Amendment ASA1-AB768

AB768-ASA1, s. 82zw Section 82zw. 38.12 (8) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,81,5 38.12 (8) (b) The district boards shall actively coordinate, with the institutions and centers within the university of Wisconsin system, the sharing of programs and facilities, including the collegiate transfer program, adult education and evening courses and part-time student and associate degree programs, in order to reduce the duplication of such programs and facilities.

AB768-ASA1, s. 83b Section 83b. 38.28 (1m) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,81,11 38.28 (1m) (a) 2. "District aidable cost" for any district that does not have an institution or center college campus located in the district does not include costs associated with the collegiate transfer program at the district school. In this subdivision, "institution" and "center " college campus" have the meanings specified under s. 36.05.

AB768-ASA1, s. 83d Section 83d. 38.28 (2) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,81,16 38.28 (2) (b) 2. The most current equalized values certified by the department of revenue shall be used in aid determinations. Equalized values shall include the full value of computers that are exempt under s. 70.11 (39) as determined under s. 79.095 (3).

AB768-ASA1, s. 83f Section 83f. 38.28 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,81,24 38.28 (4) From the appropriation under s. 20.292 (1) (dm), the board shall annually pay to any district that does not have an institution or center college campus located within the district an amount equal to that portion of the instructional costs of the district's collegiate transfer program not supported by fees and tuition that is equal to the state support of similar programs in the university of Wisconsin system, as determined by the board. In this subsection, "institution" and "center "college campus" have the meanings specified under s. 36.05.

AB768-ASA1, s. 83no Section 83no. 39.41 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,82,10 39.41 (2) (a) If a designated scholar under sub. (1m) is admitted to and enrolls, on a full-time basis, by September 30 of the academic year immediately following the school year in which the senior was designated a scholar, in a center or an institution within the university of Wisconsin system or in a technical college district school that is participating in the program under this section, the scholar shall receive a higher education scholarship that exempts the scholar from all tuition and fees, including segregated fees, at the center, institution or district school for one year, except that the maximum scholarship for a scholar who receives an original scholarship for the 1996-97 academic year or for any academic year thereafter may not exceed $2,250 per academic year.

AB768-ASA1, s. 83p Section 83p. 39.41 (2) (b) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 109, is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,82,22 39.41 (2) (b) For each year that a scholar who receives a scholarship under par. (a) is enrolled full time, maintains at least a 3.000 grade point average, or the equivalent as determined by the center, institution or district school, and makes satisfactory progress toward an associate or a bachelor's degree, the student shall be exempt from all tuition and fees, including segregated fees, in the subsequent year, except that the maximum scholarship for a scholar who receives an original scholarship for the 1996-97 academic year or for any academic year thereafter may not exceed $2,250 per academic year. No scholar is eligible for an exemption for more than 4 years at a center or institution in the University of Wisconsin System or more than 3 years at a district school.

AB768-ASA1, s. 83q Section 83q. 39.41 (2) (c) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,83,6 39.41 (2) (c) Subject to sub. (4), for each year the student is exempt from tuition and fees under par. (a) or (b), the board shall pay the center, institution or district school, on behalf of the student, an amount equal to 50% of the student's tuition and fees, except that the maximum payment for a student who receives an original scholarship for the 1996-97 academic year or for any academic year thereafter may not exceed $1,125 per academic year.

AB768-ASA1, s. 83s Section 83s. 39.41 (4) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,83,17 39.41 (4) (a) The board shall make the payments under subs. (2) (c) and (3) only if the center, institution, district school or private institution matches the amount of the payment from institutional funds, gifts or grants. Beginning in the 1992-93 school year, the matching requirement under this paragraph for the centers and institutions within the university of Wisconsin system shall be satisfied by payments of an amount equal to the total payments from the centers and institutions made under this paragraph in the 1991-92 school year and, if such payments are insufficient to satisfy the matching requirement, by the waiver of academic fees established under s. 36.27.

AB768-ASA1, s. 83w Section 83w. 39.41 (5) (a) 1. of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 109, is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,83,24 39.41 (5) (a) 1. Each center or institution within the university of Wisconsin system, technical college district school and private institution of higher education that wishes to participate in the scholarship program under this section in academic year 1999-2000 and thereafter shall notify the board by October 1, 1998, that the institution wishes to participate.

AB768-ASA1, s. 83x Section 83x. 40.02 (17) (m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB768-ASA1,84,10 40.02 (17) (m) Notwithstanding par. (d), each participant who is a state probation and parole officer on or after the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date], shall be granted creditable service as a protective occupation participant for all covered service as a state probation and parole officer that was earned on or after the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date], but may not be granted creditable service as a protective occupation participant for any covered service as a state probation and parole officer that was earned before the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date], unless that service was earned while the participant was classified under sub. (48) (a) and s. 40.06 (1) (d) as a protective occupation participant.

AB768-ASA1, s. 82zx Section 82zx. 40.02 (30) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,84,18 40.02 (30) "Executive participating employe" means a participating employe in a position designated under s. 19.42 (10) (L) or 20.923 (4), (4g), (4m), (8) or (9) or authorized under s. 230.08 (2) (e) during the time of employment. All service credited prior to May 17, 1988, as executive service as defined under s. 40.02 (31), 1985 stats., shall continue to be treated as executive service as defined under s. 40.02 (31), 1985 stats., but no other service rendered prior to May 17, 1988, may be changed to executive service as defined under s. 40.02 (31), 1985 stats.

AB768-ASA1, s. 83xg Section 83xg. 40.02 (48) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,85,4 40.02 (48) (am) "Protective occupation participant" includes any participant whose name is certified to the fund as provided in s. 40.06 (1) (d) and (dm) and who is a conservation warden, conservation patrol boat captain, conservation patrol boat engineer, conservation pilot, conservation patrol officer, forest fire control assistant, member of the state patrol, state motor vehicle inspector, police officer, fire fighter, sheriff, undersheriff, deputy sheriff, state probation and parole officer, county traffic police officer, state forest ranger, fire watcher employed by the Wisconsin veterans home, state correctional-psychiatric officer, excise tax investigator employed by the department of revenue, special criminal investigation agent in the department of justice, assistant or deputy fire marshal, or person employed under s. 61.66 (1).

AB768-ASA1, s. 83xm Section 83xm. 40.02 (48) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,85,17 40.02 (48) (c) In s. 40.65, "protective occupation participant" means a participating employe who is a police officer, fire fighter, an individual determined by a participating employer under par. (a) or (bm) to be a protective occupation participant, county undersheriff, deputy sheriff, state probation and parole officer, county traffic police officer, conservation warden, state forest ranger, field conservation employe of the department of natural resources who is subject to call for forest fire control or warden duty, member of the state traffic patrol, state motor vehicle inspector, university of Wisconsin system full-time police officer, guard or any other employe whose principal duties are supervision and discipline of inmates at a state penal institution, excise tax investigator employed by the department of revenue, person employed under s. 61.66 (1), or special criminal investigation agent employed by the department of justice.

AB768-ASA1, s. 83y Section 83y. 40.02 (57) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,85,21 40.02 (57) "University" means any college, school or department under the control and management of the board of regents of the university of Wisconsin system under ch. 36.

AB768-ASA1, s. 84 Section 84. 40.08 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,86,9 40.08 (1) Exemptions. The benefits payable to, or other rights and interests of, any member, beneficiary or distributee of any estate under any of the benefit plans administered by the department, including insurance payments, shall be exempt from any tax levied by the state or any subdivision of the state and shall not be assignable, either in law or equity, or be subject to execution, levy, attachment, garnishment or other legal process except as specifically provided in this section; except that, notwithstanding s. 40.01 (2), the department of revenue may attach benefit payments to satisfy delinquent tax obligations. The board and any member or agent thereof and the department and any employe or agent thereof are immune from civil liability for any act or omission while performing official duties relating to withholding any annuity payment under this subsection. The exemption from taxation under this section shall not apply with respect to any tax on income.

AB768-ASA1, s. 85 Section 85. 40.25 (6) (a) 5. of the statutes is repealed.

AB768-ASA1, s. 86 Section 86. 40.25 (7) (g) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB768-ASA1,86,13 40.25 (7) (g) The crediting of any service under this subsection is subject to any applicable requirements under section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code.

AB768-ASA1, s. 87 Section 87. 40.31 (1) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB768-ASA1,86,19 40.31 (1) General limitation. The maximum retirement benefits payable to a participant in a calendar year, excluding benefits attributable to contributions subject to any limitations under s. 40.23 (2) (a), (2m) (c) and (3), may not exceed the maximum benefit limitation established under section 415 (b) of the Internal Revenue Code.

AB768-ASA1, s. 88 Section 88. 40.31 (2) of the statutes is repealed.

AB768-ASA1, s. 89 Section 89. 40.32 (1) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB768-ASA1,87,3 40.32 (1) The sum of all contributions allocated to a participant's account under each defined contribution plan sponsored by the employer, including all employer contributions and picked-up contributions credited with interest at the effective rate under ss. 40.04 (4) (a) and (5) (b) and 40.05 (2) (g) and all employe contributions made under ss. 40.02 (17) and 40.05 (1) and (2m), may not in any calendar year exceed the maximum contribution limitation established under section 415 (c) of the Internal Revenue Code.

AB768-ASA1, s. 90 Section 90. 40.32 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,87,11 40.32 (3) Any contribution that the department receives, which is allocated to the account of a participant and which exceeds the contributions limitation under this section, may be refunded or credited as provided in s. 40.08 (6). If the department refunds any contributions that exceed the limitation under this section, the department shall first refund amounts voluntarily contributed by a participating employe, either as an additional contribution under s. 40.05 (1) (a) 5. or a purchase of forfeited or creditable service under s. 40.02 (17) or 40.25 (6) (a) or (7) (a).

AB768-ASA1, s. 90b Section 90b. 40.51 (8) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 155, is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,87,17 40.51 (8) Every health care coverage plan offered by the state under sub. (6) shall comply with ss. 631.89, 631.90, 631.93 (2), 632.72 (2), 632.746 (1) to (8) and (10), 632.747, 632.748, 632.85, 632.853, 632.855, 632.87 (3) to (5), 632.895 (5m) and (8) to (13) and 632.896.

AB768-ASA1, s. 90bm Section 90bm. 40.51 (8m) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 155, is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,87,22 40.51 (8m) Every health care coverage plan offered by the group insurance board under sub. (7) shall comply with ss. 632.746 (1) to (8) and (10), 632.747, 632.748, 632.85, 632.853, 632.855 and 632.895 (11) to (13).

AB768-ASA1, s. 90bp Section 90bp. 40.51 (12) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB768-ASA1,88,3 40.51 (12) Every managed care plan, as defined in s. 609.01 (3c), and every limited service health organization, as defined in s. 609.01 (3), that is offered by the state under sub. (6) shall comply with ch. 609.

AB768-ASA1, s. 90bq Section 90bq. 40.51 (13) of the statutes is created to read:

AB768-ASA1,88,7 40.51 (13) Every managed care plan, as defined in s. 609.01 (3c), and every limited service health organization, as defined in s. 609.01 (3), that is offered by the group insurance board under sub. (7) shall comply with ch. 609.

AB768-ASA1, s. 90bt Section 90bt. 40.65 (4v) of the statutes is created to read:

AB768-ASA1,88,13 40.65 (4v) A state probation and parole officer who becomes a protective occupation participant on or after the effective date of this subsection .... [revisor inserts date], is not entitled to a duty disability benefit under this section for an injury or disease occurring before the effective date of this subsection .... [revisor inserts date].

AB768-ASA1, s. 90c Section 90c. 44.71 (2) (e) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,88,20 44.71 (2) (e) Subject to s. 196.218 (4r) (f), in cooperation with the department and the public service commission, provide telecommunications access to school districts, private schools, cooperative educational service agencies, technical college districts, private colleges and public library boards under the program established under s. 196.218 (4r).

AB768-ASA1, s. 90d Section 90d. 45.25 (1) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,89,2 45.25 (1) Administration. The department of veterans affairs shall administer a tuition and fee reimbursement program for eligible veterans enrolling as undergraduates in any institution or center within the university of Wisconsin system, enrolling in any technical college under ch. 38 or receiving a waiver of nonresident tuition under s. 39.47.

AB768-ASA1, s. 90h Section 90h. 45.25 (3) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,89,16 45.25 (3) (a) Except as provided in par. (am), an individual who meets the requirements under sub. (2), upon satisfactory completion of an undergraduate semester in any institution or center within the university of Wisconsin system or a semester at any technical college district school under ch. 38, may be reimbursed for up to 50% of the individual's tuition and fees, but that reimbursement is limited to a maximum of 50% of the standard cost for a state resident for an equivalent undergraduate course at the University of Wisconsin-Madison per course or the difference between the individual's tuition and fees and the grants or scholarships, including those made under s. 21.49, that the individual receives specifically for the payment of the tuition or fees, whichever is less. Reimbursement is available only for tuition and fees that are part of a curriculum that is relevant to a degree in a particular course of study at the institution, center or school.

AB768-ASA1, s. 90k Section 90k. 45.25 (3) (am) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,90,6 45.25 (3) (am) A disabled individual who meets the requirements under sub. (2) and whose disability is rated at 30% or more under 38 USC 1114 or 1134, upon satisfactory completion of an undergraduate semester in any institution or center within the University of Wisconsin System or a semester at any technical college district school under ch. 38, may be reimbursed for up to 100% of the individual's tuition and fees, but that reimbursement is limited to 100% of the standard cost for a state resident for an equivalent undergraduate course at the University of Wisconsin-Madison per course, or the difference between the individual's tuition and fees and the grants or scholarships, including those made under s. 21.49, that the individual receives specifically for the payment of the tuition or fees, whichever is less. Reimbursement is available only for tuition and fees that are part of a curriculum that is relevant to a degree in a particular course of study at the institution, center or school.

AB768-ASA1, s. 90p Section 90p. 45.25 (3) (b) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,90,10 45.25 (3) (b) 4. Contain the signatures of both the applicant and a representative of the institution, center or school certifying that the applicant has satisfactorily completed the semester.

AB768-ASA1, s. 90t Section 90t. 45.25 (4) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,90,18 45.25 (4) (a) An individual is not eligible for reimbursement under sub. (2) for more than 120 credits of part-time study or 8 full semesters of full-time study at any institution or center within the university of Wisconsin system, 60 credits of part-time study or 4 full semesters of full-time study at a technical college under ch. 38, or an equivalent amount of credits at an institution where he or she is receiving a waiver of nonresident tuition under s. 39.47.

AB768-ASA1, s. 90w Section 90w. 45.351 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,91,15 45.351 (1) Subsistence grants. The department may grant subsistence aid to any veteran or to any dependent of a veteran in an amount that the department determines is advisable to prevent want or distress. The department may grant subsistence aid on a month-to-month basis or for a 3-month period. The department may grant subsistence aid for a 3-month period if the veteran or dependent whose incapacity is the basis for the aid will be incapacitated for more than 3 months and if earned or unearned income or aid from sources other than those listed in the application will not be available in the 3-month period. Subsistence aid is limited to a maximum of 3 months in a 12-month period unless the department determines that the need for subsistence aid in excess of this maximum time period is caused by the aid recipient's relapse. The department may submit a request to the joint committee on finance for supplemental funds from the veterans trust fund to be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.485 (2) (vm) for subsistence grants to veterans. If the cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the secretary of the department within 14 working days after the date of the department's submittal that the committee intends to schedule a meeting to review the request, the appropriation account shall be supplemented as provided in the request. If, within 14 working days after the date of the department's submittal, the cochairpersons of the committee notify the secretary of the department that the committee intends to schedule a meeting to review the request, the appropriation account shall be supplemented only as approved by the committee.

AB768-ASA1, s. 91 Section 91. 45.74 (7) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,91,23 45.74 (7) (title) Price-of-home Amount of loan limitation. The price amount of the home loan exceeds 2.5 times the median price of a home in this state if the person is applying for a loan for the purchase of a home. The department shall promulgate a rule establishing establish the median price of a home in this state for each fiscal year that is determined by using the most recent housing price index generated by the Wisconsin Realtors Association before July 1.

AB768-ASA1, s. 92 Section 92. 46.036 (3) (g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB768-ASA1,92,6 46.036 (3) (g) Notwithstanding pars. (b) and (d), if a county has an existing system, approved by the department, to monitor and assess the outcomes of a contract and if the county is so authorized by the department, the county may contract with providers to pay in advance or after provision of services a fixed amount for each person served by the provider in return for a defined set of expected outcomes that are determined by the county.

AB768-ASA1, s. 93 Section 93. 46.10 (1) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,92,13 46.10 (1) Liability and the collection and enforcement of such liability for the care, maintenance, services and supplies specified in this section is governed exclusively by this section, except in cases of child support ordered by a court under s. 48.355 (2) (b) 4., 48.357 (5m), or 48.363 (2), 938.183 (4), 938.355 (2) (b) 4., 938.357 (5m) or 938.363 (2) or ch. 767.

AB768-ASA1, s. 94 Section 94. 46.10 (2) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,93,18 46.10 (2) Except as provided in subs. (2m) and (14) (b) and (c), any person, including but not limited to a person admitted, committed or placed under s. 975.01, 1977 stats., s. 975.02, 1977 stats., and s. 975.17, 1977 stats., and ss. 48.366, 51.10, 51.13, 51.15, 51.20, 51.35 (3), 51.37 (5), 51.45 (10), (11), (12) and (13), 55.05, 55.06, 938.183, 938.34 (4h) or (4m), 938.357 (4) and (5) (e), 971.14 (2) and (5), 971.17 (1), 975.06 and 980.06, receiving care, maintenance, services and supplies provided by any institution in this state including University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, in which the state is chargeable with all or part of the person's care, maintenance, services and supplies, any person receiving care and services from a county department established under s. 51.42 or 51.437 or from a facility established under s. 49.73, and any person receiving treatment and services from a public or private agency under s. 971.17 (3) (d) or (4) (e), 980.06 (2) (c) or 980.08 (5) and the person's property and estate, including the homestead, and the spouse of the person, and the spouse's property and estate, including the homestead, and, in the case of a minor child, the parents of the person, and their property and estates, including their homestead, and, in the case of a foreign child described in s. 48.839 (1) who became dependent on public funds for his or her primary support before an order granting his or her adoption, the resident of this state appointed guardian of the child by a foreign court who brought the child into this state for the purpose of adoption, and his or her property and estate, including his or her homestead, shall be liable for the cost of the care, maintenance, services and supplies in accordance with the fee schedule established by the department under s. 46.03 (18). If a spouse, widow or minor, or an incapacitated person may be lawfully dependent upon the property for their support, the court shall release all or such part of the property and estate from the charges that may be necessary to provide for those persons. The department shall make every reasonable effort to notify the liable persons as soon as possible after the beginning of the maintenance, but the notice or the receipt thereof is not a condition of liability.

AB768-ASA1, s. 95 Section 95. 46.10 (14) (b) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,94,4 46.10 (14) (b) Except as provided in par. (c) and subject to par. (cm), liability of a parent specified in sub. (2) or s. 46.03 (18) for the care and maintenance of the parent's minor child who has been placed by a court order under s. 48.355, or 48.357, 938.183, 938.355 or 938.357 in a residential, nonmedical facility such as a group home, foster home, treatment foster home, or child caring institution or juvenile correctional institution shall be determined by the court by using the percentage standard established by the department of workforce development under s. 49.22 (9) and by applying the percentage standard in the manner established by the department under s. 46.247.

AB768-ASA1, s. 96 Section 96. 46.10 (14) (e) 1m. of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is repealed.

AB768-ASA1, s. 97 Section 97. 46.21 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,94,9 46.21 (5) (b) Sections 46.10, 49.08, 49.90, 301.12 and 767.42 govern the support and maintenance of persons in any of the institutions specified in sub. (2) (a).

AB768-ASA1, s. 98 Section 98. 46.247 of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,94,19 46.247 Application of child support standard for certain children. For purposes of determining child support under s. 46.10 (14) (b), the department shall promulgate rules related to the application of the standard established by the department of workforce development under s. 49.22 (9) to a child support obligation for the care and maintenance of a child who is placed by a court order under s. 48.355, or 48.357, 938.183, 938.355 or 938.357 in a residential, nonmedical facility. The rules shall take into account the needs of any person, including dependent children other than the child, whom either parent is legally obligated to support.

AB768-ASA1, s. 98m Section 98m. 46.27 (7) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,95,4 46.27 (7) (am) From the appropriation appropriations under s. 20.435 (7) (bb) and (bd), the department shall allocate funds to each county or private nonprofit agency with which the department contracts to pay assessment and case plan costs under sub. (6) not otherwise paid by fee or under s. 49.33 (2) or 49.45. The department shall reimburse counties for the cost of assessing persons eligible for medical assistance under s. 49.46, 49.468 or 49.47 as part of the administrative services of medical assistance, payable under s. 49.45 (3) (a). Counties may use unspent funds allocated under this paragraph to pay the cost of long-term community support services.

AB768-ASA1, s. 98n Section 98n. 46.27 (11) (c) 3. of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,95,10 46.27 (11) (c) 3. Medical assistance reimbursement for services a county, a private nonprofit agency or an aging unit with which the department contracts provides under this subsection shall be made from the appropriations under s. 20.435 (5) (o) and (7) (b), (bb) and (bd).

AB768-ASA1, s. 99 Section 99. 46.27 (11) (c) 3m. of the statutes is repealed.

AB768-ASA1, s. 100 Section 100. 46.40 (2m) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,95,17 46.40 (2m) (a) Prevention and treatment of substance abuse. For prevention and treatment of substance abuse under 42 USC 300x-21 to 300x-35, the department shall distribute not more than $9,702,400 $10,493,900 in fiscal year 1997-98 and not more than $8,641,100 $10,224,100 in fiscal year 1998-99.

AB768-ASA1, s. 101 Section 101. 48.01 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB768-ASA1,96,7 48.01 (1) (a) While recognizing that the paramount goal of this chapter is to protect children, to preserve the unity of the family, whenever appropriate, by strengthening family life through assisting parents, whenever appropriate, in fulfilling their parental responsibilities. The courts and agencies responsible for child welfare, while assuring that a child's health and safety are the paramount concerns, should assist parents in changing any circumstances in the home which might harm the child or which may require the child to be placed outside the home. The courts should recognize that they have the authority, in appropriate cases, not to reunite a child with his or her family. The courts and agencies responsible for child welfare should also recognize that instability and impermanence in family relationships are contrary to the welfare of children and should therefore recognize the importance of eliminating the need for children to wait unreasonable periods of time for their parents to correct the conditions that prevent their safe return to the family.

AB768-ASA1, s. 102 Section 102. 48.01 (1) (gg) of the statutes is amended to read: