AB64: Bill Text

AB64,450,2 (aj) “Child care program” means a child care center that is licensed under s. 48.65 or established or contracted for under s. 120.13 (14), a child care provider that is certified under s. 48.651, or a temporary employment agency that provides caregivers to another child care program.

AB64,450,5 (am) “Client" means a person who receives direct care from a child care program, from an entity under s. 48.685 (1) (b) or from a caregiver specified in s. 48.685 (1) (ag) 1. am., including all of the following:

AB64,450,7 1. An adopted child for whom adoption assistance payments are being made under s. 48.975.

AB64,450,9 2. A child for whom subsidized guardianship payments are being made under s. 48.623.

AB64,450,12 3. A person who is 18 to 21 years old, is receiving independent living services under 42 USC 677 (a) from an agency, is no longer placed in out-of-home care, and is residing in the foster home in which he or she was previously placed.

AB64,450,15 (ar) “Contractor" means, with respect to a child care program, a person, or that person's agent, who provides services to the child care program under an express or implied contract or subcontract.

AB64,450,18 (bm) “Nonclient resident" means a person who is age 10 or older, who resides, or is expected to reside, at a child care program, and who is not a client of the child care program or caregiver.

AB64,450,21 (br) “Reservation" means land in this state within the boundaries of a reservation of a tribe or within the bureau of Indian affairs service area for the Ho-Chunk Nation.

AB64,450,22 (c) “Serious crime" means any of the following:

AB64,450,24 1. A violation of s. 940.12, 940.22 (2) or (3), 940.285 (2), 940.29, 940.295, or 942.09 (2).

AB64,450,25 2. A violation of s. 940.302 (2) if s. 940.302 (2) (a) 1. b. applies.

AB64,451,2 3. An offense under ch. 948 that is a felony, other than a violation of s. 948.22 (2).

AB64,451,4 4. A violation of s. 940.19 (3), 1999 stats., or of s. 940.19 (2), (4), (5), or (6) or 940.20 (1) or (1m), if the victim is the spouse of the person.

AB64,451,7 5. A violation of s. 940.01, 940.02, 940.03, 940.05, 940.06, 940.21, 940.225 (1), (2), or (3), 940.23, 940.305, 940.31, 941.20 (2) or (3), 941.21, 943.04, 943.10 (2), 943.32 (2), or 948.21 (1) (a).

AB64,451,12 6. Only for a caregiver, as defined in par. (ag) 2., a violation of s. 943.201, 943.203, or 943.38 (1) or (2); a violation of s. 943.34 (1), 943.395 (1), 943.41 (3) (e), (4) (a), (5), (6), or (6m), 943.45 (1), 943.455 (2), 943.46 (2), 943.47 (2), 943.50 (1m), or 943.70 (2) (a) or (am) or (3) (a) that is a felony; or an offense under subch. IV of ch. 943 that is a felony.

AB64,451,16 7. A violation of sub. (2) or s. 48.685 (2), (3), (4m) (b), or (6), 2015 stats., if the violation involves the provision of false information to or the intentional withholding of information from, the department, a county department, an agency contracting under s. 48.651 (2), a school board, or a child care program.

AB64,451,24 8. An offense involving fraudulent activity as a participant in the Wisconsin Works program under ss. 49.141 to 49.161, including as a recipient of a child care subsidy under s. 49.155, or as a recipient of aid to families with dependent children under s. 49.19, medical assistance under subch. IV of ch. 49, food stamps benefits under the food stamp program under 7 USC 2011 to 2036, supplemental security income payments under s. 49.77, payments for the support of children of supplemental security income recipients under s. 49.775, or health care benefits under the Badger Care health care program under s. 49.665.

AB64,452,8 9. A violation of s. 125.075 (1), 125.085 (3) (a) 2., 125.105 (2) (b), 125.66 (3), 125.68 (12), 940.09, 940.19 (2), (4), (5), or (6), 940.20, 940.203, 940.205, 940.207, 940.25, or 943.23 (1g), a violation of s. 948.51 (2) that is a felony under s. 948.51 (3) (b) or (c), a violation of s. 346.63 (1), (2), (5), or (6) that is a felony under s. 346.65 (2) (am) 5., 6., or 7. or (f), (2j) (d), or (3m), or an offense under ch. 961 that is a felony, if the person completed his or her sentence, including any probation, parole, or extended supervision, or was discharged by the department of corrections, less than 5 years before the date of the investigation under sub. (2) (am).

AB64,452,13 10. A violation of s. 948.22 (2), if the person completed his or her sentence, including any probation, parole, or extended supervision, or was discharged by the department of corrections, less than 5 years before the date of the investigation under sub. (2) (am), unless the person has paid all arrearages due and is meeting his or her current support obligations.

AB64,452,15 11. A violation of the law of any other state or United States jurisdiction that would be a violation listed in subd. 1. to 10. if committed in this state.

AB64,452,20 12. A violation of the laws of another state or United States jurisdiction that if committed in this state would constitute felony battery under s. 940.19 (2), (4), (5), or (6) or 940.20, a felony offense of domestic abuse, as defined in s. 813.12 (1) (am), a sex offense or a violent crime under ch. 948, or a violation of 940.225 if the victim was a child.

AB64,453,4 (2) (a) The department shall require any person who applies for issuance of an initial license to operate a child care center under s. 48.65, a school board shall require any person who proposes an initial contract with the school board under s. 120.13 (14), and the department in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, a county department, or an agency contracted with under s. 48.651 (2) shall require any child care provider who applies for initial certification under s. 48.651 to submit the information required for a background check request under par. (ag). A school board, county department, or contracted agency shall submit the completed background information request to the department.

AB64,453,9 (ab) Each child care program shall submit a request to the department for a criminal background check for each potential caregiver and potential nonclient resident prior to the date on which an individual becomes a caregiver or nonclient resident, and at least once during every 5-year period for each existing caregiver or nonclient resident, except if all of the following apply:

AB64,453,13 1. The caregiver, potential caregiver, nonclient resident, or potential nonclient resident has received a background check as described in par. (am) while employed or seeking employment by another child care program within the state within the last 5 years.

AB64,453,16 2. The department provided to the child care program under subd. 1. a qualifying background check result for the caregiver, potential caregiver, nonclient resident, or potential nonclient resident.

AB64,453,20 3. The caregiver, potential caregiver, nonclient resident, or potential nonclient resident is employed by or resides at a child care program within the state or has been separated from employment or residence at a child care program within the state for a period of not more than 180 consecutive days.

AB64,453,23 (ag) 1. A request for a background check to the department under par. (a) or (ab) shall be in the manner and on forms prescribed by the department, and shall include all of the following:

AB64,453,24 a. Fingerprints of the subject that meet the standards of the department.

AB64,454,2 b. Any additional information that the department deems necessary to perform the criminal background check.

AB64,454,4 2. A request for a criminal background check is considered submitted on the day that the department receives all of the information required under subd. 1.

AB64,454,8 3. The requester of a background check under this paragraph shall submit all fees required by the department pursuant to the instructions provided by the department, not to exceed the actual cost of conducting the criminal background check.

AB64,454,11 (am) Upon receipt of a request submitted under par. (a) or (ab), the department shall obtain all of the following with respect to a caregiver or a nonclient resident who is not under 10 years of age:

AB64,454,13 1. A fingerprint-based criminal history search from the records maintained by the department of justice.

AB64,454,15 2. Information that is contained in the registry under s. 146.40 (4g) regarding any findings against the person.

AB64,454,17 3. Information maintained by the department of safety and professional services regarding the status of the person's credentials, if applicable.

AB64,454,21 4. Information maintained by the department regarding any final determination under s. 48.981 (3) (c) 5m. or, if a contested case hearing is held on such a determination, any final decision under s. 48.981 (3) (c) 5p. that the person has abused or neglected a child.

AB64,455,2 5. Information maintained by the department of health services under s. 48.685 regarding any denial to the person of a license, continuation or renewal of a license, certification, or a contract to operate an entity or a child care program, for a reason specified in s. 48.685 (4m) (a) 1. to 5. and regarding any denial to the person of employment at, a contract with, or permission to reside at an entity or a child care program for a reason specified in s. 48.685 (4m) (a) 1. to 5.

AB64,455,4 6. Information that is contained in the sex offender registry under s. 301.45 regarding whether the person has committed a sex offense that is a serious crime.

AB64,455,6 7. A fingerprint-based criminal history search using the federal bureau of investigation next generation identification.

AB64,455,8 8. A search of the national crime information center's national sex offender registry.

AB64,455,12 9. A search of the following registries, repositories, or databases in the state where the caregiver or nonclient resident resided for the period starting on the date 5 years prior to the department's receipt of the background check request and ending on the date the department received the background check request:

AB64,455,13 a. The state criminal registry or repository.

AB64,455,14 b. The state sex offender registry or repository.

AB64,455,15 c. The state-based child abuse and neglect registry and database.

AB64,455,16 10. A search of the department's criminal background check records.

AB64,455,20 (ar) After receiving a request under par. (a) or (ab), the department shall conduct the criminal background check as expeditiously as possible and shall make a good faith effort to complete all components of the criminal background check no later than 45 days after the date on which the request was submitted.

AB64,456,9 (bb) If information obtained under par. (am) indicates a charge of a serious crime, but does not completely and clearly indicate the final disposition of the charge, the department shall make every reasonable effort to contact the clerk of courts to determine the final disposition of the charge. If information submitted to the department under par. (ag) indicates a charge or a conviction of a serious crime, but information obtained under par. (am) does not indicate such a charge or conviction, the department shall make every reasonable effort to contact the clerk of courts to obtain a copy of the criminal complaint and the final disposition of the complaint. If information obtained under par. (am), information submitted under par. (ag), or any other information indicates a conviction of a violation of s. 940.19 (1), 940.195, 940.20, 941.30, 942.08, 947.01 (1), or 947.013 obtained not more than 5 years before the date on which that information was obtained, the department shall make every reasonable effort to contact the clerk of courts to obtain a copy of the criminal complaint and judgment of conviction relating to that violation.

AB64,456,19 (bd) Notwithstanding par. (am), the department is not required to obtain the information specified in par. (am) 1. to 10., with respect to a person under 18 years of age whose background check request under par. (ag) indicates that the person is not ineligible to be permitted to reside at a child care program for a reason specified in sub. (4m) (a) 1. to 8. and with respect to whom the department otherwise has no reason to believe that the person is ineligible to be permitted to reside for any of those reasons. This paragraph does not preclude the department from obtaining, at its discretion, the information specified in par. (am) 1. to 10. with respect to a person described in this paragraph who is a nonclient resident or a potential nonclient resident of a child care program.

AB64,456,23 (br) The department shall require the person who is the subject of a search under par. (am) to be fingerprinted on 2 fingerprint cards, each bearing a complete set of the person's fingerprints, or by other technologies approved by law enforcement agencies, unless the person has previously been fingerprinted under this paragraph.

AB64,457,5 (3) (am) Every year or at any time that the department considers appropriate, the department may request the information specified in sub. (2) (am) 1. to 5. for all caregivers under sub. (1) (ag) 2., nonclient residents of such a caregiver, and caregivers under sub. (1) (ag) 1. who have direct contact with clients. For the purposes of this paragraph, “direct contact” means face-to-face physical proximity to a client that affords the opportunity to commit abuse or neglect of a client or to misappropriate the property of a client.

AB64,457,12 (bm) Annually, by January 1, the department shall submit a report to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3) describing the report prepared under sub. (4p) (a) with respect to caregivers specified in sub. (1) (ag) 2., specifically any information indicating that the caregiver is ineligible under sub. (4m) (a) to be licensed, certified, or contracted to operate a child care program, and describing any action taken in response to the receipt of information under sub. (2) (am) indicating that such a caregiver is so ineligible.

AB64,457,15 (4) (a) A child care program that violates sub. (2), (3), or (4m) (a) is subject to a forfeiture of not more than $1,000 and to other sanctions specified by the department by rule.

AB64,457,18 (b) A person who provides false information to the department under sub. (2) is subject to a forfeiture of not more than $1,000 and to other sanctions specified by the department by rule.

AB64,458,2 (4m) (a) Notwithstanding s. 111.335, and except as provided in par. (ad) and sub. (5), the department may not license, or continue or renew the license of, a person to operate a child care center under s. 48.65, the department in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, a county department, or an agency contracted with under s. 48.651 (2) may not certify a child care provider under s. 48.651, a school board may not contract with a person under s. 120.13 (14), and a child care program may not employ or contract with a caregiver specified in sub. (1) (ag) 1. if the department, county department, contracted agency, school board, or child care program knows or should have known any of the following:

AB64,458,7 1. That the person has been convicted of a serious crime or adjudicated delinquent on or after his or her 10th birthday for committing a serious crime or that the person is the subject of a pending criminal charge or delinquency petition alleging that the person has committed a serious crime on or after his or her 10th birthday.

AB64,458,10 3. That a unit of government or a state agency, as defined in s. 16.61 (2) (d), has made a finding that the person has abused or neglected any client or misappropriated the property of any client.

AB64,458,13 4. That a final determination has been made under s. 48.981 (3) (c) 5m. or, if a contested case hearing is held on such a determination, a final decision has been made under s. 48.981 (3) (c) 5p. that the person has abused or neglected a child.

AB64,458,18 5. That the department has determined the person ineligible to be licensed to operate a child care center under s. 48.65, to be certified to operate a child care provider under s. 48.651, to contract with a school board under s. 120.13 (14), to be employed as a caregiver at a child care program, or to be a nonclient resident at a child care program.

AB64,458,22 6. That the person has refused to provide information under sub. (2) (ag), or that the person refused to participate in, cooperate with, or submit required information for the criminal background check described in sub. (2) (am), including fingerprints.

AB64,458,24 7. That the person knowingly made a materially false statement in connection with the person's criminal background check described in sub. (2).

AB64,459,2 8. That the person knowingly omitted material information requested in connection with the person's criminal background check conducted under sub. (2).

AB64,459,9 (ad) The department may license a child care center under s. 48.65; the department in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, a county department, or an agency contracted with under s. 48.651 (2) may certify a child care provider under s. 48.651; and a school board may contract with a person under s. 120.13 (14), conditioned on the receipt of the information specified in sub. (4p) (a) indicating that the person is not ineligible to be so licensed, certified, or contracted with for a reason specified in par. (a) 1. to 8.

AB64,459,20 (c) A child care program may employ or contract with a potential caregiver or permit a potential nonclient resident to reside at the child care program for up to 45 days from the date a background check request is submitted to the department pending the completion of the department's report under sub. (4p) (a) if the department provides a preliminary report under sub. (4p) (c) to the child care program indicating that the potential caregiver or nonclient resident is not ineligible to work or reside at a child care program. At all times that children in care are present, an individual who received a qualifying result on a background check described in sub. (2) (am) within the past 5 years must supervise a potential employee or nonclient resident permitted to work or reside at the chid care program under this paragraph.

AB64,459,25 (4p) (a) The department shall provide the results of the criminal background check to the child care program in a written report that indicates only that the individual on whom the background check was conducted is eligible or ineligible for employment or to reside at the child care program, without revealing any disqualifying crime or other information regarding the individual.

AB64,460,6 (b) The department shall provide the results of the criminal background check to the individual on whom the background check was conducted in a written report that indicates whether the individual is eligible or ineligible for employment or to reside at the child care program. If the individual is ineligible for employment or to reside at the child care program, the department's report shall include information on each disqualifying crime and information on the right to appeal.

AB64,460,17 (c) Before the department completes its report under par. (a), a caregiver under sub. (1) (ag) 2. may submit a written request to the department for a preliminary report indicating whether a potential caregiver or nonclient resident is eligible to work or reside at a child care program under sub. (4m) (c). If the department receives such a request, it shall provide a written preliminary report to that caregiver indicating whether the individual is barred from employment as a caregiver or residence as a nonclient resident on the basis of a background check under sub. (2) (am) 1. or 7. If the individual is ineligible for employment or residence at a child care program based on the results of the preliminary report, the department shall also provide a preliminary report to the individual containing information related to each disqualifying crime.

AB64,460,20 (d) The results of a report under par. (c) may not be appealed by the individual until receipt of the department's report under par. (b) following completion of all components of the criminal background check.

AB64,460,25 (4s) (a) An individual who is the subject of the department's report on the results of a criminal background check may appeal the department's decision. Only the person who is the subject of the department's report may appeal the department's decision. Neither the child care program nor any other person may appeal the department's decision.

AB64,461,6 (b) An appeal request shall be submitted to the department at the address, e-mail address, or fax number identified in the statement of appeal rights no later than 60 days after the date of the department's decision, unless the appellant requests, and the department grants, an extension for a specific amount of time prior to expiration of the 60 day appeal period. Extensions may be granted for good cause shown.

AB64,461,8 (c) An appeal shall be submitted in the manner and on forms prescribed by the department, and must include all of the following information:

AB64,461,9 1. The information or issue disputed by the individual.

AB64,461,11 2. Any information known to the individual, or available to the individual through the exercise of reasonable diligence, that supports the individual's position.

AB64,461,14 3. The current or last known names, addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses of any persons known or believed to have information relevant to determination of the appeal.

AB64,461,17 4. Copies of any documents or other materials in the possession of the individual, or reasonably available to the individual, that support the individual's position regarding the disputed information.

AB64,461,21 (e) The department shall attempt to verify the accuracy of the information challenged by the appellant, including making reasonable good faith efforts to locate any missing information regarding the disqualifying crime that is relevant to the issue identified for appeal.

AB64,461,23 (f) The department shall sustain the results of its criminal background check report if supported by a preponderance of the available evidence.

AB64,462,3 (g) The department shall issue its appeal decision in writing. If the results of the original report are sustained upon review, the decision shall indicate the department's efforts to verify the accuracy of the information challenged by the individual. The decision shall also indicate any additional reconsideration and appeal rights available to the appellant.

AB64,462,5 (h) An appellant under this subsection may seek reconsideration of the department's decision under par. (g) by the secretary or the secretary's designee.

AB64,462,9 (i) A request for reconsideration detailing the basis for the request must be sent to the secretary at the address, e-mail address, or fax number identified in the department's decision no later than 30 days after the date of the department's decision.

AB64,462,12 (j) The secretary or secretary's designee shall issue his or her reconsideration decision in writing and shall include information about any additional appeal rights available to the individual.

AB64,462,14 (k) A denial of reconsideration under this subsection is a final decision of the department, and the appellant has a right to a contested case hearing under ch. 227.

AB64,462,21 (L) The appeal and reconsideration process set forth in this subsection is the exclusive method for disputing a criminal history background report issued by the department. The department's decision may not be appealed in a ch. 68 or 227 proceeding challenging the denial of a license, certification, or contract to operate a child care program based on the department's criminal history background check report or challenging any other child care regulatory action taken in reliance upon that report.

AB64,463,3 (m) Notwithstanding s. 19.35, the department may not publicly release or disclose the results of any criminal individual background report it issues, except that the department may release aggregated data by crime as listed in sub. (1) (c) from criminal background check results so long as the data does not contain personally identifiable information. The department may disclose and use information obtained in conducting criminal background checks as necessary during an appeal or reconsideration under this subsection.

AB64,463,17 (5) (a) Subject to par. (br), the department may license to operate a child care program, the department in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, a county department, or an agency contracted with under s. 48.651 (2) may certify under s. 48.651, and a school board may contract with under s. 120.13 (14) a person who otherwise may not be licensed, certified, or contracted with for a reason specified in sub. (4m) (a) 1. to 8., and a child care program may employ, contract with, or permit to reside at the child care program a person who otherwise may not be so employed, contracted with, or permitted to reside for a reason specified in sub. (4m) (a) 1. to 8., if the person demonstrates to the department, the county department, the contracted agency, or the school board or, in the case of a child care program that is located within the boundaries of a reservation, to the person or body designated by the Indian tribe under sub. (5d) (a) 3., by clear and convincing evidence and in accordance with procedures established by the department by rule or by the tribe that he or she has been rehabilitated.

AB64,463,24 (br) No person who has been convicted or adjudicated delinquent on or after his or her 10th birthday for committing any of the offenses identified in sub. (1) (c) 1. to 8. or 12. or for a violation of the law of any other state or United States jurisdiction that would be a violation listed in sub. (1) (c) 1. to 8. if committed in this state or who is the subject of a pending criminal charge or delinquency petition alleging that the person has committed any of those offenses on or after his or her 10th birthday may be permitted to demonstrate that he or she has been rehabilitated.

AB64,464,12 (cm) Notwithstanding sub. (4m) (a) 1., if a person was convicted or adjudicated delinquent on or after his or her 10th birthday for committing any of the offenses listed in sub. (1) (c) 9. or 10. and the person completed his or her sentence, including any probation, parole, or extended supervision, or was discharged by the department of corrections, 5 or more years before the date of the investigation under sub. (2) (am), then the conviction or delinquency adjudication alone does not make the person ineligible to be licensed as a child care center under s. 48.65, certified as a child care provider under s. 48.651, contracted with under s. 120.13 (14), or employed by, contracted with, or permitted to reside at a child care program and, with respect to that conviction or delinquency adjudication, the person need not demonstrate that he or she has been rehabilitated under par. (a) before being so licensed, certified, contracted with, employed, or permitted to reside.

AB64,464,17 (5c) (a) Any person who is permitted but fails under sub. (5) (a) to demonstrate to the department that he or she has been rehabilitated may appeal to the secretary or his or her designee. Any person who is adversely affected by a decision of the secretary or his or her designee under this paragraph has a right to a contested case hearing under ch. 227.

AB64,464,23 (b) Any person who is permitted but fails under sub. (5) (a) to demonstrate to a county department or an agency contracted with under s. 48.651 (2) that he or she has been rehabilitated may appeal to the director of the county department or his or her designee. Any person who is adversely affected by a decision of the director or his or her designee under this paragraph has a right to appeal the decision under ch. 68.

AB64,465,3 (c) Any person who is permitted but fails under sub. (5) (a) to demonstrate to a school board that he or she has been rehabilitated may appeal to the state superintendent of public instruction or his or her designee. Any person who is adversely affected by a decision of the state superintendent or his or her designee under this paragraph has a right to a contested case hearing under ch. 227.