1997 Wisconsin Act 237

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:

49.32 (10m) (a) A county department or , relief agency under s. 49.01 (3m) or Wisconsin works agency shall, upon request, and after providing the notice to the recipient required by this paragraph, release the current address of a recipient of relief under s. 49.01 (3) or , aid to families with dependent children or benefits under s. 49.148 to a person, the person's attorney or an employe or agent of that attorney, if the person is a party to a legal action or proceeding in which the recipient is a party or a witness, unless the person is a respondent in an action commenced by the recipient under s. 813.12, 813.122, 813.123, 813.125 or 813.127. If the person is a respondent in an action commenced by the recipient under s. 813.12, 813.122, 813.123, 813.125 or 813.127, the county department or, relief agency or Wisconsin works agency may not release the current address of the recipient. No county department or, relief agency or Wisconsin works agency may release an address under this paragraph until 21 days after the address has been requested. A person requesting an address under this paragraph shall be required to prove his or her identity and his or her participation as a party in a legal action or proceeding in which the recipient is a party or a witness by presenting a copy of the pleading or a copy of the subpoena for the witness. The person shall also be required to sign a statement setting forth his or her name, address and the reasons for making the request and indicating that he or she understands the provisions of par. (b) with respect to the use of the information obtained. The statement shall be made on a form prescribed by the department and shall be sworn and notarized. Within 7 days after an address has been requested under this paragraph, the county department or, relief agency or Wisconsin works agency shall mail to each recipient whose address has been requested a notification of that fact on a form prescribed by the department. The form shall also include the date on which the address was requested, the name and address of the person who requested the disclosure of the address, the reason that the address was requested and a statement that the address will be released to the person who requested the address no sooner than 21 days after the date on which the request for the address was made. County departments and, relief agencies and Wisconsin works agencies shall keep a record of each request for an address under this paragraph.

237,199 Section 199 . 49.45 (2) (a) 21. of the statutes is repealed.

237,199m Section 199m. 49.45 (2) (a) 24. of the statutes is created to read:

49.45 (2) (a) 24. In consultation with hospitals, health maintenance organizations, county departments of social services and of human services and other interested parties, develop and, not later than January 1, 1999, implement a process for expediting medical assistance eligibility determinations for persons in urgent medical situations. The department shall promulgate any rules necessary for the implementation of that process.

237,203g Section 203g. 49.45 (6v) (b) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

49.45 (6v) (b) The department shall, by October 1 of each year, submit to the joint committee on finance a report for the previous fiscal year, except for the 1997-98 fiscal year, that provides information on the utilization of beds by recipients of medical assistance in facilities.

237,203h Section 203h. 49.45 (6v) (c) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

49.45 (6v) (c) If the report specified in par. (b) indicates that utilization of beds by recipients of medical assistance in facilities decreased, the department shall include a proposal to transfer from the appropriation under s. 20.435 (5) (b) to the appropriation under s. 20.435 (7) (bd) (bb) for the purpose of increasing funding for the community options program under s. 46.27. The secretary shall transfer the amount identified under the proposal if within 14 working days after the submission of the proposal the joint committee on finance does not schedule a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the proposed action.

237,203i Section 203i. 49.45 (6v) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

49.45 (6v) (d) The joint committee on finance may approve or modify any proposal submitted by the department under this subsection.

237,204 Section 204 . 49.45 (18) (b) 6. of the statutes is amended to read:

49.45 (18) (b) 6. Transportation by common carrier or private motor vehicle, if authorized in advance by a county department under s. 46.215 or 46.22, or by specialized medical vehicle.

237,205 Section 205 . 49.46 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:

49.46 (1m) Pilot project for working recipients of supplemental security income or social security disability income. The department shall request that the secretary of the federal department of health and human services and the commissioner of the federal social security administration waive the income and asset requirements for recipients of benefits under federal Title II or XVI to allow the department to conduct a pilot project to allow those recipients to work without losing eligibility for benefits under federal Title II or XVI or for medical assistance or medicare, as defined in s. 49.45 (3) (L) 1. b. If the request is approved, the department may implement the program and may require participants in the program to pay, on a sliding scale, a copayment for the cost of the program.

237,206b Section 206b. 49.665 (1) (d) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is repealed and recreated to read:

49.665 (1) (d) “Family" means a unit that consists of at least one dependent child and his or her custodial parent or parents. “Family" includes the spouse of an individual who is a custodial parent if the spouse resides in the same household as the individual.

237,206m Section 206m. 49.775 (2) (intro.) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

49.775 (2) Supplemental payments. (intro.) Subject to sub. (3), from the appropriations under s. 20.435 (7) (ed) and (ky), the department shall make a monthly payment in the amount specified in sub. (4) to a custodial parent for the support of each dependent child of the custodial parent if all of the following conditions are met:

237,206n Section 206n. 49.775 (4) (a) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is renumbered 49.775 (4) and amended to read:

49.775 (4) Payment amount. Except as provided in par. (b), the The payment under sub. (2) is $77 $100 per month per dependent child.

237,206p Section 206p. 49.775 (4) (b) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is repealed.

237,207 Section 207 . 49.81 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.81 (2) The right to confidentiality of agency records and files on the recipient. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the use of such records for auditing or accounting purposes or, to the extent permitted under federal law, 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.

237,208 Section 208 . 49.855 (2p) of the statutes is created to read:

49.855 (2p) At least annually, the department of corrections shall certify to the department of revenue any obligation owed to the department of corrections under s. 301.12 if the obligation is rendered to a judgment.

237,209 Section 209 . 49.855 (3) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, section 1991m, and 1997 Wisconsin Act 35, is amended to read:

49.855 (3) Receipt of a certification by the department of revenue shall constitute a lien, equal to the amount certified, on any state tax refunds or credits owed to the obligor. The lien shall be foreclosed by the department of revenue as a setoff under s. 71.93 (3), (6) and (7). When the department of revenue determines that the obligor is otherwise entitled to a state tax refund or credit, it shall notify the obligor that the state intends to reduce any state tax refund or credit due the obligor by the amount the obligor is delinquent under the support or maintenance order, by the outstanding amount for past support, medical expenses or birth expenses under the court order or by the amount due under s. 46.10 (4) or 301.12 (4). The notice shall provide that within 20 days the obligor may request a hearing before the circuit court rendering the order. Within 10 days after receiving a request for hearing under this subsection, the court shall set the matter for hearing. Pending further order by the court or family court commissioner, the clerk of circuit court or county support collection designee under s. 59.53 (5m) is prohibited from disbursing the obligor's state tax refund or credit. The family court commissioner may conduct the hearing. The sole issues at that hearing shall be whether the obligor owes the amount certified and, if not and it is a support or maintenance order, whether the money withheld from a tax refund or credit shall be paid to the obligor or held for future support or maintenance. An obligor may, within 20 days of receiving notice that the amount certified shall be withheld from his or her federal tax refund or credit, request a hearing under this subsection.

237,210 Section 210 . 49.855 (3) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, section 1992m, and 1997 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

49.855 (3) Receipt of a certification by the department of revenue shall constitute a lien, equal to the amount certified, on any state tax refunds or credits owed to the obligor. The lien shall be foreclosed by the department of revenue as a setoff under s. 71.93 (3), (6) and (7). When the department of revenue determines that the obligor is otherwise entitled to a state tax refund or credit, it shall notify the obligor that the state intends to reduce any state tax refund or credit due the obligor by the amount the obligor is delinquent under the support or maintenance order, by the outstanding amount for past support, medical expenses or birth expenses under the court order or by the amount due under s. 46.10 (4) or 301.12 (4). The notice shall provide that within 20 days the obligor may request a hearing before the circuit court rendering the order. Within 10 days after receiving a request for hearing under this subsection, the court shall set the matter for hearing. Pending further order by the court or family court commissioner, the department of workforce development or its designee, whichever is appropriate, is prohibited from disbursing the obligor's state tax refund or credit. The family court commissioner may conduct the hearing. The sole issues at that hearing shall be whether the obligor owes the amount certified and, if not and it is a support or maintenance order, whether the money withheld from a tax refund or credit shall be paid to the obligor or held for future support or maintenance. An obligor may, within 20 days of receiving notice that the amount certified shall be withheld from his or her federal tax refund or credit, request a hearing under this subsection.

237,211 Section 211 . 49.855 (4m) (b) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, section 1994m, and 1997 Wisconsin Act 35, is amended to read:

49.855 (4m) (b) The department of revenue may provide a certification that it receives under sub. (2) or , (2m) or (2p) to the department of administration. Upon receipt of the certification, the department of administration shall determine whether the obligor is a vendor or is receiving any other payments from this state, except for wages, retirement benefits or assistance under s. 45.352, 1971 stats., s. 45.351 (1), this chapter or ch. 46 or , 108 or 301. If the department of administration determines that the obligor is a vendor or is receiving payments from this state, except for wages, retirement benefits or assistance under s. 45.352, 1971 stats., s. 45.351 (1), this chapter or ch. 46 or, 108 or 301, it shall begin to withhold the amount certified from those payments and shall notify the obligor that the state intends to reduce any payments due the obligor by the amount the obligor is delinquent under the support or maintenance order, by the outstanding amount for past support, medical expenses or birth expenses under the court order or by the amount due under s. 46.10 (4) or 301.12 (4). The notice shall provide that within 20 days after receipt of the notice the obligor may request a hearing before the circuit court rendering the order. An obligor may, within 20 days after receiving notice, request a hearing under this paragraph. Within 10 days after receiving a request for hearing under this paragraph, the court shall set the matter for hearing. The family court commissioner may conduct the hearing. Pending further order by the court or family court commissioner, the clerk of circuit court or county support collection designee under s. 59.53 (5m) may not disburse the payments withheld from the obligor. The sole issues at the hearing are whether the obligor owes the amount certified and, if not and it is a support or maintenance order, whether the money withheld shall be paid to the obligor or held for future support or maintenance.

237,212 Section 212 . 49.855 (4m) (b) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, section 1995m, and 1997 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

49.855 (4m) (b) The department of revenue may provide a certification that it receives under sub. (1), (2m) or (2p) to the department of administration. Upon receipt of the certification, the department of administration shall determine whether the obligor is a vendor or is receiving any other payments from this state, except for wages, retirement benefits or assistance under s. 45.352, 1971 stats., s. 45.351 (1), this chapter or ch. 46, 108 or 301. If the department of administration determines that the obligor is a vendor or is receiving payments from this state, except for wages, retirement benefits or assistance under s. 45.352, 1971 stats., s. 45.351 (1), this chapter or ch. 46, 108 or 301, it shall begin to withhold the amount certified from those payments and shall notify the obligor that the state intends to reduce any payments due the obligor by the amount the obligor is delinquent under the support or maintenance order, by the outstanding amount for past support, medical expenses or birth expenses under the court order or by the amount due under s. 46.10 (4) or 301.12 (4). The notice shall provide that within 20 days after receipt of the notice the obligor may request a hearing before the circuit court rendering the order. An obligor may, within 20 days after receiving notice, request a hearing under this paragraph. Within 10 days after receiving a request for hearing under this paragraph, the court shall set the matter for hearing. The family court commissioner may conduct the hearing. Pending further order by the court or family court commissioner, the department of workforce development or its designee, whichever is appropriate, may not disburse the payments withheld from the obligor. The sole issues at the hearing are whether the obligor owes the amount certified and, if not and it is a support or maintenance order, whether the money withheld shall be paid to the obligor or held for future support or maintenance.

237,213 Section 213 . 49.855 (4m) (c) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 3, is amended to read:

49.855 (4m) (c) Except as provided by order of the court after hearing under par. (b), the department of administration shall continue withholding until the amount certified is recovered in full. The department of administration shall transfer the amounts withheld under this paragraph to the department of workforce development for distribution to the appropriate clerk of court, county support collection designee under s. 59.53 (5m) or , department of health and family services or department of corrections, whichever is appropriate.

237,214 Section 214 . 49.855 (4m) (c) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Acts 27 and .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

49.855 (4m) (c) Except as provided by order of the court after hearing under par. (b), the department of administration shall continue withholding until the amount certified is recovered in full. The department of administration shall transfer the amounts withheld under this paragraph to the department of workforce development or its designee, the department of health and family services or the department of corrections, whichever is appropriate. The department of workforce development or its designee shall distribute amounts withheld for delinquent child or family support or maintenance or past support, medical expenses or birth expenses to the obligee.

237,215 Section 215 . 50.01 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

50.01 (1) (b) A place that meets the definition under sub. (1g), except sub. (1g) (e), and except that only where 3 or 4 unrelated adults reside there adults who are not related to the operator reside and receive care, treatment or services that are above the level of room and board and that may include up to 7 hours per week of nursing care per resident. “Adult family home" does not include a place that is specified in sub. (1g) (a) to (d), (f) or (g).

237,216 Section 216 . 50.01 (1e) of the statutes is created to read:

50.01 (1e) “Basic care" includes periodic skilled nursing services or physical, emotional, social or restorative care.

237,217 Section 217 . 50.01 (1g) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

50.01 (1g) (intro.)  “Community-based residential facility" means a place where 5 or more unrelated adults reside in which adults who are not related to the operator or administrator and who do not require care above intermediate level nursing care reside and receive care, treatment or services that are above the level of room and board but not including that include no more than 3 hours of nursing care are provided to persons residing in the facility as a primary function of the facility per week per resident. “Community-based residential facility" does not include any of the following:

237,217m Section 217m. 50.01 (1s) of the statutes is created to read:

50.01 (1s) “Intensive skilled nursing care" means care requiring specialized nursing assessment skills and the performance of specific services and procedures that are complex because of the resident's condition or the type or number of procedures that are necessary, including any of the following:

(a) Direct patient observation or monitoring or performance of complex nursing procedures by registered nurses or licensed practical nurses on a continuing basis.

(b) Repeated application of complex nursing procedures or services every 24 hours.

(c) Frequent monitoring and documentation of the resident's condition and response to therapeutic measures.

237,218 Section 218 . 50.01 (1t) of the statutes is created to read:

50.01 (1t) “Intermediate level nursing care" means basic care that is required by a person who has a long-term illness or disability that has reached a relatively stable plateau.

237,218m Section 218m. 50.01 (1w) of the statutes is created to read:

50.01 (1w) “Licensed practical nurse" means a nurse who is licensed or has a temporary permit under s. 441.10.

237,219 Section 219 . 50.01 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

50.01 (2m) “Nursing care" means nursing procedures, other than personal care, that are permitted to be performed by a registered nurse under s. 441.01 (3) or by a licensed practical nurse under s. 441.11 (3), directly on or to a resident.

237,220 Section 220 . 50.01 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

50.01 (3) (intro.)  “Nursing home" means a place which provides 24-hour services including board and room to 3 or more unrelated residents who where 5 or more persons who are not related to the operator or administrator reside, receive care or treatment and, because of their mental or physical condition require nursing care or personal care in excess of 7 hours a week, require access to 24-hour nursing services, including limited nursing care, intermediate level nursing care and skilled nursing services. “Nursing home" does not include any of the following:

237,221 Section 221 . 50.01 (4m) of the statutes is amended to read:

50.01 (4m) “Operator" means any person licensed or required to be licensed under s. 50.03 (1) or a person who operates an adult family home that is licensed under s. 50.033 (1m) (b).

237,222 Section 222 . 50.01 (4o) of the statutes is amended to read:

50.01 (4o) “Personal care" means assistance with the activities of daily living, such as eating, dressing, bathing and ambulation, but does not include nursing care.

237,223 Section 223 . 50.01 (5) of the statutes is repealed.

237,223m Section 223m. 50.01 (5r) of the statutes is created to read:

50.01 (5r) “Registered nurse" means a nurse who is licensed under s. 441.06 or permitted under s. 441.08.

237,224 Section 224 . 50.01 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

50.01 (6) “Resident" means a person who is cared for or treated in any and is not discharged from a nursing home or ,community-based residential facility or adult family home, irrespective of how admitted.

237,225 Section 225 . 50.01 (6v) of the statutes is created to read:

50.01 (6v) “Skilled nursing services" means those services, to which all of the following apply, that are provided to a resident under a physician's orders:

(a) The services require the skills of and are provided directly by or under the supervision of a person whose licensed, registered, certified or permitted scope of practice is at least equivalent to that of a licensed practical nurse.

(b) Any of the following circumstances exist:

1. The inherent complexity of a service prescribed for a resident is such that it can be safely and effectively performed only by or under the supervision of registered nurses or licensed practical nurses.

2. The full recovery or medical improvement of the resident is not possible, but the services are needed to prevent, to the extent possible, deterioration of the resident's condition or to sustain current capacities of the resident.

3. Because of special medical complications, performing or supervising a service that is generally unskilled or observing the resident necessitates the use of a person whose licensed, registered, certified or permitted scope of practice is at least equivalent to that of a licensed practical nurse.

237,225g Section 225g. 50.02 (2) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:

50.02 (2) (bm) The department shall, by rule, define “intermediate nursing care", “limited nursing care" and “skilled nursing services" for use in regulating minimum hours of service provided to residents of nursing homes.

237,225h Section 225h. 50.02 (2) (bn) of the statutes is created to read:

50.02 (2) (bn) The department may, by rule, increase the minimum hours of nursing home care per day that are specified in s. 50.04 (2) (d) 1. to 3.

237,226 Section 226 . 50.035 (10) of the statutes is created to read:

50.035 (10) Exceptions to care limitations. (a) Notwithstanding the limitations on the type of care that may be required by and provided to residents under s. 50.01 (1g) (intro.), the following care may be provided in a community-based residential facility under the following circumstances:

1. Subject to par. (b), a community-based residential facility may provide more than 3 hours of nursing care per week or care above intermediate level nursing care for not more than 30 days to a resident who does not have a terminal illness but who has a temporary condition that requires the care, if all of the following conditions apply:

a. The resident is otherwise appropriate for the level of care that is limited in a community-based residential facility under s. 50.01 (1g) (intro.).

b. The services necessary to treat the resident's condition are available in the community-based residential facility.

2. Subject to par. (b) and if a community-based residential facility has obtained a waiver from the department or has requested such a waiver from the department and the decision is pending, the community-based residential facility may provide more than 3 hours of nursing care per week or care above intermediate level nursing care for more than 30 days to a resident who does not have a terminal illness but who has a stable or long-term condition that requires the care, if all of the following conditions apply:

a. The resident is otherwise appropriate for the level of care that is limited in a community-based residential facility under s. 50.01 (1g) (intro.).