Note: Updates language regarding disclosures by parents.
SB18,116 3Section 116. 48.981 (7) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7g) (c) and
4amended to read:
SB18,40,85 48.981 (7g) (c) Authorization of subject. Notwithstanding par. (a), the The
6subject of a report may authorize the disclosure of a record to the subject's attorney.
7The authorization shall be in writing. Any information that would identify a reporter
8shall be deleted before disclosure of a record under this paragraph.
SB18,117 9Section 117. 48.981 (7) (cm) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7g) (cm) and
10amended to read:
SB18,40,1311 48.981 (7g) (cm) Abuse or harassment restraining order proceedings.
12Notwithstanding par. (a), an An agency may disclose information from its records for
13use in proceedings under s. 48.25 (6), 813.122, or 813.125.
SB18,118 14Section 118. 48.981 (7) (cr) 1. (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7m)
15(a) (intro.) and amended to read:
SB18,40,1616 48.981 (7m) (a) Definitions. (intro.) In this paragraph subsection:
SB18,119 17Section 119. 48.981 (7) (cr) 1. a. and b. of the statutes are renumbered 48.981
18(7m) (a) 1. and 2.
SB18,120 19Section 120. 48.981 (7) (cr) 2. (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981
20(7m) (b) (intro.) and amended to read:
SB18,41,321 48.981 (7m) (b) Information to department. (intro.) Notwithstanding par. (a)
22sub. (7), if an agency that receives a report under sub. (3) has reason to suspect that
23an incident of death or serious injury or an incident of egregious abuse or neglect has
24occurred, within 2 working days after determining that such an incident is suspected

1to have occurred the agency shall provide all of the following information to the
2subunit of the department responsible for statewide oversight of child abuse and
3neglect programs:
SB18,121 4Section 121. 48.981 (7) (cr) 2. a. to f. of the statutes are renumbered 48.981
5(7m) (b) 1. to 6.
SB18,122 6Section 122. 48.981 (7) (cr) 3. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7m) (c) and
7amended to read:
SB18,41,208 48.981 (7m) (c) Disclosure of information to public; summary report. 1. Within
92 working days after receiving the information provided under subd. 2. par. (b), the
10subunit of the department that received the information shall disclose to the public
11the fact that the subunit has received the information; whether the department is
12conducting a review of the incident and, if so, the scope of the review and the
13identities of any other agencies with which the department is cooperating at that
14point in conducting the review; whether the child was residing in the home or was
15placed in an out-of-home placement at the time of the incident; and information
16about the child, including the age of the child. If the information received is about
17an incident of egregious abuse or neglect, the subunit of the department shall make
18the same disclosure to a citizen review panel, as described in par. (a) 15g. sub. (7d)
19(pg)
, and, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, to the Milwaukee child
20welfare partnership council.
SB18,42,1421 2. Within 90 days after receiving the information provided under subd. 2. par.
22(b)
, the subunit of the department that received the information shall prepare,
23transmit to the governor and to the appropriate standing committees of the
24legislature under s. 13.172 (3), and make available to the public a summary report
25that contains the information specified in subd. 4. or 5. par. (d) or (e), whichever is

1applicable. That subunit may also include in the summary report a summary of any
2actions taken by the agency in response to the incident and of any changes in policies
3or practices that have been made to address any issues raised in the review and
4recommendations for any further changes in policies, practices, rules, or statutes
5that may be needed to address those issues. If the subunit does not include those
6actions or changes and recommended changes in the summary report, the subunit
7shall prepare, transmit to the governor and to the appropriate standing committees
8of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3), and make available to the public a report of
9those actions or changes and recommended changes within 6 months after receiving
10the information provided under subd. 2. par. (b). Those committees shall review all
11summary reports and reports of changes and recommended changes transmitted
12under this subd. 3. b. subdivision, conduct public hearings on those reports no less
13often than annually, and submit recommendations to the department regarding
14those reports.
SB18,42,2515 3. Subdivision 3. a. and b. does Subdivisions 1. and 2. do not preclude the
16subunit of the department that prepares the summary report from releasing to the
17governor, to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172
18(3), or to the public any of the information specified in subd. 4. or 5. par. (d) or (e)
19before the summary report is transmitted to the governor and to those committees
20and made available to the public; adding to or amending a summary report if new
21information specified in subd. 4. or 5. par. (d) or (e) is received after the summary
22report is transmitted to the governor and to those committees and made available
23to the public; or releasing to the governor, to those committees, and to the public any
24information at any time to correct any inaccurate information reported in the news
25media.
SB18,123
1Section 123. 48.981 (7) (cr) 4. (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981
2(7m) (d) (intro.) and amended to read:
SB18,43,63 48.981 (7m) (d) Summary report; child residing in home. (intro.) If the child
4was residing in his or her home when the incident of death or serious injury or the
5incident of egregious abuse or neglect occurred, the summary report under subd. 3.
6par. (c) 2. shall contain all of the following:
SB18,124 7Section 124. 48.981 (7) (cr) 4. a. to d. of the statutes are renumbered 48.981
8(7m) (d) 1. to 4.
SB18,125 9Section 125. 48.981 (7) (cr) 4. e. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7m) (d)
105. and amended to read:
SB18,43,1311 48.981 (7m) (d) 5. The date of the incident and the suspected cause of the death,
12serious injury, or egregious abuse or neglect of the child, as reported by the agency
13under subd. 2. c. par. (b) 3.
SB18,126 14Section 126. 48.981 (7) (cr) 4. f. and g. of the statutes are renumbered 48.981
15(7m) (d) 6. and 7.
SB18,127 16Section 127. 48.981 (7) (cr) 5. (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981
17(7m) (e) (intro.) and amended to read:
SB18,43,2118 48.981 (7m) (e) Summary report; child in out-of-home care. (intro.) If the child
19was placed in an out-of-home placement under this chapter or ch. 938 at the time
20of the incident of death or serious injury or incident of egregious abuse or neglect, the
21summary report under subd. 3. par. (c) 2. shall contain all of the following:
SB18,128 22Section 128. 48.981 (7) (cr) 5. a. to d. of the statutes are renumbered 48.981
23(7m) (e) 1. to 4.
SB18,129 24Section 129. 48.981 (7) (cr) 5. e. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7m) (e)
255. and amended to read:
SB18,44,3
148.981 (7m) (e) 5. The date of the incident and the suspected cause of the death,
2serious injury, or egregious abuse or neglect of the child, as reported by the agency
3under subd. 2. c. par. (b) 3.
SB18,130 4Section 130. 48.981 (7) (cr) 5. f. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7m) (e)
56.
SB18,131 6Section 131. 48.981 (7) (cr) 6. (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981
7(7m) (f) (intro.) and amended to read:
SB18,44,108 48.981 (7m) (f) Information prohibited from disclosure. (intro.) A summary
9report or other release or disclosure of information under subd. 3. par. (c) may not
10include any of the following:
SB18,132 11Section 132. 48.981 (7) (cr) 6. a. to e. of the statutes are renumbered 48.981
12(7m) (f) 1. to 5.
SB18,133 13Section 133. 48.981 (7) (cr) 7. (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981
14(7m) (g) (intro.) and amended to read:
SB18,44,2315 48.981 (7m) (g) Disclosure of information; when prohibited. (intro.) The
16subunit of the department that prepares a summary report or otherwise transmits,
17releases, or discloses information under subd. 3. par. (c) may not transmit the
18summary report to the governor and to the appropriate standing committees of the
19legislature under s. 13.172 (3), make the summary report available to the public, or
20transmit, release, or disclose the information to the governor, to those standing
21committees, or to the public if the subunit determines that transmitting or making
22the summary report available or transmitting, releasing, or disclosing the
23information would jeopardize any of the following:
SB18,134 24Section 134. 48.981 (7) (cr) 7. a. and b. of the statutes are renumbered 48.981
25(7m) (g) 1. and 2.
SB18,135
1Section 135. 48.981 (7) (cr) 8. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7m) (h)
2and amended to read:
SB18,45,153 48.981 (7m) (h) Request or petition for information. If the department fails to
4disclose to the governor, to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature
5under s. 13.172 (3), or to the public any information that the department is required
6to disclose under this paragraph subsection, any person may request the department
7to disclose that information. If the person's request is denied, the person may
8petition the court to order the disclosure of that information. On receiving a petition
9under this subdivision paragraph, the court shall notify the department, the agency,
10the district attorney, the child, and the child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian
11of the petition. If any person notified objects to the disclosure, the court may hold
12a hearing to take evidence and hear argument relating to the disclosure of the
13information. The court shall make an in camera inspection of the information sought
14to be disclosed and shall order disclosure of the information, unless the court finds
15that any of the circumstances specified in subd. 6. or 7. par. (f) or (g) apply.
SB18,136 16Section 136. 48.981 (7) (cr) 9. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7m) (i) and
17amended to read:
SB18,46,218 48.981 (7m) (i) Immunity from liability. Any person acting in good faith in
19providing information under subd. 2. par. (b), in preparing, transmitting, or making
20available a summary report under subd. 3. par. (c), or in otherwise transmitting,
21releasing, or disclosing information under subd. 3. par. (c), is immune from any
22liability, civil or criminal, that may result by reason of those actions. For purposes
23of any proceeding, civil or criminal, the good faith of a person in providing
24information under subd. 2. par. (b), in preparing, transmitting, or making available

1a summary report under subd. 3. par. (c), or in otherwise transmitting, releasing, or
2disclosing information under subd. 3. par. (c) shall be presumed.
SB18,137 3Section 137. 48.981 (7) (d) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7g) (d) and
4amended to read:
SB18,46,75 48.981 (7g) (d) Access by department. Notwithstanding par. (a), An agency
6shall permit
the department may to have access to any report or record maintained
7by an the agency under this section.
SB18,138 8Section 138. 48.981 (7) (dm) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7g) (dm)
9and amended to read:
SB18,46,1310 48.981 (7g) (dm) Statewide automated child welfare information system.
11Notwithstanding par. (a), an An agency may enter the content of any report or record
12maintained by the agency into the statewide automated child welfare information
13system established under s. 48.47 (7g).
SB18,139 14Section 139. 48.981 (7) (e) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7r) (a) and
15amended to read:
SB18,46,1916 48.981 (7r) (a) Further disclosure prohibited. A person to whom a report or
17record is disclosed under this subsection sub. (3f) (c), (7d), (7g), or (7m) may not
18further disclose it the report or record, except to the persons and for the purposes
19specified in this section those provisions.
SB18,140 20Section 140. 48.981 (7) (f) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7r) (b) and
21amended to read:
SB18,46,2522 48.981 (7r) (b) Penalty. Any person who violates this subsection sub. (7), (7d),
23(7g), or (7m)
, or who permits or encourages the unauthorized dissemination or use
24of information contained in reports and records made under this section, may be
25fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both.
SB18,141
1Section 141. 48.981 (7d) (intro.) of the statutes is created to read:
SB18,47,42 48.981 (7d) Confidentiality; exceptions. (intro.) Notwithstanding sub. (7),
3reports made under this section and records maintained by an agency or by any other
4person may be disclosed to any of the following persons:
Note: Creates new introductory text for the subsection authorizing exceptions to
the general requirement that reports be kept confidential.
SB18,142 5Section 142. 48.981 (7d) (a) (title) of the statutes is created to read:
SB18,47,66 48.981 (7d) (a) (title) Subject of report.
SB18,143 7Section 143. 48.981 (7d) (b) (title) of the statutes is created to read:
SB18,47,88 48.981 (7d) (b) (title) Agency staff.
SB18,144 9Section 144. 48.981 (7d) (c) (title) of the statutes is created to read:
SB18,47,1010 48.981 (7d) (c) (title) Attending physician.
SB18,145 11Section 145. 48.981 (7d) (cm) (title) of the statutes is created to read:
SB18,47,1212 48.981 (7d) (cm) (title) Parent, guardian, legal custodian, or expectant mother.
SB18,146 13Section 146. 48.981 (7d) (dp) (title) of the statutes is created to read:
SB18,47,1414 48.981 (7d) (dp) (title) Adoption or foster home licensing agency.
SB18,147 15Section 147. 48.981 (7d) (hm) (title) of the statutes is created to read:
SB18,47,1616 48.981 (7d) (hm) (title) Correctional community placements.
SB18,148 17Section 148. 48.981 (7d) (i) (title) of the statutes is created to read:
SB18,47,1818 48.981 (7d) (i) (title) Facility licensing proceedings.
SB18,149 19Section 149. 48.981 (7d) (Lr) (title) of the statutes is created to read:
SB18,47,2020 48.981 (7d) (Lr) (title) Court-appointed special advocate.
SB18,150 21Section 150. 48.981 (7d) (m) (title) of the statutes is created to read:
SB18,47,2222 48.981 (7d) (m) (title) Researcher.
SB18,151 23Section 151. 48.981 (7d) (om) (title) of the statutes is created to read:
SB18,48,1
148.981 (7d) (om) (title) John Doe proceeding.
SB18,152 2Section 152. 48.981 (7d) (pg) (title) of the statutes is created to read:
SB18,48,33 48.981 (7d) (pg) (title) Citizen review panel.
SB18,153 4Section 153. 48.981 (7g) (intro.) of the statutes is created to read:
SB18,48,75 48.981 (7g) Confidentiality; further exceptions. (intro.) Notwithstanding
6sub. (7), reports made under this section and records maintained by an agency or by
7any other person may also be disclosed as follows:
Note: Creates new introductory text for the subsection providing further
exceptions to the general confidentiality requirement.
SB18,154 8Section 154. 48.981 (7m) (title) of the statutes is created to read:
SB18,48,109 48.981 (7m) (title) Death, serious injury, or other egregious incidents; public
10disclosure.
SB18,155 11Section 155. 48.981 (7r) (title) of the statutes is created to read:
SB18,48,1212 48.981 (7r) (title) Further disclosure prohibited; penalties.
SB18,156 13Section 156. 48.981 (8) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB18,49,1214 48.981 (8) (a) Education and training programs. The department, the county
15departments, and a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the
16department in a county having a population of 500,000 or more to
To the extent
17feasible, agencies shall conduct continuing education and training programs for staff
18of the department, the county departments, licensed child welfare agencies under
19contract with the department or a county department,
agency staff, staff of law
20enforcement agencies, and the tribal social services departments, persons and
21officials required to report, the general public, and others as appropriate and shall
22develop public information programs about child abuse and neglect and unborn child
23abuse
. The programs shall be designed to encourage reporting of child abuse and

1neglect and of unborn child abuse, to encourage self-reporting and voluntary
2acceptance of services, and to improve communication, cooperation, and
3coordination in the identification, prevention, and treatment of child abuse and
4neglect and of unborn child abuse. Programs provided for agency staff of the
5department, county departments, and licensed child welfare agencies under contract
6with county departments or the department
whose responsibilities include the
7investigation or treatment of child abuse or neglect shall also be designed to provide
8information on means of recognizing and appropriately responding to domestic
9abuse, as defined in s. 49.165 (1) (a). The department, the county departments, and
10a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department in a county
11having a population of 500,000 or more shall develop public information programs
12about child abuse and neglect and about unborn child abuse.
Note: Updates language in a provision relating to education and training.
SB18,157 13Section 157. 48.981 (8) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB18,49,2114 48.981 (8) (b) Program development and coordination. The department shall
15to
To the extent feasible, the department shall ensure that there are available in the
16state administrative procedures, personnel trained in child abuse and neglect and
17in unborn child abuse, multidisciplinary programs, and operational procedures and
18capabilities to deal effectively with child abuse and neglect cases and with unborn
19child abuse cases. These procedures and capabilities may include, but are not limited
20to,
receipt, investigation and verification of reports; determination of treatment or
21ameliorative social services; or referral to the appropriate court.
Note: Updates language in a provision regarding DCF's responsibilities for
procedures and personnel.
SB18,158 22Section 158. 48.981 (8) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB18,50,8
148.981 (8) (c) Contracting for programming. In meeting its responsibilities
2under par. (a) or (b), the department, a county department or a licensed child welfare
3agency under contract with the department in a county having a population of
4500,000 or more
an agency may contract with any public or private organization
5which that meets the standards set by the department. In entering into the contracts
6the department, county department or licensed child welfare an agency shall give
7priority to parental organizations combating child abuse and neglect or unborn child
8abuse.
SB18,159 9Section 159. 48.981 (8) (d) (title) of the statutes is created to read:
SB18,50,1010 48.981 (8) (d) (title) Staff training required.
SB18,160 11Section 160. 48.981 (9) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB18,51,212 48.981 (9) (b) 1. Within 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter, the
13department shall prepare and transmit to the governor, and to the appropriate
14standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3), a summary report of all
15reports received by the department under sub. (3) (c) 8. (3g) (h) 3. during the previous
16calendar quarter of abuse, as defined in s. 48.02 (1) (b) to (f), of a child who is placed
17in the home of a foster parent or relative other than a parent or in a group home,
18shelter care facility, or residential care center for children and youth. For each report
19included in the summary report the department shall provide the number of
20incidents of abuse reported; the dates of those incidents; the county in which those
21incidents occurred; the age or age group of the child who is the subject of the report;
22the type of placement in which the child was placed at the time of the incident;
23whether it was determined under sub. (3) (c) 4. (3g) (d) that abuse occurred; and, if
24so, the nature of the relationship between the child and the person who abused the
25child, but may not provide any of the information specified in sub. (7) (cr) 6. (7m) (f)

1or any information that would jeopardize an investigation, prosecution, or
2proceeding described in sub. (7) (cr) 7. a. or b. (7m) (g) 1. or 2.
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