Wisconsin Legislature: 226,55

226,46 Section 46. 49.835 of the statutes is created to read:

49.835 Statements in applications. A person who makes a statement in a written application for any aid or benefit provided under this chapter is considered to have made an admission as to the existence, correctness, or validity of any fact stated. Such a statement is prima facie evidence against the person who made it in any complaint, information, or indictment, or in any action brought for enforcement of any provision of this chapter.

226,47 Section 47. 49.846 (1) of the statutes is created to read:

49.846 (1) In this section, "public assistance program" means any program administered by the department of health services or the department of children and families under this chapter under which the department administering the program provides services, benefits, or other assistance to individuals or families.

226,48 Section 48. 49.95 of the statutes is repealed.

226,49 Section 49. 59.54 (23) of the statutes is amended to read:

59.54 (23) Public assistance; false representation. The board may enact and enforce an ordinance to prohibit conduct that is the same as or similar to conduct that is prohibited by s. 49.95 (1) 946.93 (2) and provide a forfeiture for a violation of the ordinance.

226,50 Section 50. 940.11 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

940.11 (2) Whoever hides or buries a corpse, with intent to conceal a crime or avoid apprehension, prosecution, or conviction for a crime or notwithstanding s. 49.141 (7), 49.49 (1), or 49.795 946.90 (2) or (3), 946.91 (2), 946.92, or 946.93 (2) or (3) with intent to collect benefits under one of those sections the assistance program for families with dependent children administered under ss. 49.141 to 49.161, the Medical Assistance program administered under subch. IV of ch. 49, or the food stamp program, as defined in s. 49.79 (1) (c), is guilty of a Class G felony.

226,51 Section 51 . 946.90 (title) of the statutes is created to read:

946.90 (title) Wisconsin Works fraud.

226,52 Section 52. 946.90 (1) of the statutes is created to read:

946.90 (1) In this section:

(a) "Provider" means a Wisconsin Works agency, a person that contracts with a Wisconsin Works agency to provide services to a participant in Wisconsin Works, or a person that provides child care for reimbursement under s. 49.155.

(b) "Wisconsin Works" means the assistance program for families with dependent children administered under ss. 49.141 to 49.161.

226,53 Section 53 . 946.90 (2) of the statutes is created to read:

946.90 (2) Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor:

(a) Intentionally makes or causes to be made any false statement or representation of a material fact in any application for or receipt of any Wisconsin Works benefit or payment.

(b) Having knowledge of the occurrence of any event affecting the initial or continued eligibility for a Wisconsin Works benefit or payment under Wisconsin Works, conceals or fails to disclose that event with an intent to fraudulently secure a Wisconsin Works benefit or payment either in a greater amount or quantity than is due or when no such benefit or payment is authorized.

226,54 Section 54 . 946.91 (title), (1) and (2) (intro.) of the statutes are created to read:

946.91 (title) Medical Assistance fraud. (1) In this section:

(a) "Facility" means a nursing home or a community-based residential facility that is licensed under s. 50.03 and that is certified by the department of health services as a provider of aid under Medical Assistance.

(b) "Medical Assistance" means the program providing aid under subch. IV of ch. 49, except ss. 49.468 and 49.471.

(c) "Provider" means a person, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, incorporated business, or professional association, and any agent or employee thereof, who provides services under Medical Assistance.

(2) (intro.) Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a Class H felony, except that, notwithstanding the maximum fine specified in s. 939.50 (3) (h), the person may be fined not more than $25,000:

226,55 Section 55. 946.92 (3) (a) of the statutes is created to read:

946.92 (3) (a) Whoever violates sub. (2) is subject to the following penalties:

1. If the value of the food stamp program benefits does not exceed $100, a Class B misdemeanor.

2. Except as provided in subd. 3., if the value of the food stamp program benefits exceeds $100, but is less than $5,000, a Class I felony.

3. If the value of the food stamp program benefits exceeds $100, but is less than $5,000, and the person has a prior conviction under this section, a Class H felony.

4. If the value of the food stamp program benefits is $5,000 or more, a Class G felony.

226,56 Section 56. 946.93 of the statutes is created to read:

946.93 Public assistance fraud. (1) In this section, "public assistance" means any aid, benefit, or services provided under ch. 49.

(2) Whoever intentionally makes or causes to be made any false statement or representation of material fact in any application for or receipt of public assistance is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(3) No person may do any of the following:

(a) Having knowledge of an event affecting the initial or continued eligibility for public assistance, conceal or fail to disclose that event with an intent to fraudulently secure public assistance, including payment either in a greater amount or quantity than is due or when no such benefit or payment is authorized.

(b) Receive any income or assets and fail to notify the public assistance agency within 10 days after receiving the income or assets, unless a different time period is required under the applicable public assistance program.

(c) Fail to notify the public assistance agency within 10 days of any change in circumstances for which notification by the recipient must be provided under law, unless a different time period is required under the applicable public assistance program.

(d) Receive a voucher under a public assistance program for goods or services and use the funding granted under the voucher for purposes that are not authorized by the public assistance agency.

(e) Whoever violates par. (a), (b), (c), or (d) is subject to the following penalties:

1. If the value of the payment or benefit does not exceed $300, a Class B forfeiture.

2. If the value of the payment or benefit is more than $300 but does not exceed $1,000, a Class B misdemeanor.

3. If the value of the payment or benefit is more than $1,000 but does not exceed $2,000, a Class A misdemeanor.

4. If the value of the payment or benefit is more than $2,000 but does not exceed $5,000, a Class I felony.

5. If the value of the payment or benefit is more than $5,000 but does not exceed $10,000, a Class H felony.

6. If the value of the payment or benefit is more than $10,000, a Class G felony.

(4) A person who obtains money, goods, services, or any other thing of value because he or she sends or brings a person to a county department, federally recognized American Indian tribe or band, multicounty consortium, or Wisconsin Works agency for the purpose of obtaining public assistance is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.

(5) (a) Whoever solicits or receives money, goods, services, or any other thing of value in return for referring an individual to a person for the furnishing or arranging for the furnishing of any item or service for which a public assistance payment may be made in whole or in part, or in return for purchasing, leasing, ordering, or arranging for or recommending purchasing, leasing, or ordering any good, facility, service, or item for which public assistance payment may be made in whole or in part, is guilty of a Class H felony, except that, notwithstanding the maximum fine specified in s. 939.50 (3) (h), the person may be fined not more than $25,000.

(b) Whoever offers or provides money, goods, services, or any other thing of value to any person to induce the person to refer an individual to a person for the furnishing or arranging for the furnishing of any item or service for which public assistance payment may be made in whole or in part, or to purchase, lease, order, or arrange for or recommend purchasing, leasing, or ordering any good, facility, service, or item for which public assistance payment may be made in whole or in part, is guilty of a Class H felony, except that, notwithstanding the maximum fine specified in s. 939.50 (3) (h), the person may be fined not more than $25,000.

1. A discount or other reduction in price obtained by a provider of services or other entity under chs. 46 to 51 and 58 if the reduction in price is properly disclosed and appropriately reflected in the costs claimed or charges made by the provider or entity under a public assistance program.

2. An amount paid by an employer to an employee who has a bona fide employment relationship with the employer for employment in the provision of covered items or services.

(6) Whoever makes any statement in a written application for public assistance is considered to have made an admission as to the existence, correctness, or validity of any fact stated. Such a statement is prima facie evidence against the person who made it in any complaint, information, or indictment, or in any action brought for enforcement of any provision of this section or ch. 49.

226,58 Section 58. Initial applicability.

(1) Public assistance applications. The treatment of section 49.835 of the statutes first applies to applications for aid or benefits under chapter 49 of the statutes that are received by the department of health services or the department of children and families on the effective date of this subsection.

(2) Public assistance fraud. The treatment of section 946.93 of the statutes first applies to acts and omissions that occur on the effective date of this subsection.