289,74
Section 74
. 48.651 (1) (a) and (b) of the statutes are created to read:
48.651 (1) (a) Level I certified family day care providers, as established by the department under s. 46.03 (21).
The county shall require 15 hours of training for a provider certified under this paragraph. No county may certify a provider under this paragraph if the provider is a relative of all of the children for whom he or she provides care. The department may establish by rule other requirements for certification under this paragraph.
(b) Level II certified family day care providers, as established by the department under s. 46.03 (21). In establishing the requirements for certification under this paragraph, the department may not include a requirement for training for providers. The department may establish by rule requirements for certification under this paragraph.
289,75
Section 75
. 48.651 (2) of the statutes is created to read:
48.651 (2) (a) In this subsection, “adult resident" means a person 18 years of age or over who lives at the home of a person who is a day care provider certified under this section with the intent of making that home his or her home or who lives for more than 30 days cumulative in any 6-month period at the home of a person who is a day care provider certified under this section.
(b) 1. Before initially certifying a Level I certified family day care provider under sub. (1) (a) or a Level II certified family day care provider under sub. (1) (b), the county department, with the assistance of the department of justice, shall conduct a background investigation of the certification applicant.
2. The county department, with the assistance of the department of justice, shall conduct a background investigation of any person who, on the effective date of this subdivision .... [revisor inserts date], is a day care provider certified under this section or who, on the effective date of this subdivision .... [revisor inserts date], has an application for certification pending, within 6 months after the effective date of this subdivision .... [revisor inserts date], or on the person's application for renewal, whichever is earlier.
3. Subject to subd. 2., the county department may, at the time of renewal of the certification of a day care provider certified under this section, or at any other time that the county department considers to be appropriate, conduct, with the assistance of the department of justice, a background investigation of that day care provider.
(c) 1. Before initially certifying a Level I certified family day care provider under sub. (1) (a) or a Level II certified family day care provider under sub. (1) (b), the county department, with the assistance of the department of justice, shall, in addition to the investigation under par. (b), conduct a background investigation of all of the employes and prospective employes of the certification applicant who have or would have regular contact with a child receiving care from the day care provider and of each adult resident.
2. The county department, with the assistance of the department of justice, shall conduct a background investigation of each adult resident of a person who, on the effective date of this subdivision .... [revisor inserts date], is certified under this section or who, on the effective date of this subdivision .... [revisor inserts date], has an application for certification pending, within 6 months after that date or on the person's application for renewal, whichever is earlier, and shall conduct a background investigation of all of the employes and prospective employes of that person who have or would have regular contact with any child receiving care from the day care provider.
3. Subject to subd. 2., the county department may, at the time of renewal of the certification of a day care provider certified under this section or at any other time that the county department considers to be appropriate, conduct, with the assistance of the department of justice, a background investigation of any employe or prospective employe of the day care provider who has or would have regular contact with any child receiving care from the day care provider or of any adult resident of the day care provider.
4. Before a day care provider that is certified under this section may employ any person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with a child receiving care from the day care provider or permit any person to be an adult resident, the county department, with the assistance of the department of justice, shall conduct a background investigation of the prospective employe or prospective adult resident unless that person has already been investigated under subd. 1., 2. or 3.
(d) If the person being investigated under par. (b) or (c) is a nonresident, or if at any time within the 5 years preceding the date of the investigation that person has been a nonresident, or if the county department determines that the person's employment, certification or state court records provide a reasonable basis for further investigation, the county department shall require the person to be photographed and fingerprinted on 2 fingerprint cards, each bearing a complete set of the person's fingerprints. The department of justice may provide for the submission of the fingerprint cards to the federal bureau of investigation for the purposes of verifying the identity of the person fingerprinted and obtaining records of his or her criminal arrest and conviction.
(e) Upon request, a person being investigated under par. (b) or (c) shall provide the county department with all of the following information:
1. The person's name.
2. The person's social security number.
3. Other identifying information, including the person's birthdate, gender, race and any identifying physical characteristics.
4. Information regarding the conviction record of the person under the law of this state or any other state or under federal law. This information shall be provided on a notarized background verification form that the department shall provide by rule promulgated under s. 48.67.
(f) 1. A county department may not certify a person as a day care provider under this section until the county department receives information from the department of justice indicating that the person's conviction record under the law of this state is satisfactory according to the criteria specified in par. (g) 1. to 3. A county department may certify a person as a day care provider under this section conditioned on the receipt of information from the federal bureau of investigation indicating that the person's conviction record under the law of any other state or under federal law is satisfactory according to the criteria specified in par. (g) 1. to 3. A county department may grant provisional certification pending the receipt of the information required under this subdivision.
2. A day care provider that is certified under this section may not employ a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with a child receiving care from the day care provider or permit a person to be an adult resident until the county department receives information from the department of justice indicating that the person's conviction record under the law of this state is satisfactory according to the criteria specified in par. (g) 1. to 3. and the county department so advises the day care provider. A day care provider that is certified under this section may employ a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with a child receiving care from the day care provider or permit a person to be an adult resident conditioned on the receipt of information from the federal bureau of investigation indicating that the person's conviction record under the law of any other state or under federal law is satisfactory according to the criteria specified in par. (g) 1. to 3.
(g)
Subject to par. (h), a county department may not certify a person to be a day care provider under this section and a day care provider certified under this section may not employ a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with a child receiving care from the day care provider or permit a person to be an adult resident if any of the following applies:
1. The person has been convicted of a violation of ch. 161 that is punishable as a felony or of a violation of the law of any other state or federal law that would be a violation of ch. 161 that is punishable as a felony if committed in this state.
2. The person has had imposed on him or her a penalty specified in s. 939.62, 939.621, 939.63, 939.64, 939.641 or 939.645 or has been convicted of a violation of the law of any other state or federal law under circumstances under which the person would be subject to a penalty specified in any of those sections if convicted in this state.
3. The person has been convicted of a violation of ch. 940, 944 or 948, other than a violation of s. 940.291, 940.34, 944.36, 948.45, 948.63 or 948.70, or of a violation of the law of any other state or federal law that would be a violation of ch. 940, 944 or 948, other than a violation of s. 940.291, 940.34, 944.36, 948.45, 948.63 or 948.70, if committed in this state, except that the county department may certify a person to be a day care provider under this section and a day care provider certified under this section may employ or permit to be an adult resident a person who has been convicted of a violation of s. 944.30, 944.31 or 944.33 or of a violation of the law of any other state or federal law that would be a violation of s. 944.30, 944.31 or 944.33 if committed in this state, if that violation occurred 20 years or more before the date of the investigation.
(h) Notwithstanding par. (g), a person whose application for initial certification or renewal of a certification under this section has been denied on one of the grounds specified in par. (g) 1. to 3. may petition the department for a review of that denial. If the department determines that issuing or renewing the certification would be in the best interests of a child, the department shall order that the certification be issued or renewed. The department
shall promulgate rules to provide standards under which to review a petition under this paragraph.
(i) A county department shall keep confidential all information received under this subsection from the department of justice or the federal bureau of investigation, except that the county department may disclose any information obtained under this subsection to any other county department conducting an investigation under this subsection. Such information is not subject to inspection or copying under s. 19.35.
(j) A county department may charge a fee for conducting a background investigation under this subsection. The fee may not exceed the reasonable cost of conducting the investigation.
289,76
Section 76
. 48.981 (2) of the statutes, as affected by 1993 Wisconsin Act 443, is amended to read:
48.981 (2) Persons required to report. A physician, coroner, medical examiner, nurse, dentist, chiropractor, optometrist, acupuncturist, other medical or mental health professional, social worker, marriage and family therapist, professional counselor, public assistance worker, including a financial and employment planner, as defined in s. 49.141 (1) (d), school teacher, administrator or counselor, mediator under s. 767.11, child care worker in a day care center or child caring institution, day care provider, alcohol or other drug abuse counselor, member of the treatment staff employed by or working under contract with a county department under s. 46.23, 51.42 or 51.437, physical therapist, occupational therapist, dietitian, speech-language pathologist, audiologist, emergency medical technician or police or law enforcement officer having reasonable cause to suspect that a child seen in the course of professional duties has been abused or neglected or having reason to believe that a child seen in the course of professional duties has been threatened with abuse or neglect and that abuse or neglect of the child will occur shall, except as provided under sub. (2m), report as provided in sub. (3). Any other person, including an attorney, having reason to suspect that a child has been abused or neglected or reason to believe that a child has been threatened with abuse or neglect and that abuse or neglect of the child will occur may make such a report. No person making a report under this subsection may be discharged from employment for so doing.
289,77
Section 77
. 49.001 (9) of the statutes is created to read:
49.001 (9) “Wisconsin works agency" means a person under contract under s. 49.143 to administer Wisconsin works under ss. 49.141 to 49.161. If no contract is awarded under s. 49.143, “Wisconsin works agency" means the department of industry, labor and job development.
289,78
Section 78
. 49.015 (2) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:
49.015 (2) Recipients of other aid. Except as provided in sub. (3), an individual is not eligible for relief for a month in which the individual has received aid to families with dependent children under s. 49.19 or supplemental security income under 42 USC 1381 to 1383c or has participated in a Wisconsin works employment position under s. 49.147 (3) to (5) or in which aid to families with dependent children or, supplemental security income benefits are or a Wisconsin works employment position is immediately available to the individual.
289,79
Section 79
. 49.124 (1m) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act 27, is renumbered 49.124 (1m) (a) and amended to read:
49.124 (1m) (a) The department shall administer an employment and training program for recipients under the food stamp program. The department may contract with a Wisconsin works agency to administer the employment and training program under this section. Except as provided in pars. (b) and (bm), the department may require able individuals who are 18 to 60 years of age who are not participants in a Wisconsin works employment position, as defined in s. 49.141 (1) (r), to participate in the employment and training program under this section. To the extent permitted by federal law or waiver, and except as provided in par. (cm), the department may distribute food stamp benefits on a pay-for-performance basis, as determined under par. (c). The maximum number of hours an individual may be required to work may not exceed
the amount of food stamp benefits divided by the applicable federal minimum wage, or 40 hours per week, whichever is less.
289,80
Section 80
. 49.124 (1m) (b) and (bm) of the statutes are created to read:
49.124 (1m) (b) The department may not require an individual who is a recipient under the food stamp program and who is the caretaker of a child who is under the age of 12 weeks to participate in any employment and training program under par. (a).
(bm) The department may not require an individual who is a recipient under the food stamp program to participate in any employment and training program under par. (a) if that individual is enrolled at least half time in a school, as defined in s. 49.26 (1) (a) 2., a training program or an institution of higher education.
289,81
Section 81
. 49.124 (1m) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
49.124 (1m) (c) The amount of food stamp benefits paid to the recipient in a subsequent month shall be determined as follows:
1. The department shall add the recipient's total number of hours of actual participation in the month to the total number of hours in a month for which the recipient had good cause, as defined by the department by rule, for not participating in required activities.
2. The department shall subtract the total number of hours determined under subd. 1. from the recipient's total number of hours of required participation in that month.
3. The department shall multiply the number of hours determined under subd. 2. by the federal minimum hourly wage under 29 USC 206 (a) (1).
4. The department shall subtract the dollar amount determined under subd. 3. from the amount of food stamp benefits that the recipient's family would have received if he or she had participated for the total number of assigned hours.
289,81c
Section 81c. 49.124 (1m) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:
49.124 (1m) (cm) Notwithstanding par. (c), the amount of food stamp benefits paid to a recipient who is a participant in a Wisconsin works employment position under s. 49.147 (4) or (5) shall be calculated based on the pre-sanction benefit amount received s. 49.148.
289,81e
Section 81e. 49.124 (1p) of the statutes is created to read:
49.124 (1p) Waiver. (a) The department shall request a waiver from the secretary of the federal department of agriculture to permit the application of par. (b). Paragraph (b) does not apply unless a waiver is granted and in effect.
(b) The department shall modify eligibility and benefit amounts under the food stamp program to provide for a graduated schedule of benefits based on income in the manner described in the waiver under par. (a).
289,81g
Section 81g. 49.124 (2) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:
49.124 (2) Liability for lost food coupons. (a) A county or, federally recognized American Indian tribe or Wisconsin works agency is liable for all food stamp coupons lost, misappropriated or destroyed while under the county's or, tribe's or Wisconsin works agency's direct control, except as provided in par. (b).
(b) A county or, federally recognized American Indian tribe or Wisconsin works agency is not liable for food stamp coupons lost in natural disasters if it provides evidence acceptable to the department that the coupons were destroyed and not redeemed.
(c) A county or, federally recognized American Indian tribe or Wisconsin works agency is liable for food stamp coupons mailed to residents of the county or
, members of the tribe or participants in the Wisconsin works program and lost in the mail due to incorrect information submitted to the department by the county or, tribe or Wisconsin works agency.
289,83
Section 83
. 49.125 (1) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:
49.125 (1) The department, or a county or, an elected governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band or a Wisconsin works agency acting on behalf of the department, may recover overpayments that arise from an overissuance of food coupons under the food stamp program administered under s. 46.215 (1) (k) or, 46.22 (1) (b) 2. d. or 49.143 (2) (e). Recovery shall be made in accordance with 7 USC 2022.
289,83e
Section 83e. 49.138 (title), (2)
and (3) of the statutes are created to read:
49.138 (title) Emergency assistance for families with needy children.
(2) Emergency assistance provided to a person under sub. (1) (c) may be provided once in a 12-month period.
(3) The department shall submit a report to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) no later than 12 months following the date stated in the notice under s. 49.141 (2) (d). The report shall discuss the interaction between the program under this section and Wisconsin works, as defined in s. 49.141 (1) (p). The report shall include information on the utilization of the program under this section and the department's recommendations, if any, for changes to the program under this section.
289,84
Section 84
. 49.141 of the statutes is created to read:
49.141 Wisconsin works; general provisions. (1) Definitions. As used in ss. 49.141 to 49.161:
(a) “Community service job" means a work component of Wisconsin works administered under s. 49.147 (4).
(b) “Custodial parent" means, with respect to a dependent child, a parent who resides with that child and, if there has been a determination of legal custody with respect to the dependent child, has legal custody of that child. For the purposes of this paragraph, “legal custody" has the meaning given in s. 767.001 (2) (a).
(c) “Dependent child" means a person who resides with a parent and who is under the age of 18 or, if the person is a full-time student at a secondary school or a vocational or technical equivalent and is reasonably expected to complete the program before attaining the age of 19, is under the age of 19.
(d) “Financial and employment planner" means a caseworker employed by a Wisconsin works agency who provides financial or employment counseling services to a participant.
(e) “Job access loan" means a loan administered under s. 49.147 (6).
(f) “Migrant worker" has the meaning given in s. 103.90 (5).
(g) “Minimum wage" means the state minimum hourly wage under ch. 104 or the federal minimum hourly wage under 29 USC 206 (a) (1), whichever is applicable.
(h) “Noncustodial parent" means, with respect to a dependent child, a parent who is not the custodial parent.
(i) “Nonmarital coparent" means, with respect to an individual and a dependent child, a parent who is not married to the individual, resides with the dependent child and is either an adjudicated parent or a parent who has signed and filed with the state registrar under s. 69.15 (3) (b) 3. a statement acknowledging paternity.
(j) “Parent" means either a biological parent, a person who has consented to the artificial insemination of his wife under s. 891.40, or a parent by adoption.
(k) “Participant" means an individual who participates in any component of the Wisconsin works program.
(L) “Strike" has the meaning provided in 29 USC 142 (2).
(m) “Transitional placement" means a work component of Wisconsin works administered under s. 49.147 (5).
(n) “Trial job" means a work component of Wisconsin works administered under s. 49.147 (3).
(p) “Wisconsin works" means the assistance program for families with dependent children, administered under ss. 49.141 to 49.161.
(r) “Wisconsin works employment position" means any job or placement under s. 49.147 (3) to (5).
(s) “Wisconsin works group" means an individual who is a custodial parent, all dependent children with respect to whom the individual is a custodial parent and all dependent children with respect to whom the individual's dependent child is a custodial parent. “Wisconsin works group" includes any nonmarital coparent or any spouse of the individual who resides in the same household as the individual and any dependent children with respect to whom the spouse or nonmarital coparent is a custodial parent. “Wisconsin works group" does not include any person who is receiving benefits under s. 49.027 (3) (b).
(2) Waivers; legislation. (a) If necessary, the department shall request a waiver from the secretaries of the federal department of health and human services, the federal department of agriculture and the federal social security administration or shall seek the passage of federal legislation to permit the department to conduct the Wisconsin works program in lieu of the aid to families with dependent children program under s. 49.19, the job opportunities and basic skills program under s. 49.193, the parental responsibility pilot program under s. 49.25 and the work-not-welfare program under s. 49.27 and as part of the food stamp program under 7 USC 2011 to 2029 and the medical assistance program under 42 USC 1396 to 1396u.
(b) If a waiver is granted and in effect or legislation is enacted, and if the department determines that sufficient funds are available, the department may begin to implement the Wisconsin works program no sooner than July 1, 1996, for selected counties or groups determined by the department and shall implement the Wisconsin works program statewide for all groups no later than September
1, 1997. If a waiver is not granted and in effect or federal legislation is not enacted before March 30, 1997, the department shall implement the Wisconsin works program statewide for all groups no later than 3 months after the necessary waiver has been granted or federal legislation has been enacted.
(d) Before implementing the Wisconsin works program, the department shall publish a notice in the Wisconsin Administrative Register that states the date on which the department will begin to implement the Wisconsin works program statewide.
(2g) Financial and performance audit. (a) 1. The department shall contract with the legislative audit bureau to conduct a financial and performance audit of Wisconsin works. The legislative audit bureau shall include in its audit all of the following:
a. The effect of the Wisconsin works employment component on the unsubsidized wages of former Wisconsin works employment position participants, the wages of trial job participants and the wages of participants that move from community service jobs and transitional placements to trial jobs.
b. The effect of Wisconsin works on the provision of child care services.
c. The utilization and cost of the Wisconsin works health plan under s. 49.153.
2. The legislative audit bureau shall file the audit no later than July 1, 2000, in the manner described under s. 13.94 (1) (b).
(b) If an evaluation is required under the terms of a federal waiver obtained under sub. (2) (a), the legislative audit bureau, in consultation with the department, may contract with a private or public agency to perform that evaluation and may charge the department for the cost of the evaluation.
(2m) Statistics on homelessness. The department shall maintain a record detailing statistics on the homelessness of participants.
(3) Applications. Any individual may apply for any component of Wisconsin works. Application for each component of Wisconsin works shall be made on a form prescribed by the department. The individual shall submit a completed application form to a Wisconsin works agency in the geographical area specified by the department under s. 49.143 (6) in which the individual lives and in the manner prescribed by the department.
