25,1026
Section
1026. 48.975 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.975 (4) (a) Except in extenuating circumstances, as defined by the department by rule promulgated under sub. (5) (a), a written agreement to provide adoption assistance shall be made prior to adoption. An agreement to provide adoption assistance may be made only for a child who, at the time of placement for adoption, is in the guardianship of the department or other agency authorized to place children for adoption or, in the guardianship of an American Indian tribal agency in this state, or in a subsidized guardianship under s. 48.62 (5).
25,1027
Section
1027. 48.975 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:
48.975 (4m) Recovery of incorrect payments. The department may recover an overpayment of adoption assistance from an adoptive parent who continues to receive adoption assistance for maintenance by reducing the amount of the adoptive parent's monthly payment of adoption assistance for maintenance. The department may by rule specify other methods for recovering overpayments of adoption assistance.
25,1028
Section
1028. 48.977 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.977 (title) Appointment of relatives as guardians for certain children in need of protection or services.
25,1029
Section
1029. 48.977 (1) of the statutes is repealed.
25,1030
Section
1030. 48.977 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.977 (2) Type of guardianship. (intro.) This section may be used for the appointment of a relative of a child as a guardian of the person for the a child if the court finds all of the following:
25,1031
Section
1031. 48.977 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.977 (2) (a) That the child has been adjudged to be in need of protection or services under s. 48.13 (1), (2), (3), (3m), (4), (5), (8), (9), (10), (10m), (11), or (11m) or 938.13 (4) and been placed, or continued in a placement, outside of his or her home pursuant to one or more court orders under s. 48.345, 48.357, 48.363, 48.365, 938.345, 938.357, 938.363, or 938.365 for a cumulative total period of one year or longer or that the child has been so adjudged and placement of the child in the home of a guardian under this section has been recommended under s. 48.33 (1) or 938.33 (1).
25,1032
Section
1032. 48.977 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.977 (2) (b) That the person nominated as the guardian of the child is a relative of the child
person with whom the child has been placed or in whose home placement of the child is recommended under par. (a) and that it is likely that the child will continue to be placed with that relative person for an extended period of time or until the child attains the age of 18 years.
25,1033
Section
1033. 48.977 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.977 (2) (c) That, if appointed, it is likely that the relative person would be willing and able to serve as the child's guardian for an extended period of time or until the child attains the age of 18 years.
25,1034
Section
1034. 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 or that the agency primarily responsible for providing services to the child under a court order has made reasonable efforts to prevent the removal of the child from his or her home, while assuring the child's health and safety, but that continued placement of the child in the home would be contrary to the welfare of the child, except that the court is not required to 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. to 5. applies to that parent. The court shall make the findings specified in this paragraph on a case-by-case basis based on circumstances specific to the child and shall document or reference the specific information on which those findings are based in the guardianship order. A guardianship order that merely references this paragraph without documenting or referencing that specific information in the order or an amended guardianship order that retroactively corrects an earlier guardianship order that does not comply with this paragraph is not sufficient to comply with this paragraph.
25,1035
Section
1035. 48.977 (3r) of the statutes is created to read:
48.977 (3r) Subsidized guardianship. Subject to s. 48.62 (5) (d), if a county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department has determined under s. 48.62 (5) (a) 2. that appointing a guardian under sub. (2) for a child who does not meet the conditions specified under s. 48.62 (5) (a) 1. and providing monthly subsidized guardianship payments to the guardian are in the best interests of the child, the petitioner under sub. (4) (a) shall include in the petition under sub. (4) (b) a statement of that determination and a request for the court to include in the court's findings under sub. (4) (d) a finding confirming that determination. If the court confirms that determination and appoints a guardian for the child under sub. (2), the county department or department shall provide monthly subsidized guardianship payments to the guardian under s. 48.62 (5).
25,1036
Section
1036. 48.977 (4) (a) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:
48.977 (4) (a) 4. The relative person with whom the child is placed or in whose home placement of the child is recommended as described in sub. (2) (a), if the relative person is nominated as the guardian of the child in the petition.
25,1037
Section
1037. 48.977 (4) (a) 6. of the statutes is amended to read:
48.977 (4) (a) 6. A county department under s. 46.22 or 46.23 or, if the child has been placed pursuant to an order under ch. 938 or the child's placement with the guardian is recommended under ch. 938, a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23.
25,1038
Section
1038. 48.977 (4) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
48.977 (4) (b) 3. The date on which the child was adjudged in need of protection or services under s. 48.13 (1), (2), (3), (3m), (4), (5), (8), (9), (10), (10m), (11), or (11m) or 938.13 (4) and the dates that on which the child has been placed, or continued in a placement, outside of his or her home pursuant to one or more court orders under s. 48.345, 48.357, 48.363, 48.365, 938.345, 938.357, 938.363, or 938.365 or, if the child has been so adjudged, but not so placed, the date of the report under s. 48.33 (1) or 938.33 (1) in which placement of the child in the home of the person is recommended.
25,1039
Section
1039. 48.977 (4) (c) 1. g. of the statutes is amended to read:
48.977 (4) (c) 1. g. The relative
person with whom the child is placed or in whose home placement of the child is recommended as described in sub. (2) (a), if the relative person is nominated as the guardian of the child in the petition.
25,1040
Section
1040. 48.977 (4) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.977 (4) (e) Court report. The For a child who has been placed, or continued in a placement, outside of his or her home for 6 months or longer, the court shall order the person or agency primarily responsible for providing services to the child under a court order to file with the court a report containing the written summary under s. 48.38 (5) (e) and as much information relating to the appointment of a guardian as is reasonably ascertainable. For a child who has been placed, or continued in a placement, outside of his or her home for less than 6 months, the court shall order the person or agency primarily responsible for providing services to the child under a court order to file with the court the report submitted under s. 48.33 (1) or 938.33 (1), the permanency plan prepared under s. 48.38 or 938.38, if one has been prepared, and as much information relating to the appointment of a guardian as is reasonably ascertainable. The agency shall file the report at least 48 hours before the date of the dispositional hearing under par. (fm).
25,1041
Section
1041. 48.977 (4) (g) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
48.977 (4) (g) 1. Whether the relative
person would be a suitable guardian of the child.
25,1042
Section
1042. 48.977 (4) (g) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
48.977 (4) (g) 2. The willingness and ability of the relative person to serve as the child's guardian for an extended period of time or until the child attains the age of 18 years.
25,1043
Section
1043. 48.977 (4) (h) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
48.977 (4) (h) 1. A disposition dismissing the petition if the court determines that appointment of the relative person as the child's guardian is not in the best interests of the child.
25,1044
Section
1044. 48.977 (4) (h) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
48.977 (4) (h) 2. A disposition ordering that the
relative person with whom the child has been placed
or in whose home placement of the child is recommended as described in sub. (2) (a) be appointed as the child's guardian under sub. (5) (a) or limited guardian under sub. (5) (b), if the court determines that such an appointment is in the best interests of the child.
25,1045
Section
1045. 48.982 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.982 (4) (a) From the appropriations under s. 20.433 (1) (b), (h), (i), (k), (m), and (q), the board shall award grants to organizations in accordance with the plan developed under sub. (2) (a). In each of the first 2 fiscal years in which grants are awarded, no organization may receive a grant or grants totaling more than $30,000.
25,1046
Section
1046. 48.982 (6) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.982 (6) (a) From the appropriations under s. 20.433 (1) (b), (h), (i), (k), (ma), and (q), the board shall award grants to organizations in accordance with the request-for-proposal procedures developed under sub. (2) (a). No organization may receive a grant or grants under this subsection totaling more than $150,000 in any year.
25,1047
Section
1047. 48.982 (7) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.982 (7) (a) From the appropriations under s. 20.433 (1) (b), (h), (i), (k), and (q), the board shall award grants to organizations in accordance with the plan developed under sub. (2) (a).
25,1049
Section
1049. 49.134 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.134 (2) (a) From the allocation under s. 49.155 (1g) (b) (d), the department shall make grants to local agencies to fund child care resource and referral services provided by those local agencies. The department shall provide an allocation formula to determine the amount of a grant awarded under this section.
25,1052
Section
1052. 49.136 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.136 (2) (a) From the allocation under s. 49.155 (1g) (b) (d), the department shall may award grants for the start-up or expansion of child care services.
25,1053
Section
1053. 49.136 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.136
(2) (b)
The If the department awards grants under this section, the department shall attempt to award
the grants
under this section to head start agencies designated under
42 USC 9836, employers that provide or wish to provide child care services for their employees, family day care centers, group day care centers and day care programs for the children of student parents, organizations that provide child care for sick children
, and child care providers that employ participants or former participants in a Wisconsin
works Works employment position under s. 49.147 (3) to (5).
25,1055
Section
1055. 49.137 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.137 (2) (a) From the allocation under s. 49.155 (1g) (b) (d), the department may award grants to child care providers that meet the quality of care standards established under s. 49.155 (1d) (b) to improve the retention of skilled and experienced child care staff. In awarding grants under this subsection, the department shall consider the applying child care provider's total enrollment of children and average enrollment of children who receive or are eligible for publicly funded care from the child care provider.
25,1056
Section
1056. 49.137 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.137 (3) (a) From the allocation under s. 49.155 (1g) (b) (d), the department may award grants to child care providers for assistance in meeting the quality of care standards established under s. 49.155 (1d) (b).
25,1057
Section
1057. 49.137 (4) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.137 (4) Training and technical assistance contracts. (intro.) From the allocation under s. 49.155 (1g) (b) (d), the department may contract with one or more agencies for the provision of training and technical assistance to improve the quality of child care provided in this state. The training and technical assistance activities contracted for under this subsection may include any of the following activities:
25,1058
Section
1058. 49.137 (4m) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.137 (4m) Local pass-through grant program. The From the allocation under s. 49.155 (1g) (d), the department shall award grants to local governments and tribal governing bodies for programs to improve the quality of child care. The department shall promulgate rules to administer the grant program, including rules that specify the eligibility criteria and procedures for awarding the grants.
25,1059b
Section 1059b. 49.138 (1m) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.138 (1m) (intro.) The department shall implement a program of emergency assistance to needy persons in cases of fire, flood, natural disaster, homelessness or impending homelessness, or energy crisis. The department shall establish the maximum amount of aid to be granted, except for cases of energy crisis, per family member based on the funding available under s. 20.445 (3) (dz) and (md). The department need not establish the maximum amount by rule under ch. 227. The department shall publish the maximum amount and annual changes to it in the Wisconsin administrative register. Emergency assistance provided to needy persons under this section in cases of fire, flood, natural disaster, or energy crisis may only be provided to a needy person once in a 12-month period. Emergency assistance provided to needy persons under this section in cases of homelessness or impending homelessness may be used only to obtain or retain a permanent living accommodation and, except as provided in sub. (2), may only be provided to a needy person once in a 36-month period. For the purposes of this section, a family is considered to be homeless, or to be facing impending homelessness, if any of the following applies:
25,1059d
Section 1059d. 49.138 (2) of the statutes is repealed.
25,1059f
Section 1059f. 49.143 (1) (ac) of the statutes is created to read:
49.143 (1) (ac) 1. Except for a county department under s. 46.21, 46.22, or 46.23 or a tribal governing body, a person who submits a bid in a competitive process under par. (a) 1. shall include with the proposal a filing fee of $50 and a statement of economic interests that discloses all of the following information:
a. The person's assets and liabilities.
b. The sources of the person's income.
c. All of the person's other clients, as well as a description of the goods or services provided to those clients.
d. The identity of all of the person's subsidiaries, affiliates, and parent companies, if any.
2. Except for a county department under s. 46.21, 46.22, or 46.23 or a tribal governing body, a Wisconsin Works agency that enters into a succeeding contract with the department under par. (a) 2. shall, before executing the succeeding contract, submit to the department a filing fee of $50 and a statement of economic interests that discloses the information specified in subd. 1. a. to d.
3. One year after entering into a contract under par. (a) 1. or 2., a Wisconsin Works agency that is not a county department under s. 46.21, 46.22, or 46.23 or a tribal governing body shall submit to the department a filing fee of $50 and an updated statement of economic interests that discloses the information specified in subd. 1. a. to d.
25,1059g
Section 1059g. 49.143 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.143 (2) Contract requirements. (intro.) Each contract under sub. (1) shall contain performance-based incentives established by the department, as well as financial penalties that the department shall enforce against a Wisconsin Works agency that fails to serve Wisconsin Works participants as required under the contract. The contract shall require a Wisconsin works Works agency to do all of the following:
25,1059h
Section 1059h. 49.143 (2) (g) of the statutes is created to read:
49.143 (2) (g) If the Wisconsin Works agency is not a county department under s. 46.21, 46.22, or 46.23 or a tribal governing body, provide to the department, one year after the date on which the contract under sub. (1) was signed, a filing fee of $50 and an updated statement of economic interests that discloses the information specified in sub. (1) (ac) 1. a. to d.
25,1059t
Section 1059t. 49.143 (4) of the statutes is renumbered 49.143 (4) (a).
25,1059u
Section 1059u. 49.143 (4) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
49.143 (4) (b) For a Wisconsin Works agency that is not a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23 or a tribal governing body, the department may select the auditor for the annual single financial audit required under federal law. The Wisconsin Works agency shall be required to pay for the annual single financial audit.
25,1059v
Section 1059v. 49.143 (5) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.143 (5) (c) The Subject to sub. (5m) (b), the department may inspect at any time any Wisconsin works Works agency's records as the department determines is appropriate and necessary for the overall administration of Wisconsin works Works.
25,1059w
Section 1059w. 49.143 (5m) of the statutes is created to read:
49.143 (5m) Financial records. (a) Each Wisconsin Works agency shall maintain its financial records in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
(b) To ensure that all expenditures of state and federal moneys related to Wisconsin Works are made in compliance with applicable state laws and rules, applicable federal laws and regulations, and the terms of the contracts between the Wisconsin Works agencies and the department, the department shall do all of the following:
1. At least quarterly review the financial records of each Wisconsin Works agency that administers Wisconsin Works in any of the 10 most populous counties.
2. At least annually review the financial records of each Wisconsin Works agency not specified in subd. 1.
3. Periodically review the financial records of entities that have entered into subcontracts with Wisconsin Works agencies to provide goods or services related to Wisconsin Works.
25,1059x
Section 1059x. 49.145 (2) (s) of the statutes is amended to read:
