2015 Wisconsin Act 172

172,151 Section 151. 48.88 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.88 (2) (c) If a stepparent has filed a petition for adoption and no agency has guardianship of the child, the court shall order the department, in a county having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more, or a county department or, with the consent of the department in a county having a population of less than 500,000 750,000 or a licensed child welfare agency, order the department or the child welfare agency to conduct a screening, consisting of no more than one interview with the petitioner and a check of the petitioner's background through public records, including records maintained by the department or any county department under s. 48.981. The department, county department or child welfare agency that conducts the screening shall file a report of the screening with the court within 30 days. After reviewing the report, the court may proceed to act on the petition, may order the department in a county having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more or the county department to conduct an investigation as described under par. (a) (intro.) or may order the department in a county having a population of less than 500,000 750,000 or a licensed child welfare agency to make the investigation if the department or child welfare agency consents.

172,152 Section 152. 48.981 (1) (ag) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.981 (1) (ag) "Agency" means a county department, the department in a county having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with a county department or the department in a county having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more to perform investigations under this section.

172,153 Section 153. 48.981 (3) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.981 (3) (a) 1. A person required to report under sub. (2) shall immediately inform, by telephone or personally, the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department or the sheriff or city, village, or town police department of the facts and circumstances contributing to a suspicion of child abuse or neglect or of unborn child abuse or to a belief that abuse or neglect will occur.

172,154 Section 154. 48.981 (3) (a) 2. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.981 (3) (a) 2. (intro.) The sheriff or police department shall within 12 hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays, refer to the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department all of the following types of cases reported to the sheriff or police department:

172,155 Section 155. 48.981 (3) (a) 2d. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.981 (3) (a) 2d. The sheriff or police department may refer to the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department a case reported to the sheriff or police department in which a person who is not a caregiver is suspected of abuse or of threatened abuse of a child.

172,156 Section 156. 48.981 (3) (c) 2. a. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.981 (3) (c) 2. a. If the person making the investigation is an employee of the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department and he or she determines that it is consistent with the child's best interest in terms of physical safety and physical health to remove the child from his or her home for immediate protection, he or she shall take the child into custody under s. 48.08 (2) or 48.19 (1) (c) and deliver the child to the intake worker under s. 48.20.

172,157 Section 157. 48.981 (3) (c) 2m. a. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.981 (3) (c) 2m. a. If the person making the investigation is an employee of the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department and he or she determines that it is consistent with the best interest of the unborn child in terms of physical safety and physical health to take the expectant mother into custody for the immediate protection of the unborn child, he or she shall take the expectant mother into custody under s. 48.08 (2), 48.19 (1) (cm) or 48.193 (1) (c) and deliver the expectant mother to the intake worker under s. 48.20 or 48.203.

172,158 Section 158. 48.981 (3) (c) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.981 (3) (c) 3. If the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department determines that a child, any member of the child's family or the child's guardian or legal custodian is in need of services or that the expectant mother of an unborn child is in need of services, the county department, department or licensed child welfare agency shall offer to provide appropriate services or to make arrangements for the provision of services. If the child's parent, guardian or legal custodian or the expectant mother refuses to accept the services, the county department, department or licensed child welfare agency may request that a petition be filed under s. 48.13 alleging that the child who is the subject of the report or any other child in the home is in need of protection or services or that a petition be filed under s. 48.133 alleging that the unborn child who is the subject of the report is in need of protection or services.

172,159 Section 159. 48.981 (3) (c) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.981 (3) (c) 4. The county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department shall determine, within 60 days after receipt of a report that the county department, department, or licensed child welfare agency investigates under subd. 1., whether abuse or neglect has occurred or is likely to occur. The determination shall be based on a preponderance of the evidence produced by the investigation. A determination that abuse or neglect has occurred may not be based solely on the fact that the child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian in good faith selects and relies on prayer or other religious means for treatment of disease or for remedial care of the child. In making a determination that emotional damage has occurred, the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department shall give due regard to the culture of the subjects. This subdivision does not prohibit a court from ordering medical services for the child if the child's health requires it.

172,160 Section 160. 48.981 (3) (c) 5m. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.981 (3) (c) 5m. The county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department may include in a determination under subd. 4. a determination that a specific person has abused or neglected a child. If the county department, department, or licensed child welfare agency makes an initial determination that a specific person has abused or neglected a child, the county department, department, or licensed child welfare agency shall provide that person with an opportunity for a review of that initial determination in accordance with rules promulgated by the department before the county department, department, or licensed child welfare agency may make a final determination that the person has abused or neglected a child. Within 5 days after the date of a final determination that a specific person has abused or neglected a child, the county department, department, or licensed child welfare agency shall notify the person in writing of the determination, the person's right to a contested case hearing on the determination under ch. 227, and the procedures under sub. 5p. by which the person may receive that hearing.

172,161 Section 161. 48.981 (3) (c) 5r. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.981 (3) (c) 5r. Within 15 days after a final determination is made under subd. 5m. that a specific person has abused or neglected a child or, if a contested case hearing is held on such a determination, within 15 days after a final decision is made under subd. 5p. determining that a specific person has abused or neglected a child, the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department shall provide the subunit of the department that administers s. 48.685 with information about the person who has been determined to have abused or neglected the child.

172,162 Section 162. 48.981 (3) (c) 7. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.981 (3) (c) 7. The county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department shall cooperate with law enforcement officials, courts of competent jurisdiction, tribal governments and other human services agencies to prevent, identify and treat child abuse and neglect and unborn child abuse. The county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department shall coordinate the development and provision of services to abused and neglected children, to abused unborn children to families in which child abuse or neglect has occurred, to expectant mothers who have abused their unborn children, to children and families when circumstances justify a belief that abuse or neglect will occur and to the expectant mothers of unborn children when circumstances justify a belief that unborn child abuse will occur.

172,163 Section 163. 48.981 (3) (cm) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.981 (3) (cm) Contract with licensed child welfare agencies. A county department may contract with a licensed child welfare agency to fulfill the county department's duties specified under par. (c) 1., 2. b., 2m. b., 5., 5r., 6., 6m., and 8. The department may contract with a licensed child welfare agency to fulfill the department's duties specified under par. (c) 1., 2. a., 2m. b., 3., 4., 5., 5m., 5r., 6., 6m., 7., 8,. and 9. in a county having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more. The confidentiality provisions specified in sub. (7) shall apply to any licensed child welfare agency with which a county department or the department contracts.

172,164 Section 164. 48.981 (3) (d) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.981 (3) (d) 1. In this paragraph, "agent" includes a foster parent or other person given custody of a child or a human services professional employed by a county department under s. 51.42 or 51.437 or by a child welfare agency who is working with a child or an expectant mother of an unborn child under contract with or under the supervision of the department in a county having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more or a county department under s. 46.22.

172,165 Section 165. 48.981 (3) (d) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.981 (3) (d) 2. If an agent or employee of an agency required to investigate under this subsection is the subject of a report, or if the agency determines that, because of the relationship between the agency and the subject of a report, there is a substantial probability that the agency would not conduct an unbiased investigation, the agency shall, after taking any action necessary to protect the child or unborn child, notify the department. Upon receipt of the notice, the department, in a county having a population of less than 500,000 750,000 or a county department or child welfare agency designated by the department in any county shall conduct an independent investigation. If the department designates a county department under s. 46.22, 46.23, 51.42, or 51.437, that county department shall conduct the independent investigation. If a licensed child welfare agency agrees to conduct the independent investigation, the department may designate the child welfare agency to do so. The powers and duties of the department or designated county department or child welfare agency making an independent investigation are those given to county departments under par. (c).

172,166 Section 166. 48.981 (3m) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.981 (3m) (b) (intro.) The department shall establish a pilot program under which an agency in a county having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more or a county department that is selected to participate in the pilot program may employ alternative responses to a report of abuse or neglect or of threatened abuse or neglect. The department shall select agencies and county departments to participate in the pilot program in accordance with the department's request-for-proposal procedures and according to criteria developed by the department. Those criteria shall include an assessment of the plan of an agency or county department for involving the community in providing services for a family that is participating in the pilot program and a determination of whether an agency or a county department has an agreement with local law enforcement agencies and the representative of the public under s. 48.09 to ensure interagency cooperation in implementing the pilot program. To implement the pilot program, the department shall provide all of the following:

172,167 Section 167. 48.981 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

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 500,000 750,000 or more, to a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department; to the county department and, if the institution making the report initially is a hospital, to the hospital.

172,168 Section 168. 48.981 (7) (a) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.981 (7) (a) 5. 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 contract with or under the supervision of the county department under s. 46.22 or, in a county having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department.

172,169 Section 169. 48.981 (7) (a) 6. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.981 (7) (a) 6. A multidisciplinary child abuse and neglect or unborn child abuse team recognized by the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department.

172,170 Section 170. 48.981 (7) (a) 6m. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.981 (7) (a) 6m. A person employed by a child advocacy center recognized by the county board, the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department, 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.

172,171 Section 171. 48.981 (7) (a) 15. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.981 (7) (a) 15. A child fatality review team recognized by the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department.

172,172 Section 172. 48.981 (7) (cr) 3. a. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.981 (7) (cr) 3. a. Within 2 working days after receiving the information provided under subd. 2., 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., and, in a county having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more, to the Milwaukee child welfare partnership council.

172,173 Section 173. 48.981 (8) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.981 (8) (a) The department, the county departments, and a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department in a county having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more to the extent feasible shall conduct continuing education and training programs for staff of the department, the county departments, licensed child welfare agencies under contract with the department or a county department, law enforcement agencies, and the tribal social services departments, persons and officials required to report, the general public, and others as appropriate. The programs shall be designed to encourage reporting of child abuse and neglect and of unborn child abuse, to encourage self-reporting and voluntary acceptance of services and to improve communication, cooperation, and coordination in the identification, prevention, and treatment of child abuse and neglect and of unborn child abuse. Programs provided for staff of the department, county departments, and licensed child welfare agencies under contract with county departments or the department whose responsibilities include the investigation or treatment of child abuse or neglect shall also be designed to provide information on means of recognizing and appropriately responding to domestic abuse, as defined in s. 49.165 (1) (a). The department, the county departments, and a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department in a county having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more shall develop public information programs about child abuse and neglect and about unborn child abuse.

172,174 Section 174. 48.981 (8) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.981 (8) (c) In meeting its responsibilities under par. (a) or (b), the department, a county department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department in a county having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more may contract with any public or private organization which meets the standards set by the department. In entering into the contracts the department, county department or licensed child welfare agency shall give priority to parental organizations combating child abuse and neglect or unborn child abuse.

172,175 Section 175. 48.982 (6) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.982 (6) (am) Notwithstanding the geographical and urban and rural distribution requirements under sub. (2) (a), the board shall allocate not more than $150,000 from the appropriation under s. 20.433 (1) (h) in each fiscal year for the awarding of grants, in accordance with the request-for-proposal procedures developed under sub. (2) (a), to organizations located in counties with a population of 500,000 750,000 or more.

172,176 Section 176. 48.983 (1) (b) 1. c. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.983 (1) (b) 1. c. A family that includes a person who has contacted a county department, a , city, private agency, or Indian tribe that has been awarded a grant under this section or, in a county having a population of 500,000 750,000 or more that has been awarded a grant under this section, the department, a county, city, private agency, or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department requesting assistance to prevent poor birth outcomes or abuse or neglect of a child in the person's family and with respect to which an individual responding to the request has determined that all of the conditions in subd. 2. exist.

172,177 Section 177. 48.983 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.983 (2) (a) If a county, city, private agency, or Indian tribe applies and is selected by the department under sub. (5) to participate in the program under this section, the department shall award, from the appropriation under s. 20.437 (1) (ab), a grant annually to be used only for the purposes specified in sub. (4) (a) and (am). The minimum amount of a grant is $10,000. The county, city, private agency, or Indian tribe shall agree to match at least 25 percent of the grant amount annually in funds or in-kind contributions.

172,178 Section 178. 48.983 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.983 (2) (b) The department shall determine the amount of a grant awarded to a county, city, private agency, or Indian tribe under this section in excess of the minimum amount based on the need of the county, city, private agency, or Indian tribe for a grant, as determined by a formula that the department shall promulgate by rule. That formula shall determine that need based on the number of births that are funded by Medical Assistance under subch. IV of ch. 49 in that county, the area in which that private agency is providing services, or the reservation of that Indian tribe and on the rate of poor birth outcomes, including infant mortality, premature births, low birth weights, and racial or ethnic disproportionality in the rates of those outcomes, in that county, the area in which that private agency is providing services, or the reservation of that Indian tribe and the capacity of the county, city, private agency, or Indian tribe to participate in the program under this section, as determined by the department.

172,179 Section 179. 48.983 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.983 (2) (c) The department shall allocate 10 percent of the funds available from the appropriation account under s. 20.437 (1) (ab) in each fiscal year for grants under this section to counties, cities, private agencies, or Indian tribes that have not previously received those grants.

172,180 Section 180. 48.983 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.983 (3) Joint application permitted. Any combination of 2 or more counties, cities, private agencies, or Indian tribes may submit a joint application to the department.

172,181 Section 181. 48.983 (4) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.983 (4) (am) Grants; start-up costs and capacity building. In the first year in which a grant under this section is awarded to a county, city, private agency, or Indian tribe, the county, city, private agency, or Indian tribe may use a portion of the grant to pay for start-up costs and capacity building related to the program under this section. The department shall determine the maximum amount of a grant that a county, city, private agency, or Indian tribe may use to pay for those start-up costs and that capacity building.

172,182 Section 182. 48.983 (4) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.983 (4) (b) 1. A county, city, private agency, or Indian tribe that is selected to participate in the program under this section shall offer all pregnant women in the county or city, the area in which that private agency is providing services, or the reservation of the tribe who are eligible for Medical Assistance under subch. IV of ch. 49 an opportunity to undergo an assessment through use of a risk assessment instrument to determine whether the person assessed presents risk factors for poor birth outcomes or for perpetrating child abuse or neglect. Persons who agree to be assessed shall be assessed during the prenatal period. The risk assessment instrument shall be developed by the department and shall be based on risk assessment instruments developed by the department for similar programs that are in operation. The department need not promulgate as rules under ch. 227 the risk assessment instrument developed under this subdivision. A person who is assessed to be at risk of poor birth outcomes or of abusing or neglecting his or her child shall be offered home visitation program services that shall be commenced during the prenatal period. Home visitation program services may be provided to a family with a child identified as being at risk of child abuse or neglect until the identified child reaches 3 years of age. If a family has been receiving home visitation program services continuously for not less than 12 months, those services may continue to be provided to the family until the identified child reaches 3 years of age, regardless of whether the child continues to be eligible for Medical Assistance under subch. IV of ch. 49. If risk factors for child abuse or neglect with respect to the identified child continue to be present when the child reaches 3 years of age, home visitation program services may be provided until the identified child reaches 5 years of age. Home visitation program services may not be provided to a person unless the person gives his or her written informed consent to receiving those services or, if the person is a child, unless the child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian gives his or her written informed consent for the child to receive those services.

172,183 Section 183. 48.983 (4) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.983 (4) (b) 3. A county, city, private agency, or Indian tribe that is providing home visitation program services under subd. 1. shall provide to a person receiving those services the information relating to shaken baby syndrome and impacted babies required under s. 253.15 (6).

172,184 Section 184. 48.983 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.983 (5) Selection of counties, cities, private agencies, and Indian tribes. The department shall provide competitive application procedures for selecting counties, cities, private agencies, and Indian tribes for participation in the program under this section. The department shall establish a method for ranking applicants for selection based on the quality of their applications. In ranking the applications, the department shall give favorable consideration to a county, city, private agency, or Indian tribe that submits a joint application under sub. (3) and to a county that has indicated under sub. (6) (d) 2. that it is willing to use a portion of any moneys distributed to the county under s. 48.565 (2) (a) to provide case management services to a Medical Assistance beneficiary under s. 49.45 (25) (am) 9. who is a case or who is a member of a family that is a case and that has explained under sub. (6) (d) 2. how the county plans to use that portion of those moneys to promote the provision of those services for the case by using a wraparound process so as to provide those services in a flexible, comprehensive and individualized manner in order to reduce the necessity for court-ordered services. The department shall also provide application requirements and procedures for the renewal of a grant awarded under this section. The application procedures and the renewal application requirements and procedures shall be clear and understandable to the applicants. The department need not promulgate as rules under ch. 227 the application procedures, the renewal application requirements or procedures, or the method for ranking applicants established under this subsection.

172,185 Section 185. 48.983 (6) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.983 (6) Criteria for awarding grants. (intro.) In addition to any other criteria developed by the department, a county, city, private agency, or Indian tribe shall meet all of the following criteria in order to be selected for participation in the program under this section:

172,186 Section 186. 48.983 (6) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.983 (6) (a) (intro.) The part of an application, other than a renewal application, submitted by a county, city, private agency, or Indian tribe that relates to home visitation programs shall include all of the following:

172,187 Section 187. 48.983 (6) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.983 (6) (a) 3. An identification of existing poor birth outcome and child abuse and neglect prevention services that are available to residents of the county or city, the area in which the private agency is providing services, or the reservation of the Indian tribe and a description of how those services and any additional needed services will support a comprehensive home visitation program.

172,188 Section 188. 48.983 (6) (a) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.983 (6) (a) 5. An explanation of how the applicant, in collaboration with local prenatal care coordination providers, will implement strategies aimed at achieving healthy birth outcomes, as determined by performance measures prescribed by the department and the department of health services, in the county, city, or reservation of the Indian tribe.

172,189 Section 189. 48.983 (6) (b) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.983 (6) (b) 4. `Nonentitlement.' No individual is entitled to any payment from a fund established under subd. 1. or 2. Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring a county, city, private agency, or Indian tribe to make a determination described in sub. (1) (b) 2. A determination described in sub. (1) (b) 2. may not be construed to be a determination described in s. 48.981 (3) (c) 4.

172,190 Section 190. 48.983 (6) (d) (title) and 1. of the statutes are consolidated, renumbered 48.983 (6) (d) and amended to read:

48.983 (6) (d) Wraparound process. 1. The applicant demonstrates in the grant application that the payments that will be made from the fund established under par. (b) 2. will promote the provision of services for the case by using a wraparound process so as to provide those services in a flexible, comprehensive and individualized manner in order to reduce the necessity for court-ordered services.

172,191 Section 191. 48.983 (6) (d) 2. of the statutes is repealed.

172,192 Section 192. 48.983 (6) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.983 (6) (g) Private agency applicant. If the applicant is a private agency, the applicant submits documentation with the grant application that demonstrates that the application is supported by a county or city and that a county or city will collaborate with the private agency in providing services.

172,193 Section 193. 48.983 (6g) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.983 (6g) (b) A county, city, private agency, or Indian tribe that is selected to participate in the program under this section shall provide or shall designate an individual or entity to provide an explanation of the confidentiality requirements under par. (a) to each individual who is offered an assessment under sub. (4) (b) or who is offered services under the home visitation program of the county, city, private agency, or Indian tribe.

172,194 Section 194. 48.983 (7) (ag) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.983 (7) (ag) The department shall evaluate the availability of home visitation programs in the state and determine whether there are gaps in home visitation services in the state. The department shall cooperate with counties, cities, private agencies, and Indian tribes providing home visitation programs to address any gaps in services identified.

172,195 Section 195. 48.983 (7) (ar) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.983 (7) (ar) Each county, city, private agency, and Indian tribe providing a home visitation program shall collect and report data to the department, as required by the department. The department shall require each county, city, private agency, and Indian tribe providing a home visitation program to collect data using forms prescribed by the department.