Note: Sections 16 and 17 allow the juvenile court to order that the name and
address of a proposed change in placement be withheld from the parent or guardian if a
change in placement is requested by the child, parent, guardian, legal custodian or Indian
custodian of the child, expectant mother, unborn child's guardian ad litem, or any person
or agency primarily bound by the dispositional order, other than the person or agency
responsible for implementing the order. The juvenile court may not order that this
information be withheld until a hearing is held on the issue, with notice of the hearing
given to the child's parent or guardian.
AB150,18 13Section 18. 48.38 (4) (fg) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB150,14,1514 48.38 (4) (fg) 2. Placement of the child for adoption , including placement for
15adoption under tribal law or custom
.
Note: This Section provides that, if a child's permanency plan in Indian child
custody proceeding in state court includes the goal of placement for adoption, that goal
may include placement for adoption under tribal law or custom.
AB150,19 16Section 19. 48.425 (1) (h) of the statutes is created to read:
AB150,15,217 48.425 (1) (h) A statement as to whether a posttermination contact agreement
18has been entered into under s. 48.429. If such an agreement has been entered into,

1the agency or tribal child welfare department shall attach a copy of the agreement
2to the report.
Note: This Section requires an agency's report to the juvenile court in a TPR
proceeding to state whether or not a posttermination contact agreement has been entered
into, and, if so, to include a copy with the report.
AB150,20 3Section 20. 48.426 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB150,15,104 48.426 (3) (c) Whether the child has substantial relationships with the parent
5or other family members, and whether it would be harmful to the child to sever these
6those relationships. In determining whether it would be harmful to the child to sever
7those relationships, the court shall consider the terms of any posttermination contact
8agreement that has been entered into under s. 48.429 with respect to the child and
9may consider any other agreement by a proposed adoptive parent to permit contact
10between the child and the parent or other family members after adoption of the child.
Note: This Section requires the juvenile court, in evaluating the best interests of
a child for purposes of determining the appropriate disposition of a TPR proceeding, to
consider the terms of a posttermination contact agreement in the context of the child's
substantial relationships with the parent or any other family member.
AB150,21 11Section 21. 48.428 (6) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 48.428 (6) and
12amended to read:
AB150,15,1513 48.428 (6) Except as provided in par. (b), the The court may order or prohibit
14visitation by
grant posttermination contact privileges under s. 48.429 to a birth
15parent
relative of a child placed in sustaining care.
Note: This Section allows the juvenile court to grant posttermination contact
privileges to any relative of a child placed in sustaining care after a TPR is ordered.
AB150,22 16Section 22. 48.428 (6) (b) of the statutes is repealed.
Note: This Section removes certain restrictions on the juvenile court's discretion
whether to order visitation by a parent of a child placed in sustaining care after a TPR
is ordered because such visitation is covered under a posttermination contact agreement
authorized under the bill.
AB150,23 17Section 23. 48.429 of the statutes is created to read:
AB150,16,2
148.429 Posttermination contact privileges. (1) Definitions. In this
2section:
AB150,16,43 (a) "Approved posttermination contact agreement" means a posttermination
4contact agreement that has been approved by the court under sub. (4).
AB150,16,75 (b) "Posttermination contact agreement" means an agreement between a
6proposed adoptive parent or guardian of a child and a relative of the child that
7provides for any of the following after termination of parental rights to the child:
AB150,16,88 1. Visitation between the child and a relative of the child.
AB150,16,109 2. Future contact and communication between the child, adoptive parent, or
10guardian and relative of the child.
AB150,16,1211 3. The sharing of information about the child in the future between the adoptive
12parent or guardian and a relative of the child.
AB150,16,1413 4. The maintenance and sharing of the medical and genetic history of any
14relative who is a party to the agreement.
AB150,16,1615 (c) "Relative" has the meaning given in s. 48.02 (15), and, in the case of an
16Indian child, includes an extended family member, as defined in s. 48.028 (2) (am).
AB150,16,20 17(2) Posttermination contact agreements; when permitted. At any time before
18a termination of parental rights order is granted, a posttermination contact
19agreement may be entered into between the proposed adoptive parents or guardian
20of a child and a relative of the child if all of the following conditions are met:
AB150,16,2221 (a) The child is in the legal custody or under the supervision or guardianship
22of an agency.
AB150,16,2323 (b) The child, if 12 years of age or over, consents to the terms of the agreement.
AB150,16,25 24(3) Provisions of posttermination contact agreement. A posttermination
25contact agreement shall contain all of the following provisions:
AB150,17,9
1(a) Except as provided in this paragraph, an acknowledgement by all relatives
2who are parties to the agreement that, subject to ss. 48.028 (5) (c) and (6) and 48.46
3(1m) and (2), the termination of parental rights to and adoption of the child are
4irrevocable and that failure by a party to comply with the agreement is not grounds
5to revoke the termination of parental rights or adoption. A posttermination contact
6agreement in which one of the parties is a parent, as defined in s. 48.02 (13) for
7purposes of the application of s. 48.028 and the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, 25
8USC 1901
to 1963, is not required to contain the acknowledgement described in this
9paragraph.
AB150,17,1210 (b) An acknowledgement by the proposed adoptive parents or guardian that the
11agreement is enforceable by any person who is permitted posttermination visitation,
12contact, communication, or sharing of information under the agreement.
AB150,17,1713 (c) A statement by all parties to the agreement that the agreement was entered
14into voluntarily and with understanding of the terms of the agreement, that no
15promises or threats were made to coerce any person into entering into the agreement,
16and that the parties have not relied on any representations other than those
17contained in the agreement.
AB150,17,20 18(4) Approval of granting posttermination contact agreement. At the time a
19termination of parental rights order is granted, a court may approve a
20posttermination contact agreement if all of the following conditions are met:
AB150,17,2121 (a) The child and the parent meet the conditions specified in sub. (2).
AB150,17,2222 (b) The agreement contains the provisions specified in sub. (3) (a) to (c).
AB150,18,323 (c) The agreement is signed by all parties to the agreement including the parent
24and child, if 12 years of age or over. If a parent who is under 12 years of age or other
25relative who is a child is to be granted posttermination visitation, contact,

1communication, or sharing of information under the agreement, the parent,
2guardian, legal custodian, or Indian custodian of the parent or other relative shall
3sign the agreement on behalf of the parent or other relative.
AB150,18,104 (d) The agency having guardianship, legal custody, or supervision of the child,
5the child's guardian ad litem or, in the case of an Indian child, the tribal child welfare
6department of the Indian child's tribe files the agreement with the court. If the
7agency or tribal child welfare department files the agreement, the agency or tribal
8child welfare department shall comply with this paragraph by including in the court
9report under s. 48.425 (1) the statement under s. 48.425 (1) (h) and attaching the
10agreement to the court report.
AB150,18,1511 (e) The court addresses all parties to the agreement and determines by clear
12and convincing evidence that the agreement was entered into voluntarily and with
13understanding of the terms of the agreement, that no promises or threats were made
14to coerce any person into entering into the agreement, and that the parties have not
15relied on any representations other than those contained in the agreement.
AB150,18,2016 (f) The agency having guardianship, legal custody, or supervision of the child,
17the child's guardian ad litem, and, in the case of an Indian child, the Indian child's
18tribe submit to the court recommendations concerning the granting of
19posttermination visitation, contact, communication, or sharing of information as
20provided for in the agreement.
AB150,18,2221 (g) The court determines that the relative will not undermine the guardian or
22adoptive parent's or parents' relationship with the child.
AB150,19,323 (h) The court determines by clear and convincing evidence that granting
24posttermination visitation, contact, communication, or sharing of information as
25provided for in the agreement would be in the best interests of the child. In

1determining whether granting posttermination visitation, contact, communication,
2or sharing of information as provided for in the agreement would be in the best
3interests of the child, the court shall consider all of the following factors:
AB150,19,74 1. Whether the child has substantial relationships with the person who would
5have visitation, contact, communication, or sharing of information under the
6agreement, and whether it would be harmful to the child not to preserve those
7relationships.
AB150,19,108 2. Any special needs of the child and how those special needs would be affected
9by visitation, contact, communication, or sharing of information as provided for in
10the agreement.
AB150,19,1211 3. The specific terms of the agreement and the likelihood that the parties will
12cooperate in complying with the agreement.
AB150,19,1513 4. The recommendations of the agency having guardianship, legal custody, or
14supervision of the child, the child's guardian ad litem, and, in the case of an Indian
15child, the Indian child's tribe.
AB150,19,1816 5. Any other factors that are relevant to the best interests of the child under
17s. 48.01 (1) (intro.) or, in the case of an Indian child, the best interests of the Indian
18child under s. 48.01 (2).
AB150,20,4 19(5) Enforcement of posttermination contact agreement. (a) A
20posttermination contact agreement is enforceable only if the agreement is approved
21by the court under sub. (4). Any party to an approved posttermination contact
22agreement may petition the court that approved the agreement for specific
23performance of the agreement. The petition shall allege facts sufficient to show that
24a person who is bound by the agreement is not in compliance with the agreement,
25that enforcement of the agreement is in the best interests of the child in light of the

1factors specified in sub. (4) (h), and that the petitioner, before filing the petition,
2participated, or attempted to participate, in good faith in formal or informal
3mediation or other appropriate dispute resolution proceedings to resolve the dispute
4giving rise to the filing of the petition.
AB150,20,115 (b) The court shall set a date and time for a hearing on a petition filed under
6par. (a) and shall provide notice of the hearing to the petitioner and to all other
7parties to the approved posttermination contact agreement, the agency that had
8guardianship, legal custody, or supervision of the child before the termination of
9parental rights, and, in the case of an Indian child, the Indian child's tribe. The
10hearing shall take place on a date that allows the persons notified of the hearing a
11reasonable time to prepare, but is no more than 30 days after the filing of the petition.
AB150,20,2012 (c) If the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that any person bound
13by an approved posttermination contact agreement is not in compliance with the
14agreement; that enforcement of the agreement is in the best interests of the child in
15light of the factors specified in sub. (4) (h); and that the petitioner, before filing the
16petition, participated, or attempted to participate, in good faith in formal or informal
17mediation or other appropriate dispute resolution proceedings to resolve the dispute
18giving rise to the filing of the petition, the court shall issue an order requiring specific
19performance of the agreement. An order for specific performance shall be the sole
20remedy for any noncompliance with the agreement.
AB150,20,2321 (d) A court may not award damages, costs, or attorney fees or revoke a
22termination of parental rights order or an order of adoption because a party to a
23posttermination contact agreement fails to comply with the agreement.
AB150,21,8 24(6) Termination or modification of posttermination contact agreement. (a)
25The parties to an approved posttermination contact agreement may agree to

1terminate or modify the agreement. If the parties agree to terminate or modify the
2agreement and if the child, if 12 years of age or over, consents to the termination or
3modification, the parties shall sign and file with the court that approved the
4agreement the modified agreement or a stipulation terminating the agreement. If,
5after reviewing the stipulation or modified agreement, the court finds by clear and
6convincing evidence that termination or modification of the agreement would be in
7the best interests of the child in light of the factors specified in sub. (4) (h), the court
8shall, without a hearing, approve the termination or modification of the agreement.
AB150,21,179 (b) 1. Any party to an approved posttermination contact agreement may
10petition the court that approved the agreement to terminate or modify the
11agreement. The petition shall allege facts sufficient to show that termination or
12modification of the agreement would be in the best interests of the child in light of
13the factors specified in sub. (4) (h), or that there has been a substantial change in
14circumstances since the entry of the last order affecting the agreement, and that the
15petitioner, before filing the petition, participated, or attempted to participate, in good
16faith in formal or informal mediation or other appropriate dispute resolution
17proceedings to resolve the issue giving rise to the filing of the petition.
AB150,21,2418 2. The court shall set a date and time for a hearing on a petition under subd.
191. and shall provide notice of the hearing to the petitioner and to all other parties to
20the approved posttermination contact agreement, the agency that had guardianship,
21legal custody, or supervision of the child before the termination of parental rights,
22and, in the case of an Indian child, the Indian child's tribe. The hearing shall take
23place on a date that allows the persons notified of the hearing a reasonable time to
24prepare, but is no more than 30 days after the filing of the petition.
AB150,22,15
13. Notwithstanding s. 48.01 (1) (intro.) and (2), the court may terminate or
2modify the approved posttermination contact agreement if the court finds by clear
3and convincing evidence that termination or modification of the agreement would be
4in the best interests of the child in light of the factors specified in sub. (4) (h), or that
5there has been a substantial change in circumstances since the entry of the last order
6affecting the agreement, and that the petitioner, before filing the petition,
7participated, or attempted to participate, in good faith in formal or informal
8mediation or other appropriate dispute resolution proceedings to resolve the issue
9giving rise to the filing of the petition. An order to modify an approved
10posttermination contact agreement may limit, restrict, condition, or decrease
11visitation, contact, communication, or sharing of information between the child and
12a birth relative of the child, but may not expand, enlarge, or increase that visitation,
13contact, communication, or sharing of information or place any new obligation on the
14adoptive parent or agency having guardianship, legal custody, or supervision of the
15child.
Note: This Section creates a statutory section to govern posttermination contact
privileges, specifying who may enter into such an agreement, what must be included in
the agreement, the conditions for the juvenile court's approval of such an agreement, and
the procedures for enforcement, modification, or termination of such an agreement.
AB150,24 16Section 24. 48.43 (2) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
AB150,22,1817 48.43 (2) (d) A court may approve a posttermination contact agreement under
18s. 48.429.
Note: This Section specifies that although a TPR order permanently severs all
legal rights and duties between the parent and child, the juvenile court may approve a
posttermination contact agreement.
AB150,25 19Section 25. 48.83 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB150,23,720 48.83 (1) Except as provided in s. 48.028 (3) (b), the court of the county where
21the proposed adoptive parent or child resides and the court of the county where the

1termination of parental rights petition was filed under s. 48.42
, upon the filing of a
2petition for adoption or for the adoptive placement of a child, has have jurisdiction
3over the child until the petition is withdrawn, denied, or granted. Venue shall for a
4petition for adoption may
be in the county where the proposed adoptive parent or
5child resides at the time the petition is filed or in the county where the termination
6of parental rights petition was filed under s. 48.42
. The court may transfer the case
7to a court in the county in which the proposed adoptive parents reside.
Note: This Section extends jurisdiction over and venue for an adoption petition
to the juvenile court in the county where the TPR petition was filed.
AB150,26 8Section 26 . 48.837 (1r) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB150,23,189 48.837 (1r) (c) The department, a county department under s. 48.57 (1) (e) or
10(hm), or a child welfare agency licensed under s. 48.60 may place a child under par.
11(a) in the home of a proposed adoptive parent or parents who reside outside this state
12if the placement is made in compliance with s. 48.98, 48.988, or 48.99, whichever is
13applicable, if the home meets the criteria established by the laws of the state where
14the proposed adoptive parent or parents reside for a preadoptive placement of a child
15in the home of a nonrelative, and if an appropriate agency in that state has completed
16an investigation of the home as required under s. 48.88 (2) (a) and filed a report and
17recommendation concerning the home with the department, county department, or
18licensed child welfare agency.
AB150,27 19Section 27 . 48.88 (2) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB150,24,220 48.88 (2) (a) (intro.) Except as provided under pars. (ag) and, (c), and (d), when
21a petition to adopt a child is filed, the court shall order an investigation to determine
22whether the child is a proper subject for adoption and whether the petitioner's home

1is suitable for the child. The court shall order one of the following to conduct the
2investigation:
AB150,28 3Section 28 . 48.88 (2) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
AB150,24,54 48.88 (2) (d) An investigation to determine whether the petitioner's home is
5suitable for the child is not required if all of the following apply:
AB150,24,76 1. The petitioner's home is a foster home that is certified to provide level 2 care,
7as defined in the rules promulgated under s. 48.62 (8) (a).
AB150,24,108 2. The petitioner is licensed to operate his or her home as a foster home that
9is certified to provide level 2 care, as defined in the rules promulgated under s. 48.62
10(8) (a), and this license is effective at the time the adoption petition is filed.
AB150,24,1211 3. The petitioner has never had a license to operate a foster home revoked or
12suspended.
AB150,24,1513 4. The child who is the subject of the adoption petition has resided in the
14petitioner's home for 12 consecutive months or more immediately prior to the filing
15of the adoption petition.
AB150,24,1816 5. The foster home investigation was conducted in accordance with standards
17established by the department for investigating a foster home that will be converting
18into an adoptive home.
Note: Sections 26 , 27, and 28 eliminate the requirement that a home study be
conducted for purposes of an adoption if all of the following apply: 1) the proposed
adoptive parent's home is a foster home certified to provide level 2 care; 2) the proposed
adoptive parent is licensed to operate his or her home as foster home certified to provide
level 2 care and the license is effective at the time the adoption petition is filed; 3) the
proposed adoptive parent has never had a license to operate a foster home revoked or
suspended; 4) the child to be adopted has resided in the home for 12 consecutive months
or more immediately prior to the filing of the adoption petition; and 5) the foster home
investigation was conducted in accordance with standards established by DCF for
investigating a foster home that will be converting into an adoptive home.
AB150,29 19Section 29. 48.92 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB150,25,12
148.92 (2) After the order of adoption is entered the relationship of parent and
2child between the adopted person and the adopted person's birth parents and the
3relationship between the adopted person and all persons whose relationship to the
4adopted person is derived through those birth parents shall be completely altered
5and all the rights, duties, and other legal consequences of those relationships shall
6cease to exist, unless the birth parent is the spouse of the adoptive parent, in which
7case those relationships shall be completely altered and those rights, duties, and
8other legal consequences shall cease to exist only with respect to the birth parent who
9is not the spouse of the adoptive parent and all persons whose relationship to the
10adopted person is derived through that birth parent. Notwithstanding the extinction
11of all parental rights under this subsection, a court may approve a posttermination
12contact agreement under s. 48.429 or
order reasonable visitation under s. 48.925.
Note: This Section specifies that although an adoption order extinguishes all
rights, duties, and legal consequences of a child's relationship with a birth parent and all
birth relatives, the juvenile court may approve a posttermination contact agreement.
AB150,30 13Section 30 . 48.93 (1d) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB150,25,1714 48.93 (1d) All records and papers pertaining to an adoption proceeding shall
15be kept in a separate locked file and may not be disclosed except under sub. (1g), (1m),
16(1r), or (1v), or (2) (a), s. 48.432, 48.433, 48.434, 48.48 (17) (a) 9., or 48.57 (1) (j), or
17by order of the court for good cause shown.
AB150,31 18Section 31 . 48.93 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB150,26,219 48.93 (1m) If an adoptive parent or proposed adoptive parent of a child
20consents, the court or the agency that placed the child for adoption in the home of the
21adoptive parent or proposed adoptive parent may disclose the name and last-known
22address of the adoptive parent or proposed adoptive parent to an agency that is

1determining the availability of an adoptive placement for a sibling of the child under
2s. 48.38 (4) (br), 48.834 (2), or 938.38 (4) (br).
Note: Sections 30 and 31 permit records and papers pertaining to an adoption
proceeding to be disclosed for purposes of determining the availability of a placement for
a child with an adoptive parent or proposed adoptive parent of a sibling of the child.
AB150,32 3Section 32 . 48.93 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 48.93 (2) (b) and amended
4to read:
AB150,26,85 48.93 (2) (b) All correspondence and papers, relating to the investigation,
6which
that are not a part of the court record, except those in the custody of agencies
7authorized to place children for adoption, shall be transferred to the department and
8placed in its closed files.
AB150,33 9Section 33 . 48.93 (2) (a) of the statutes is created to read:
AB150,26,1910 48.93 (2) (a) 1. A proposed adoptive parent whose home is the subject of an
11investigation under s. 48.837 (1r) (c) or (4) (c) or 48.88 (2) (a) may request the agency
12conducting the investigation to disclose its report of the investigation to any other
13agency authorized to place children for adoption, to the state adoption information
14exchange under s. 48.55, or to the state adoption center under s. 48.55. Within 10
15days after receipt of the request, the agency shall disclose the report to the person
16named in the request, unless within those 10 days the agency petitions the court for
17an order permitting the agency not to disclose the report, to restrict the information
18to be disclosed, or to defer disclosure of the report to a later date or for such other
19appropriate relief as the agency may request.
AB150,27,520 2. The petition shall allege facts showing good cause for granting the relief
21requested. The petitioner shall provide notice of the petition to the proposed adoptive
22parents and the person to whom disclosure of the report was requested. If any party
23receiving notice objects to the petition, the court shall hold a hearing to take evidence

1relating to the relief requested in the petition. If the court determines that there is
2good cause to grant the relief requested, the court shall grant such relief as the court
3may consider appropriate. If the court determines that there is not good cause to
4grant the relief requested, the court shall order the petitioner to disclose the report
5within 10 days after the date of the hearing.
Note: Sections 32 and 33 authorize a proposed adoptive parent who is the subject
of a home study to request the agency conducting the study to disclose its report to
another agency authorized to place children for adoption, the state adoption information
exchange, or the state adoption center, unless, upon petition, the juvenile court finds that
disclosure should be restricted, deferred, or disallowed.
AB150,34 6Section 34. 938.02 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 938.02 (1g).
AB150,35 7Section 35. 938.02 (1c) of the statutes is created to read:
AB150,27,98 938.02 (1c) "Adoption under tribal law or custom" has the meaning given in s.
948.02 (1c).
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