Wisconsin Legislature: 27,1621

27,1612 Section 1612 . 48.57 (3m) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.57 (3m) (b) 1. The county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department shall refer to the attorney responsible for support enforcement under s. 59.458 (1) 59.53 (6) (a) the name of the parent or parents of a child for whom a payment is made under par. (am).

27,1613 Section 1613 . 48.57 (3m) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.57 (3m) (c) The county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department shall require the parent or parents of a child for whom a payment is made under par. (am) to initiate or continue health care insurance coverage for the child.

27,1614 Section 1614 . 48.57 (3m) (d) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act 289, section 70g, is amended to read:

48.57 (3m) (d) A county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department shall review a placement of a child for which the county department or department makes payments under par. (am) not less than every 12 months after the county department or department begins making those payments to determine whether the conditions specified in par. (am) continue to exist. If those conditions do not continue to exist, the county department or department shall discontinue making those payments.

27,1614g Section 1614g. 48.57 (3m) (f) of the statutes is created to read:

48.57 (3m) (f) Any person whose application for payments under par. (am) is not acted on promptly or is denied on the grounds that a condition specified in par. (am) 1., 2., 5. or 6. has not been met and any person whose payments under par. (am) are discontinued under par. (d) may petition the department under par. (g) for a review of that action or failure to act. Review is unavailable if the action or failure to act arose more than 45 days before submission of the petition for review.

27,1614h Section 1614h. 48.57 (3m) (g) of the statutes is created to read:

48.57 (3m) (g) 1. Upon receipt of a timely petition under par. (f) the department shall give the applicant or recipient reasonable notice and an opportunity for a fair hearing. The department may make such additional investigation as it considers necessary. Notice of the hearing shall be given to the applicant or recipient and to the county department or subunit of the department whose action or failure to act is the subject of the petition. That county department or subunit of the department may be represented at the hearing. The department shall render its decision as soon as possible after the hearing and shall send a certified copy of its decision to the applicant or recipient and to the county department or subunit of the department whose action or failure to act is the subject of the petition. The decision of the department shall have the same effect as an order of the county department or subunit of the department whose action or failure to act is the subject of the petition. The decision shall be final, but may be revoked or modified as altered conditions may require. The department shall deny a petition for review or shall refuse to grant relief if any of the following applies:

a. The petitioner withdraws the petition in writing.

b. The sole issue in the petition concerns an automatic payment adjustment or change that affects an entire class of recipients and is the result of a change in state law.

c. The petitioner abandons the petition. Abandonment occurs if the petitioner fails to appear in person or by a representative at a scheduled hearing without good cause, as determined by the department.

2. If a recipient requests a hearing within 10 days after the date of notice that his or her payments under par. (am) are being discontinued, those payments may not be discontinued until a decision is rendered after the hearing but payments made pending the hearing decision may be recovered by the department if the contested action or failure to act is upheld. The department shall promptly notify the county department of the county in which the recipient resides or, if the recipient resides in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the subunit of the department administering of the kinship care program in that county that the recipient has requested a hearing. Payments under par. (am) shall be discontinued if any of the following applies:

a. The recipient is contesting a state law or a change in state law and not the determination of the payment made on the recipient's behalf.

b. The recipient is notified of a change in his or her payments under par. (am) while the hearing decision is pending but the recipient fails to request a hearing on the change.

3. The recipient shall be promptly informed in writing if his or her payments under par. (am) are to be discontinued pending the hearing decision.

27,1615 Section 1615 . 48.57 (3p) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.57 (3p) (b) 1. After receipt of an application for payments under sub. (3m), the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services, with the assistance of the department of justice, shall conduct a background investigation of the applicant.

27,1616 Section 1616 . 48.57 (3p) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.57 (3p) (b) 2. The county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services, with the assistance of the department of justice, may conduct a background investigation of any person who is receiving payments under sub. (3m) at the time of review under sub. (3m) (d) or at any other time that the county department or department of health and family services considers to be appropriate.

27,1617 Section 1617 . 48.57 (3p) (c) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.57 (3p) (c) 1. After receipt of an application for payments under sub. (3m), the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services, with the assistance of the department of justice, shall, in addition to the investigation under par. (b), conduct a background investigation of all employes and prospective employes of the applicant who have or would have regular contact with the child for whom those payments are being made and of each adult resident.

27,1618 Section 1618 . 48.57 (3p) (c) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.57 (3p) (c) 2. The county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services, with the assistance of the department of justice, may conduct a background investigation of any of the employes or prospective employes of any person who is receiving payments under sub. (3m) who have or would have regular contact with the child for whom those payments are being made and of each adult resident at the time of review under sub. (3m) (d) or at any other time that the county department or department of health and family services considers to be appropriate.

27,1619 Section 1619 . 48.57 (3p) (c) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.57 (3p) (c) 3. Before a person that who is receiving payments under sub. (3m) may employ any person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom those payments are being made or permit any person to be an adult resident, the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services, 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. or 2.

27,1620 Section 1620 . 48.57 (3p) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.57 (3p) (d) If the person being investigated under par. (b) or (c) is a nonresident, or at any time within the 5 years preceding the date of the application has been a nonresident, or if the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services determines that the person's employment, licensing or state court records provide a reasonable basis for further investigation, the county department or department of health and family services 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.

27,1621 Section 1621 . 48.57 (3p) (e) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.57 (3p) (e) (intro.) Upon request, a person being investigated under par. (b) or (c) shall provide the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services with all of the following information:

27,1622 Section 1622 . 48.57 (3p) (fm) 1. of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 3, is amended to read:

48.57 (3p) (fm) 1. The county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services may provisionally approve the making of payments under sub. (3m) based on the applicant's statement under sub. (3m) (am) 4m. The county department or department of health and family services may not finally approve the making of payments under sub. (3m) unless that the county department or department of health and family services receives information from the department of justice indicating that the conviction record of the applicant under the law of this state is satisfactory according to the criteria specified in par. (g) 1. to 3. or payment is approved under par. (h) 4. The county department or department of workforce development health and family services may make payments under sub. (3m) 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.

27,1622d Section 1622d. 48.57 (3p) (fm) 1. of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

48.57 (3p) (fm) 1. The county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services may provisionally approve the making of payments under sub. (3m) based on the applicant's statement under sub. (3m) (am) 4m. The county department or department of health and family services may not finally approve the making of payments under sub. (3m) unless the county department or department of health and family services receives information from the department of justice indicating that the conviction record of the applicant under the law of this state is satisfactory according to the criteria specified in par. (g) 1. to 3. The county department or department of health and family services may make payments under sub. (3m) 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.

27,1623 Section 1623 . 48.57 (3p) (fm) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.57 (3p) (fm) 2. A person receiving payments under sub. (3m) may provisionally employ a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom those payments are being made or provisionally permit a person to be an adult resident if the person receiving those payments states to the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services that the employe or adult resident does not have any arrests or convictions that could adversely affect the child or the ability of the person receiving payments to care for the child. A person receiving payments under sub. (3m) may not finally employ a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom those payments are being made or finally permit a person to be an adult resident until the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services 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 department of health and family services and the person receiving payments under sub. (3m) or the department of health and family services so advises that person or until a decision is made under par. (h) 4. to permit a person who is receiving payments under sub. (3m) to employ a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom payments are being made or to permit a person to be an adult resident and the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services so advises the person receiving payments under sub. (3m). A person receiving payments under sub. (3m) may finally employ a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom those payments are being made or finally permit a person to be an adult resident conditioned on the receipt of information from the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services that the federal bureau of investigation indicates 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.

27,1623d Section 1623d. 48.57 (3p) (fm) 2. of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

48.57 (3p) (fm) 2. A person receiving payments under sub. (3m) may provisionally employ a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom those payments are being made or provisionally permit a person to be an adult resident if the person receiving those payments states to the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services that the employe or adult resident does not have any arrests or convictions that could adversely affect the child or the ability of the person receiving payments to care for the child. A person receiving payments under sub. (3m) may not finally employ a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom those payments are being made or finally permit a person to be an adult resident until the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services 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 department of health and family services and the person receiving payments under sub. (3m) or the department of health and family services so advises that person. A person receiving payments under sub. (3m) may finally employ a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom those payments are being made or finally permit a person to be an adult resident conditioned on the receipt of information from the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services that the federal bureau of investigation indicates 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.

27,1624 Section 1624 . 48.57 (3p) (g) (intro.) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act 289, section 71f, is amended to read:

48.57 (3p) (g) (intro.) Subject to Except as provided in par. (h), the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services may not make payments to a person applying for payments under sub. (3m) and a person receiving payments under sub. (3m) may not employ a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom those payments are being made or permit a person to be an adult resident if any of the following applies:

27,1624d Section 1624d. 48.57 (3p) (g) (intro.) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

48.57 (3p) (g) (intro.) A county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services may not make payments to a person applying for payments under sub. (3m) and a person receiving payments under sub. (3m) may not employ a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom those payments are being made or permit a person to be an adult resident if any of the following applies:

27,1625 Section 1625 . 48.57 (3p) (g) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.57 (3p) (g) 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 applicant or other person would be subject to a penalty specified in any of those sections if convicted in this state.

27,1626 Section 1626 . 48.57 (3p) (g) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.57 (3p) (g) 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 a county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services may make payments to a person applying for payments under sub. (3m) and a person receiving payments under sub. (3m) may employ in a position in which the person would have regular contact with the child for whom those payments are being made 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.

27,1626g Section 1626g. 48.57 (3p) (h) of the statutes is created to read:

48.57 (3p) (h) 1. A person who is denied payments under sub. (3m) for a reason specified in par. (g) 1., 2. or 3. or a person who is prohibited from employing a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom payments under sub. (3m) are being made from permitting a person to be an adult resident for a reason specified in par. (g) 1., 2. or 3. may request that the denial of payments or the prohibition on employment or being an adult resident be reviewed.

2. The request for review shall be filed with the director of the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, with the person designated by the secretary of health and family services to receive requests for review filed under this subdivision. If the governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band has entered into an agreement under sub. (3t) to administer the program under this subsection and sub. (3m), the request for review shall be filed with the person designated by that governing body to receive requests for review filed under this subdivision.

3. The director of the county department, the person designated by the governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the person designated by the secretary of health and family services shall review the denial of payments or the prohibition on employment or being an adult resident to determine if the conviction record on which the denial or prohibition is based includes any arrests, convictions or penalties that are likely to adversely affect the child or the ability of the kinship care relative to care for the child. In reviewing the denial or prohibition, the director of the county department, the person designated by the governing body of the federally recognized American Indian tribe or band or the person designated by the secretary of health and family services shall consider, but not be limited to, all of the following factors:

a. The length of time between the date of the arrest, conviction or of the imposition of the penalty and the date of the review.

b. The nature of the violation or penalty and how that violation or penalty affects the ability of the kinship care relative to care for the child.

c. Whether making an exception to the denial or prohibition would be in the best interests of the child.

4. If the director of the county department, the person designated by the governing body of the federally recognized American Indian tribe or band or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the person designated by the secretary of health and family services determines that the conviction record on which the denial of payments or the prohibition on employment or being an adult resident is based does not include any arrests, convictions or penalties that are likely to adversely affect the child or the ability of the kinship care relative to care for the child, the director of the county department, the person designated by the governing body of the federally recognized American Indian tribe or band or the person designated by the secretary of health and family services may approve the making of payments under sub. (3m) or may permit a person receiving payments under sub. (3m) to employ a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom payments are being made or permit a person to be an adult resident.

5. A decision under this paragraph is not subject to review under ch. 227.

27,1627 Section 1627 . 48.57 (3p) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.57 (3p) (i) The A county department and, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services shall keep confidential all information received under this subsection from the department of justice or the federal bureau of investigation. Such information is not subject to inspection or copying under s. 19.35.

27,1628 Section 1628 . 48.57 (3p) (j) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.57 (3p) (j) The A county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department of health and family services may charge a fee for conducting a background investigation under this subsection. The fee may not exceed the reasonable cost of conducting the investigation.

27,1628g Section 1628g. 48.57 (3t) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.57 (3t) Notwithstanding subs. (3m) and (3p), the department may enter into an agreement with the governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe to allow that governing body to administer the program under subs. (3m) and (3p) within the boundaries of that reservation. Any agreement under this subsection shall specify the person with whom a request for review under sub. (3p) (h) 2. may be filed and the person who has been designated by the governing body to conduct the review under sub. (3p) (h) 3. and make the determination under sub. (3p) (h) 4.

27,1629 Section 1629 . 48.58 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.58 (1) (b) Provide care for children in need of protection or services, and delinquent juveniles referred by the county department under s. 46.215, if the delinquent juveniles are placed in separate facilities;

27,1630 Section 1630 . 48.59 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.59 (1) The county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department or an agency under contract with the department shall investigate the personal and family history and environment of any child transferred to its legal custody or placed under its supervision under s. 48.345 and make any physical or mental examinations of the child considered necessary to determine the type of care necessary for the child. The county department, department or agency shall screen a child who is examined under this subsection to determine whether the child is in need of special treatment or care because of alcohol or other drug abuse, mental illness or severe emotional disturbance. The county department, department or agency shall keep a complete record of the information received from the court, the date of reception, all available data on the personal and family history of the child, the results of all tests and examinations given the child and a complete history of all placements of the child while in the legal custody or under the supervision of the county department, department or agency.

27,1631 Section 1631 . 48.60 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.60 (1) No person may receive children, with or without transfer of legal custody, to provide care and maintenance for 75 days in any consecutive 12 months' period for 4 or more such children at any one time unless that person obtains a license to operate a child welfare agency from the department. To obtain a license under this subsection to operate a child welfare agency, a person must meet the minimum requirements for a license established by the department under s. 48.67 and pay the applicable license fee under s. 48.615 (1) (a) or (b). A license issued under this subsection is valid for 2 years after the date of issuance, unless sooner revoked or suspended until revoked or suspended, but shall be reviewed every 2 years as provided in s. 48.66 (5).

27,1631d Section 1631d. 48.60 (1) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

48.60 (1) No person may receive children, with or without transfer of legal custody, to provide care and maintenance for 75 days in any consecutive 12 months' period for 4 or more such children at any one time unless that person obtains a license to operate a child welfare agency from the department. To obtain a license under this subsection to operate a child welfare agency, a person must meet the minimum requirements for a license established by the department under s. 48.67, meet the requirements specified in s. 48.685 and pay the applicable license fee under s. 48.615 (1) (a) or (b). A license issued under this subsection is valid until revoked or suspended, but shall be reviewed every 2 years as provided in s. 48.66 (5).

27,1633 Section 1633 . 48.60 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.60 (3) Before issuing or continuing any license to a child welfare agency under this section, the department of health and family services shall review the need for the additional placement resources that would be made available by the licensing or relicensing continuing the license of any child welfare agency after August 5, 1973, providing care authorized under s. 48.61 (3). Neither the department of health and family services nor the department of corrections may make any placements to any child welfare agency where the departmental review required under this subsection has failed to indicate the need for the additional placement resources.

27,1634 Section 1634 . 48.615 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.615 (1) (a) Before the department may issue a license under s. 48.60 (1) to a child welfare agency that regularly provides care and maintenance for children within the confines of its building, the child welfare agency must pay to the department a biennial fee of $100 $110, plus a biennial fee of $15 $16.50 per child, based on the number of children that the child welfare agency is licensed to serve.

27,1635 Section 1635 . 48.615 (1) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

48.615 (1) (a) Before the department may issue a license under s. 48.60 (1) to a child welfare agency that regularly provides care and maintenance for children within the confines of its building, the child welfare agency must pay to the department a biennial fee of $121, plus a biennial fee of $18.15 per child, based on the number of children that the child welfare agency is licensed to serve.

27,1636 Section 1636 . 48.615 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.615 (1) (b) Before the department may issue a license under s. 48.60 (1) to a child welfare agency that places children in licensed foster homes, licensed treatment foster homes and licensed group homes, the child welfare agency must pay to the department a biennial fee of $210 $231.

27,1637 Section 1637 . 48.615 (1) (b) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

27,1638 Section 1638 . 48.615 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.615 (1) (c) A child welfare agency that wishes to renew continue a license issued under s. 48.60 (1) shall pay the applicable fee under par. (a) or (b) by the renewal continuation date of the license.

27,1639 Section 1639 . 48.615 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.615 (2) A child welfare agency that wishes to renew continue a license issued under s. 48.60 (1) and that fails to pay the applicable fee under sub. (1) (a) or (b) by the renewal continuation date of the license or a new child welfare agency that fails to pay the applicable fee under sub. (1) (a) or (b) by 30 days before the opening of the child welfare agency shall pay an additional fee of $5 per day for every day after the deadline that the agency fails to pay the fee.

27,1639m Section 1639m. 48.62 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.62 (4) Monthly payments in foster care shall be provided according to the age-related rates specified in this subsection. Beginning on January 1, 1993 1998, the age-related rates are: $240 $289 for children aged 4 and under; $267 $315 for children aged 5 to 11; $327 $358 for children aged 12 to 14 and $337 $374 for children aged 15 to 17. Beginning on January 1, 1994 1999, the age-related rates are: $276 $296 for children aged 4 and under; $301 $323 for children aged 5 to 11; $344 $367 for children aged 12 to 14; and $361 $383 for children aged 15 to 17. Beginning on January 1, 1995, the age-related rates are: $282 for children aged 4 and under; $307 for children aged 5 to 11; $349 for children aged 12 to 14; and $365 for children aged 15 to 17. In addition to these grants for basic maintenance, the department shall make supplemental payments for special needs, exceptional circumstances, care in a treatment foster home and initial clothing allowances according to rules promulgated by the department.

27,1640 Section 1640 . 48.625 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.625 (1) Any person who receives, with or without transfer of legal custody, 5 to 8 children, to provide care and maintenance for those children shall obtain a license to operate a group home from the department. To obtain a license under this subsection to operate a group home, a person must meet the minimum requirements for a license established by the department under s. 48.67 and pay the license fee under sub. (2). A license issued under this subsection is valid for 2 years after the date of issuance, unless sooner revoked or suspended until revoked or suspended, but shall be reviewed every 2 years as provided in s. 48.66 (5).

27,1640d Section 1640d. 48.625 (1) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read: