128,63
Section
63. 895.485 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
895.485 (2) Foster parents; liability exemption. Except as provided in ss. 167.10 (7) and 343.15 (2), any foster or family-operated group home parent licensed under s. 48.62 or 48.625 is immune from civil liability for any of the following:
(a) An act or omission of the foster or family-operated group home parent while that parent is acting in his or her capacity as a foster or family-operated group home parent.
(b) An act or omission of a child who is placed in a foster home or family-operated group home while the child is in the foster or family-operated group home parent's care.
128,64
Section
64. 895.485 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
895.485 (3) Foster parents; exceptions to liability exemption. The immunity specified in sub. (2) does not apply if the act or omission of a foster or family-operated group home parent was not done in good faith or was not in compliance with any written instructions received from the agency that placed the child regarding specific care and supervision of the child. The good faith of a foster or family-operated group home parent and the compliance of the foster or family-operated group home parent with any written instructions received from the agency that placed the child are presumed in a civil action. Any person who asserts that a foster or family-operated group home parent did not act in good faith, or did not comply with written instructions received from the agency that placed the child, has the burden of proving that assertion.
128,65
Section
65. 895.485 (4) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
895.485 (4) Child-placing agencies; liability exemption; exceptions. (intro.) Any agency that acts in good faith in placing a child with a foster or family-operated group home parent is immune from civil liability for any act or omission of the agency, the foster or family-operated group home parent, or the child unless all of the following occur:
128,66
Section
66. 895.485 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
895.485 (4) (a) The agency has failed to provide the foster or family-operated group home parent with any information relating to a medical, physical, mental, or emotional condition of the child that it the agency is required to disclose under this paragraph. The department of children and families shall promulgate rules specifying the kind of information that an agency shall disclose to a foster or family-operated group home parent that relates to a medical, physical, mental, or emotional condition of the child.
128,67
Section
67. 895.485 (5) and (6) of the statutes are created to read:
895.485 (5) Out-of-home care providers; liability exemption. Except as provided in ss. 167.10 (7) and 343.15 (2), an out-of-home care provider who grants permission for a child in the care of the out-of-home care provider to participate in an age or developmentally appropriate activity is immune from civil liability for any act or omission of the out-of-home care provider in granting that permission if in granting that permission the out-of-home care provider applied the reasonable and prudent parent standard in accordance with the requirements of ss. 48.383 (1) and 938.383 (1) and the rules promulgated under ss. 48.383 (3) and 938.383 (3). The immunity provided under this subsection applies only to the decision granting that permission itself and does not extend to any other act or omission of the out-of-home care provider, including any act or omission relating to the out-of-home care provider's duty to comply with any provision of licensure under s. 48.70, rule promulgated under s. 48.67, or any other statute, rule, or regulation that is applicable to the out-of-home care provider's duty to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the child. The immunity provided under this subsection does not affect any immunity from, limitation on, or defense to liability that is available under any other statute or the common law.
(6) Out-of-home care providers; liability exemption; presumptions. An out-of-home care provider who grants permission for a child in the care of the out-of-home care provider to participate in an age or developmentally appropriate activity is presumed to have applied the reasonable and prudent parent standard in granting that permission. Any person who asserts that an out-of-home care provider did not apply the reasonable and prudent parent standard in granting that permission has the burden of proving that assertion.
128,68
Section
68. 938.02 (1g) of the statutes is created to read:
938.02 (1g) "Age or developmentally appropriate activities" means activities that are generally accepted as suitable for juveniles of a given chronological age or level of maturity or that are determined to be developmentally appropriate for a juvenile based on the cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral capacities that are typical for juveniles of a given age or age group or, in the case of a specific juvenile, activities that are suitable for the juvenile based on the cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral capacities of that juvenile.
128,69
Section
69. 938.02 (12r) of the statutes is created to read:
938.02 (12r) "Out-of-home care provider" means a foster parent, guardian, relative other than a parent, or nonrelative in whose home a juvenile is placed, or the operator of a group home, residential care center for children and youth, or shelter care facility in which a juvenile is placed, under the placement and care responsibility of the department of children and families, the department of corrections, or a county department. "Out-of-home care provider" also includes, in the case of a juvenile placed in a group home, residential care center for children and youth, or shelter care facility, a staff member employed on the site of that home, center, or facility who has been designated by the operator of that home, center, or facility as an out-of-home care provider for purposes of making decisions concerning the juvenile's participation in age or developmentally appropriate activities.
128,70
Section
70. 938.02 (14r) of the statutes is created to read:
938.02 (14r) "Reasonable and prudent parent standard" means a standard for an out-of-home care provider to use in making decisions concerning a juvenile's participation in age or developmentally appropriate extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities that is characterized by careful and sensible parental decisions that maintain the health, safety, best interests, and cultural, religious, and tribal values of the juvenile while at the same time encouraging the emotional and developmental growth of the juvenile.
938.366 (2) (b) 4. If the court determines that the person who is the subject of an order described in sub. (1) (a) understands that he or she may continue in out-of-home care, but wishes to be discharged from that care on termination of the order, the court shall advise the person that he or she may enter into a voluntary agreement under sub. (3) at any time before he or she is granted a high school or high school equivalency diploma or reaches 21 years of age, whichever occurs first, so long as he or she is a full-time student at a secondary school or its vocational or technical equivalent and an individualized education program under s. 115.787 is in effect for him or her. If the court determines that the person wishes to continue in out-of-home care under an extension of the order described in sub. (1) (a), the court shall schedule an extension hearing under s. 938.365. If the court determines that the person wishes to continue in out-of-home care under a voluntary agreement under sub. (3), the court shall order the agency primarily responsible for providing services to the person under the order to provide transition-to-independent-living services for the person under a that voluntary agreement under sub. (3).
128,72
Section
72. 938.38 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
938.38 (2m) Consultation with juvenile 14 or over. The agency responsible for preparing the permanency plan for a juvenile 14 years of age or over shall prepare the plan and any revisions of the plan in consultation with the juvenile and, at the option of the juvenile, with not more than 2 persons selected by the juvenile who are members of any child and family team convened for the juvenile, except that the juvenile may not select his or her caregiver or caseworker to consult in the preparation or revision of the permanency plan and the agency may reject a person selected by the juvenile if the agency has good cause to believe that the person would not act in the best interests of the juvenile. The agency may designate one of the persons selected by the juvenile to be the juvenile's adviser and, as necessary, the juvenile's advocate, with respect to application of the reasonable and prudent parent standard to decisions concerning the juvenile's participation in age or developmentally appropriate activities.
128,73
Section
73. 938.38 (4) (f) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
938.38 (4) (f) 3. Improve the conditions of the parents' home to facilitate the safe return of the juvenile to his or her home, or, if appropriate, obtain for the juvenile a placement for adoption, with a guardian, or with a fit and willing relative, or, in the case of a juvenile 16 years of age or over, obtain for the juvenile, if appropriate, a placement in some other planned permanent living arrangement that includes an appropriate, enduring relationship with an adult.
938.38 (4) (fg) 5. As provided in par. (fm),placement in In the case of a juvenile 16 years of age or over, placement of the juvenile in some other planned permanent living arrangement that includes an appropriate, enduring relationship with an adult, including sustaining care, or the goal of transitioning the juvenile to independence.
938.38 (4) (fm) If the agency determines that there is a compelling reason why it currently would not be in the best interests of the a juvenile 16 years of age or over to return the juvenile to his or her home or to place the juvenile for adoption, with a guardian, or with a fit and willing relative as the permanency goal for the juvenile, the permanency goal of placing the juvenile in some other planned permanent living arrangement or of transitioning the juvenile to independence as described in par. (fg) 5 . If the agency makes that determination, the plan shall include the efforts made to achieve that permanency goal, including, if appropriate, through an out-of-state placement, a statement of that compelling reason, and, notwithstanding that compelling reason, a concurrent plan under s. 938.355 (2b) towards achieving a goal under par. (fg) 1. to 4. as a concurrent permanency goal in addition to the permanency goal under par. (fg) 5. The plan shall also include a plan to ensure that the juvenile has regular, ongoing opportunities to engage in age or developmentally appropriate activities determined in accordance with the reasonable and prudent parent standard.
128,76
Section
76. 938.38 (4) (h) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
938.38 (4) (h) (intro.) If the juvenile is 15 14 years of age or older, an independent living a plan describing the programs and services that are or will be provided to assist the juvenile in preparing for the transition from out-of-home care to independent living a successful adulthood. The plan shall include all of the following:
128,77
Section
77. 938.38 (4) (h) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
938.38 (4) (h) 2. The anticipated amount of time available in which to prepare the juvenile for the transition from out-of-home care to independent living
a successful adulthood.
128,78
Section
78. 938.38 (4) (h) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:
938.38 (4) (h) 4. A description of the assessment processes, tools, and methods that have been or will be used to determine the programs and services that are or will be provided to assist the juvenile in preparing for the transition from out-of-home care to independent living
a successful adulthood.
128,79
Section
79. 938.38 (4) (h) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:
938.38 (4) (h) 5. The rationale for each program or service that is or will be provided to assist the juvenile in preparing for the transition from out-of-home care to independent living a successful adulthood, the time frames for delivering those programs or services, and the intended outcome of those programs or services.
128,80
Section
80. 938.38 (4) (h) 6. of the statutes is created to read:
938.38 (4) (h) 6. Documentation that the plan was prepared in consultation with the juvenile and any persons selected by the juvenile as required under sub. (2m).
128,81
Section
81. 938.38 (4) (h) 7. of the statutes is created to read:
938.38 (4) (h) 7. A document that describes the rights of the juvenile with respect to education, health, visitation, and participation in court proceedings, the right of the juvenile to receive the documents and information specified in s. 938.385 (2), the right of the juvenile to receive a copy of the juvenile's consumer report, as defined in 15 USCa (d), and the right of the juvenile to stay safe and to avoid exploitation, together with a signed acknowledgement by the juvenile that he or she has been provided with a copy of that document and that the rights described in that document have been explained to him or her in an age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate way.
128,82
Section
82. 938.38 (5) (bm) 3. of the statutes is created to read:
938.38 (5) (bm) 3. If the permanency goal of the juvenile's permanency plan is placement of the juvenile in a planned permanent living arrangement described in sub. (4) (fg) 5., the agency that prepared the permanency plan shall present to the court or panel specific information showing that intensive and ongoing efforts were made by the agency, including searching social media, to return the juvenile to the juvenile's home or to place the juvenile for adoption, with a guardian, or with a fit and willing relative and that those efforts have proved unsuccessful and specific information showing the steps taken by the agency, including consultation with the juvenile, to ascertain whether the juvenile has regular, ongoing opportunities to engage in age or developmentally appropriate activities and to ensure that the juvenile's caregiver is applying the reasonable and prudent parent standard to decisions concerning the juvenile's participation in those activities. In addition, at the review the court or panel shall consult with the juvenile about the permanency outcome desired by the juvenile.
128,83
Section
83. 938.38 (5) (c) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
938.38 (5) (c) 1. The continuing necessity for and the safety and appropriateness of the placement. If the permanency goal of the juvenile's permanency plan is placement of the juvenile in a planned permanent living arrangement described in sub. (4) (fg) 5., the determination under this subdivision shall include an explanation of why the planned permanent living arrangement is the best permanency goal for the juvenile and why, supported by compelling reasons, it continues not to be in the best interests of the juvenile to be returned to his or her home or to be placed for adoption, with a guardian, or with a fit and willing relative.
938.38 (5) (c) 6. d. Being placed in some other planned permanent living arrangement that includes an appropriate, enduring relationship with an adult, including sustaining care, or transitioning to independence.
128,85
Section
85. 938.38 (5) (c) 7m. of the statutes is created to read:
938.38 (5) (c) 7m. If the permanency goal of the juvenile's permanency plan is placement of the juvenile in a planned permanent living arrangement described in sub. (4) (fg) 5., the steps taken by the agency, including consultation with the juvenile, to ascertain whether the juvenile has regular, ongoing opportunities to engage in age or developmentally appropriate activities and to ensure that the juvenile's caregiver is applying the reasonable and prudent parent standard to decisions concerning the juvenile's participation in those activities.
938.38 (5) (c) 9. If the juvenile is the subject of an order that terminates as provided in s. 938.355 (4) (am) 4., 938.357 (6) (a) 4., or 938.365 (5) (b) 4. or of a voluntary transition-to-independent-living agreement under s. 938.366 (3), the appropriateness of the transition-to-independent-living plan developed under s. 938.385 (1); the extent of compliance with that plan by the juvenile, the juvenile's guardian, if any, the agency primarily responsible for providing services under that plan, and any other service providers; and the progress of the juvenile toward making the transition to independent living a successful adulthood.
128,87
Section
87. 938.38 (5m) (c) 3. of the statutes is created to read:
938.38 (5m) (c) 3. If the permanency goal of the juvenile's permanency plan is placement of the juvenile in a planned permanent living arrangement described in sub. (4) (fg) 5., the agency that prepared the permanency plan shall present to the court specific information showing that intensive and ongoing efforts were made by the agency, including searching social media, to return the juvenile to the juvenile's home or to place the juvenile for adoption, with a guardian, or with a fit and willing relative and that those efforts have proved unsuccessful and specific information showing the steps taken by the agency, including consultation with the juvenile, to ascertain whether the juvenile has regular, ongoing opportunities to engage in age or developmentally appropriate activities and to ensure that the juvenile's caregiver is applying the reasonable and prudent parent standard to decisions concerning the juvenile's participation in those activities. In addition, at the hearing the court shall consult with the juvenile about the permanency outcome desired by the juvenile.
128,88
Section
88. 938.383 of the statutes is created to read:
938.383 Reasonable and prudent parent standard. (1) Use of standard by out-of-home care providers. An out-of-home care provider shall use the reasonable and prudent parent standard in making decisions concerning a juvenile's participation in age or developmentally appropriate extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities. In making decisions using the reasonable and prudent parent standard, an out-of-home care provider shall consider the restrictiveness of the juvenile's placement and whether the juvenile has the necessary training and safety equipment to safely participate in the activity under consideration and may not make any decision that is in violation of any court order or any state or federal law, rule, or regulation.
(2) Juvenile-specific considerations required. (a) At the time of placement of a juvenile with an out-of-home care provider, the agency that places, or that arranges the placement of, the juvenile or the agency assigned primary responsibility for providing services to the juvenile under s. 938.355 (2) (b) 6g. provide to the out-of-home care provider the information that is required to be provided to an out-of-home care provider under the rules promulgated under s. 895.485 (4) (a) and information that is specific to the juvenile for the out-of-home care provider to consider in making reasonable and prudent parenting decisions concerning the juvenile's participation in age or developmentally appropriate extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities. In preparing that information or any revisions of that information, the agency shall do all of the following:
1. If reasonably possible to do so, consult with the juvenile's parent and other members of the juvenile's family concerning the juvenile's participation in extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities and the juvenile's cultural, religious, and tribal values and advise the parent that those values will be considered, but will not necessarily be the determining factor, in making decisions concerning the juvenile's participation in those activities.
2. Consult with the juvenile in an age-appropriate manner about the opportunities of the juvenile to participate in age or developmentally appropriate activities.
(b) At the time of placement of a juvenile with an out-of-home care provider, the agency providing the information under par. (a) shall explain to the out-of-home care provider the parameters of the considerations that the out-of-home care provider is required to take into account when making decisions concerning the juvenile's participation in age or developmentally appropriate extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities. In explaining those parameters, the agency shall explain the considerations and prohibitions specified in sub. (1) and shall advise the out-of-home care provider that in case of any disagreement over the application of the reasonable and prudent parent standard, the agency having placement and care responsibility for the juvenile is ultimately responsible for decisions concerning the care of the juvenile.
(c) In preparing or revising the permanency plan for a juvenile, the agency responsible for preparing or revising the permanency plan shall consult with the juvenile and the juvenile's parent as provided in par. (a) 1. and 2. At the time the permanency plan is prepared and each time the permanency plan is revised, that agency shall explain to the out-of-home care provider the parameters of the considerations that the out-of-home care provider is required to take into account when making decisions concerning the juvenile's participation in age or developmentally appropriate extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities as provided in par. (b).
(3) Rules. The department of children and families shall promulgate rules to implement this section.
938.385 Plan for transition to independent living. (intro.) During the 90 days immediately before a juvenile who is placed in a foster home, group home, or residential care center for children and youth, in the home of a relative other than a parent, or in a supervised independent living arrangement attains 18 years of age or, if the juvenile is placed in such a placement under an order under s. 938.355, 938.357, or 938.365 that terminates under s. 938.355 (4) (am) after the juvenile attains 18 years of age or under a voluntary transition-to-independent-living agreement under s. 938.366 (3) that terminates under s. 938.366 (3) (a) after the juvenile attains 18 years of age, during the 90 days immediately before the termination of the order or agreement, the agency primarily responsible for providing services to the juvenile under the order or agreement shall provide do all of the following:
(1) Transition plan. Provide the juvenile with assistance and support in developing a plan for making the transition from out-of-home care to independent living. The transition plan shall be personalized at the direction of the juvenile, shall be as detailed as the juvenile directs, and shall include specific options for obtaining housing, health care, education, mentoring and continuing support services, and workforce support and employment services.
128,90
Section
90. 938.385 (2) of the statutes is created to read:
938.385 (2) Identification documents and other information. Except as provided in this subsection, ensure that the juvenile is in possession of a certified copy of the juvenile's birth certificate, a social security card issued by the federal social security administration, information on maintaining health care coverage, a copy of the juvenile's health care records, and either an operator's license issued under ch. 343 or an identification card issued under s. 343.50. If the juvenile is not in possession of any of those documents or that information, the agency shall assist the juvenile in obtaining any missing document or information. This subsection does not apply to a juvenile who has been placed in out-of-home care for less than 6 months.
128,91
Section
91.
Nonstatutory provisions.
(1) Reasonable and prudent parent standard; emergency rules. Using the procedure under section 227.24 of the statutes, the department of children and families may promulgate the rules required under sections 48.383 (3), 48.67 (4) (a) 1m. and (5), and 938.383 (3) of the statutes, as created by this act, for the period before the effective date of the permanent rules promulgated under those sections, but not to exceed the period authorized under section 227.24 (1) (c) of the statutes, subject to extension under section 227.24 (2) of the statutes. Notwithstanding section 227.24 (1) (a), (2) (b), and (3) of the statutes, the department is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection.
(2) Elimination of sustaining care; transitional provisions.
(a) Temporary continuation in sustaining care. Notwithstanding the repeal of section 48.428 of the statutes by this act, all of the following apply:
1. A child 16 years of age or over who is in sustaining care under a sustaining care contract entered into before the effective date of this subdivision may remain in sustaining care until the termination date of the contract.
2. A child under 16 years of age who is in sustaining care under a sustaining care contract entered into before the effective date of this subdivision may remain in sustaining care until the next permanency plan review or hearing for the child, at which time the child's permanency plan shall be amended to provide for a permanency goal other than placement in sustaining care.
(b) Continued application of laws. Notwithstanding the repeal of sections 48.428 and 115.76 (12) (a) 8. of the statutes and the amendment of section 809.107 (2) (bm) (intro.) of the statutes by this act, those provisions shall continue to apply to a child described in paragraph (a
) 1. or 2. or until the child is no longer placed in sustaining care.
128,92
Section
92.
Initial applicability.
(1) Permanency plan preparation and contents.
(a) Generally. Except as provided in paragraph (b
), the treatment of sections 48.38 (2m) and (4) (f) 3., (fg) 5., (fm), and (h) (intro.), 2., 4., 5., 6., and 7. and 938.38 (2m) and (4) (f) 3., (fg) 5., (fm), and (h) (intro.), 2., 4., 5., 6., and 7. of the statutes first applies to a permanency plan filed on the effective date of this subsection.
(b)
Children under tribal responsibility. The treatment of sections 48.38 (4) (f) 3., (fg) 5., and (fm) and 938.38 (4) (f) 3., (fg) 5., and (fm) of the statutes first applies to a permanency plan for a child who is in out-of-home care under the responsibility of an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium filed on September 29, 2017.
(2) Permanency plan reviews and hearings.
(a) Generally. Except as provided in paragraph (b
), the treatment of sections 48.38 (5) (bm) 3. and (c) 1., 7m., and 9. and (5m) (c) 3., 48.43 (5) (b) 2m., and 938.38 (5) (bm) 3. and (c) 1., 7m., and 9. and (5m) (c) 3. of the statutes first applies to a permanency plan review or hearing for which notice is provided on the effective date of this subsection.
(b)
Children under tribal responsibility. The treatment of sections 48.38 (5) (bm) 3. and (c) 1. and 7m. and (5m) (c) 3., 48.43 (5) (b) 2m., and 938.38 (5) (bm) 3. and (c) 1. and 7m. and (5m) (c) 3. of the statutes first applies to a review or hearing for a permanency plan for a child who is in out-of-home care under the responsibility of an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium for which notice is provided on September 29, 2017.
(3) Transition to independent living. The renumbering and amendment of sections 48.385 and 938.385 of the statutes and the creation of sections 48.385 (2) and 938.385 (2) of the statutes first apply to a child who attains 18 years of age or whose order under section 48.355 (4) (b) or 938.355 (4) (am) of the statutes terminates, whichever is later, 90 days after the effective date of this subsection.
(4) Participation of child in age or developmentally appropriate activities. The treatment of sections 48.02 (1dm), (12r), and (14r), 48.383, 48.627 (2s) (am), 167.10 (7), 895.485 (title), (1) (a), (ag), (c), and (d), (2), (3), (4) (intro.) and (a), (5), and (6), 938.02 (1g), (12r), and (14r), and 938.383 of the statutes first applies to permission for a child to engage in an age or developmentally appropriate activity granted on the effective date of this subsection.
128,93
Section
93.
Effective date.
(1) Permanency planning for children 14 years of age or over and use of reasonable and prudent parent standard. This act takes effect on November 1, 2015, or on the day after publication, whichever is later.
