48.685 (1) (b) “Entity" means a child welfare agency that is licensed under s. 48.60 to provide care and maintenance for children, to place children for adoption or to license foster homes or treatment foster homes; a foster home or treatment foster home that is licensed under s. 48.62; a group home that is licensed under s. 48.625; a shelter care facility that is licensed under s. 938.22; a day care center that is licensed under s. 48.65 or established or contracted for under s. 120.13 (14); or a day care provider that is certified under s. 48.651.
237,157m
Section 157m. 48.685 (1) (bg) of the statutes is created to read:
48.685 (1) (bg) “Foster home" includes a placement for adoption under s. 48.833 of a child for whom adoption assistance will be provided under s. 48.975 after the adoption is finalized.
237,157p
Section 157p. 48.685 (1) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
48.685 (1) (d) “Treatment foster home" includes a placement for adoption under s. 48.833 of a child for whom adoption assistance will be provided under s. 48.975 after the adoption is finalized.
237,158
Section 158
. 48.685 (2) (a) (intro.) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:
48.685 (2) (a) (intro.) 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 an entity or continue the license of a person to operate an entity, and, except as provided in par. (ad) and sub. (5), a county department may not certify a day care provider under s. 48.651, a county department or a child welfare agency may not license, or renew the license of, a foster home or treatment foster home under s. 48.62 and a school board may not contract with a person under s. 120.13 (14), if the department, county department, child welfare agency or school board knows or should have known any of the following:
237,159
Section 159
. 48.685 (2) (ad) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:
48.685 (2) (ad) A The department, a county department or a child welfare agency may license a foster home or treatment foster home under s. 48.62, a county department may certify a day 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 par. (am) indicating that the person is not ineligible to be certified or contracted with for a reason specified in par. (a) 1. to 5.
237,160
Section 160
. 48.685 (2) (am) (intro.) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:
48.685 (2) (am) (intro.) Subject to subd. 5.
and par. (bd), the department, a county department, a child welfare agency or a school board shall obtain all of the following with respect to a person specified under par. (a) (intro.) and a person specified under par. (ag) (intro.) who is a nonclient resident or prospective nonclient resident of an entity:
237,161
Section 161
. 48.685 (2) (am) 5. of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:
48.685 (2) (am) 5. Information maintained by the department under this section, and under section ss. 48.651 (2m) and under s., 48.75 (1m) and 120.13 (14) regarding any denial to the person of a license, continuation or renewal of a license, certification or a contract to operate an entity for a reason specified in par. (a) 1. to 5. and regarding any denial to the person of employment at, a contract with or permission to reside at an entity for a reason specified in par. (ag) 1. to 5. If the information obtained under this subdivision indicates that the person has been denied a license, continuation or renewal of a license, certification, a contract, employment or permission to reside as described in this subdivision, the department, a county department, a child welfare agency or a school board need not obtain the information specified in subds. 1. to 4.
237,162
Section 162
. 48.685 (2) (b) 1. (intro.) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:
48.685 (2) (b) 1. (intro.) Subject to subds. 1. e., and 2. and 3. par. (bd), every entity shall obtain all of the following with respect to a person specified under par. (ag) (intro.) who is an employe, prospective employe, contractor or prospective contractor of the entity:
237,163
Section 163
. 48.685 (2) (b) 1. e. of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:
48.685 (2) (b) 1. e. Information maintained by the department under this section, and under section ss. 48.651 (2m) and under s., 48.75 (1m) and 120.13 (14) regarding any denial to the person of a license, continuation or renewal of a license, certification or a contract to operate an entity for a reason specified in par. (a) 1. to 5. and regarding any denial to the person of employment at, a contract with or permission to reside at an entity for a reason specified in par. (ag) 1. to 5. If the information obtained under this subd. 1. e. indicates that the person has been denied a license, continuation or renewal of a license, certification, a contract, employment or permission to reside as described in this subd. 1. e., the entity need not obtain the information specified in subd. 1. a. to d.
237,164
Section 164
. 48.685 (2) (b) 3. of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is renumbered 48.685 (2) (bd) and amended to read:
48.685 (2) (bd) Subdivision 1. does not apply Notwithstanding pars. (am) and (b) 1., the department, a county department, a child welfare agency or a school board is not required to obtain the information specified in par. (am) 1. to 5., and an entity is not required to obtain the information specified in par. (b) 1. a. to e., with respect to a person under 18 years of age whose background information form under sub. (6) (am) indicates that the person is not ineligible to be employed, contracted with or permitted to reside at the an entity for a reason specified in par. (ag) 1. to 5. and with respect to whom the department, county department, child welfare agency, school board or entity otherwise has no reason to believe that the person is ineligible to be employed, contracted with or permitted to reside at the an entity for any of those reasons. This paragraph does not preclude the department, a county department, a child welfare agency or a school board from obtaining, at its discretion, the information specified in par. (am) 1. to 5. with respect to a person described in this paragraph who is a nonclient resident or a prospective nonclient resident of an entity.
237,165
Section 165
. 48.685 (2) (bg) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:
48.685 (2) (bg) If an entity takes an action specified in par. (ag) (intro.) with respect to a person
an employe, prospective employe, contractor or prospective contractor for whom, within the last 4 years, the information required under par. (b) 1. a. to c. and e. has already been obtained, either by another entity or by a temporary employment agency, the entity may obtain the information required under par. (b) 1. a. to c. and e. from that other entity or temporary employment agency, which shall provide the information, if possible, to the entity. If an entity cannot obtain the information required under par. (b) 1. a. to c. and e. from another entity or from a temporary employment agency or if an entity has reasonable grounds to believe that any information obtained from another entity or from a temporary employment agency is no longer accurate, the entity shall obtain that information from the sources specified in par. (b) 1. a. to c. and e.
237,166
Section 166
. 48.685 (2) (c) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:
48.685 (2) (c) If the background information form completed by a person under sub. (6) (am) indicates that the person is not ineligible to be employed,
or contracted with or permitted to reside at an entity for a reason specified in par. (ag) 1. to 5., an entity may employ or contract with the person or permit the person to reside at the entity for not more than 60 days pending the receipt of the information sought under par. (b) 1. If the background information form completed by a person under sub. (6) (am) indicates that the person is not ineligible to be permitted to reside at an entity for a reason specified in par. (ag) 1. to 5. and if an entity otherwise has no reason to believe that the person is ineligible to be permitted to reside at an entity for any of those reasons, the entity may permit the person to reside at the entity for not more than 60 days pending receipt of the information sought under par. (am). An entity shall provide supervision for a person who is employed, contracted with or permitted to reside as permitted under this paragraph.
237,167
Section 167
. 48.685 (3) (a) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:
48.685 (3) (a) Every 4 years or at any time within that period that the department, a county department, a child welfare agency or a school board considers appropriate, the department, county department, child welfare agency or school board shall request the information specified in sub. (2) (am) 1. to 5. for all persons who are licensed, certified or contracted to operate an entity and for all persons specified in par. (ag) (intro.) who are nonclient residents of an entity.
237,168
Section
168. 48.685 (3) (b) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:
48.685 (3) (b) Every 4 years or at any time within that period that an entity considers appropriate, the entity shall request the information specified in sub. (2) (b) 1. a. to e. for all persons specified in sub. (2) (ag) (intro.) who are employes or contractors of the entity.
237,169
Section 169
. 48.685 (3m) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:
48.685 (3m) Notwithstanding subs. (2) (b) 1. and (3) (b), if the department, a county department, a child welfare agency or a school board has obtained the information required under sub. (2) (am) or (3) (a) with respect to a person specified in sub. (2) (a) (intro.) and that person is also an employe, contractor or nonclient resident of an entity, the entity is not required to obtain the information specified in sub. (2) (b) 1. or (3) (b) with respect to that person.
237,170
Section 170
. 48.685 (5) (intro.) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is renumbered 48.685 (5) (a) and amended to read:
48.685 (5) (a) The department may license to operate an entity, a county department may certify under s. 48.651, a county department or a child welfare agency may license under s. 48.62 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. (2) (a) 1. to 5., and an entity may employ, contract with or permit to reside at the entity a person who otherwise may not be employed, contracted with or permitted to reside at the entity for a reason specified in sub. (2) (ag) 1. to 5., if the person demonstrates to the department, the county department, the child welfare agency or the school board by clear and convincing evidence and in accordance with procedures established by the department by rule that he or she has been rehabilitated. No
(b) For purposes other than licensing a foster home or treatment foster home, no person who has been convicted of any of the following offenses may be permitted to demonstrate that he or she has been rehabilitated:
237,171
Section 171
. 48.685 (5) (a) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is renumbered 48.685 (5) (b) 1.
237,172
Section 172
. 48.685 (5) (b) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is renumbered 48.685 (5) (b) 2.
237,174
Section 174
. 48.685 (5) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:
48.685 (5) (bm) For purposes of licensing a foster home or treatment foster home, no person who has been convicted of any of the following offenses may be permitted to demonstrate that he or she has been rehabilitated:
1. An offense under ch. 948 that is a felony.
2. A violation of s. 940.19 (2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) or 940.20 (1) or (1m), if the victim is the spouse of the person.
3. 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, 943.10 (2), 943.23 (1g), (1m) or (1r) or 943.32 (2).
4. A violation of s. 940.19 (2), (3), (4), (5) or (6), 940.20, 940.203, 940.205 or 940.207 or an offense under ch. 961 that is a felony, if committed not more than 5 years before the date of the investigation under sub. (2) (am).
237,175
Section 175
. 48.685 (5) (c) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is renumbered 48.685 (5) (b) 3.
237,176
Section 176
. 48.685 (5) (d) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is renumbered 48.685 (5) (b) 4.
237,177
Section 177
. 48.685 (5) (e) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is renumbered 48.685 (5) (b) 5.
237,178
Section 178
. 48.685 (5c) (a) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:
48.685 (5c) (a) Any person who is permitted but fails under sub. (5) (a) to demonstrate to the department
or a child welfare agency that he or she has been rehabilitated may appeal to the secretary of health and family services 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.
237,179
Section 179
. 48.685 (5c) (b) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:
48.685 (5c) (b) Any person who is permitted but fails under sub. (5) (a) to demonstrate to the county department 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.
237,180
Section 180
. 48.685 (5c) (c) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:
48.685 (5c) (c) Any person who is permitted but fails under sub. (5) (a) to demonstrate to the school board that he or she has been rehabilitated may appeal to the secretary of public instruction 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.
237,181
Section 181
. 48.685 (5g) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:
48.685 (5g) Beginning on the first January 1 after the effective date of this subsection .... [revisor inserts date] 1999, and annually thereafter, the department shall submit a report to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) that specifies the number of persons in the previous year who have requested to demonstrate to the department that they have been rehabilitated under sub. (5) (a), the number of persons who successfully demonstrated that they have been rehabilitated under sub. (5) (a) and the reasons for the success or failure of a person who has attempted to demonstrate that he or she has been rehabilitated.
237,182
Section 182
. 48.685 (5m) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:
48.685 (5m) Notwithstanding s. 111.335, the department may refuse to license a person to operate an entity, a county department may refuse to certify a day care provider under s. 48.651, a county department or a child welfare agency may refuse to license a foster home or treatment foster home under s. 48.62, a school board may refuse to contract with a person under s. 120.13 (14), and an entity may refuse to employ, contract with or permit to reside at the entity a person specified in sub. (2) (ag) (intro.) if the person has been convicted of an offense that the department has not defined as a “serious crime" by rule promulgated under sub. (7) (a), or specified in the list established by rule under sub. (7) (b), but that is, in the estimation of the department, county department, child welfare agency, school board or entity, substantially related to the care of a client.
237,183
Section 183
. 48.685 (6) (a) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:
48.685 (6) (a) The department shall require any person who applies for issuance or, continuation or renewal of a license to operate an entity, a county department shall require any day care provider who applies for initial certification under s. 48.651 or for renewal of that certification, a county department or a child welfare agency shall require any person who applies for issuance or renewal of a license to operate a foster home or treatment foster home under s. 48.62 and a school board shall require any person who proposes to contract with the school board under s. 120.13 (14) or to renew a contract under that subsection, to complete a background information form that is provided by the department.
237,184
Section 184
. 48.685 (6) (b) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:
48.685 (6) (b) For persons specified under par. (a) who are regulated, licensed or certified by, or registered with, by the department, for persons specified in par. (am) 2. who are nonclient residents or prospective nonclient residents of an entity that is licensed by the department, and for other persons specified by the department by rule, the entity shall send the background information form to the department. For all other persons specified in par. (a) and for For persons specified under par. (a) who are licensed or certified by a county department, for persons specified in par. (am) 2. who are nonclient residents or prospective nonclient residents of an entity that is licensed or certified by a county department and for other persons specified by the department by rule, the entity shall send the background information form to the county department. For persons specified under par. (a) who are licensed by a child welfare agency, for persons specified in par. (am) 2. who are nonclient residents or prospective nonclient residents of an entity that is licensed by a child welfare agency and for other persons specified by the department by rule, the entity shall send the background information form to the child welfare agency. For persons specified under par. (a) who are contracted with by a school board, for persons specified in par. (am) 2. who are nonclient residents or prospective nonclient residents of an entity that is contracted with by a school board and for other persons specified by the department by rule, the entity shall send the background information form to the school board. For persons specified under par. (am) 1., the entity shall maintain the background information form on file for inspection by the department, county department, child welfare agency or school board, whichever is applicable.
237,185
Section 185
. 48.685 (7) (a) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:
48.685 (7) (a) Establish by rule a definition of “serious crime" for the purpose of this section. The definition shall include only crimes or acts that are substantially related to the care of a client. The definition shall also include those offenses specified in sub. (5) (b) 1. to 5. and (bm) 1. to 4. and shall include classes of crimes or acts involving misappropriation of the property of a client or abuse or neglect of a client for which no person who has committed any of those crimes or acts may be permitted to demonstrate under sub. (5) (a) that he or she has been rehabilitated. The definition may also include other crimes or acts that do not involve abuse or neglect of a client but that are substantially related to the care of a client for which no person who committed any of those crimes or acts may be permitted to demonstrate under sub. (5) that he or she has been rehabilitated.
237,187
Section 187
. 48.685 (8) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:
48.685 (8) The department, a county department
, a child welfare agency or a school board may charge a fee for obtaining the information required under sub. (2) (am) or (3) (a). The fee may not exceed the reasonable cost of obtaining the information. No fee may be charged to a nurse's assistant, as defined in s. 146.40 (1) (d), for obtaining or maintaining information if to do so would be inconsistent with federal law.
237,188m
Section 188m. 48.69 of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act .... (Senate Bill 494), is amended to read:
48.69 Probationary licenses. Except as provided under s. 48.715 (6) and (7), if any child welfare agency, shelter care facility, group home or day care center that has not been previously issued a license under s. 48.66 (1) applies for a license, meets the minimum requirements for a license established under s. 48.67 and pays the applicable fee referred to in s. 48.68 (1), the department shall issue a probationary license to that child welfare agency, shelter care facility, group home or day care center. A probationary license is valid for up to 6 months after the date of issuance unless renewed under this section or suspended or revoked under s. 48.715. Before a probationary license expires, the department shall inspect the child welfare agency, shelter care facility, group home or day care center holding the probationary license and, except as provided under s. 48.715 (6) and (7), if the child welfare agency, shelter care facility, group home or day care center meets the minimum requirements for a license established under s. 48.67, the department shall issue a license under s. 48.66 (1). A probationary license issued under this section may be renewed for one 6-month period.
237,189
Section 189
. 48.715 (7) of the statutes is created to read:
48.715 (7) The department shall deny an application for the issuance or continuation of a license under s. 48.66 (1) or a probationary license under s. 48.69 to operate a child welfare agency, group home, shelter care facility or day care center, or revoke such a license already issued, if the department of revenue certifies under s. 73.0301 that the applicant or licensee is liable for delinquent taxes. An action taken under this subsection is subject to review only as provided under s. 73.0301 (5) and not as provided in s. 48.72.
237,190m
Section 190m. 48.72 of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act .... (Senate Bill 494), is amended to read:
48.72 Appeal procedure. Except as provided in s. 48.715 (6) and (7), any person aggrieved by the department's refusal or failure to issue, renew or continue a license or by any action taken by the department under s. 48.715 has the right to an administrative hearing provided for contested cases in ch. 227. To receive an administrative hearing under ch. 227, the aggrieved person shall send to the department a written request for a hearing under s. 227.44 within 10 days after the date of the department's refusal or failure to issue, renew or continue a license or the department's action taken under s. 48.715. The department shall hold an administrative hearing under s. 227.44 within 30 days after receipt of the request for the administrative hearing unless the aggrieved person consents to an extension of that time period. Judicial review of the department's decision may be had as provided in ch. 227.
237,191
Section 191
. 48.75 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
48.75 (1m) Each child welfare agency and public licensing agency shall provide the subunit of the department that administers s. 48.685 with information about each person who is denied a license for a reason specified in s. 48.685 (2) (a) 1. to 5.
237,192
Section 192
. 48.977 (2) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.977 (2) (f) That the agency primarily responsible for providing services to the child under a court order has made reasonable efforts to make it possible for the child to return to his or her home, while assuring that the child's health and safety are the paramount concerns, but that reunification of the child with the child's parent or parents is unlikely or contrary to the best interests of the child and that further reunification efforts are unlikely to be made or are contrary to the best interests of the child, except that the court need not find that the agency has made those reasonable efforts with respect to a parent of the child if any of the circumstances specified in s. 48.355 (2d) (b) 1., 2., 3. or 4. apply to that parent.
237,193
Section 193
. 49.145 (2) (i) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:
49.145 (2) (i) The individual is not receiving supplemental security income under 42 USC 1381 to 1383c or state supplemental payments under s. 49.77 and, if the individual is a dependent child, the custodial parent of the individual does not receive a payment on behalf of the individual under s. 49.775. The department may require an individual who receives benefits under s. 49.148 and who has applied for supplemental security income under 42 USC 1381 to 1383c to authorize the federal social security administration to reimburse the department for the benefits paid to the individual under s. 49.148 during the period that the individual was entitled to supplemental security income benefits to the extent that retroactive supplemental security income benefits are made available to the individual.
237,193e
Section 193e. 49.155 (1m) (b) (intro.) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:
49.155 (1m) (b) (intro.) The
Except as provided in par. (bm), the individual meets the eligibility criteria under all of the following:
237,193f
Section 193f. 49.155 (1m) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:
49.155 (1m) (bm) If the individual is providing care for a child under a court order and is receiving payments on behalf of the child under s. 48.57 (3m), or if the individual is a foster parent or treatment foster parent, and child care is needed for that child, the individual meets the requirement under s. 49.145 (2) (c).
237,193g
Section 193g. 49.155 (1m) (c) 1g. and 1h. of the statutes are created to read:
49.155 (1m) (c) 1g. The individual is a foster parent of the child and the child's biological or adoptive family meets the asset limit under s. 49.145 (3) (a) and has a gross income that is at or below 200% of the poverty line. In calculating the gross income of the child's biological or adoptive family, the Wisconsin works agency shall include income described under s. 49.145 (3) (b) 1. to 3.
1h. The individual is a relative of the child, is providing care for the child under a court order and is receiving payments under s. 48.57 (3m) on behalf of the child and the child's biological or adoptive family meets the asset limit under s. 49.145 (3) (a) and has a gross income that is at or below 200% of the poverty line. In calculating the gross income of the child's biological or adoptive family, the Wisconsin works agency shall include income described under s. 49.145 (3) (b) 1. to 3.
237,193m
Section 193m. 49.175 (1) (w) 2. of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:
49.175 (1) (w) 2. `Children of recipients of supplemental security income.' For payments made under s. 49.775 for the support of the dependent children of recipients of supplemental security income, $1,570,700 $5,550,200 in fiscal year 1997-98 and $458,800 $13,260,000 in fiscal year 1998-99.
237,194b
Section 194b. 49.22 (2m) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act .... (Senate Bill 494), is amended to read:
49.22 (2m) (a) The department may request from any person in this state any information it determines appropriate and necessary for the administration of this section, ss. 49.145 49.141 to 49.161, 49.19, 49.46, 49.468 and 49.47 and programs carrying out the purposes of 7 USC 2011 to 2029. Unless access to the information is prohibited or restricted by law, or unless the person has good cause, as determined by the department in accordance with federal law and regulations, for refusing to cooperate, the person shall make a good faith effort to provide this information within 7 days after receiving a request under this paragraph. Except as provided in sub. subs. (2p) and (2r) and subject to sub. (12), the department or the county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) may disclose information obtained under this paragraph only in the administration of this section, ss. 49.145 49.141 to 49.161, 49.19, 49.46 and 49.47 and programs carrying out the purposes of 7 USC 2011 to 2029. Employes of the department or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) are subject to s. 49.83.
237,195
Section 195
. 49.22 (2r) of the statutes is created to read:
49.22 (2r) The department or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) may, to the extent permitted under federal law, disclose information obtained under sub. (2m) to the department of revenue for the purposes of locating persons, or the assets of persons, who have failed to file tax returns, who have underreported their taxable income or who are delinquent taxpayers, identifying fraudulent tax returns or providing information for tax-related prosecutions.
237,196
Section 196
. 49.22 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:
49.22 (3m) The department, acting as a state location service, shall furnish services under sub. (2) upon request to the department of health and family services, a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23 or a child welfare agency that is administering a program operated under 42 USC 620 to 628b or 42 USC 670 to 679a.
237,196m
Section 196m. 49.32 (10m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
