Reimbursement rates are required to two age categories and five provider types, a change from earlier policy.
10. Elimination of Rules for Respite Child Care
Rules for respite child care are eliminated, now that there is no longer a separate fund program. The 1995-97 state budget folded funding for respite child care into general community aids allocations for counties.
Publication Date:
June 29, 1996
Effective Date:
July 1, 1996
Expiration Date:
November 28, 1996
2. Rules adopted revising ss. HSS 55.55 to 55.63, relating to certification of child care providers.
Exemption From Finding of Emergency
The Legislature in s. 275 (2) of 1995 Wis. Act 289 directed th Department to promulgate rules relating to public assistance required under chs. 46, 48 and 49, Stats., as affected by the Acts of 1995, before July 1, 1996, for the period before permanent rules take effect, by using emergency rulemaking procedures but without having to make a finding of emergency. These are public assistance-related rules. They are for certified child care. They will take effect on July 1, 1996.
Analysis
The Department's current rules for certification of family day care providers, in-home day care providers and school-age day care programs are amended by this order to bring the rules into compliance with recent statute changes, in particular the changes made by 1995 Wis. Act 289 in establishing Wisconsin Works (W-2), a new system of assistance for families with dependent children which will replace Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), and to add needed protections for children, reduce or eliminate unnecessary requirements and clarify the authority of certifying agencies.
Key changes include:
1. Provisional Certification
Modifying standards for provisional certification so that no training is required, in compliance with Act 289 changes in the statutes.
2. Limited Certification
Deleting the category of limited certification, in compliance with Act 289 changes in the statutes.
3. Training for Regular Certification
Deleting the optional requirement to add 5 hours of initial training for regular certification, in order to standardize regulation statewide.
4. Criminal Records Check
Adding requirements for state criminal records checks and FBI criminal record check under certain circumstances, as required by Act 289 changes in the statutes.
5. Certification Fee
Permitting counties and tribal agencies to charge certification fees, as allowed under Act 289, not to exceed licensing fees for family day care centers plus the cost of criminal record checks.
6. Acceptance of Certification
Providing that certification issued by one certifying agency is to be accepted as valid by other certifying agencies.
7. Certification Exemption
Exempting specified child care arrangements from certification because those arrangements are short-term.
8. Sanction Authority
Giving sanction authority to certifying agencies when there is danger to the health, safety or welfare of children in care.
9. School-Age Programs
Adding requirements related to swimming pools and water safety.
Adding requirements for the safety of vehicles transporting children.
Deleting requirements for:
a. Physical exams for children and staff (replaced by a health history requirement).
b. 75 square feet of outdoor space per child.
c. Daily outdoor activities.
d. A place for rest or relaxation.
e. Ongoing communication with the child's parent.
f. Making copies of the certification standards available to all parents.
10. Parochial and Private Schools
Deleting rules related to certification of parochial and private schools since those programs can become licensed in order to receive public child care funding.
11. Parent Checklist
Deleting the rules requirement that parents in certified family day care and in-home day care complete and return a checklist of basic certification standards but permitting counties and tribes to continue to require it.
12. Other New or Changed Rules
a. Clarifying what is acceptable supervision and limiting the number of hours a provider can provide child care per day.
b. Requiring TB tests for all certified providers.
c. Requiring proper hand washing for child care providers and children.
d. Changing the water testing requirement when a public water supply is not available to be a one-time test prior to or within 3 months of initial certification.
e. Requiring certified providers to report relevant information to the certifying agency.
f. Prohibiting consumption of alcoholic beverages or controlled substances on the premises during hours of operation.
g. Prohibiting discrimination.
Publication Date:
June 29, 1996
Effective Date:
July 1, 1996
Expiration Date:
November 28, 1996
3. Rules adopted repealing s. HSS 55.76 (5), created as an emergency rule relating to the administration of child care funds and required co-payments.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Workforce Development finds that an emergency exists and that a rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety and welfare. A statement of the facts constituting the emergency is:
Congress has just enacted welfare reform legislation which makes major changes to the federal welfare system, in many cases replacing federal entitlements with block grants to the states. The Governor has directed the creation of a Child Care Working Group to analyze the impact that the federal legislation will have on child care in Wisconsin and on the Wisconsin works program, and to analyze and identify effective methods and funding sources to increase child care options and expand the availability of affordable child care. Under these circumstances, it is necessary to withdraw the schedule for child care co-payments and the phase-in co-payment formula which were implemented by emergency rule on July 1 of this year. This will avoid the administrative problems and costs that would otherwise be incurred if these rules are changed again as a result of the new federal law.
Publication Date:
August 13,1996
Effective Date:
August 13, 1996
Expiration Date:
January 10, 1997
EMERGENCY RULES NOW IN EFFECT
Health and Social Services
(Medical Assistance, Chs. HSS 100-)
Rules adopted revising chs. HSS 101, 105 and 107, relating to Medical Assistance coverage of school-based medical services.
Exemption From Finding of Emergency
The Legislature in s. 9126 (7m) of 1995 Wis. Act 27 directed the Department to promulgate rules required under s. 49.45 (39), Stats., as created by Act 27, by using emergency rulemaking procedures, but exempted the Department from the requirement under s. 227.24 (1) and (3), Stats., to make a finding of emergency.
Analysis
The 1995-97 Budget Act, 1995 Wis. Act 27, created s. 49.45 (39), Stats., which requires the Department of Health and Social Services to reimburse school districts and Cooperative Educational Service Agencies (CESAs) for Medical Assistance school-based services. this rule-making order describes the covered services: speech, language, audiology and hearing services; occupational therapy; physical therapy; nursing services; psychological services, counseling and social work; developmental testing and assessments; transportation; and certain durable medical equipment. the order also explains the recordkeeping collaboration with other health care providers required of school-based service providers.
Publication Date:
June 15, 1996
Effective Date:
June 15, 1996
Expiration Date:
November 12, 1996
EMERGENCY RULES NOW IN EFFECT (3)
Health and Social Services
(Health, Chs. HSS 110--)
1. Rules adopted revising chs. HSS 172, 175, 178, 195 to 198, relating to permits and permit fees.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Health & Social Services finds that an emergency exists and that the adoption of the rules is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public, peace, health, safety or welfare. The facts constituting the emergency are as follows:
The Department and agent local government health departments regulate campgrounds, camps, the operation of swimming pools that serve the public, restaurants, hotels and motels, tourist rooming houses, bed and breakfast establishments and food vending operations, under the authority of ss. 254.47 and 254.61 to 254.88, Stats., to ensure that these facilities comply with health, sanitation and safety standards established by the Department by rule. The Department's rules are in chs. HSS 172, 175, 178, 195, 196, 197 and 198, Wis. Adm. Code. None of these facilities may operate without receiving a permit from the Department or an agent local government health department. A permit is evidence that a facility complies with the Department's rules on the date of issuance of the permit. All permits except those for bed and breakfast establishments are one-year permits. A facility is charged a permit fee. Permit fee revenues support the regulatory program.
In 1993 the Budget Act for 1993-95 directed the Department to establish permit fees by rule beginning July 1, 1994. Until then the fees had been set by statute.
This rulemaking order increases permit fees effective July 1, 1996, by about 10% for campgrounds; recreational and educational camps; swimming pools that serve the public; restaurants; hotels, motels and tourist rooming houses; bed and breakfast establishments; and food vending operators and commissaries. It also increases preinspection fees for restaurants; hotels, motels and tourist rooming houses; bed and breakfast establishments; and food vending commissaries.
The fees are increased to cover higher costs for these regulatory programs.
The rules are being promulgated as emergency rules to protect public health and safety. The fee increases will take effect on July 1, 1996, which is the beginning of a new permit period. Raising the fees as provided in this order will enable the Department to avoid running a deficit in program revenue and so avoid having to reduce inspections of food-serving, lodging and recreational facilities and taking longer to respond to foodborne and waterborne disease outbreaks.
The fees established by this order do not apply to facilities regulated by local health departments granted agent status under s. 254.69, Stats. Permit fees for those facilities are established by the local health departments, pursuant to s. 254.69 (2) (d), Stats.
Publication Date:
June 8, 1996
Effective Date:
July 1, 1996
Expiration Date:
November 28, 1996
Hearing Date:
August 28, 1996
2. Rules adopted revising ch. HSS 172, relating to public swimming pools.
Finding of Emergency
