2009 Wisconsin Act 28

28,976 Section 976. 48.428 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.428 (4) Before a licensed foster parent, licensed treatment foster parent or kinship care relative may be appointed as a sustaining parent, the foster parent, treatment foster parent or kinship care relative shall execute a contract with the agency responsible for providing services to the child, in which the foster parent, treatment foster parent or kinship care relative agrees to provide care for the child until the child's 18th birthday unless the placement order is changed by the court because the court finds that the sustaining parents are no longer able or willing to provide the sustaining care or the court finds that the behavior of the sustaining parents toward the child would constitute grounds for the termination of parental rights if the sustaining parent was the birth parent of the child.

28,977 Section 977. 48.43 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.43 (5) (b) The court shall hold a hearing to review the permanency plan within 30 days after receiving a report under par. (a). At least 10 days before the date of the hearing, the court shall provide notice of the time, date, and purpose of the hearing to the agency that prepared the report, the child's guardian, the child, if he or she is 12 years of age or over, and the child's foster parent, treatment foster parent, other physical custodian described in s. 48.62 (2), or the operator of the facility in which the child is living.

28,978 Section 978. 48.43 (5m) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.43 (5m) Either the court or the agency that prepared the permanency plan shall furnish a copy of the original plan and each revised plan to the child, if he or she is 12 years of age or over, and to the child's foster parent, the child's treatment foster parent or the operator of the facility in which the child is living.

28,979 Section 979. 48.47 (40) of the statutes is created to read:

48.47 (40) Foster care public information. Conduct a foster care public information campaign.

28,979v Section 979v. 48.48 (8p) of the statutes is created to read:

48.48 (8p) To reimburse tribes and county departments, from the appropriation under s. 20.437 (1) (kz), for unexpected or unusually high-cost out-of-home care placements of Indian children by tribal courts. In this subsection, "unusually high-cost out-of-home care placements" means the amount by which the cost to a tribe or to a county department of out-of-home care placements of Indian children by tribal courts exceeds $50,000 in a fiscal year.

28,980 Section 980. 48.48 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.48 (9) To license foster homes or treatment foster homes as provided in s. 48.66 (1) (a) for its own use or for the use of licensed child welfare agencies or, if requested to do so, for the use of county departments.

28,981 Section 981. 48.48 (17) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.48 (17) (a) 3. Provide appropriate protection and services for children and the expectant mothers of unborn children in its care, including providing services for those children and their families and for those expectant mothers in their own homes, placing the children in licensed foster homes, treatment foster homes, or group homes in this state or another state within a reasonable proximity to the agency with legal custody, placing the children in the homes of guardians under s. 48.977 (2), or contracting for services for those children by licensed child welfare agencies, except that the department may not purchase the educational component of private day treatment programs unless the department, the school board, as defined in s. 115.001 (7), and the state superintendent of public instruction all determine that an appropriate public education program is not available. Disputes between the department and the school district shall be resolved by the state superintendent of public instruction.

28,982 Section 982. 48.48 (17) (a) 8. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.48 (17) (a) 8. License foster homes or treatment foster homes in accordance with s. 48.75.

28,983 Section 983. 48.48 (17) (a) 10. of the statutes is repealed.

28,984 Section 984. 48.48 (17) (c) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.48 (17) (c) 4. Is living in a foster home, treatment foster home, group home, or residential care center for children and youth, or subsidized guardianship home under s. 48.62 (5).

28,985 Section 985 . 48.48 (17) (c) 4. of the statutes, as affected by 2009 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

48.48 (17) (c) 4. Is living in a foster home, treatment foster home, group home, residential care center for children and youth.

28,986 Section 986. 48.481 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.481 (1) (a) The department shall distribute $497,200 in each fiscal year to counties for the purpose of supplementing payments for the care of an individual who attains age 18 after 1986 and who resided in a foster home or a treatment foster home licensed under s. 48.62 for at least 2 years immediately prior to attaining age 18 and, for at least 2 years, received exceptional foster care or treatment foster care payments for exceptional circumstances in order to avoid institutionalization, as provided under rules promulgated by the department, so that the individual may live in a family home or other noninstitutional situation after attaining age 18. No county may use funds provided under this paragraph to replace funds previously used by the county for this purpose.

28,987 Section 987. 48.52 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.52 (1) (a) Receiving homes to be used for the temporary care of children;.

28,988 Section 988. 48.52 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.52 (1) (b) Foster homes or treatment foster homes;.

28,989 Section 989. 48.52 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.52 (1) (c) Group homes; and.

28,989f Section 989f. 48.545 (2) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.545 (2) (a) (intro.) From the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (eg) and (nL), the department shall distribute $2,215,200 $2,097,700 in each fiscal year to applying nonprofit corporations and public agencies operating in a county having a population of 500,000 or more and $1,199,300, $1,171,800 in each fiscal year to applying county departments under s. 46.22, 46.23, 51.42, or 51.437 operating in counties other than a county having a population of 500,000 or more, and $55,000 in each fiscal year to Diverse and Resilient, Inc. to provide programs to accomplish all of the following:

28,989s Section 989s. 48.563 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.563 (2) Basic county allocation. For children and family services under s. 48.569 (1) (d), the department shall distribute not more than $67,452,000 in each $51,577,400 in fiscal year 2009-10 and not more than $63,264,700 in fiscal year 2010-11 and in each fiscal year thereafter.

28,990 Section 990. 48.569 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.569 (1) (d) From the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (b) and (o), the department shall distribute the funding for children and family services, including funding for foster care, treatment foster care, or subsidized guardianship care of a child on whose behalf aid is received under s. 48.645 to county departments as provided under s. 48.563. County matching funds are required for the distribution under s. 48.563 (2). Each county's required match for the distribution under s. 48.563 (2) shall be specified in a schedule established annually by the department. Matching funds may be from county tax levies, federal and state revenue sharing funds, or private donations to the county that meet the requirements specified in sub. (1m). Private donations may not exceed 25 percent of the total county match. If the county match is less than the amount required to generate the full amount of state and federal funds distributed for this period, the decrease in the amount of state and federal funds equals the difference between the required and the actual amount of county matching funds.

28,991 Section 991. 48.57 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.57 (1) (c) To provide appropriate protection and services for children and the expectant mothers of unborn children in its care, including providing services for those children and their families and for those expectant mothers in their own homes, placing those children in licensed foster homes, treatment foster homes, or group homes in this state or another state within a reasonable proximity to the agency with legal custody, placing those children in the homes of guardians under s. 48.977 (2), or contracting for services for those children by licensed child welfare agencies, except that the county department may not purchase the educational component of private day treatment programs unless the county department, the school board, as defined in s. 115.001 (7), and the state superintendent of public instruction all determine that an appropriate public education program is not available. Disputes between the county department and the school district shall be resolved by the state superintendent of public instruction.

28,992 Section 992. 48.57 (1) (hm) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.57 (1) (hm) If a county department in a county with a population of less than 500,000, to accept guardianship, when appointed by the court, of a child whom the county department has placed in a foster home or treatment foster home under a court order or voluntary agreement under s. 48.63 and to place that child under its guardianship for adoption by the foster parent or treatment foster parent.

28,993 Section 993. 48.57 (1) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.57 (1) (i) To license foster homes or treatment foster homes in accordance with s. 48.75.

28,994 Section 994. 48.57 (3) (a) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.57 (3) (a) 4. Is living in a foster home, treatment foster home, group home, residential care center for children and youth, or subsidized guardianship home under s. 48.62 (5).

28,996 Section 996 . 48.57 (3m) (am) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.57 (3m) (am) (intro.) From the appropriation under s. 20.437 (1) (kc) (2) (md), the department shall reimburse counties having populations of less than 500,000 for payments made under this subsection and shall make payments under this subsection in a county having a population of 500,000 or more. A county department and, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department shall make payments in the amount of $215 per month to a kinship care relative who is providing care and maintenance for a child if all of the following conditions are met:

28,997 Section 997 . 48.57 (3m) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.57 (3m) (b) 2. When any kinship care relative of a child applies for or receives payments under this subsection, any right of the child or the child's parent to support or maintenance from any other person, including any right to unpaid amounts accrued at the time of application and any right to amounts accruing during the time that payments are made under this subsection, is assigned to the state. If a child who is the beneficiary of a payment under this subsection is also the beneficiary of support under a judgment or order that includes support for one or more children who are not the beneficiaries of payments under this subsection, any support payment made under the judgment or order is assigned to the state in the amount that is the proportionate share of the child who is the beneficiary of the payment made under this subsection, except as otherwise ordered by the court on the motion of a party.

28,999 Section 999 . 48.57 (3n) (am) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.57 (3n) (am) (intro.) From the appropriation under s. 20.437 (1) (kc) (2) (md), the department shall reimburse counties having populations of less than 500,000 for payments made under this subsection and shall make payments under this subsection in a county having a population of 500,000 or more. A county department and, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department shall make monthly payments for each child in the amount specified in sub. (3m) (am) (intro.) to a long-term kinship care relative who is providing care and maintenance for that child if all of the following conditions are met:

28,1000 Section 1000 . 48.57 (3n) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

48.57 (3n) (b) 2. When any long-term kinship care relative of a child applies for or receives payments under this subsection, any right of the child or the child's parent to support or maintenance from any other person, including any right to unpaid amounts accrued at the time of application and any right to amounts accruing during the time that payments are made under this subsection, is assigned to the state. If a child is the beneficiary of support under a judgment or order that includes support for one or more children who are not the beneficiaries of payments under this subsection, any support payment made under the judgment or order is assigned to the state in the amount that is the proportionate share of the child who is the beneficiary of the payment made under this subsection, except as otherwise ordered by the court on the motion of a party.

28,1003 Section 1003. 48.60 (2) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.60 (2) (e) A licensed foster home or a licensed treatment foster home.

28,1004 Section 1004. 48.61 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.61 (3) To provide appropriate care and training for children in its legal or physical custody and, if licensed to do so, to place children in licensed foster homes, licensed treatment foster homes, and licensed group homes and in the homes of guardians under s. 48.977 (2).

28,1005 Section 1005. 48.61 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.61 (7) To license foster homes or treatment foster homes in accordance with s. 48.75 if licensed to do so.

28,1006 Section 1006. 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, and in the homes of guardians under s. 48.977 (2), the child welfare agency must pay to the department a biennial fee of $254.10.

28,1007 Section 1007. Subchapter XIV (title) of chapter 48 [precedes 48.619] of the statutes is amended to read:

CHAPTER 48

SUBCHAPTER XIV

FOSTER HOMES AND TREATMENT FOSTER HOMES

28,1008 Section 1008. 48.619 of the statutes is amended to read:

48.619 Definition. In this subchapter, "child" means a person under 18 years of age and also includes, for purposes of counting the number of children for whom a foster home, treatment foster home, or group home may provide care and maintenance, a person 18 years of age or over, but under 19 years of age, who is a full-time student at a secondary school or its vocational or technical equivalent, who is reasonably expected to complete the program before reaching 19 years of age, who was residing in the foster home, treatment foster home, or group home immediately prior to his or her 18th birthday, and who continues to reside in that foster home, treatment foster home, or group home.

28,1009 Section 1009. 48.62 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.62 (title) Licensing of foster homes and treatment foster homes; rates.

28,1010 Section 1010. 48.62 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 48.62 (1).

28,1011 Section 1011. 48.62 (1) (b) of the statutes is repealed.

28,1012 Section 1012. 48.62 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.62 (2) A relative,, or a guardian of a child who provides care and maintenance for the child is not required to obtain the license specified in this section. The department, county department, or licensed child welfare agency as provided in s. 48.75 may issue a license to operate a foster home or a treatment foster home to a relative who has no duty of support under s. 49.90 (1) (a) and who requests a license to operate a foster home or treatment foster home for a specific child who is either placed by court order or who is the subject of a voluntary placement agreement under s. 48.63. The department, a county department, or a licensed child welfare agency may, at the request of a guardian appointed under s. 48.977 or 48.978, ch. 54, or ch. 880, 2003 stats., license the guardian's home as a foster home or treatment foster home for the guardian's minor ward who is living in the home and who is placed in the home by court order. Relatives with no duty of support and guardians appointed under s. 48.977 or 48.978, ch. 54, or ch. 880, 2003 stats., who are licensed to operate foster homes or treatment foster homes are subject to the department's licensing rules.

28,1013 Section 1013. 48.62 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.62 (3) When the department, a county department, or a child welfare agency issues a license to operate a foster home or a treatment foster home, the department, county department, or child welfare agency shall notify the clerk of the school district in which the foster home or treatment foster home is located that a foster home or treatment foster home has been licensed in the school district.

28,1014d Section 1014d. 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, 2008 2010, the age-related rates are $333 $215 for care and maintenance provided by a relative of a child of any age and, for care and maintenance provided by a nonrelative, $349 for a child under 5 years of age; $363 $381 for a child 5 to 11 years of age; $414 $433 for a child 12 to 14 years of age; and $432 $452 for a child 15 years of age or over. Beginning on January 1, 2009 2011, the age-related rates are $349 $220 for care and maintenance provided by a relative of a child of any age and, for care and maintenance provided by a nonrelative, $366 for a child under 5 years of age; $381 $400 for a child 5 to 11 years of age; $433 $455 for a child 12 to 14 years of age; and $452 $475 for a child 15 years of age or over. 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 foster care to a foster home that is receiving an age-related rate under this subsection that are commensurate with the level of care that the foster home is licensed to provide and the needs of the child who is placed in the foster home according to the rules promulgated by the department under sub. (8) (c).

28,1015 Section 1015. 48.62 (5) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.62 (5) (a) (intro.) Subject to par. (d), a county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department shall provide monthly subsidized guardianship payments in the amount specified in par. (e) to a guardian of a child under s. 48.977 (2) or under a substantially similar tribal law or law of another state who was licensed as the child's foster parent or treatment foster parent before the guardianship appointment and who has entered into a subsidized guardianship agreement with the county department or department if the guardian meets the conditions specified in par. (c) 1. and 2. and if the child meets any of the following conditions:

28,1017 Section 1017. 48.62 (5) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.62 (5) (d) The department shall request from the secretary of the federal department of health and human services a waiver of the requirements under 42 USC 670 to 679a that would authorize the state to receive federal foster care and adoption assistance reimbursement under 42 USC 670 to 679a for the costs of providing care for a child who is in the care of a guardian who was licensed as the child's foster parent or treatment foster parent before the guardianship appointment and who has entered into a subsidized guardianship agreement with the county department or department. If the waiver is approved for a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department shall provide the monthly payments under par. (a) from the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (cx), (gx), (kw), and (mx) (dd) and (pd). If the waiver is approved for any other county, the department shall determine which counties are authorized to provide monthly payments under par. (a) or (b), and the county departments of those counties shall provide those payments from moneys received under s. 48.569 (1) (d).

28,1018 Section 1018 . 48.62 (5) (d) of the statutes, as affected by 2009 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

48.62 (5) (d) The department shall request from the secretary of the federal department of health and human services a waiver of the requirements under 42 USC 670 to 679a that would authorize the state to receive federal foster care and adoption assistance reimbursement under 42 USC 670 to 679a for the costs of providing care for a child who is in the care of a guardian who was licensed as the child's foster parent or treatment foster parent before the guardianship appointment and who has entered into a subsidized guardianship agreement with the county department or department. If the waiver is approved for a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department shall provide the monthly payments under par. (a) from the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (dd) and (pd). If the waiver is approved for any other county, the department shall determine which counties are authorized to provide monthly payments under par. (a) or (b), and the county departments of those counties shall provide those payments from moneys received under s. 48.569 (1) (d).

28,1020 Section 1020. 48.62 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.62 (6) The department or a county department may recover an overpayment made under sub. (4) or (5) from a foster parent, treatment foster parent, guardian, or interim caretaker who continues to receive those payments under sub. (4) or (5) by reducing the amount of the person's monthly payment. The department may by rule specify other methods for recovering those overpayments made under sub. (4) or (5). A county department that recovers an overpayment under this subsection due to the efforts of its officers and employees may retain a portion of the amount recovered, as provided by the department by rule.

28,1021 Section 1021. 48.62 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.62 (7) In each federal fiscal year, the department shall ensure that there are no more than 2,200 children in foster care and treatment foster care placements for more than 24 months, consistent with the best interests of each child. Services provided in connection with this requirement shall comply with the requirements under P.L. 96-272.

28,1022 Section 1022. 48.62 (8) of the statutes is created to read:

48.62 (8) The department shall promulgate rules relating to foster homes as follows:

(a) Rules providing levels of care that a foster home is licensed to provide. Those levels of care shall be based on the level of knowledge, skill, training, experience, and other qualifications that are required of the licensee, the level of responsibilities that are expected of the licensee, the needs of the children who are placed with the licensee, and any other requirements relating to the ability of the licensee to provide for those needs that the department may promulgate by rule.

(b) Rules establishing a standardized assessment tool to assess the needs of a child placed or to be placed outside the home, to determine the level of care that is required to meet those needs, and to place the child in a placement that meets those needs. A foster home that is licensed to provide a given level of care under par. (a) may provide foster care for any child whose needs are assessed to be at or below the level of care that the foster home is licensed to provide.