5. Inspect reports and records relating to the child, the child's family, and the
proposed guardian, including law enforcement, juvenile court, social welfare agency,
child abuse and neglect, pupil, mental health, and health care records, to the extent
necessary to fulfill the duties and responsibilities required of the GAL in the
proceeding. The bill requires the juvenile court to include in the order appointing the
GAL an order requiring the custodian of those reports or records to permit the GAL
to inspect and copy those reports or records on presentation by the GAL of a copy of
the order.
Statement by proposed guardian. At least 96 hours before the hearing on
the petition, the proposed guardian must submit to the juvenile court a sworn and
notarized statement as to the number of persons for whom the proposed guardian is
responsible, whether as a parent, guardian, or legal custodian, as to the proposed
guardian's income, assets, debts, and living expenses, and as to whether the
proposed guardian is currently charged with or has been convicted of a crime or has
been determined under the child abuse and neglect reporting law to have abused or
neglected a child.
Hearing. The initial hearing on a guardianship petition must be heard within
45 days after the filing of the petition. If the petition is not contested, the juvenile
court must immediately proceed to a fact-finding and dispositional hearing, unless
an adjournment is requested. If the petition is contested or an adjournment is
requested, the juvenile court must set a date for a fact-finding and dispositional
hearing that allows reasonable time for the parties to prepare but is not more than
30 days after the initial hearing.
If the petition is contested, any party may request, or the juvenile court may
propose on its own motion, that an investigation be conducted to determine whether
the child is a proper subject for guardianship and whether the proposed guardian
would be a suitable guardian for the child. If the juvenile court determines that such
an investigation is necessary and that the welfare of the child demands such an
investigation, the juvenile court may order the county department, a licensed child
welfare agency, or, in Milwaukee County, DCF or an agency under contract with DCF
to conduct an investigation. The person conducting the investigation must file a
report of the investigation with the juvenile court at least 96 hours before the
fact-finding and dispositional hearing, and the parents of the child and the proposed
guardian must reimburse that person for the cost of the investigation according to
a fee schedule established by DCF based on ability to pay.
The proposed guardian and any successor guardian, which is a person
designated to become guardian on the death, unwillingness or inability to act,
resignation, or removal of the guardian or to act as guardian during a period of
temporary inability of the guardian to fulfill his or her duties, must be physically
present at the hearing, unless excused by the juvenile court or the juvenile court
permits attendance by telephone. The child is not required to attend the hearing, but
if the child has nominated the guardian, the child must provide to his or her GAL
sufficient information for the GAL to advise the juvenile court whether the
nomination is in the best interests of the child.
Dispositional factors. In determining the appropriate disposition of a
guardianship petition, the juvenile court must consider all of the following factors:
1. Any nomination of a guardian made by a parent or by the child, if 12 years
of age or over, and the opinions of the parents and child as to what is in the best
interests of the child.
2. Whether the proposed guardian would be fit, willing, and able to serve as the
guardian of the child.
3. If the child is an Indian child, the order of placement preference required for
an Indian child in an Indian child custody proceeding, unless the juvenile court finds
good cause for departing from that order.
4. Whether appointment of the proposed guardian is in the best interests of the
child.
Disposition. At the conclusion of the fact-finding and dispositional hearing,
the juvenile court must do one of the following, unless the juvenile court adjourns the
hearing: 1) dismiss the petition if the juvenile court finds that the petitioner has not
proved the allegations in the petition by clear and convincing evidence or determines
that appointment of the proposed guardian is not in the best interests of the child;
or 2) order the proposed guardian to be appointed as the child's guardian if the
juvenile court finds that the petitioner has proved those allegations by clear and
convincing evidence and determines that the appointment is in the best interests of
the child. If the juvenile court orders the appointment of a guardian for a child who
has been adjudged to be delinquent or in need of protection or services and the order
changes the placement of the child, the disposition must, if applicable, include
certain findings, orders, statements, and determinations relating to, among other
things, the welfare of the child and reasonable efforts to prevent the removal of the
child from the home, that are required under current law when a juvenile court
changes the placement of such a child. A disposition ordering the appointment of a
guardian may also designate an amount of support to be paid by the child's parents
and may include reasonable rules of parental visitation.
Adjournment; proposed guardian unfit or not in best interests. If at the
conclusion of the fact-finding and dispositional hearing the juvenile court finds that
the petitioner has proved the allegations in the petition by clear and convincing
evidence, but that the proposed guardian is not fit, willing, and able to serve as the
guardian of the child or that appointment of the proposed guardian as the child's
guardian is not in the best interests of the child, the juvenile court may, in lieu of
granting a disposition dismissing the petition, adjourn the hearing for not more than
30 days, request the petitioner or any other party to nominate a new proposed
guardian, and order the GAL to report to the juvenile court concerning the suitability
of the new proposed guardian to serve as the guardian of the child.
Procedures for appointment of emergency guardian
Petition. Any person may petition for the appointment of an emergency
guardian for a child. The petitioner must give notice of the petition and of the time
and place of the hearing on the petition to the child, if 12 years of age or over, the
child's guardian ad litem, and the child's counsel, if any; the child's parents,
guardian, and legal custodian; and the person nominated as emergency guardian.
Notice of the petition and a copy of the petition must be served by the most practical
means possible, including personal service or service by electronic mail or telephone,
as soon after the filing of the petition as possible and must include notice of the right
to counsel and of the right to petition for reconsideration or modification of the
emergency guardianship.
GAL. The juvenile court must appoint a GAL for the child as soon as possible
after the filing of the petition and must attempt to appoint the GAL before the
hearing on the petition, but may appoint the GAL after the hearing if exigent
circumstances require the immediate appointment of an emergency guardian. The
GAL must attempt to meet with or observe the child before the hearing or as soon
as is practicable after the hearing, but not later than three days after the hearing,
and must report to the juvenile court on the advisability of the emergency
guardianship at the hearing or, if not appointed until after the hearing, not later than
seven days after the hearing.
Hearing. The juvenile court must hold a hearing on the emergency
guardianship petition as soon as possible after the filing of the petition or, for good
cause shown, may issue a temporary order appointing an emergency guardian
without a hearing, which remains in effect until a hearing is held on the petition.
If the juvenile court appoints an emergency guardian, any person entitled to receive
notice of the emergency guardianship petition may petition for reconsideration or
modification of the emergency guardianship and the juvenile court must hold a
rehearing on the issue of appointment of the emergency guardian within 30 days
after the filing of the petition.
Immunity. An emergency guardian of a child is immune from civil liability for
his or her acts or omissions in performing the duties of emergency guardianship if
he or she performs the duties in good faith, in the best interests of the child, and with
the degree of diligence and prudence that an ordinarily prudent person exercises in
his or her own affairs.
Post-appointment procedures
Successor guardian. As part of a petition for the original appointment of a
guardian of a child or at any time after that appointment, a person may petition for
the appointment of one or more successor guardians to assume the duty and
authority of full, limited, or temporary guardianship in the event of the death,
unwillingness or inability to act, resignation, or removal by the juvenile court of the
initially appointed guardian or during a period when the initially appointed
guardian is temporarily unable to fulfill his or her duties. If the petition for the
appointment of a successor guardian is brought after the original appointment of a
guardian, the petition must be heard in the same manner and subject to the same
requirements as provided for an original appointment of a guardian.
The juvenile court may also appoint a successor guardian after a guardian has
died, been removed, or resigned. The appointment may be made on the juvenile
court's own motion or on the petition of any interested person, which, for purposes
of proceedings subsequent to an order for guardianship of a child, means: 1) the
child, if 12 years of age or over, the child's guardian ad litem, and the child's counsel;
2) the child's parent and guardian; 3) the county of venue, if the county has an
interest in the guardianship; 4) if the child is an Indian child, the child's tribe; and
5) any other person that the juvenile court may require.
After a guardian has died, been removed, or resigned, a successor guardian may
be appointed without a hearing, but the juvenile court may, upon request of any
interested person or on its own motion, direct that the petition or motion for the
appointment of a successor guardian be heard in the same manner and subject to the
same requirements as provided for an original appointment of a guardian. If a
successor is appointed without a hearing, the successor guardian must provide notice
to all interested persons of the appointment, the right to counsel, and the right to
petition for reconsideration of the appointment.
Modification of guardianship order. Any interested person or other person
approved by the juvenile court may request a modification of a guardianship order
or the juvenile court may, on its own motion, propose such a modification. The
request or motion must set forth in detail the nature of the proposed modification,
allege facts sufficient to show that there has been a substantial change in
circumstances since the last order affecting the guardianship was entered and that
the proposed modification would be in the best interests of the child, and allege any
other information that affects the advisability of the juvenile court's disposition. The
juvenile court must hold a hearing on the matter prior to any modification of the
guardianship order if the request or motion indicates that new information is
available that affects the advisability of the juvenile court's guardianship order,
unless written waivers of objections to the modification are signed by all interested
persons and the juvenile court approves the waivers. The juvenile court may order
a modification if, at the hearing, the juvenile court finds that the person proposing
the modification has proved by clear and convincing evidence that there has been a
substantial change in circumstances and determines that a modification would be
in the best interests of the child.
Review of conduct of guardian. The juvenile court that appointed the
guardian of a child has continuing jurisdiction over the guardian and may impose
certain remedies if the guardian abuses or neglects the child or knowingly permits
others to do so, fails to disclose information that would have prevented his or her
appointment as guardian, or otherwise fails to perform any of his or her duties as
guardian. If the juvenile court finds by clear and convincing evidence that any of
those circumstances apply, the juvenile court may remove the guardian, remove the
guardian and appoint a successor guardian, enter any other order that may be
necessary or appropriate to compel the guardian to carry out his or her duties, modify
the duties and authority of the guardian, or, if the guardian's conduct was egregious,
require the guardian to pay any costs of the proceeding.
Termination of guardianship. A guardianship continues until the child
attains the age of 18 years unless: 1) the guardianship is for a lesser period of time
and that time has expired; 2) the child marries; 3) the child dies; 4) the child's
residence changes from this state to another state and a guardian is appointed in the
new state of residence; 5) the guardian dies, or resigns and the resignation is
approved by the juvenile court, and a successor guardian is not appointed; 6) the
guardian is removed for cause and a successor guardian is not appointed; or 7) the
guardianship is terminated on the request of a parent.
A parent may request that a guardianship be terminated by filing a petition
with the juvenile court alleging facts sufficient to show that there has been a
substantial change in circumstances since the last order affecting the guardianship
was entered, that the parent is fit, willing, and able to carry out the duties of a
guardian, and that termination of the guardianship would be in the best interests
of the child. The juvenile court must hold a hearing on the petition, unless written
waivers of objections to termination of the guardianship are signed by all interested
persons and the juvenile court approves the waivers. The juvenile court must
terminate the guardianship if the juvenile court finds that the parent has proved by
clear and convincing evidence that he or she has remedied the unfitness,
unwillingness, or inability to provide for the care, custody, and control of the child
or the compelling facts and circumstances on which the guardianship was granted
and that he or she is now fit, willing, and able to carry out the duties of a guardian
and the juvenile court determines that termination of the guardianship would be in
the best interests of the child.
Protection or services guardianships
Under the current Children's Code, a protection or services guardianship may
be ordered when a child who has been adjudged to be in need of protection or services
under the Children's Code on any grounds other than the grounds of relinquishment
of custody or of not having been immunized as required by law, or adjudged to be in
need of protection or services under the Juvenile Justice Code on the grounds of
uncontrollability, and placed outside the home is likely to be placed in the home of
the guardian for an extended period or until the child attains the age of 18 years, it
is not in the best interests of the child that a petition for termination of parental
rights be filed, and the child's parent is neglecting, refusing, or unable to carry out
the duties of a guardian.
This bill expands the applicability of a protection or services guardianship to
include a child who has been adjudged to be in need of protection or services under
the Children's Code on the grounds of relinquishment of custody or of not having been
immunized as required by law, a child who has been adjudged to be in need of
protection or services under the Juvenile Justice Code on the grounds of truancy from
home or school, being a school dropout, or having committed a delinquent act while
under ten years of age, and a child ten years of age or over who has been adjudged
delinquent. The bill also permits such a guardianship to be ordered not only when
the child's parent is neglecting, refusing, or unable to carry out the duties of a
guardian but also when the child's parent is not meeting the conditions established
in a juvenile court order for the safe return of the child to the home.
Under current law, service of a petition for a protection or services guardianship
and notice of hearing on the petition may be made by 1st class mail, by personal
service or, if with reasonable diligence a party cannot be served by mail or by personal
service, by publication of the notice in a newspaper that is likely to give notice to the
parties. This bill eliminates service by publication for a protection or services
guardianship petition.
Standby guardianships
Under current law, a petition for the appointment of a standby guardian to
assume the duty and authority of guardianship on the incapacity, death, or
debilitation and consent, of a parent of a child must be joined by each parent of the
child who with reasonable diligence can be located. If a parent can be located, but
refuses to join in the petition or indicates that he or she is unwilling or unable to
exercise the duty and authority of guardianship, the petition may be filed without
the other parent joining in the petition.
This bill limits that joinder requirement to each parent who has legal custody
of the child, which means: 1) a parent to whom a family court has granted the right
and responsibility to make major decisions concerning the child; or 2) in the case of
a nonmarital child, the child's mother. Accordingly, under the bill, a parent who does
not have legal custody of the child is not required to join in the guardianship petition.
The bill also permits one parent who has legal custody of a child to file a guardianship
petition without the other parent joining in the petition if that other parent fails,
rather than refuses, to join in the petition or to indicate that he or she is fit, willing,
and able to exercise the duty and authority of guardianship.
In addition, under current law, before the juvenile court may appoint a person
as the standby guardian of a child, the juvenile court must make certain findings,
including a finding: 1) that there is a significant risk that the petitioner will become
incapacitated or debilitated or die within two years after the petition was filed; 2)
that, if a parent has refused to join in the petition, the refusal was unreasonable; and
3) that the person nominated as guardian is willing and able to act as standby
guardian.
This bill changes the findings that the juvenile court must make before the
juvenile court may appoint a standby guardian by: 1) eliminating the two-year
window for significant risk of incapacitation, debilitation, or death and instead
requiring the juvenile court to find that that the petitioner has a physical or mental
impairment or a physical illness, disease, or injury and that there is a significant risk
that the petitioner will become incapacitated or debilitated or die as a result of that
impairment, illness, disease, or injury; 2) eliminating altogether the finding that a
parent's refusal to join in the petition was unreasonable; and 3) requiring a finding
that a person is fit, willing, and able to act as standby guardian.
Protective placements
Finally, under current law, the juvenile court may order a protective placement,
which is a placement for the residential care and custody of an individual, for a minor
14 years of age or over who is alleged to have a developmental disability and on whose
behalf a petition for guardianship has been submitted. This bill eliminates the
requirement that a guardianship petition be submitted in order for a juvenile court
to order a protective placement for a minor 14 years of age or over who is alleged to
have a developmental disability.
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:
SB560, s. 1
1Section
1. 48.02 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB560,11,32
48.02
(8) "Guardian" means the person named by the court having the duty and
3authority of
guardianship guardian of the person of a child under s. 48.023.
SB560, s. 2
4Section
2. 48.023 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB560,11,10
548.023 Guardianship. (intro.) Except as limited by an order of the court
6under s.
48.976 (2) (c) 2., 48.977 (5) (b)
, or 48.978 (6) (b) 2., a person appointed by the
7court to be the guardian
of the person of a child under this chapter has the duty and
8authority to make important decisions in matters having a permanent effect on the
9life and development of the child and the duty to be concerned about the child's
10general welfare, including
but not limited to all of the following:
SB560, s. 3
11Section
3. 48.023 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB560,11,1412
48.023
(3) The right and duty of reasonable visitation
of with the child
and,
13subject to an order of a court of competent jurisdiction, the authority to determine
14reasonable visitation with the child.
SB560, s. 4
15Section
4. 48.023 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB560,12,6
148.023
(4) The rights and responsibilities of
physical custody and legal custody
,
2including the right to change the residence of the child from this state to another
3state, except when
physical custody or legal custody has been vested in another
4person or when the child is under the supervision of the department of corrections
5under s. 938.183, 938.34 (4h), (4m) or (4n)
, or 938.357 (4) or the supervision of a
6county department under s. 938.34 (4d) or (4n).
SB560, s. 5
7Section
5. 48.09 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB560,12,138
48.09
(5) By the district attorney or, if designated by the county board of
9supervisors, by the corporation counsel, in any matter arising under s. 48.13, 48.133
,
1048.976, or 48.977. If the county board transfers this authority to or from the district
11attorney on or after May 11, 1990, the board may do so only if the action is effective
12on September 1 of an odd-numbered year and the board notifies the department of
13administration of that change by January 1 of that odd-numbered year.
SB560, s. 6
14Section
6. 48.14 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB560,12,1815
48.14
(2) (b) The appointment and removal of a guardian of the person for a
16child under ss. 48.427, 48.428, 48.43, 48.831, 48.832, 48.839 (4) (a),
48.976, 48.977,
17and 48.978
and ch. 54 and for a child found to be in need of protection or services
18under s. 48.13 because the child is without parent or guardian.
SB560, s. 7
19Section
7. 48.14 (11) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB560,12,2020
48.14
(11) Granting visitation privileges under s.
54.56 48.976 (11).
SB560, s. 8
21Section
8. 48.185 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB560,13,622
48.185
(2) In an action under s. 48.41, venue shall be in the county where the
23birth parent or child resides at the time that the petition is filed. Venue for any
24proceeding under s. 48.363, 48.365
. or 48.977, or any proceeding under subch. VIII
25or s. 48.976 when the child has been placed outside the home pursuant to a
1dispositional order under s. 48.345
or, 48.347,
or 938.345 shall be in the county where
2the dispositional order was issued, unless the child's county of residence has
3changed, or the parent of the child or the expectant mother of the unborn child has
4resided in a different county of this state for 6 months. In either case, the court may,
5upon a motion and for good cause shown, transfer the case, along with all appropriate
6records, to the county of residence of the child, parent
, or expectant mother.
SB560, s. 9
7Section
9. 48.235 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB560,13,118
48.235
(1) (c) The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for any child who is
9the subject of a proceeding to terminate parental rights, whether voluntary or
10involuntary, for a child who is the subject of a contested adoption proceeding
, and for
11a child who is the subject of a proceeding under s.
48.976, 48.977
, or 48.978.
SB560, s. 10
12Section
10. 48.235 (3) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
SB560,13,1613
48.235
(3) (c) In addition to any other duties and responsibilities required of
14a guardian ad litem, a guardian ad litem appointed for a child who is the subject of
15a proceeding under s. 48.976 shall do all of the following unless granted leave by the
16court not to do so:
SB560,13,2317
1. Personally, or through a trained designee, meet with or observe the child,
18assess the appropriateness and safety of the environment of the child, and, if
19appropriate to the age and developmental level of the child, interview the child and
20determine the child's goals and concerns regarding the proposed guardianship. If the
21child is 12 years of age or over, the guardian ad litem shall also advise the child that
22he or she may request the appointment of counsel or retain counsel of his or her own
23choosing.
SB560,14,3
12. Interview the proposed guardian, personally or through a trained designee,
2visit the guardian's home, if appropriate, and report to the court concerning the
3suitability of the proposed guardian to serve as guardian of the child.
SB560,14,74
3. Attend all court proceedings relating to the guardianship, present evidence
5concerning the best interests of the child, if necessary, and make clear and specific
6recommendations to the court concerning the best interests of the child at every stage
7of the proceedings.
SB560,14,88
4. Report to the court on any matter that the court requests.
SB560,14,259
5. To the extent necessary to make recommendations to the court concerning
10the best interests of the child, to report to the court concerning the suitability of the
11proposed guardian to serve as guardian of the child and on any other matter that the
12court requests, and otherwise to fulfill the duties and responsibilities required of the
13guardian ad litem in the proceedings, inspect reports and records relating to the
14child, the child's family, and the proposed guardian, including law enforcement
15reports and records under ss. 48.396 (1) and 938.396 (1) (a), court records under ss.
1648.396 (2) (a) and 938.396 (2), social welfare agency records under ss. 48.78 (2) (a)
17and 938.78 (2) (a), abuse and neglect reports and records under s. 48.981 (7) (a) 11v.,
18pupil records under s. 118.125 (2) (L), mental health records under s. 51.30 (4) (b) 4.,
19and health care records under s. 146.82 (2) (a) 4. The court shall include in the order
20appointing the guardian ad litem an order requiring the custodian of any report or
21record specified in this subdivision to permit the guardian ad litem to inspect and
22copy the report or record on presentation by the guardian ad litem of a copy of the
23order. A guardian ad litem who obtains access to a report or record described in this
24subdivision shall keep the information contained in the report or record confidential
25and may use or further disclose that information only for purpose of the proceedings.
SB560, s. 11
1Section
11. 48.255 (1) (cm) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB560,15,52
48.255
(1) (cm) Whether the child may be subject to
s. 48.028 or the federal
3Indian Child Welfare Act,
25 USC 1901 to
1963, and, if the child may be subject to
4s. 48.028 or that act, the names and addresses of the child's Indian custodian, if any,
5and Indian tribe, if known.
SB560, s. 12
6Section
12. 48.255 (1m) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB560,15,117
48.255
(1m) (d) Whether the unborn child, when born, may be subject to
s.
848.028 or the federal Indian Child Welfare Act,
25 USC 1901 to
1963, and, if the
9unborn child may be subject to
s. 48.028 or that act, the name and address of the
10Indian tribe in which the unborn child may be eligible for affiliation when born, if
11known.
SB560, s. 13
12Section
13. 48.299 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB560,15,1513
48.299
(4) (a) Chapters 901 to 911 shall govern the presentation of evidence at
14the fact-finding hearings under ss. 48.31, 48.42,
48.976, 48.977 (4) (d)
, and 48.978
15(2) (e) and (3) (f) 2.
SB560, s. 14
16Section
14. 48.299 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB560,16,617
48.299
(4) (b) Except as provided in s. 901.05, neither common law nor
18statutory rules of evidence are binding at a hearing for a child held in custody under
19s. 48.21, a hearing for an adult expectant mother held in custody under s. 48.213, a
20runaway home hearing under s. 48.227 (4), a dispositional hearing, or a hearing
21about changes in placement, revision of dispositional orders, extension of
22dispositional orders or termination of guardianship orders entered under s.
48.976, 2348.977 (4) (h) 2. or (6)
, or 48.978 (2) (j) 2. or (3) (g). At those hearings, the court shall
24admit all testimony having reasonable probative value, but shall exclude
25immaterial, irrelevant or unduly repetitious testimony or evidence that is
1inadmissible under s. 901.05. Hearsay evidence may be admitted if it has
2demonstrable circumstantial guarantees of trustworthiness. The court shall give
3effect to the rules of privilege recognized by law. The court shall apply the basic
4principles of relevancy, materiality and probative value to proof of all questions of
5fact. Objections to evidentiary offers and offers of proof of evidence not admitted may
6be made and shall be noted in the record.
SB560, s. 15
7Section
15. 48.299 (6) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB560,16,118
48.299
(6) (intro.) If a man who has been given notice under s. 48.27 (3) (b) 1.
,
948.976 (3) (b) 1., 48.977 (4) (c) 1., or 48.978 (2) (c) 1. appears at any hearing for which
10he received the notice, alleges that he is the father of the child
, and states that he
11wishes to establish the paternity of the child, all of the following apply:
SB560, s. 16
12Section
16. 48.299 (6) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB560,16,2113
48.299
(6) (d) The court may stay the proceedings under this chapter pending
14the outcome of the paternity proceedings under subch. IX of ch. 767 if the court
15determines that the paternity proceedings will not unduly delay the proceedings
16under this chapter and the determination of paternity is necessary to the court's
17disposition of the
child if the child is found to be in need of protection or services 18proceeding or if the court determines or has reason to know that the paternity
19proceedings may result in a finding that the child is an Indian child and in a petition
20by the child's parent, Indian custodian, or tribe for transfer of the proceeding to the
21jurisdiction of the tribe.
SB560, s. 17
22Section
17. 48.299 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB560,17,523
48.299
(7) If a man who has been given notice under s. 48.27 (3) (b) 1.
, 48.976
24(3) (b) 1., 48.977 (4) (c) 1., or 48.978 (2) (c) 1. appears at any hearing for which he
25received the notice but does not allege that he is the father of the child and state that
1he wishes to establish the paternity of the child or if no man to whom such notice was
2given appears at a hearing, the court may refer the matter to the state or to the
3attorney responsible for support enforcement under s. 59.53 (6) (a) for a
4determination, under s. 767.80, of whether an action should be brought for the
5purpose of determining the paternity of the child.
SB560, s. 18
6Section
18. 48.345 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB560,17,21
748.345 Disposition of child or unborn child of child expectant mother
8adjudged in need of protection or services. (intro.) If the judge finds that the
9child is in need of protection or services or that the unborn child of a child expectant
10mother is in need of protection or services, the judge shall enter an order deciding one
11or more of the dispositions of the case as provided in this section under a care and
12treatment plan, except that the order may not place any child not specifically found
13under
this chapter or chs. 46, 49, 51, 54, or 115 to be developmentally disabled,
14mentally ill, or to have a disability specified in s. 115.76 (5) in
facilities a facility that
15exclusively
treat treats those categories of children, and the court may not place any
16child expectant mother of an unborn child in need of protection or services outside
17of the child expectant mother's home unless the court finds that the child expectant
18mother is refusing or has refused to accept any alcohol or other drug abuse services
19offered to her or is not making or has not made a good faith effort to participate in
20any alcohol or other drug abuse services offered to her. The dispositions under this
21section are as follows:
SB560, s. 19
22Section
19. 48.345 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB560,18,623
48.345
(3) (a) The home of a parent
or
, other relative
, or guardian of the child,
24except that the judge may not designate the home of a parent
or, other relative
, or
25guardian of the child as the child's placement if the parent
or, other relative
, or
1guardian has been convicted under s. 940.01 of the first-degree intentional homicide,
2or under s. 940.05 of the 2nd-degree intentional homicide, of a parent of the child,
3and the conviction has not been reversed, set aside or vacated, unless the judge
4determines by clear and convincing evidence that the placement would be in the best
5interests of the child. The judge shall consider the wishes of the child in making that
6determination.
SB560, s. 20
7Section
20. 48.368 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB560,18,158
48.368
(1) If a petition for termination of parental rights is filed under s. 48.41
9or 48.415 or an appeal from a judgment terminating or denying termination of
10parental rights is filed during the year in which a dispositional order under s. 48.355,
11an extension order under s. 48.365, a voluntary agreement for placement of the child
12under s. 48.63, or a guardianship order under
ch. 54, 2009 stats., or ch. 880, 2003
13stats., or s.
48.976 or 48.977
or ch. 54 is in effect, the dispositional or extension order,
14voluntary agreement, or guardianship order shall remain in effect until all
15proceedings related to the filing of the petition or an appeal are concluded.
SB560, s. 21
16Section
21. 48.42 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB560,18,2017
48.42
(1) (d) A statement of whether the child may be subject to
s. 48.028 or the
18federal Indian
t Child Welfare Act,
25 USC 1901 to
1963, and, if the child may be
19subject to
s. 48.028 or that act, the names of the child's Indian custodian, if any, and
20tribe, if known.
SB560,19,1223
48.62
(2) A relative, a guardian of a child, or a person delegated care and
24custody of a child under s. 48.979 who provides care and maintenance for the child
25is not required to obtain the license specified in this section. The department, county
1department, or licensed child welfare agency as provided in s. 48.75 may issue a
2license to operate a foster home to a relative who has no duty of support under s. 49.90
3(1) (a) and who requests a license to operate a foster home for a specific child who is
4either placed by court order or who is the subject of a voluntary placement agreement
5under s. 48.63. The department, a county department, or a licensed child welfare
6agency may, at the request of a guardian appointed under s.
48.976, 48.977
, or
748.978, ch. 54,
2009 stats., or ch. 880, 2003 stats., license the guardian's home as a
8foster home for the guardian's minor ward who is living in the home and who is placed
9in the home by court order. Relatives with no duty of support and guardians
10appointed under s.
48.976, 48.977
, or 48.978, ch. 54,
2009 stats., or ch. 880, 2003
11stats., who are licensed to operate foster homes are subject to the department's
12licensing rules.