SB70: Bill Text

SB70,897 Section 897 . 48.481 (1) of the statutes is repealed.

SB70,898 Section 898 . 48.481 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB70,678,16 48.481 (1m) In this section:

SB70,678,18 (a) “Nonprofit corporation" means a nonstock, nonprofit corporation organized under ch. 181.

SB70,678,20 (b) “Public agency" means a county, city, village, town, or school district or an agency of this state or of a county, city, village, town, or school district.

SB70,899 Section 899 . 48.481 (2) of the statutes is repealed.

SB70,900 Section 900 . 48.481 (2m) (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h) and (i) and (3) of the statutes are created to read:

SB70,678,24 48.481 (2m) (a) Increasing youth access to housing.

SB70,679,2 (b) Increasing youth self-sufficiency through employment, education, and training.

SB70,679,5 (c) Increasing youth social and emotional health by promoting healthy and stable adult connections, social engagement, and connection with necessary services.

SB70,679,6 (d) Preventing sex trafficking of children and youth.

SB70,679,8 (e) Providing treatment and services for documented and suspected victims of child and youth sex trafficking.

SB70,679,10 (f) Preventing and reducing the incidence of youth violence and other delinquent behavior.

SB70,679,12 (g) Preventing and reducing the incidence of youth alcohol and other drug use and abuse.

SB70,679,13 (h) Preventing and reducing the incidence of child abuse and neglect.

SB70,679,14 (i) Preventing and reducing the incidence of teen pregnancy.

SB70,679,17 (3) From the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (bc) and (kb), the department shall distribute $55,000 in each fiscal year to Diverse and Resilient, Inc., to provide programs that accomplish one or more of the purposes under sub. (2m).

SB70,901 Section 901 . 48.483 of the statutes is created to read:

SB70,679,22 48.483 Sibling connections scholarships. From the appropriation under s. 20.437 (1) (dm), the department shall award scholarships to adopted children and their biological siblings who do not reside in the same household to attend programs together in order to build sibling connections.

SB70,902 Section 902. 48.526 (3) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,680,7 48.526 (3) (e) The department may carry forward $500,000 or transfer to the appropriation account under s. 20.437 (1) (kp) 10 percent of its funds allocated under this subsection and not encumbered expended or carried forward under par. (dm) by counties by December 31, whichever is greater, to the next 2 calendar years. The department may transfer moneys from or within s. 20.437 (1) (cj) to accomplish this purpose. The department may allocate these transferred moneys to counties with persistently high rates of juvenile arrests for serious offenses during the next 2 calendar years to improve community-based juvenile delinquency-related services, as defined in s. 46.011 (1c). The allocation does not affect a county's base allocation.

SB70,903 Section 903. 48.526 (3) (em) of the statutes is repealed.

SB70,904 Section 904. 48.526 (7) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,680,14 48.526 (7) Allocations of funds. (intro.) Within the limits of the availability of the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (cj) and (o), the department shall allocate funds for community youth and family aids for the period beginning on July 1, 2021 2023, and ending on June 30, 2023 2025, as provided in this subsection to county departments under ss. 46.215, 46.22, and 46.23 as follows:

SB70,905 Section 905. 48.526 (7) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,680,19 48.526 (7) (a) For community youth and family aids under this section, amounts not to exceed $47,740,750 $48,089,350 for the last 6 months of 2021 2023, $95,481,500 $96,178,700 for 2022 2024, and $47,740,750 $48,089,350 for the first 6 months of 2023 2025.

SB70,906 Section 906. 48.526 (7) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,680,24 48.526 (7) (b) (intro.) Of the amounts specified in par. (a), the department shall allocate $2,000,000 for the last 6 months of 2021 2023, $4,000,000 for 2022 2024, and $2,000,000 for the first 6 months of 2023 2025 to counties based on each of the following factors weighted equally:

SB70,907 Section 907. 48.526 (7) (bm) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,681,6 48.526 (7) (bm) Of the amounts specified in par. (a), the department shall allocate $6,250,000 for the last 6 months of 2021 2023, $12,500,000 for 2022 2024, and $6,250,000 for the first 6 months of 2023 2025 to counties based on each county's proportion of the number of juveniles statewide who are placed in a juvenile correctional facility or a secured residential care center for children and youth during the most recent 3-year period for which that information is available.

SB70,908 Section 908. 48.526 (7) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,681,15 48.526 (7) (c) Of the amounts specified in par. (a), the department shall allocate $1,053,200 for the last 6 months of 2021 2023, $2,106,500 for 2022 2024, and $1,053,300 for the first 6 months of 2023 2025 to counties based on each of the factors specified in par. (b) 1. to 3. weighted equally, except that no county may receive an allocation under this paragraph that is less than 93 percent nor more than 115 percent of the amount that the county would have received under this paragraph if the allocation had been distributed only on the basis of the factor specified in par. (b) 3.

SB70,909 Section 909. 48.526 (7) (e) of the statutes is repealed.

SB70,910 Section 910. 48.526 (7) (h) of the statutes is repealed.

SB70,911 Section 911. 48.526 (8) of the statutes is repealed.

SB70,912 Section 912. 48.5275 of the statutes is created to read:

SB70,681,24 48.5275 Seventeen-year-old juvenile justice aids. Notwithstanding s. 48.526, from the appropriation under s. 20.437 (1) (cL), beginning on January 1, 2024, the department shall reimburse counties for the costs under s. 48.526 (2) (c) associated with juveniles who were alleged to have violated a state or federal criminal law or any civil law or municipal ordinance at age 17.

SB70,913 Section 913. 48.528 of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

SB70,682,3 48.528 Youth justice system improvement program. From the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (cm) and (kp), in each fiscal year the department may expend funds for the following purposes:

SB70,682,8 (1) To fund programs that enhance diversion, prevention, or early intervention to reduce the number of justice-involved youth or promote successful outcomes for all youth. To determine eligibility for a payment under this subsection, the department shall require a county or other provider to submit a plan for the expenditure of the payment.

SB70,682,10 (2) To address emergencies related to community youth and family aids under s. 48.526.

SB70,682,11 (3) To fund activities required of the department under s. 48.526 (1).

SB70,914 Section 914 . 48.53 of the statutes is created to read:

SB70,682,16 48.53 Grants to support foster parents and children. From the appropriation account under s. 20.437 (1) (bg), the department shall distribute grants to counties, nonprofit organizations, or tribes for the purpose of supporting foster parents and providing normalcy for children in out-of-home care.

SB70,915 Section 915 . 48.545 of the statutes is repealed.

SB70,916 Section 916. 48.563 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,682,22 48.563 (2) County allocation. For children and family services under s. 48.569 (1) (d), the department shall distribute not more than $101,154,200 in fiscal year 2021-22 and $101,162,800 $101,564,700 in fiscal year 2022-23 2023-24 and $101,961,600 in fiscal year 2024-25.

SB70,917 Section 917. 48.57 (3m) (a) 1. b. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,683,6 48.57 (3m) (a) 1. b. The person is under 21 years of age, the person is a full-time student in good academic standing at a secondary school or its vocational or technical equivalent, an individualized education program under s. 115.787 is in effect for the person, and the person is placed in the home of the kinship care relative provider under an order under s. 48.355, 48.357, 48.365, 938.355, 938.357, or 938.365 that terminates under s. 48.355 (4) (b) or 938.355 (4) (am) after the person attains 18 years of age or under a voluntary transition-to-independent-living agreement under s. 48.366 (3) or 938.366 (3).

SB70,918 Section 918. 48.57 (3m) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,683,9 48.57 (3m) (a) 2. “Kinship care relative provider" means a relative other than a parent, an extended family member, as defined in s. 48.028 (2) (am), or like-kin.

SB70,919 Section 919 . 48.57 (3m) (am) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,683,18 48.57 (3m) (am) (intro.) From the appropriations under s. 20.437 (2) (dz), (md), (me), and (s), the department shall reimburse counties having populations of less than 750,000 for payments made under this subsection and shall make payments under this subsection in a county having a population of 750,000 or more. Subject to par. (ap), a county department and, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department shall make payments in the amount of $300 per month beginning on January 1, 2022, to a kinship care relative provider who is providing care and maintenance for a child if all of the following conditions are met:

SB70,920 Section 920 . 48.57 (3m) (am) (intro.) of the statutes, as affected by 2023 Wisconsin Act ... (this act), is amended to read:

SB70,684,7 48.57 (3m) (am) (intro.) From the appropriations under s. 20.437 (2) (dz), (md), (me), and (s), the department shall reimburse counties having populations of less than 750,000 for payments made under this subsection and shall make payments under this subsection in a county having a population of 750,000 or more. Subject to par. (ap), and if all of the following conditions are met, beginning on January 1, 2024, a county department and, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department shall make monthly payments to a kinship care provider who is providing care and maintenance for a child in the amount of $300 per month beginning on January 1, 2022, to a kinship care provider who is providing care and maintenance for a child if all of the following conditions are met $441 for a child under 5 years of age; $483 for a child 5 to 11 years of age; $548 for a child 12 to 14 years of age; and $572 for a child 15 years of age or over:

SB70,921 Section 921. 48.57 (3m) (am) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,684,13 48.57 (3m) (am) 1. The kinship care relative provider applies to the county department or department for payments under this subsection and, if the child is placed in the home of the kinship care relative provider under a court order, other than a court order under s. 48.9795 or ch. 54, 2017 stats., for a license to operate a foster home.

SB70,922 Section 922. 48.57 (3m) (am) 1m. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,684,18 48.57 (3m) (am) 1m. The county department or department determines that there is a need for the child to be placed with the kinship care relative provider and that the placement with the kinship care relative provider is in the best interests of the child.

SB70,923 Section 923. 48.57 (3m) (am) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,685,2 48.57 (3m) (am) 4. The county department or department conducts a background investigation under sub. (3p) of the kinship care relative provider, any employee and prospective employee of the kinship care relative provider who has or would have regular contact with the child for whom the payments would be made and any other adult resident of the kinship care relative's provider's home to determine if the kinship care relative provider, employee, prospective employee or adult resident has any arrests or convictions that could adversely affect the child or the kinship care relative's provider's ability to care for the child.

SB70,924 Section 924. 48.57 (3m) (am) 4m. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,685,10 48.57 (3m) (am) 4m. Subject to sub. (3p) (fm) 1. and 2., the kinship care relative provider states that he or she does not have any arrests or convictions that could adversely affect the child or the kinship care relative's provider's ability to care for the child and that no adult resident, as defined in sub. (3p) (a), and no employee or prospective employee of the kinship care relative provider who would have regular contact with the child has any arrests or convictions that could adversely affect the child or the kinship care relative's provider's ability to care for the child.

SB70,925 Section 925. 48.57 (3m) (am) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,685,14 48.57 (3m) (am) 5. The kinship care relative provider cooperates with the county department or department in the application process, including applying for other forms of assistance for which the child may be eligible.

SB70,926 Section 926. 48.57 (3m) (am) 5m. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,685,17 48.57 (3m) (am) 5m. The kinship care relative provider is not receiving payments under sub. (3n) with respect to the child.

SB70,927 Section 927. 48.57 (3m) (am) 6. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,685,21 48.57 (3m) (am) 6. The child for whom the kinship care relative provider is providing care and maintenance is not receiving supplemental security income under 42 USC 1381 to 1383c or state supplemental payments under s. 49.77.

SB70,928 Section 928. 48.57 (3m) (an) of the statutes is created to read:

SB70,686,5 48.57 (3m) (an) In addition to the monthly payments for kinship care under par. (am), the department or, with the department's approval, the county department may make payments for exceptional circumstances to enable siblings or a minor parent and minor children to reside together and for initial clothing allowances to a kinship care provider who is providing care and maintenance for a child residing in the home of the kinship care provider who is receiving a monthly rate under par. (am), commensurate with the needs of the child, according to the rules promulgated by the department under par. (i) 3.

SB70,929 Section 929. 48.57 (3m) (ap) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,686,17 48.57 (3m) (ap) 1. Subject to subds. 2. and 3., the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department may make payments under par. (am) to a kinship care relative provider who is providing care and maintenance for a child who is placed in the home of the kinship care relative provider under a court order for no more than 60 days after the date on which the county department or department received under par. (am) 1. the completed application of the kinship care relative provider for a license to operate a foster home or, if the application is approved or denied or the kinship care relative provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure within those 60 days, until the date on which the application is approved or denied or the kinship care relative provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure.

SB70,930 Section 930. 48.57 (3m) (ap) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,687,4 48.57 (3m) (ap) 2. If the application specified in subd. 1. is not approved or denied or the kinship care relative provider is not otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure within 60 days after the date on which the county department or department received the completed application for any reason other than an act or omission of the kinship care relative provider, the county department or department may make payments under par. (am) for 4 months after the date on which the county department or department received the completed application or, if the application is approved or denied or the kinship care relative provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure within those 4 months, until the date on which the application is approved or denied or the kinship care relative provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure.

SB70,931 Section 931. 48.57 (3m) (ap) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,687,22 48.57 (3m) (ap) 3. Notwithstanding that an application of a kinship care relative provider specified in subd. 1. is denied or the kinship care relative provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure, the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department may make payments under par. (am) to the kinship care relative provider for as long as the conditions specified in par. (am) 1. to 6. continue to apply if the county department or department submits to the court information relating to the background investigation specified in par. (am) 4., an assessment of the safety of the kinship care relative's provider's home and the ability of the kinship care relative provider to care for the child, and a recommendation that the child remain in the home of the kinship care relative provider and the court, after considering that information, assessment, and recommendation, orders the child to remain in the kinship care relative's provider's home. If the court does not order the child to remain in the kinship care relative's provider's home, the court shall order the county department or department to request a change in placement under s. 48.357 (1) (am) or 938.357 (1) (am). Any person specified in s. 48.357 (2m) (a) or 938.357 (2m) (a) may also request a change in placement.

SB70,932 Section 932 . 48.57 (3m) (ar) and (at) of the statutes are created to read:

SB70,688,3 48.57 (3m) (ar) In addition to the monthly payments for kinship care under par. (ap), the department or, with the department's approval, the county department may make emergency payments for kinship care to a kinship care provider who is providing care and maintenance for a child residing in the home of the kinship care provider under a court order if any of the following conditions are met:

SB70,688,6 1. The governor has declared a state of emergency pursuant to s. 323.10, or the federal government has declared a major disaster under 42 USC 68, that covers the locality of the home of the kinship care provider.

SB70,688,9 2. This state has received federal funding to be used for child welfare purposes due to an emergency or disaster declared for the locality of the home of the kinship care provider.

SB70,688,13 3. The department has determined that conditions in this state or in the locality of the home of the kinship care provider have resulted in a temporary increase in the costs borne by kinship care providers. Those conditions may include any of the following:

SB70,688,14 a. A pandemic or other public health threat.

SB70,688,15 b. A natural disaster.

SB70,688,16 c. Unplanned school closures of 5 consecutive days or more.