SB18: Bill Text

SB18,31,9 48.981 (3m) (c) 2. b. If the agency or county department employs the assessment response under subd. 2. a., the agency or county department is not required to refer the report to the sheriff or police department under sub. (3) (a) 3. (cg) or determine by a preponderance of the evidence under sub. (3) (c) 4. (3g) (d) that abuse or neglect has occurred or is likely to occur or that a specific person has abused or neglected the child. If in conducting the assessment the agency or county department determines that there is reason to suspect that substantial abuse or neglect has occurred or is likely to occur or that an investigation under sub. (3) (3g) is otherwise necessary to ensure the safety of the child and his or her family, the agency or county department shall immediately commence an investigation under sub. (3) (3g).

SB18,77 Section 77. 48.981 (3m) (c) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB18,31,20 48.981 (3m) (c) 3. If the agency or county department determines that there is no reason to suspect that abuse or neglect has occurred or is likely to occur, the agency or county department shall refer the child's family to a service provider in the community for the provision of appropriate services on a voluntary basis. If the agency or county department employs the community services response under this subdivision, the agency or county department is not required to conduct an assessment under subd. 2., refer the report to the sheriff or police department under sub. (3) (a) 3. (cg), or determine by a preponderance of the evidence under sub. (3) (c) 4. (3g) (d) that abuse or neglect has occurred or is likely to occur or that a specific person has abused or neglected the child.

SB18,78 Section 78. 48.981 (3m) (d) of the statutes is repealed.

Note: Repeals a reporting requirement that was required to be fulfilled by July 1, 2012.

SB18,79 Section 79. 48.981 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB18,32,9 48.981 (5) Coroner's report. Any person or official required to report cases of suspected child abuse or neglect who has reasonable cause to suspect that a child died as a result of child abuse or neglect shall report the fact to the appropriate medical examiner or coroner. The medical examiner or coroner shall accept the report for investigation and shall report the findings to the appropriate district attorney; to the department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, to a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department in a county having a population of 500,000 or more; to the county department ; to the department; and, if the institution making the report initially is a hospital, to the hospital.

Note: In cases resulting in death, clarifies that, in Milwaukee County, a medical examiner or coroner must report findings to both DCF and the Milwaukee County contracting agencies.

SB18,80 Section 80. 48.981 (7) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7) and amended to read:

SB18,32,16 48.981 (7) Confidentiality. All reports made under this section, notices provided under sub. (3) (3f) (bm) , and records maintained by an agency and other persons, officials, and institutions shall be confidential. Reports and records may be disclosed only to the following persons: No report may be disclosed, except as provided in subs. (3f) (c), (7d), (7g), and (7m).

SB18,81 Section 81. 48.981 (7) (a) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (a).

SB18,82 Section 82. 48.981 (7) (a) 1m. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7g) (am) and amended to read:

SB18,33,4 48.981 (7g) (am) Request of reporter. A reporter described in sub. (3) (c) 6m. (3g) (fm) who makes a written request to an agency for information regarding what action, if any, was taken to protect the health and welfare of the child or unborn child who is the subject of the report, unless a court order under sub. (3) (c) 6m. (3g) (fm) prohibits disclosure of that information to that reporter, except that the only information that may be disclosed is information in the record regarding what action, if any, was taken to protect the health and welfare of the child or unborn child who is the subject of the report.

SB18,83 Section 83. 48.981 (7) (a) 2. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (b).

SB18,84 Section 84. 48.981 (7) (a) 2m. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7g) (bm) and amended to read:

SB18,33,10 48.981 (7g) (bm) Intake or dispositional staff. A person authorized to provide or providing intake or dispositional services for the court under s. 48.067, 48.069 or, 48.10, 938.067, 938.069, or 938.10.

Note: Consolidates 2 provisions relating to intake and dispositional staff.

SB18,85 Section 85. 48.981 (7) (a) 2r. of the statutes is repealed.

Note: Repeals a provision that is consolidated in another provision (former s. 48.981 (7) (a) 2m., stats.).

SB18,86 Section 86. 48.981 (7) (a) 3. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (c).

SB18,87 Section 87. 48.981 (7) (a) 3m. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (cm).

SB18,88 Section 88. 48.981 (7) (a) 4. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (d) and amended to read:

SB18,33,20 48.981 (7d) (d) Foster parent or other physical custodian. A child's foster parent or other person having physical custody of the child or a person having physical custody of the expectant mother of an unborn child, except that the person or agency maintaining the record or report may not disclose any information that would identify the reporter.

Note: Removes the word "child's" from the phrase "child's foster parent".

SB18,89 Section 89. 48.981 (7) (a) 4m. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (dm) and amended to read:

SB18,34,6 48.981 (7d) (dm) Relative. A relative of a child placed outside of his or her home only to the extent necessary to facilitate the establishment of a relationship between the child and the relative or a placement of the child with the relative or to a person provided with the notice under s. 48.21 (5) (e), 48.355 (2) (cm), or 48.357 (2v) (d). In this subdivision paragraph, "relative" includes a relative whose relationship is derived through a parent of the child whose parental rights are terminated.

SB18,90 Section 90. 48.981 (7) (a) 4p. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (dp).

SB18,91 Section 91. 48.981 (7) (a) 5. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (e) and amended to read:

SB18,34,15 48.981 (7d) (e) Community programs and developmental disability services professionals. A professional employee of a county department under s. 51.42 or 51.437 who is working with the child or the expectant mother of the unborn child under a contract with or under the supervision of the county department under s. 46.22 or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department an agency.

SB18,92 Section 92. 48.981 (7) (a) 6. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (f) and amended to read:

SB18,34,21 48.981 (7d) (f) Multidisciplinary team. A multidisciplinary child abuse and neglect or unborn child abuse team recognized by the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department agency.

SB18,93 Section 93. 48.981 (7) (a) 6m. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (fm) and amended to read:

SB18,35,4 48.981 (7d) (fm) Child advocacy center. A person employed by a child advocacy center recognized by the county board, the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department or the agency, to the extent necessary to perform the services for which the center is recognized by the county board, the county department, the department or the licensed child welfare agency.

SB18,94 Section 94. 48.981 (7) (a) 8. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (h) and amended to read:

SB18,35,9 48.981 (7d) (h) Law enforcement authorities. A law enforcement officer or, law enforcement agency, or a district attorney for purposes of investigation or prosecution.

SB18,95 Section 95. 48.981 (7) (a) 8m. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (hm) 2. and amended to read:

SB18,35,21 48.981 (7d) (hm) 2. The department of corrections, the department of health services, a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, 46.23, 51.42 , or 51.437, or any other person under contract with the department of corrections, the department of health services, or a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, 46.23, 51.42, or 51.437 to exercise custody or supervision over a person who is subject to community placement for purposes of investigating or providing services to a person who is subject to community placement and who is the subject of a report. In making its investigation, the department of corrections, department of health services, county department, or other person shall cooperate with the agency making the investigation under sub. (3) (c) or (d) (3g) to (3m).

SB18,96 Section 96. 48.981 (7) (a) 8s. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (hs) and amended to read:

SB18,36,9 48.981 (7d) (hs) Sexually violent person commitments. Authorized representatives of the department of corrections, the department of health services, the department of justice, or a district attorney for use in the prosecution of any proceeding or any evaluation conducted under ch. 980, if the reports or records involve or relate to an individual who is the subject of the proceeding or evaluation. The court in which the proceeding under ch. 980 is pending may issue any protective orders that it determines are appropriate concerning information made available or disclosed under this subdivision paragraph. Any representative of the department of corrections, the department of health services, the department of justice, or a district attorney may disclose information obtained under this subdivision paragraph for any purpose consistent with any proceeding under ch. 980.

SB18,97 Section 97. 48.981 (7) (a) 9. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (i).

SB18,98 Section 98. 48.981 (7) (a) 10. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (j) and amended to read:

SB18,36,21 48.981 (7d) (j) Juvenile court proceedings. A court conducting proceedings under s. 48.21 or, 48.213, a court conducting or 938.21, proceedings related to a petition under s. 48.13, 48.133, or 48.42 or a court conducting under ch. 938, or dispositional proceedings under subch. VI or VIII or under subch. VI of ch. 938 in which an issue is the abuse or neglect of the child or the abuse of the unborn child who is the subject of the report or record or abuse of the unborn child who is the subject of the report or record is an issue or the substantial risk of abuse or neglect of a child who, during the period covered by the report or record, was in the home of the child who is the subject of the report or record.

Note: Consolidates 3 provisions relating to the disclosure of records for certain juvenile court proceedings.

SB18,99 Section 99. 48.981 (7) (a) 10g. of the statutes is repealed.

Note: Repeals a provision that is consolidated in another provision (former s. 48.981 (7) (a) 10., stats.).

SB18,100 Section 100. 48.981 (7) (a) 10j. of the statutes is repealed.

Note: Repeals a provision that is consolidated in another provision (former s. 48.981 (7) (a) 10., stats.).

SB18,101 Section 101. 48.981 (7) (a) 10m. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (k) and amended to read:

SB18,37,11 48.981 (7d) (k) Tribal court proceedings. A tribal court, or other adjudicative body authorized by an Indian tribe to perform child welfare functions , that exercises jurisdiction over children and unborn children alleged to be in need of protection or services for use in proceedings in which an issue is abuse or neglect of the child or abuse of the unborn child who is the subject of the report or record or abuse of the unborn child who is the subject of the report or record is an issue or the substantial risk of abuse or neglect of a child who, during the period covered by the report or record, was in the home of the child who is the subject of the report or record.

Note: Consolidates 2 provisions relating to the disclosure of records for certain tribal court proceedings.

SB18,102 Section 102. 48.981 (7) (a) 10r. of the statutes is repealed.

Note: Repeals a provision that is consolidated in another provision (former s. 48.981 (7) (a) 10m., stats.).

SB18,103 Section 103. 48.981 (7) (a) 11. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (L) and amended to read:

SB18,37,20 48.981 (7d) (L) Attorneys and guardians ad litem; juvenile court proceedings. The county corporation counsel or district attorney representing the interests of the public, the agency legal counsel, and the counsel or guardian ad litem representing the interests of a child in proceedings under subd. 10., 10g. or 10j. and the guardian ad litem representing the interests of or an unborn child in proceedings under subd. 10. par. (j).

SB18,104 Section 104. 48.981 (7) (a) 11m. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (Lm) and amended to read:

SB18,38,7 48.981 (7d) (Lm) Attorneys and guardians ad litem; tribal court proceedings. An attorney representing the interests of an Indian tribe in proceedings under subd. 10m. or 10r., or of an Indian child in proceedings under subd. 10m. or 10r. or of or an Indian unborn child, as defined in sub. (3f) (a) 1., in proceedings under subd. 10m. par. (k).

SB18,105 Section 105. 48.981 (7) (a) 11r. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (Lr).

SB18,106 Section 106. 48.981 (7) (a) 12. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (m).

SB18,107 Section 107. 48.981 (7) (a) 13. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (n) and amended to read:

SB18,38,14 48.981 (7d) (n) Stepparent adoption screening. The department, a county department under s. 48.57 (1) (e) or (hm), or a licensed child welfare agency ordered to conduct a screening or an investigation of a stepparent under s. 48.88 (2) (c).

SB18,108 Section 108. 48.981 (7) (a) 14. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (o) and amended to read:

SB18,38,18 48.981 (7d) (o) Grand jury. A grand jury if it the grand jury determines that access to specified records is necessary for the conduct of its official business.

SB18,109 Section 109. 48.981 (7) (a) 14m. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (om).

SB18,110 Section 110. 48.981 (7) (a) 15. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (p) and amended to read:

SB18,38,25 48.981 (7d) (p) Child fatality review team. A child fatality review team recognized by the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department agency.

SB18,111 Section 111. 48.981 (7) (a) 15g. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (pg).

SB18,112 Section 112. 48.981 (7) (a) 15m. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (pm) and amended to read:

SB18,39,7 48.981 (7d) (pm) Death investigation. A coroner, medical examiner or, pathologist, or other physician investigating the cause of death of a child whose death is unexplained or unusual or is associated with unexplained or suspicious circumstances.

SB18,113 Section 113. 48.981 (7) (a) 17. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (r) and amended to read:

SB18,39,13 48.981 (7d) (r) Federal, state, or local agencies. A federal agency, state agency of this state or any other state, or local governmental unit located in this state or any other state that has a need for a report or record in order to carry out its responsibility to protect children from abuse or neglect or to protect unborn children from abuse.

SB18,114 Section 114. 48.981 (7) (am) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (3f) (c) and amended to read:

SB18,39,18 48.981 (3f) (c) Disclosure to tribal social services department. Notwithstanding par. (a) (intro.) sub. (7), a tribal agent who receives notice under sub. (3) par. (bm) may disclose the notice to a tribal social services department.

SB18,115 Section 115. 48.981 (7) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7g) (b) and amended to read:

SB18,40,2 48.981 (7g) (b) Authorization of parent. Notwithstanding par. (a), either Either parent of a child who is the subject of a report may authorize the disclosure of a record relating to that report for use in a child custody proceeding under s. 767.41 or 767.451 or in an adoption proceeding under s. 48.833, 48.835, 48.837, or 48.839 when the child has been the subject of a report. Any information that would identify a reporter shall be deleted before disclosure of a record under this paragraph.

Note: Updates language regarding disclosures by parents.

SB18,116 Section 116. 48.981 (7) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7g) (c) and amended to read:

SB18,40,8 48.981 (7g) (c) Authorization of subject. Notwithstanding par. (a), the The subject of a report may authorize the disclosure of a record to the subject's attorney. The authorization shall be in writing. Any information that would identify a reporter shall be deleted before disclosure of a record under this paragraph.

SB18,117 Section 117. 48.981 (7) (cm) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7g) (cm) and amended to read:

SB18,40,13 48.981 (7g) (cm) Abuse or harassment restraining order proceedings. Notwithstanding par. (a), an An agency may disclose information from its records for use in proceedings under s. 48.25 (6), 813.122, or 813.125.

SB18,118 Section 118. 48.981 (7) (cr) 1. (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7m) (a) (intro.) and amended to read:

SB18,40,16 48.981 (7m) (a) Definitions. (intro.) In this paragraph subsection:

SB18,119 Section 119. 48.981 (7) (cr) 1. a. and b. of the statutes are renumbered 48.981 (7m) (a) 1. and 2.

SB18,120 Section 120. 48.981 (7) (cr) 2. (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7m) (b) (intro.) and amended to read:

SB18,41,3 48.981 (7m) (b) Information to department. (intro.) Notwithstanding par. (a) sub. (7), if an agency that receives a report under sub. (3) has reason to suspect that an incident of death or serious injury or an incident of egregious abuse or neglect has occurred, within 2 working days after determining that such an incident is suspected to have occurred the agency shall provide all of the following information to the subunit of the department responsible for statewide oversight of child abuse and neglect programs:

SB18,121 Section 121. 48.981 (7) (cr) 2. a. to f. of the statutes are renumbered 48.981 (7m) (b) 1. to 6.

SB18,122 Section 122. 48.981 (7) (cr) 3. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7m) (c) and amended to read:

SB18,41,20 48.981 (7m) (c) Disclosure of information to public; summary report. 1. Within 2 working days after receiving the information provided under subd. 2. par. (b), the subunit of the department that received the information shall disclose to the public the fact that the subunit has received the information; whether the department is conducting a review of the incident and, if so, the scope of the review and the identities of any other agencies with which the department is cooperating at that point in conducting the review; whether the child was residing in the home or was placed in an out-of-home placement at the time of the incident; and information about the child, including the age of the child. If the information received is about an incident of egregious abuse or neglect, the subunit of the department shall make the same disclosure to a citizen review panel, as described in par. (a) 15g. sub. (7d) (pg), and, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, to the Milwaukee child welfare partnership council.

SB18,42,14 2. Within 90 days after receiving the information provided under subd. 2. par. (b), the subunit of the department that received the information shall prepare, transmit to the governor and to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3), and make available to the public a summary report that contains the information specified in subd. 4. or 5. par. (d) or (e), whichever is applicable. That subunit may also include in the summary report a summary of any actions taken by the agency in response to the incident and of any changes in policies or practices that have been made to address any issues raised in the review and recommendations for any further changes in policies, practices, rules, or statutes that may be needed to address those issues. If the subunit does not include those actions or changes and recommended changes in the summary report, the subunit shall prepare, transmit to the governor and to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3), and make available to the public a report of those actions or changes and recommended changes within 6 months after receiving the information provided under subd. 2. par. (b). Those committees shall review all summary reports and reports of changes and recommended changes transmitted under this subd. 3. b. subdivision, conduct public hearings on those reports no less often than annually, and submit recommendations to the department regarding those reports.

SB18,42,25 3. Subdivision 3. a. and b. does Subdivisions 1. and 2. do not preclude the subunit of the department that prepares the summary report from releasing to the governor, to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3), or to the public any of the information specified in subd. 4. or 5. par. (d) or (e) before the summary report is transmitted to the governor and to those committees and made available to the public; adding to or amending a summary report if new information specified in subd. 4. or 5. par. (d) or (e) is received after the summary report is transmitted to the governor and to those committees and made available to the public; or releasing to the governor, to those committees, and to the public any information at any time to correct any inaccurate information reported in the news media.