AB341: Bill Text

AB341,4,13 (e) "Serious crime" has the meaning specified by the department by rule under sub. (7).

AB341,4,15 (f) "Supportive home care service agency" has the meaning specified by the department by rule.

AB341,4,16 (g) "Treatment facility" has the meaning given in s. 51.01 (19).

AB341,4,20 (h) "Vulnerable person" means a patient, resident or client of a community-based residential facility, home health agency, adult day care center, adult family home, assisted living facility, hospice, hospital, treatment facility, personal care worker agency, supportive home care service agency or nursing home.

AB341,5,2 (2) Notwithstanding s. 111.335, and except as provided in sub. (5), no community-based residential facility, home health agency, adult day care center, adult family home, assisted living facility, hospice, hospital, treatment facility, personal care worker agency, supportive home care service agency or nursing home may hire a person who may have access to its residents, patients or clients unless it has done all of the following:

AB341,5,7 (a) Requested from the department a criminal history record search of that person and made a determination that the person does not have a conviction in any jurisdiction relating to patient abuse described in 42 USC 1320a-7 (a) (2) and has not been convicted of a serious crime or, if convicted, that the person has been pardoned for the violation resulting in the conviction.

AB341,5,11 (b) Requested from the department any information regarding that person that is contained in the registry under s. 146.40 (4g) and made a determination that the person has no record of misappropriation of property, abuse or neglect of a vulnerable person.

AB341,5,14 (c) For a position for which the person must be licensed by the department of regulation and licensing, verified with the department of regulation and licensing that the person's license is valid.

AB341,6,2 (3) Every adult day care center, adult family home, assisted living facility, community-based residential facility, home health agency, hospice, hospital, treatment facility, personal care worker agency, supportive home care service agency and nursing home shall, in accordance with rules promulgated by the department, periodically request the department to conduct a criminal history record search and a search of the registry under s. 146.40 (4g) for all of the employes of the adult day care center, adult family home, assisted living facility, community-based residential facility, home health agency, hospice, hospital, treatment facility, personal care worker agency, supportive home care service agency or nursing home who may have access to patients, residents or clients of the adult day care center, adult family home, assisted living facility, community-based residential facility, home health agency, hospice, hospital, treatment facility, personal care worker agency, supportive home care service agency or nursing home.

AB341,6,4 (4) Whoever violates sub. (2) or (3) may be required to forfeit not more than $1,000.

AB341,6,14 (5) An adult day care center, adult family home, assisted living facility, community-based residential facility, home health agency, hospice, hospital, treatment facility, personal care worker agency, supportive home care service agency or nursing home may employ a person who has been convicted of a serious crime and who has not been pardoned for the violation resulting in the conviction if the person demonstrates in accordance with procedures established by the department by rule, in consultation with the board on aging and long-term care, evidence of rehabilitation. No person who has been convicted, and not pardoned, of a serious crime involving the abuse or neglect of a vulnerable person may be permitted to demonstrate evidence of rehabilitation.

AB341,6,25 (5m) Notwithstanding s. 111.335, an adult day care center, adult family home, assisted living facility, community-based residential facility, home health agency, hospice, hospital, treatment facility, personal care worker agency, supportive home care service agency or nursing home may refuse to employ a person who may have access to its residents, patients or clients if the person has been convicted of an offense that the department has not defined as a "serious crime" under sub. (7) but that is, in the estimation of the adult day care center, adult family home, assisted living facility, community-based residential facility, home health agency, hospice, hospital, treatment facility, personal care worker agency, supportive home care service agency or nursing home significantly related to the care of a vulnerable person.

AB341,7,8 (6) The department of health and family services shall request the department of justice to conduct a criminal history record search of all persons for whom a search is required under subs. (2) (a) and (3). The department of health and family services shall charge to an adult day care center, adult family home, assisted living facility, community-based residential facility, home health agency, hospice, hospital, treatment facility, personal care worker agency, supportive home care service agency or nursing home that makes the requests required under subs. (2) (a) and (b) and (3) the following:

AB341,7,10 (a) For each criminal history record search requested by a nonprofit organization, as defined in s. 108.02 (19), $2.

AB341,7,12 (b) For each criminal history record search requested by a governmental agency, $5.

AB341,7,13 (c) For each criminal history record search by any other requester, $13.

AB341,7,18 (7) The department, in conjunction with the board on aging and long-term care and after consultation with the department of justice, shall establish by rule a definition of "serious crime" for the purposes of this section and s. 146.40. The definition shall include only crimes that are substantially related to the care of a vulnerable person.

AB341, s. 6 Section 6. 50.065 (2) (intro.) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

AB341,8,2 50.065 (2) (intro.) Notwithstanding s. 111.335, and except as provided in sub. (5), no community-based residential facility, home health agency, adult day care center, adult family home, assisted living facility, hospice, hospital, treatment facility, personal care worker agency, supportive home care service agency or nursing home may hire employ a person who may have access to its residents, patients or clients unless it has done all of the following:

AB341, s. 7 Section 7. 55.043 (1) (a) (intro.), (4) (intro.), (e) and (f) and (5) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB341,8,12 55.043 (1) (a) (intro.) If a county protective services agency has probable cause to believe that there is abuse, neglect or misappropriation of property, neglect or abuse, the county protective services agency may conduct an investigation in Milwaukee county to determine if the vulnerable adult in question is in need of protective services. The county protective services agency shall conduct the investigation in accordance with standards established by the department for conducting the investigations. The investigation shall include at least one of the following:

AB341,8,15 (4) Offer of services. (intro.) If upon investigation the county protective services agency finds abuse, neglect or misappropriation of property, neglect or abuse, the county protective services agency may do one or more of the following:

AB341,8,19 (e) Refer the case to the department of regulation and licensing or the appropriate examining board if the abuse, neglect or misappropriation of property, neglect or abuse involves an individual who is required to be licensed, permitted, certified or registered under chs. 440 to 459.

AB341,8,24 (f) Bring a petition for a guardianship and protective service or protective placement if necessary to prevent abuse, neglect or misappropriation of property, neglect or abuse and if the vulnerable adult would otherwise be at risk of serious harm because of an inability to arrange for necessary food, clothing, shelter and services.

AB341,9,6 (5) Applicability. This section does not apply to patients or residents of state-operated or county-operated inpatient institutions or hospitals issued certificates of approval under s. 50.35 unless the alleged abuse, neglect or misappropriation of property, neglect or abuse of such a patient or resident is alleged to have been done by a person other than an employe of the inpatient institution or hospital.

AB341, s. 8 Section 8. 71.07 (8) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 71.07 (8) (a) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB341,9,10 71.07 (8) (a) (intro.) An exemption of $25 if the taxpayer has reached the age of 65 prior to the close of the calendar or fiscal year. and if one of the following applies:

AB341, s. 9 Section 9. 71.07 (8) (a) 1. to 3. of the statutes are created to read:

AB341,9,13 71.07 (8) (a) 1. The taxpayer is an individual, files an individual return, and has adjusted gross income of less than $71,200 in the year to which the claim relates.

AB341,9,15 2. The taxpayer is married, files a joint return, and has adjusted gross income of less than $95,000 in the year to which the claim relates.

AB341,9,17 3. The taxpayer is married, files a separate return, and has adjusted gross income of less than $47,500 in the year to which the claim relates.

AB341, s. 10 Section 10. 146.40 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB341,9,20 146.40 (title) Instructional programs for nurse's assistants and home health and hospice aides; reporting patient, resident and client abuse.

AB341, s. 11 Section 11. 146.40 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 146.40 (1) (as).

AB341, s. 12 Section 12. 146.40 (1) (ad) of the statutes is created to read:

AB341,9,25 146.40 (1) (ad) "Adult day care center" means a facility that is operated by an adult day care provider that provides care and services to persons who are aged 60 or older for less than 24 hours a day.

AB341, s. 13 Section 13. 146.40 (1) (ag) of the statutes is created to read:

AB341,10,2 146.40 (1) (ag) "Adult family home" has the meaning given in s. 50.01 (1).

AB341, s. 14 Section 14. 146.40 (1) (aj) of the statutes is created to read:

AB341,10,4 146.40 (1) (aj) "Assisted living facility" has the meaning given in s. 50.01 (1d).

AB341, s. 15 Section 15. 146.40 (1) (am) of the statutes is created to read:

AB341,10,7 146.40 (1) (am) "Community-based residential facility" has the meaning given under s. 50.01 (1g).

AB341, s. 16 Section 16. 146.40 (1) (em) of the statutes is created to read:

AB341,10,10 146.40 (1) (em) "Personal care worker agency" has the meaning specified by the department by rule.

AB341, s. 17 Section 17. 146.40 (1) (fm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB341,10,13 146.40 (1) (fm) "Serious crime" has the meaning specified by the department by rule under s. 50.065 (7).

AB341, s. 18 Section 18. 146.40 (1) (gm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB341,10,16 146.40 (1) (gm) "Supportive home care service agency" has the meaning specified by the department by rule.

AB341, s. 19 Section 19. 146.40 (1) (h) of the statutes is created to read:

AB341,10,18 146.40 (1) (h) "Treatment facility" has the meaning given in s. 51.01 (19).

AB341, s. 20 Section 20. 146.40 (4g) (a) 2. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB341,10,22 146.40 (4g) (a) 2. (intro.) A listing of all individuals about whom the department is notified under sub. (4r) (a) or (am), for whom the department makes findings under sub. (4r) (b) and to whom any of the following applies:

AB341, s. 21 Section 21. 146.40 (4g) (a) 2. b. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB341,10,25 146.40 (4g) (a) 2. b. A hearing officer finds reasonable cause to believe that the individual performed an action alleged under sub. (4r) (a) or (am).

AB341, s. 22 Section 22. 146.40 (4g) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB341,11,5 146.40 (4g) (a) 3. Findings of the department under sub. (4r) (b) or of the hearing officer under sub. (4r) (d) concerning the neglect, abuse or misappropriation of property, neglect or abuse of a resident or patient by an individual listed under subd. 2.

AB341, s. 23 Section 23. 146.40 (4r) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB341,11,14 146.40 (4r) (a) Any individual may report to the department that he or she believes that a nurse's assistant or other person employed by or under contract with a nursing home or hospital has neglected, or abused a nursing home resident or a hospital patient or misappropriated the resident's or patient's property of a nursing home resident or a hospital patient or that a home health aide or other person employed by or under contract with a home health agency has neglected, or abused a home health agency patient or misappropriated the patient's property of a home health agency patient.

AB341, s. 24 Section 24. 146.40 (4r) (am) of the statutes is created to read:

AB341,11,24 146.40 (4r) (am) A home health agency, nursing home, hospital, community-based residential facility, adult day care center, adult family home, assisted living facility, hospice, personal care worker agency, supportive home care service agency or treatment facility shall report any misappropriation of property, neglect or abuse of a resident, patient or client by a nurse's assistant, home health aide or other person employed by or under contract with the home health agency, nursing home, hospital, community-based residential facility, adult day care center, adult family home, assisted living facility, hospice, personal care worker agency, supportive home care service agency or treatment facility to the department.

AB341, s. 25 Section 25. 146.40 (4r) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB341,12,16 146.40 (4r) (b) The department shall review and investigate any report received under par. (a) or (am) and, if the allegation is substantiated, make specific, documented findings concerning the neglect, abuse or misappropriation of property, neglect or abuse. The department shall in writing by certified mail notify the nurse's assistant or, home health aide or other person specified in the report that his or her name and the department's findings about him or her shall be listed in the registry under sub. (4g) (a) 2. and 3. unless he or she contests the listings in a hearing before the department. The written notification shall describe the investigation conducted by the department, enumerate the findings alleging neglect, abuse or misappropriation of property, neglect or abuse of a nursing home resident or home health agency, patient or client and explain the consequence to the nurse's assistant or, home health aide or other person specified in the report of waiving a hearing to contest the findings. The nurse's assistant or, home health aide named or other person specified in the report shall have 30 days after receipt of the notification to indicate to the department in writing whether he or she intends to contest the listing or to waive the hearing.

AB341, s. 26 Section 26. 146.40 (4r) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB341,13,8 146.40 (4r) (d) If the nurse's assistant or , home health aide or other person specified in the report received under par. (b) (a) or (am) timely notifies the department that he or she contests the listings in the registry under par. (b), the department shall hold a hearing under the requirements of ch. 227. If after presentation of evidence a hearing officer finds that there is no reasonable cause to believe that the nurse's assistant or, home health aide or other person specified in the report received under par. (a) or (am) performed an action alleged under par. (a) or (am), the hearing officer shall dismiss the proceeding. If after presentation of evidence a hearing officer finds that there is reasonable cause to believe that the nurse's assistant or, home health aide or other person specified in the report received under par. (a) or (am) performed an action alleged under par. (a) or (am), the hearing officer shall so find and shall cause the name of the nurse's assistant or, home health aide or other person specified in the report received under par. (a) or (am) to be entered under sub. (4g) (a) 2. and the hearing officer's findings about the nurse's assistant or, home health aide or other person specified in the report received under par. (a) or (am) to be entered under sub. (4g) (a) 3.

AB341, s. 27 Section 27. 146.40 (4t) of the statutes is created to read:

AB341,13,11 146.40 (4t) (a) In this subsection, "credential" has the meaning given in s. 440.01 (2) (a).

AB341,13,23 (b) If the department of health and family services determines that a person who is the subject of a review and investigation under sub. (4r) (b) holds a credential that is related to the person's employment at the adult day care center, adult family home, assisted living facility, community-based residential facility, home health agency, hospice, hospital, treatment facility, personal care worker agency, supportive home care service agency or nursing home, the department of health and family services shall file a report with the department of regulation and licensing, with the examining board or with the affiliated credentialing board attached to the department of regulation and licensing or to the examining board, whichever issued the credential to the person, that details the findings of the review and investigation if the findings substantiate the report received by the department of health and family services under sub. (4r) (a) or (am).

AB341, s. 28 Section 28. 440.03 (3q) of the statutes is created to read:

AB341,14,3 440.03 (3q) Notwithstanding sub. (3m), the department shall investigate any report that it receives from the department of health and family services under s. 146.40 (4t) (b).

AB341, s. 29 Section 29. 440.035 (5) of the statutes is created to read:

AB341,14,6 440.035 (5) Investigate any report that it receives from the department of health and family services under s. 146.40 (4t) (b).

AB341, s. 30 Section 30. 813.123 (5) (a) 3. a. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB341,14,12 813.123 (5) (a) 3. a. That the respondent has interfered with, or based upon prior conduct of the respondent may interfere with, an investigation of the vulnerable adult under s. 55.043 and that the interference complained of, if continued, would make it difficult to determine if abuse, neglect or misappropriation of property, abuse or neglect is occurring or may recur.

AB341, s. 31 Section 31 . Nonstatutory provisions.

AB341,14,14 (1)   Criminal and abuse history background checks.

AB341,14,18 (a) The authorized FTE positions for the department of health and family services are increased by 6.0 PR positions on the effective date of this paragraph, to be funded from the appropriation under section 20.435 (6) (gu) of the statutes, as created by this act, for the purpose for which the appropriation is made.

AB341,14,23 (b) The authorized FTE positions for the department of health and family services are increased by 4.3 FED positions on the effective date of this paragraph, to be funded from the appropriation under section 20.435 (6) (n) of the statutes, for the purpose of conducting criminal and abuse history record searches under section 50.065 of the statutes.

AB341,15,10 (2) Report to the legislature. Not later than January 1, 1998, the department of health and family services shall submit to the legislature in the manner provided under section 13.172 (2) of the statutes a report that identifies a degree of abuse or neglect for which a person who would be barred under this act from employment in an adult day care center, adult family home, assisted living facility, community-based residential facility, home health agency, hospice, hospital, treatment facility, personal care worker agency, supportive home care service agency or nursing home should not, in the estimation of the department of health and family services, be so barred. The department, in its report, shall offer alternative consequences that are consistent with federal law and regulations for a person with a record of abuse or neglect identified in the report. The department shall prepare its report in consultation with the board on aging and long-term care.

AB341,15,23 (3) Study on determining convictions in other states. The department of health and family services and the department of justice, in consultation with the board on aging and long-term care, shall conduct a study to determine methods by which both departments may ascertain whether a person for whom a criminal history search must be conducted under this act has a relevant conviction in another jurisdiction or has been reported for misappropriation of property, abuse or neglect of a patient, resident or client of an adult day care center, adult family home, assisted living facility, community-based residential facility, home health agency, hospice, hospital, treatment facility, personal care worker agency, supportive home care service agency or nursing home in another jurisdiction. Not later than January 1, 1998, the department of health and family services, in conjunction with the department of justice, shall submit to the legislature in the manner provided under section 13.172 (2) of the statutes a report detailing the results of the study.

AB341,16,8 (4) Audit of abuse investigations. The legislative audit bureau is requested to perform a performance evaluation audit to compare the investigation processes of the department of health and family services under section 146.40 (4r) (b) of the statutes, as affected by this act, the department of regulation and licensing under section 440.03 (3q) of the statutes, as created by this act, and examining boards and affiliated credentialing boards under section 440.035 (5) of the statutes, as created by this act. The audit shall compare methods and outcomes of the investigations. If the legislative audit bureau performs the audit, it shall file its report as described under section 13.94 (1) (b) of the statutes by the first day of the 25th month beginning after the effective date of this subsection or by June 30, 2000, whichever is earlier.

AB341, s. 32 Section 32. Appropriation changes.

AB341,16,15 (1) Volunteer ombudsman services coordinator. In the schedule under section 20.005 (3) of the statutes for the appropriation to the board on aging and long-term care under section 20.432 (1) (a) of the statutes, as affected by the acts of 1997, the dollar amount is increased by $48,600 for fiscal year 1998-99 to increase the authorized FTE positions for the board on aging and long-term care by 1.0 GPR volunteer ombudsman services coordinator position.

AB341,16,24 (2) Health care registry. In the schedule under section 20.005 (3) of the statutes for the appropriation to the department of health and family services under section 20.435 (6) (a) of the statutes, as affected by the acts of 1997, the dollar amount is increased by $362,900 for fiscal year 1998-99 to increase the authorized FTE positions for the department by 8.7 GPR positions for investigations of misappropriation of property, abuse or neglect of a patient, resident or client in a home health agency, community-based residential facility, nursing home, adult day care center, adult family home, assisted living facility, hospice, personal care worker agency, supportive home care service agency or hospital.

AB341, s. 33 Section 33. Initial applicability.

AB341,17,3 (1) Personal exemptions tax credit. The renumbering and amendment of section 71.07 (8) (a) of the statues and the creation of section 71.07 (8) (a) 1. to 3. of the statutes first apply to taxable years beginning on January 1, 1998.

AB341, s. 34 Section 34. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the first day of the 12th month beginning after publication, except as follows:

AB341,17,7 (1) The amendment of section 50.065 (2) (intro.) of the statutes takes effect on the first day of the 24th month beginning after publication.

AB341,17,8 (2) Section 31 (2 ) and (3) of this act takes effect on the day after publication.

AB341,17,9 (End)