permanency plan, including, if appropriate, through an out-of-state placement. The court shall make the findings specified in this paragraph on a case-by-case basis based on circumstances specific to the child and shall document or reference the specific information on which those findings are based in the order. An order that merely references this paragraph without documenting or referencing that specific information in the order or an amended order that retroactively corrects an earlier order that does not comply with this paragraph is not sufficient to comply with this paragraph.

181,52 Section 52. 48.43 (5m) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.43 (5m) Either the court or the agency that prepared the permanency plan shall furnish a copy of the original plan and each revised plan to the child, if he or she is 12 years of age or over, to the child's guardian, to the child's foster parent or, the operator of the facility in which the child is living, or the relative with whom the child is living, and, if the order under sub. (1) involuntarily terminated parental rights to an Indian child, to the Indian child's tribe.

181,53 Section 53. 48.63 (5) (d) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.63 (5) (d) 4. Not less than 10 days before the review, the agency that placed the child or that arranged the placement of the child shall provide a copy of the revised permanency plan or plans and the request for review submitted under subd. 3. and notice of the time and place of the review to the child, the parent, guardian, Indian custodian, and legal custodian of the child, and the operator of the group home in which the child is placed, together with notice of the issues to be determined as part of the permanency plan review and notice of the fact that those persons shall have a right to be heard at the review by submitting written comments to that agency or the independent reviewing agency before the review or by participating at the review.

181,54 Section 54. 48.977 (4) (i) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.977 (4) (i) (title) Effect of disposition on permanency plan review process.

181,55 Section 55. 757.69 (1) (g) 14. of the statutes is amended to read:

757.69 (1) (g) 14. Conduct permanency plan reviews under s. 48.38 (5) or 938.38 (5) and permanency plan hearings under s. 48.38 (5m) or 938.38 (5m).

181,56 Section 56. 938.21 (5) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

938.21 (5) (d) If the court finds that any of the circumstances specified in s. 938.355 (2d) (b) 1. to 4. applies with respect to a parent, the court shall hold a hearing under s. 938.38 (4m) within 30 days after the date of that finding to determine the permanency plan goal and, if applicable, any concurrent permanency goals for the juvenile.

181,57 Section 57. 938.315 (2m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

938.315 (2m) (b) The court making an initial finding under s. 938.38 (5m) that the agency primarily responsible for providing services to the juvenile has made reasonable efforts to achieve the goals permanency goal of the juvenile's permanency plan more than 12 months after the date on which the juvenile was removed from the home or making any subsequent findings under s. 938.38 (5m) as to those reasonable efforts more than 12 months after the date of a previous finding as to those reasonable efforts.

181,58 Section 58. 938.32 (1) (c) 1. c. of the statutes is amended to read:

938.32 (1) (c) 1. c. If a permanency plan has previously been prepared for the juvenile, a finding as to whether the county department or agency has made reasonable efforts to achieve the permanency goal of the juvenile's permanency plan, including, if appropriate, through an out-of-state placement.

181,59 Section 59. 938.32 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

938.32 (1) (d) If the court finds that any of the circumstances specified in s. 938.355 (2d) (b) 1. to 4. applies with respect to a parent, the court shall hold a hearing under s. 938.38 (4m) within 30 days after the date of that finding to determine the permanency plan goal and, if applicable, any concurrent permanency goals for the juvenile.

181,60 Section 60. 938.33 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

938.33 (4) (c) Specific information showing that continued placement of the juvenile in his or her home would be contrary to the welfare of the juvenile, specific information showing that the county department or the agency primarily responsible for providing services to the juvenile has made reasonable efforts to prevent the removal of the juvenile from the home, while assuring that the juvenile's health and safety are the paramount concerns, unless any of the circumstances specified in s. 938.355 (2d) (b) 1. to 4. applies, and, if a permanency plan has previously been prepared for the juvenile, specific information showing that the county department or agency has made reasonable efforts to achieve the permanency goal of the juvenile's permanency plan, including, if appropriate, through an out-of-state placement,.

181,61 Section 61. 938.335 (3g) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

938.335 (3g) (c) That, if a permanency plan has previously been prepared for the juvenile, the county department or agency has made reasonable efforts to achieve the permanency goal of the juvenile's permanency plan, including, if appropriate, through an out-of-state placement,.

181,62 Section 62. 938.335 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

938.335 (4) Testimony by telephone or live audiovisual means. At hearings under this section, s. 938.357, 938.358, 938.363, or 938.365, on the request of any party, unless good cause to the contrary is shown, the court may admit testimony on the record by telephone or live audiovisual means, if available, under s. 807.13 (2). The request and the showing of good cause may be made by telephone.

181,63 Section 63. 938.355 (2) (b) 6. of the statutes is amended to read:

938.355 (2) (b) 6. If the juvenile is placed outside the home, a finding that continued placement of the juvenile in his or her home would be contrary to the welfare of the juvenile or, if the juvenile has been adjudicated delinquent and is placed outside the home under s. 938.34 (3) (a), (c), (cm), or (d) or (4d), a finding that the juvenile's current residence will not safeguard the welfare of the juvenile or the community due to the serious nature of the act for which the juvenile was adjudicated delinquent. The court order shall also contain a finding as to whether the county department or the agency primarily responsible for providing services under a court order has made reasonable efforts to prevent the removal of the juvenile from the home, while assuring that the juvenile's health and safety are the paramount concerns, unless the court finds that any of the circumstances under sub. (2d) (b) 1. to 4. applies, and, if a permanency plan has previously been prepared for the juvenile, a finding as to whether the county department or agency has made reasonable efforts to achieve the permanency goal of the juvenile's permanency plan, including, if appropriate, through an out-of-state placement,. The court shall make the findings specified in this subdivision on a case-by-case basis based on circumstances specific to the juvenile and shall document or reference the specific information on which those findings are based in the court order. A court order that merely references this subdivision without documenting or referencing that specific information in the court order or an amended court order that retroactively corrects an earlier court order that does not comply with this subdivision is not sufficient to comply with this subdivision.

181,64 Section 64. 938.355 (2b) of the statutes is renumbered 938.355 (2b) (b) and amended to read:

938.355 (2b) (b) A county department or the agency primarily responsible for providing services to a juvenile under a court order may, at the same time as the county department or agency is making the reasonable efforts required under sub. (2) (b) 6. to prevent the removal of the juvenile from the home or to make it possible for the juvenile to return safely to his or her home, work with the department of children and families, a county department under s. 48.57 (1) (e) or (hm), or a child welfare agency licensed under s. 48.61 (5) in making reasonable efforts to place the juvenile for adoption, with a guardian, with a fit and willing relative, or in some other alternative permanent placement, including reasonable efforts to identify an appropriate out-of-state placement shall determine, in accordance with standards established by the department, whether to engage in concurrent planning. If, according to those standards, concurrent planning is required, the county department or agency shall engage in concurrent planning unless the court or permanency review panel determines under s. 938.38 (5) (c) 5m. that concurrent planning is inappropriate.

181,65 Section 65. 938.355 (2b) (a) of the statutes is created to read:

938.355 (2b) (a) In this subsection, "concurrent planning" means appropriate efforts to work simultaneously towards achieving more than one of the permanency goals listed in s. 938.38 (4) (fg) 1. to 5. for a juvenile who is placed in out-of-home care and for whom a permanency plan is required under s. 938.38 (2).

181,66 Section 66. 938.355 (2c) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

938.355 (2c) (b) When a court makes a finding under sub. (2) (b) 6. as to whether the county department or the agency primarily responsible for providing services to the juvenile under a court order has made reasonable efforts to achieve the permanency goal of the permanency plan, the court's consideration of reasonable efforts shall include the considerations under par. (a) and whether visitation schedules between the juvenile and his or her parents were implemented, unless visitation was denied or limited by the court.

181,67 Section 67. 938.355 (2d) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

938.355 (2d) (b) (intro.) Notwithstanding sub. (2) (b) 6., the court is not required to include in a dispositional order a finding as to whether the county department or the agency primarily responsible for providing services under a court order has made reasonable efforts with respect to a parent of a juvenile to prevent the removal of the juvenile from the home, while assuring that the juvenile's health and safety are the paramount concerns, or, if applicable, a finding as to whether the county department or agency has made reasonable efforts with respect to a parent of a juvenile to achieve the permanency plan goal of returning the juvenile safely to his or her home, if the court finds any of the following:

181,68 Section 68. 938.355 (2d) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

938.355 (2d) (c) If the court finds that any of the circumstances under par. (b) 1. to 4. applies with respect to a parent, the court shall hold a hearing under s. 938.38 (4m) within 30 days after the date of that finding to determine the permanency plan goal and, if applicable, any concurrent permanency goals for the juvenile.

181,69 Section 69. 938.355 (2e) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

938.355 (2e) (b) Each time a juvenile's placement is changed under s. 938.357, a trial reunification is ordered under s. 938.358, or a dispositional order is revised under s. 938.363 or extended under s. 938.365, the agency that prepared the permanency plan shall revise the plan to conform to the order and shall file a copy of the revised plan with the court. Each plan filed shall be made a part of the court order.

181,70 Section 70. 938.357 (2v) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

938.357 (2v) (c) Permanency plan hearing. If the court finds under par. (a) 3. that any of the circumstances under s. 938.355 (2d) (b) 1. to 4. applies with respect to a parent, the court shall hold a hearing under s. 938.38 (4m) within 30 days after the date of that finding to determine the permanency plan goal and, if applicable, any concurrent permanency goals for the juvenile.

181,71 Section 71. 938.358 of the statutes is created to read:

938.358 Trial reunification. (1) Definition. In this section:

(a) "Trial reunification" means a period of 7 consecutive days or longer, but not exceeding 150 days, during which a juvenile who is placed in an out-of-home placement under s. 938.355 or 938.357 resides in the home of a relative of the juvenile from which the juvenile was removed or in the home of either of the juvenile's parents for the purpose of determining the appropriateness of changing the placement of the juvenile to that home.

(b) "Trial reunification home" means the home in which a juvenile resides during a trial reunification.

(2) Trial reunification; procedure. (a) Request or proposal. No trial reunification may occur without a court order. Only the person or agency primarily responsible for implementing the dispositional order may request the court to order a trial reunification. The request shall contain the name and address of the requested trial reunification home, a statement describing why the trial reunification is in the best interests of the juvenile, and a statement describing how the trial reunification satisfies the objectives of the juvenile's permanency plan. A request for a trial reunification may not be made on the sole grounds that an emergency condition necessitates an immediate removal of the juvenile from his or her out-of-home placement. If an emergency condition necessitates such an immediate removal, the person or agency primarily responsible for implementing the dispositional order shall proceed as provided in s. 938.357 (2).

(b) Notice; information required. The person or agency requesting the trial reunification shall submit the request to the court and shall cause written notice of the requested trial reunification to be sent to the juvenile, the parent, guardian, and legal custodian of the juvenile, any foster parent or other physical custodian described in s. 48.62 (2) of the juvenile, all parties who are bound by the dispositional order, and, if the juvenile is an Indian juvenile who has been removed from the home of his or her parent or Indian custodian under s. 938.13 (4), (6), (6m), or (7), the Indian juvenile's Indian custodian and tribe. The notice shall contain the information that is required to be included in the request under par. (a).

(c) Hearing; when required. Any person receiving notice of a requested trial reunification under par. (b) may obtain a hearing on the matter by filing an objection with the court within 10 days after the request was filed with the court. If an objection is filed, a hearing shall be held within 30 days after the request was filed with the court. Not less than 3 days before the hearing the person or agency requesting the trial reunification or the court shall provide notice of the hearing to all persons who are entitled to receive notice under par. (b). A copy of the request for the trial reunification shall be attached to the notice. If all of the parties consent, the court may proceed immediately with the hearing.

(d) Order. If the court finds that the trial reunification is in the best interests of the juvenile and that the trial reunification satisfies the objectives of the juvenile's permanency plan, the court shall order the trial reunification. A trial reunification shall terminate 90 days after the date of the order, unless the court specifies a shorter period in the order, extends the trial reunification under sub. (3), or revokes the trial reunification under sub. (4) (c) or (6) (b). No trial reunification order may extend the expiration date of the original dispositional order under s. 938.355 or any extension order under s. 938.365. A trial reunification under this section is not a change in placement under s. 938.357. Unless revoked under sub. (4) (c) or (6) (b), at the end of a trial reunification, the person or agency primarily responsible for implementing the dispositional order shall do one of the following:

1. Return the juvenile to his or her previous out-of-home placement. The person or agency may do so without further order of the court, but within 5 days after the return the person or agency shall provide notice of the date of the return and the address of that placement to all persons who are entitled to receive notice under par. (b).

2. Request a change in placement under s. 938.357 to place the juvenile in a new out-of-home placement.

3. Request a change in placement under s. 938.357 to place the juvenile in the trial reunification home.