AB406: Bill Text

This bill incorporates the changes that the federal Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act made with respect to permanency planning into the Children's Code and the Juvenile Justice Code by doing all of the following:

1. Permitting the permanency goal of placement of a child in a planned permanent living arrangement, other than the child's own home or the home of an adoptive parent, guardian, or fit and willing relative, only in the case of a child 16 years of age or over. Current law does not specify an age limit for that permanency goal.

2. Requiring the agency that prepared the permanency plan for a child placed in a planned permanent living arrangement to present to the juvenile court or panel, on review of the permanency plan, information showing that intensive and ongoing efforts were made by the agency, including searching social media, to return the child to the child's home or to place the child for adoption, with a guardian, or with a fit and willing relative and that those efforts have proved unsuccessful.

3. Requiring the juvenile court or panel, in determining the continuing necessity for and the safety and appropriateness of a placement in a planned permanent living arrangement, to include in that determination an explanation of why the planned permanent living arrangement is the best permanency goal for the child and why it continues not to be in the best interests of the child to be returned to his or her home or to be placed for adoption, with a guardian, or with a fit and willing relative.

4. Requiring the agency primarily responsible for providing services for a child who has been placed in out-of-home care for six months or more to ensure that the child is in possession of a certified copy of the child's birth certificate, a social security card, information on maintaining health care coverage, a copy of the child's health care records, and either a driver's license or a state-issued identification card (identification documents and other important information) during the 90 days before the child attains 18 years of age or the child's juvenile court order terminates, whichever is later.

5. Requiring the agency responsible for preparing the permanency plan for a child 14 years of age or over to prepare the plan in consultation with the child, requiring the permanency plan for such a child to include a plan to prepare the child for the transition from out-of-home care to a successful adulthood (transition plan), and requiring a child's transition plan to include a document that describes the rights of the child with respect to education, health, visitation, and participation in juvenile court proceedings, the right of the child to receive identification documents and other important information as required under the bill, the right of the child to receive a copy of his or her credit report, and the right of the child to stay safe and to avoid exploitation. Current law requires a transition plan only for a child 15 years of age or over.

6. Eliminating placement in sustaining care as a permanency goal for a child following a termination of parental rights. The bill, however, permits: a) a child 16 years of age or over who is in sustaining care under a sustaining care contract entered into before the effective date of the bill to remain in sustaining care until the termination date of the contract; and b) a child under 16 years of age who is in sustaining care under a sustaining care contract entered into before the effective date of the bill to remain in sustaining care until the next permanency plan review or hearing for the child, at which time the child's permanency plan must be amended to provide for a permanency goal other than placement in sustaining care.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB406,1 Section 1. 20.437 (1) (cf) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB406,5,3 20.437 (1) (cf) (title) Foster and family-operated group home parent insurance and liability.

AB406,2 Section 2. 48.02 (1dm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB406,5,11 48.02 (1dm) "Age or developmentally appropriate activities" means activities that are generally accepted as suitable for children of a given chronological age or level of maturity or that are determined to be developmentally appropriate for a child based on the cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral capacities that are typical for children of a given age or age group or, in the case of a specific child, activities that are suitable for the child based on the cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral capacities of that child.

AB406,3 Section 3. 48.02 (12r) of the statutes is created to read:

AB406,6,7 48.02 (12r) "Out-of-home care provider" means a foster parent, guardian, relative other than a parent, or nonrelative in whose home a child is placed, or the operator of a group home, residential care center for children and youth, or shelter care facility in which a child is placed, under the placement and care responsibility of the department or a county department. "Out-of-home care provider" also includes, in the case of a child placed in a group home, residential care center for children and youth, or shelter care facility, a staff member employed on the site of that home, center, or facility who has been designated by the operator of that home, center, or facility as an out-of-home care provider for purposes of making decisions concerning the child's participation in age or developmentally appropriate activities.

AB406,4 Section 4. 48.02 (14r) of the statutes is created to read:

AB406,6,15 48.02 (14r) "Reasonable and prudent parent standard" means a standard for an out-of-home care provider to use in making decisions concerning a child's participation in age or developmentally appropriate extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities that is characterized by careful and sensible parental decisions that maintain the health, safety, best interests, and cultural, religious, and tribal values of the child while at the same time encouraging the emotional and developmental growth of the child.

AB406,5 Section 5. 48.14 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB406,6,20 48.14 (2) (b) The appointment and removal of a guardian of the person for a child under ss. 48.427, 48.428, 48.43, 48.831, 48.832, 48.839 (4) (a), 48.977, and 48.978 and ch. 54 and for a child found to be in need of protection or services under s. 48.13 because the child is without parent or guardian.

AB406,6 Section 6. 48.366 (2) (b) 4. of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55, is amended to read:

AB406,7,13 48.366 (2) (b) 4. If the court determines that the person who is the subject of an order described in sub. (1) (a) or (b) understands that he or she may continue in out-of-home care, but wishes to be discharged from that care on termination of the order, the court shall advise the person that he or she may enter into a voluntary agreement under sub. (3) at any time before he or she is granted a high school or high school equivalency diploma or reaches 21 years of age, whichever occurs first, so long as he or she is a full-time student at a secondary school or its vocational or technical equivalent and an individualized education program under s. 115.787 is in effect for him or her. If the court determines that the person wishes to continue in out-of-home care under an extension of an order under s. 48.355, 48.357, or 48.365 described in sub. (1) (a), the court shall schedule an extension hearing under s. 48.365. If the court determines that the person wishes to continue in out-of-home care under a voluntary agreement under sub. (3), the court shall order the agency primarily responsible for providing services to the person under the order to provide transition-to-independent-living services for the person under a that voluntary agreement under sub. (3).

AB406,7 Section 7. 48.38 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB406,8,2 48.38 (2m) Consultation with child 14 or over. The agency responsible for preparing the permanency plan for a child 14 years of age or over shall prepare the plan and any revisions of the plan in consultation with the child and, at the option of the child, with not more than 2 persons selected by the child who are members of any child and family team convened for the child, except that the child may not select his or her caregiver or caseworker to consult in the preparation or revision of the permanency plan and the agency may reject a person selected by the child if the agency has good cause to believe that the person would not act in the best interests of the child. The agency may designate one of the persons selected by the child to be the child's adviser and, as necessary, the child's advocate, with respect to application of the reasonable and prudent parent standard to decisions concerning the child's participation in age or developmentally appropriate activities.

AB406,8 Section 8. 48.38 (4) (f) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB406,8,9 48.38 (4) (f) 3. Improve the conditions of the parents' home to facilitate the safe return of the child to his or her home, or, if appropriate, obtain for the child a placement for adoption, with a guardian, or with a fit and willing relative, or, in the case of a child 16 years of age or over, obtain for the child, if appropriate, a placement in some other planned permanent living arrangement that includes an appropriate, enduring relationship with an adult.

AB406,9 Section 9. 48.38 (4) (fg) 5. of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55, is amended to read:

AB406,8,15 48.38 (4) (fg) 5. As provided in par. (fm), placement in In the case of a child 16 years of age or over, placement of the child in some other planned permanent living arrangement that includes an appropriate, enduring relationship with an adult, including sustaining care, or the goal of transitioning the child to independence.

AB406,10 Section 10. 48.38 (4) (fm) of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55, is amended to read:

AB406,9,7 48.38 (4) (fm) If the agency determines that there is a compelling reason why it currently would not be in the best interests of the a child 16 years of age or over to return the child to his or her home or to place the child for adoption, with a guardian, or with a fit and willing relative as the permanency goal for the child, the permanency goal of placing the child in some other planned permanent living arrangement or of transitioning the child to independence as described in par. (fg) 5 . If the agency makes that determination, the plan shall include the efforts made to achieve that permanency goal, including, if appropriate, through an out-of-state placement, a statement of that compelling reason, and, notwithstanding that compelling reason, a concurrent plan under s. 48.355 (2b) towards achieving a goal under par. (fg) 1. to 4. as a concurrent permanency goal in addition to the permanency goal under par. (fg) 5. The plan shall also include a plan to ensure that the child has regular, ongoing opportunities to engage in age or developmentally appropriate activities determined in accordance with the reasonable and prudent parent standard.

AB406,11 Section 11. 48.38 (4) (h) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB406,9,12 48.38 (4) (h) (intro.) If the child is 15 14 years of age or over, an independent living a plan describing the programs and services that are or will be provided to assist the child in preparing for the transition from out-of-home care to independent living a successful adulthood. The plan shall include all of the following:

AB406,12 Section 12. 48.38 (4) (h) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB406,9,16 48.38 (4) (h) 2. The anticipated amount of time available in which to prepare the child for the transition from out-of-home care to independent living a successful adulthood.

AB406,13 Section 13. 48.38 (4) (h) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB406,9,21 48.38 (4) (h) 4. A description of the assessment processes, tools, and methods that have been or will be used to determine the programs and services that are or will be provided to assist the child in preparing for the transition from out-of-home care to independent living a successful adulthood.

AB406,14 Section 14. 48.38 (4) (h) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB406,9,24 48.38 (4) (h) 5. The rationale for each program or service that is or will be provided to assist the child in preparing for the transition from out-of-home care to independent living a successful adulthood, the time frames for delivering those programs or services, and the intended outcome of those programs or services.

AB406,15 Section 15. 48.38 (4) (h) 6. of the statutes is created to read:

AB406,10,5 48.38 (4) (h) 6. Documentation that the plan was prepared in consultation with the child and any persons selected by the child as required under sub. (2m).

AB406,16 Section 16. 48.38 (4) (h) 7. of the statutes is created to read:

AB406,10,14 48.38 (4) (h) 7. A document that describes the rights of the child with respect to education, health, visitation, and participation in court proceedings, the right of the child to receive the documents and information specified in s. 48.385 (2), the right of the child to receive a copy of the child's consumer report, as defined in 15 USC 1681a (d), and the right of the child to stay safe and to avoid exploitation, together with a signed acknowledgement by the child that he or she has been provided with a copy of that document and that the rights described in that document have been explained to him or her in an age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate way.

AB406,17 Section 17. 48.38 (5) (bm) 3. of the statutes is created to read:

AB406,11,3 48.38 (5) (bm) 3. If the permanency goal of the child's permanency plan is placement of the child in a planned permanent living arrangement described in sub. (4) (fg) 5., the agency that prepared the permanency plan shall present to the court or panel specific information showing that intensive and ongoing efforts were made by the agency, including searching social media, to return the child to the child's home or to place the child for adoption, with a guardian, or with a fit and willing relative and that those efforts have proved unsuccessful and specific information showing the steps taken by the agency, including consultation with the child, to ascertain whether the child has regular, ongoing opportunities to engage in age or developmentally appropriate activities and to ensure that the child's caregiver is applying the reasonable and prudent parent standard to decisions concerning the child's participation in those activities. In addition, at the review the court or panel shall consult with the child about the permanency outcome desired by the child.

AB406,18 Section 18. 48.38 (5) (c) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB406,11,12 48.38 (5) (c) 1. The continuing necessity for and the safety and appropriateness of the placement. If the permanency goal of the child's permanency plan is placement of the child in a planned permanent living arrangement described in sub. (4) (fg) 5., the determination under this subdivision shall include an explanation of why the planned permanent living arrangement is the best permanency goal for the child and why, supported by compelling reasons, it continues not to be in the best interests of the child to be returned to his or her home or to be placed for adoption, with a guardian, or with a fit and willing relative.

AB406,19 Section 19. 48.38 (5) (c) 6. d. of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55, is amended to read:

AB406,11,17 48.38 (5) (c) 6. d. Being placed in some other planned permanent living arrangement that includes an appropriate, enduring relationship with an adult, including sustaining care, or transitioning to independence.

AB406,20 Section 20. 48.38 (5) (c) 7m. of the statutes is created to read:

AB406,11,25 48.38 (5) (c) 7m. If the permanency goal of the child's permanency plan is placement of the child in a planned permanent living arrangement described in sub. (4) (fg) 5., the steps taken by the agency, including consultation with the child, to ascertain whether the child has regular, ongoing opportunities to engage in age or developmentally appropriate activities and to ensure that the child's caregiver is applying the reasonable and prudent parent standard to decisions concerning the child's participation in those activities.

AB406,21 Section 21. 48.38 (5) (c) 9. of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55, is amended to read:

AB406,12,10 48.38 (5) (c) 9. If the child is the subject of an order that terminates as provided in s. 48.355 (4) (b) 4., 48.357 (6) (a) 4. or 48.365 (5) (b) 4. or of a voluntary transition-to-independent-living agreement under s. 48.366 (3), the appropriateness of the transition-to-independent-living plan developed under s. 48.385 (1); the extent of compliance with that plan by the child, the child's guardian, if any, the agency primarily responsible for providing services under that plan, and any other service providers; and the progress of the child toward making the transition to independent living a successful adulthood.

AB406,22 Section 22. 48.38 (5m) (c) 3. of the statutes is created to read:

AB406,12,24 48.38 (5m) (c) 3. If the permanency goal of the child's permanency plan is placement of the child in a planned permanent living arrangement described in sub. (4) (fg) 5., the agency that prepared the permanency plan shall present to the court specific information showing that intensive and ongoing efforts were made by the agency, including searching social media, to return the child to the child's home or to place the child for adoption, with a guardian, or with a fit and willing relative and that those efforts have proved unsuccessful and specific information showing the steps taken by the agency, including consultation with the child, to ascertain whether the child has regular, ongoing opportunities to engage in age or developmentally appropriate activities and to ensure that the child's caregiver is applying the reasonable and prudent parent standard to decisions concerning the child's participation in those activities. In addition, at the hearing the court shall consult with the child about the permanency outcome desired by the child.

AB406,23 Section 23. 48.383 of the statutes is created to read:

AB406,13,10 48.383 Reasonable and prudent parent standard. (1) Use of standard by out-of-home care providers. An out-of-home care provider shall use the reasonable and prudent parent standard in making decisions concerning a child's participation in age or developmentally appropriate extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities. In making decisions using the reasonable and prudent parent standard, an out-of-home care provider shall consider the restrictiveness of the child's placement and whether the child has the necessary training and safety equipment to safely participate in the activity under consideration and may not make any decision that is in violation of any court order or any state or federal law, rule, or regulation.

AB406,13,21 (2) Child-specific considerations required. (a) At the time of placement of a child with an out-of-home care provider, the agency that places, or that arranges the placement of, the child or the agency assigned primary responsibility for providing services to the child under s. 48.355 (2) (b) 6g. shall provide to the out-of-home care provider the information that is required to be provided to an out-of-home care provider under the rules promulgated under s. 895.485 (4) (a) and information that is specific to the child for the out-of-home care provider to consider in making reasonable and prudent parenting decisions concerning the child's participation in age or developmentally appropriate extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities. In preparing that information or any revisions of that information, the agency shall do all of the following:

AB406,14,2 1. If reasonably possible to do so, consult with the child's parent concerning the child's participation in extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities and the child's cultural, religious, and tribal values and advise the parent that those values will be considered, but will not necessarily be the determining factor, in making decisions concerning the child's participation in those activities.

AB406,14,5 2. Consult with the child in an age-appropriate manner about the opportunities of the child to participate in age or developmentally appropriate activities.

AB406,14,16 (b) At the time of placement of a child with an out-of-home care provider, the agency providing the information under par. (a) shall explain to the out-of-home care provider the parameters of the considerations that the out-of-home care provider is required to take into account when making decisions concerning the child's participation in age or developmentally appropriate extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities. In explaining those parameters, the agency shall explain the considerations and prohibitions specified in sub. (1) and shall advise the out-of-home care provider that in case of any disagreement over the application of the reasonable and prudent parent standard, the agency having placement and care responsibility for the child is ultimately responsible for decisions concerning the care of the child.

AB406,14,25 (c) In preparing or revising the permanency plan for a child, the agency responsible for preparing or revising the permanency plan shall consult with the child and the child's parent as provided in par. (a) 1. and 2. At the time the permanency plan is prepared and each time the permanency plan is revised, that agency shall explain to the out-of-home care provider the parameters of the considerations that the out-of-home care provider is required to take into account when making decisions concerning the child's participation in age or developmentally appropriate extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities as provided in par. (b).

AB406,15,1 (3) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules to implement this section.

AB406,24 Section 24. 48.385 of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55, is renumbered 48.385 (intro.) and amended to read:

AB406,15,14 48.385 Plan for transition to independent living. (intro.) During the 90 days immediately before a child who is placed in a foster home, group home, or residential care center for children and youth, in the home of a relative other than a parent, or in a supervised independent living arrangement attains 18 years of age or, if the child is placed in such a placement under an order under s. 48.355, 48.357, or 48.365 that terminates under s. 48.355 (4) (b) after the child attains 18 years of age or under a voluntary transition-to-independent-living agreement under s. 48.366 (3) that terminates under s. 48.366 (3) (a) after the child attains 18 years of age, during the 90 days immediately before the termination of the order or agreement, the agency primarily responsible for providing services to the child under the order or agreement shall provide do all of the following:

AB406,15,20 (1) Transition plan. Provide the child with assistance and support in developing a plan for making the transition from out-of-home care to independent living. The transition plan shall be personalized at the direction of the child, shall be as detailed as the child directs, and shall include specific options for obtaining housing, health care, education, mentoring and continuing support services, and workforce support and employment services.

AB406,25 Section 25. 48.385 (2) of the statutes is created to read:

AB406,16,5 48.385 (2) Identification documents and other information. Except as provided in this subsection, ensure that the child is in possession of a certified copy of the child's birth certificate, a social security card issued by the federal social security administration, information on maintaining health care coverage, a copy of the child's health care records, and either an operator's license issued under ch. 343 or an identification card issued under s. 343.50. If the child is not in possession of any of those documents or that information, the agency shall assist the child in obtaining any missing document or information. This subsection does not apply to a child who has been placed in out-of-home care for less than 6 months.

AB406,26 Section 26. 48.427 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB406,16,11 48.427 (1) Any party may present evidence relevant to the issue of disposition, including expert testimony, and may make alternative dispositional recommendations to the court. After receiving any evidence related to the disposition, the court shall enter one of the dispositions specified under subs. (2) to (4) (3p) within 10 days.

AB406,27 Section 27. 48.427 (4) of the statutes is repealed.

AB406,28 Section 28. 48.427 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB406,16,19 48.427 (5) In placing an Indian child in a preadoptive placement following a transfer of guardianship and custody under sub. (3m) or (3p) or in placing an Indian child in sustaining care under sub. (4), the court or an agency specified in sub. (3m) (a) 1. to 4. or (am) shall comply with the order of placement preference under s. 48.028 (7) (b) or, if applicable, s. 48.028 (7) (c), unless the court or agency finds good cause, as described in s. 48.028 (7) (e), for departing from that order.

AB406,29 Section 29. 48.428 of the statutes is repealed.

AB406,30 Section 30. 48.43 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB406,17,3 48.43 (4) A certified copy of the order terminating parental rights shall be furnished by the court to the agency given guardianship for placement for adoption of the child or to the person or agency given custodianship or guardianship for placement of the child in sustaining care and to the person appointed as the guardian of the child under s. 48.977 (2). The court shall, upon request, furnish a certified copy of the child's birth certificate and a transcript of the testimony in the termination of parental rights hearing to the same person or agency.

AB406,31 Section 31. 48.43 (5) (b) 2m. of the statutes is created to read:

AB406,17,17 48.43 (5) (b) 2m. If the permanency goal of the child's permanency plan is placement of the child in a planned permanent living arrangement described in ss. 48.38 (4) (fg) 5., the agency that prepared the report shall present to the court specific information showing that intensive and ongoing efforts were made by the agency, including searching social media, to return the child to the child's home or to place the child for adoption, with a guardian, or with a fit and willing relative and that those efforts have proved unsuccessful and specific information showing the steps taken by the agency, including consultation with the child, to ascertain whether the child has regular, ongoing opportunities to engage in age or developmentally appropriate activities and to ensure that the child's caregiver is applying the reasonable and prudent parent standard to decisions concerning the child's participation in those activities. In addition, at the hearing the court shall consult with the child about the permanency outcome desired by the child.

AB406,32 Section 32. 48.481 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB406,18,2 48.481 (2) Transition to independent living a successful adulthood. The department shall distribute at least $231,700 in each fiscal year for the purpose of assisting individuals who attain the age of 18 while residing in a foster home, group home, or residential care center for children and youth, in the home of a relative other than a parent, or in a supervised independent living arrangement to make the transition from out-of-home care to independent living a successful adulthood. No county may use funds provided under this subsection to replace funds previously used by the county for this purpose.

AB406,33 Section 33. 48.627 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB406,18,5 48.627 (title) Foster and family-operated group home parent insurance and liability.

AB406,34 Section 34. 48.627 (1) of the statutes is repealed.

AB406,35 Section 35. 48.627 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB406,18,14 48.627 (2) (a) Before the department, a county department, or a licensed child welfare agency may issue, renew, or continue a foster home or family-operated group home license, the licensing agency shall require the applicant to furnish proof satisfactory to the licensing agency that he or she has homeowner's or renter's liability insurance that provides coverage for negligent acts or omissions by children placed in a foster home or family-operated group home that result in bodily injury or property damage to 3rd parties.

AB406,36 Section 36. 48.627 (2c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB406,18,23 48.627 (2c) The department shall determine the cost-effectiveness of purchasing private insurance that would provide coverage to foster and family-operated group home parents for acts or omissions by or affecting a child who is placed in a foster home or a family-operated group home. If this private insurance is cost-effective and available, the department shall purchase the insurance from the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (cf) and (pd). If the insurance is unavailable, payment of claims for acts or omissions by or affecting a child who is placed in a foster home or a family-operated group home shall be in accordance with subs. (2m) to (3).

AB406,37 Section 37. 48.627 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB406,19,9 48.627 (2m) Within the limits of the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (cf) and (pd), the department shall pay claims to the extent not covered by any other insurance and subject to the limitations specified in sub. (3), for bodily injury or property damage sustained by a licensed foster or family-operated group home parent or a member of the foster or family-operated group home parent's family as a result of the act of a child in the foster or family-operated group home parent's care or as a result of an act or omission of the foster parent in granting permission for a child in the foster parent's care to participate in an age or developmentally appropriate activity.