Currently, DHFS imposes assessments of $32 per calendar month per occupied,
licensed bed of a nursing home and $100 per calendar month per occupied, licensed
bed of an intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded. By October 31, 1992,
each of these facilities was required to submit to DHFS the occupied licensed bed
count and the amount due under the assessment from July 1 to September 30, 1992.
Thereafter, each facility must submit its bed count and payment for the month
preceding the month of submittal. This bill eliminates references to requirements
for 1992.
Currently, each nursing home and C-BRF licensee or applicant for licensure
must file with DHFS the name and address of a person who is authorized to accept
service of notice or other matters sent by DHFS by registered or certified mail. This
bill requires that the person authorized by a nursing home to accept service and
registered or certified mail be located at the nursing home.
Licenses for nursing homes and C-BRFs currently must state the maximum
bed capacity of the nursing home or C-BRF. The bill changes that requirement to
instead require that nursing home and C-BRF licenses state the number of beds of
the nursing home or C-BRF that are licensed by DHFS.
Under current law, beginning on January 1, 1992, each nursing home and
C-BRF must post in a conspicuous location a notice about the long-term care
ombudsman program. The bill eliminates the date by which nursing homes and
C-BRFs must post notices about the long-term care ombudsman program.
Under current law, DHFS was required, before July 1, 1988, to conduct surveys
to determine whether any licensed nursing home was an institution for mental
diseases (and thus ineligible for federal medical assistance reimbursement).
Beginning July 1, 1988, DHFS is required to make these determinations during
biennial inspections of nursing homes. The bill eliminates the requirement that
DHFS make determinations before July 1, 1988, as to whether a nursing home is an
institution for mental diseases and eliminates the beginning date for these
determinations to be made during biennial inspections of nursing homes.
Currently, each nursing home or C-BRF must make available a copy of resident
rights and responsibilities to each resident and resident's guardian at or before
admission, to each person who was a resident of the C-BRF or nursing home on
December 12, 1975, and to staff members. The bill eliminates the date requirement
for provision of copies of resident rights and responsibilities to residents of nursing
homes and C-BRFs. The bill also requires that the copies be made available to a
resident's legal representative, rather than a resident's guardian.
Under current law, beginning in 1988, DHFS has authority to request from
nursing homes information about staffing ratios, staff replacement rates and
violations of statutes or rules in the previous year. Beginning July 1, 1988, and
annually thereafter, DHFS must provide nursing homes with a report about this
information; nursing homes must make the report available to anyone who requests
it. The bill eliminates references to dates and makes minor technical changes.

Under current law, participants in integrated services projects (also known as
"Children Come First" projects), for care for children with severe disabilities and
their families, must provide matching funds equal to 20% of the proposed funding.
The bill changes the matching fund requirement to be 20% of the proposed total
program budget.
Currently, a DHFS advisory committee supporting development of integrated
services projects was required, by August 9, 1991, to submit an evaluation report.
DHFS also was required to evaluate the projects by January 1, 1992, and to submit
a report to various entities. The bill eliminates the requirement that the DHFS
advisory committee submit a report evaluating integrated services projects. The bill
also eliminates required submittal of the evaluation report and the date by which
DHFS must evaluate the projects.
Currently, DHFS and the department of public instruction must prepare a plan
about school-community alcohol and drug abuse prevention, intervention,
treatment and rehabilitation services and must biennially submit a report to the
legislature on plan implementation. The bill eliminates these requirements.
Under current law, a county department of human services or social services
(county department) or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more
(Milwaukee County), DHFS or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with
DHFS must determine, within 60 days after receiving a report of suspected or
threatened child abuse, whether abuse, including emotional abuse, has occurred.
Current law requires a county department or, in Milwaukee County, DHFS or a
licensed child welfare agency under contract with DHFS, in making a determination
that emotional damage has occurred, to give due regard to the culture of the subjects
and to establish that the person alleged to be responsible for the emotional damage
is neglecting, refusing or unable for reasons other than poverty to remedy the harm.
Current law, however, defines emotional "abuse" as emotional damage for which the
child's parent, guardian or legal custodian
has neglected, refused or been unable for
reasons other than poverty to obtain the necessary treatment or to take steps to
ameliorate the symptoms.
This bill eliminates the requirement that a county department or, in Milwaukee
County, DHFS or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with DHFS, in
making a determination that emotional damage has occurred, establish that the
person alleged to be responsible for the emotional damage is neglecting, refusing or
unable for reasons other than poverty to remedy the harm.
Under current law, a court may relieve a party from a judgment or order for
various reasons such as mistake, inadvertence, surprise, excusable neglect, newly
discovered evidence, fraud of an adverse party or any other reason justifying relief
from the operation of the judgment. Also under current law, the parent of a child
whose status is adjudicated by the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under the
children's code (juvenile court) may at any time within one year after the entering
of the juvenile court's order petition the juvenile court for a rehearing on the grounds
that new evidence has been discovered affecting the advisability of the juvenile
court's original adjudication.

This bill prohibits an adoptive parent from moving for relief from an order
granting adoption of a child and from petitioning the juvenile court for a rehearing
of such an order. Under the bill, the exclusive remedies for an adoptive parent who
wishes to end his or her parental relationship with his or her adoptive child are a
petition for termination of parental rights and an appeal to the court of appeals.
For further information, see the Notes provided by the law revision committee
of the joint legislative council.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
Law revision committee prefatory note: This bill is a remedial legislation
proposal, requested by the department of health and family services and introduced by
the law revision committee under s. 13.83 (1) (c) 4., stats. After careful consideration of
the various provisions of the bill, the law revision committee has determined that this bill
makes minor substantive changes in the statutes, and that these changes are desirable
as a matter of public policy.
SB495, s. 1 1Section 1 . 46.275 (5) (b) 7. of the statutes is created to read:
SB495,6,52 46.275 (5) (b) 7. Provide services in any community-based residential facility
3unless the county or department uses as a service contract the approved model
4contract developed under s. 46.27 (2) (j) or a contract that includes all of the
5provisions of the approved model contract.
SB495, s. 2 6Section 2 . 46.277 (5) (f) of the statutes is created to read:
SB495,6,117 46.277 (5) (f) No county or private nonprofit agency may use funds received
8under this subsection to provide services in any community-based residential
9facility unless the county or agency uses as a service contract the approved model
10contract developed under s. 46.27 (2) (j) or a contract that includes all of the
11provisions of the approved model contract.
Note: The amendments in Sections 1 and 2 require the use of the approved model
contract under s. 46.27 (2) (j), or a similar contract, when providing services in any
community-based residential facility (CBRF) under the community integration program
(CIP) I-A or I-B. According to the Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS),
the use of this model contract is currently required for persons receiving services in a
CBRF under the community options program (COP). Because funds from both COP and

CIP I-A and I-B may be used to fund care in a particular CBRF, it would eliminate
confusion to have only one contract format in use for providers to review and sign.
SB495, s. 3 1Section 3 . 46.56 (14) (a) (intro.) and 1. of the statutes, as affected by 1997
2Wisconsin Act 3
, are consolidated, renumbered 46.56 (14) (a) and amended to read:
SB495,7,173 46.56 (14) (a) In order to support the development of a comprehensive system
4of coordinated care for children with severe disabilities and their families, the
5department shall establish a statewide advisory committee with representatives of
6county departments, the department of public instruction, educational agencies,
7professionals experienced in the provision of services to children with severe
8disabilities, families with children with severe disabilities, advocates for such
9families and their children, the subunit of the department of workforce development
10that administers vocational rehabilitation, the technical college system, health care
11providers, courts assigned to exercise jurisdiction under chs. 48 and 938, child
12welfare officials, and other appropriate persons as selected by the department. The
13department may use an existing committee for this purpose if it has representatives
14from the listed groups and is willing to perform the required functions. This
15committee shall do all of the following: Monitor monitor the development of
16programs throughout the state and support communication and mutual assistance
17among operating programs as well as those that are being developed.
SB495, s. 4 18Section 4. 46.56 (14) (a) 2. of the statutes is repealed.
SB495, s. 5 19Section 5. 46.56 (14) (c) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB495,8,420 46.56 (14) (c) (intro.) The department shall evaluate the programs funded
21under this section. The report of this evaluation shall be submitted to the chief clerk
22of each house of the legislature for distribution to the appropriate standing
23committees on children, in the manner provided in s. 13.172 (3), and shall be broadly

1disseminated to county departments and school districts. The evaluation shall be
2completed by January 1, 1992 and all
All organizations participating in the program
3shall cooperate with the evaluation. The evaluation shall include information about
4all of the following:
SB495, s. 6 5Section 6 . 46.56 (15) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB495,8,116 46.56 (15) (c) In order to obtain funds under this section, matching funds equal
7to 20% of the proposed total program budget, including the requested funding, shall
8be provided by the participating county departments and school districts. All of the
9participating county departments and school districts shall participate in providing
10the match, which may be cash or in-kind. The department shall determine what
11may be used as in-kind match.
Note: The amendments in Sections 3 to 6 eliminate outdated provisions regarding
specific evaluation due dates of programs for children with severe emotional disturbances
and also eliminate outdated provisions regarding dissemination of these evaluations.
Further, these amendments modify the matching fund requirement for these projects
from 20% of the requested funding to 20% of the proposed total program budget.
According to the DHFS, this change to the matching funds requirement would codify
current practice.
SB495, s. 7 12Section 7. 46.974 of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is
13repealed.
Note: This provision deletes a requirement that the DHFS prepare, in cooperation
with the department of public instruction, a joint alcohol and drug abuse prevention plan.
According to the DHFS, the elimination of this requirement will allow the State Council
on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse to determine how interdepartmental collaboration and
reporting will occur.
SB495, s. 8 14Section 8 . 48.46 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB495,9,215 48.46 (1) Except as provided in sub. subs. (2) and (3), the parent, guardian or
16legal custodian of the child or the child whose status is adjudicated by the court may
17at any time within one year after the entering of the court's order petition the court
18for a rehearing on the ground that new evidence has been discovered affecting the

1advisability of the court's original adjudication. Upon a showing that such evidence
2does exist, the court shall order a new hearing.
SB495, s. 9 3Section 9 . 48.46 (3) of the statutes is created to read:
SB495,9,94 48.46 (3) An adoptive parent who has been granted adoption of a child under
5s. 48.91 (3) may not petition the court for a rehearing under sub. (1) or move the court
6under s. 806.07 for relief from the order granting adoption. A petition for termination
7of parental rights under s. 48.42 and an appeal to the court of appeals shall be the
8exclusive remedies for an adoptive parent who wishes to end his or her parental
9relationship with his or her adopted child.
Note: The amendments in Sections 8 and 9 prohibit an adoptive parent from
ending his or her parental relationship with his or her adopted child through a motion
under s. 806.07 (1), stats., for relief from the order granting adoption or through a petition
for a rehearing of such an order. Instead, an adoptive parent who wishes to end his or
her parental relationship with his or her adopted child would be required to file a petition
for termination of parental rights under s. 48.42, stats., or to appeal the order granting
adoption.
SB495, s. 10 10Section 10 . 48.981 (3) (c) 4. of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act
1127
, is amended to read:
SB495,9,2112 48.981 (3) (c) 4. The county department or, in a county having a population of
13500,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract
14with the department shall determine, within 60 days after receipt of a report,
15whether abuse or neglect has occurred or is likely to occur. The determination shall
16be based on a preponderance of the evidence produced by the investigation. A
17determination that abuse or neglect has occurred may not be based solely on the fact
18that the child's parent, guardian or legal custodian in good faith selects and relies on
19prayer or other religious means for treatment of disease or for remedial care of the
20child. In making a determination that emotional damage has occurred, the county
21department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department

1or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department shall give due
2regard to the culture of the subjects and shall establish that the person alleged to be
3responsible for the emotional damage is neglecting, refusing or unable for reasons
4other than poverty to remedy the harm
. This subdivision does not prohibit a court
5from ordering medical services for the child if the child's health requires it.
Note: The amendment in Section 10 deletes obsolete language in the statute
regarding determinations of child abuse or neglect which requires the agency making the
determination, in cases of emotional damage, to establish that the person alleged to be
responsible for the emotional damage is neglecting, refusing or unable for reasons other
than poverty to remedy the harm. The requirement that a parent, guardian, legal
custodian or other person exercising permanent or temporary control over the child must
have caused the emotional damage was repealed in the 1993-94 legislative session. Also,
the requirement that the parent, guardian or legal custodian must have neglected,
refused or been unable for reasons other than poverty to obtain the necessary treatment
or to take steps to ameliorate the symptoms was incorporated into the definition of
"abuse" in the 1995-96 legislative session.
SB495, s. 11 6Section 11 . 49.45 (41) (a) (intro.) and 1. of the statutes are consolidated,
7renumbered 49.45 (41) (a) and amended to read:
SB495,10,118 49.45 (41) (a) In this subsection: "Mental, "mental health crisis intervention
9services" means services that are provided by a mental health crisis intervention
10program operated by, or under contract with, a county or municipality, if the county
11or municipality is certified as a medical assistance provider.
SB495, s. 12 12Section 12. 49.45 (41) (a) 2. of the statutes is repealed.
SB495, s. 13 13Section 13 . 49.45 (41) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB495,11,414 49.45 (41) (b) If a county or municipality elects to become certified as a provider
15of mental health crisis intervention services, the county or municipality may provide
16mental health crisis intervention services under this subsection in the county or
17municipality to medical assistance recipients through the medical assistance
18program. A county or municipality that elects to provide the services shall pay the
19amount of the allowable charges for the services under the medical assistance

1program that is not provided by the federal government. The department shall
2reimburse the county or municipality under this subsection only for the amount of
3the allowable charges for those services under the medical assistance program that
4is provided by the federal government.
Note: The amendments in Sections 11 to 13 remove references to municipalities
in the statutes relating to mental health crisis intervention services. According to the
DHFS, these amendments are necessary because under s. 51.42 counties, not
municipalities, are responsible for mental health crisis intervention services, and new
DHFS standards identify counties, or agencies contracting with counties, as the
appropriate entities for certification to provide these services.
SB495, s. 14 5Section 14 . 50.03 (2m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB495,11,106 50.03 (2m) (a) Each licensee or applicant for license shall file with the
7department the name and address of a person authorized to accept service of any
8notices or other papers which the department may send by registered or certified
9mail, with a return receipt requested. The person authorized by a nursing home
10under this paragraph shall be located at the nursing home.
Note: The amendment in Section 14 provides that a licensee or applicant for
license which is a nursing home must file with the DHFS the name and address of a
person who is located at the nursing home and is authorized to accept service of any
notices or other papers which DHFS may send by registered or certified mail, with a
return receipt requested. According to the DHFS, this change is needed because notices
may currently be sent to nursing home corporate offices, which may be distant from the
nursing homes being inspected and does not facilitate the smooth and efficient transfer
of information between the nursing home and the DHFS.
SB495, s. 15 11Section 15 . 50.03 (4) (e) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27,
12is amended to read:
SB495,12,213 50.03 (4) (e) Each license shall be issued only for the premises and persons
14named in the application and is not transferable or assignable. The license shall be
15posted in a place readily visible to residents and visitors, such as the lobby or
16reception area of the facility. Any license granted shall state the maximum bed
17capacity allowed
number of the facility's beds that are licensed by the department,
18the person to whom the license is granted, the date of issuance, the maximum level

1of care for which the facility is licensed as a condition of its licensure and such
2additional information and special conditions as the department may prescribe.
Note: The amendment in Section 15 provides that a license for a nursing home
shall state the number of beds approved by the DHFS, rather than the maximum bed
capacity allowed. According to the DHFS, the term "maximum bed capacity" in the
current statute refers to the maximum number of beds that a nursing home could
physically accommodate. Since the DHFS regulates the number and distribution of
nursing home beds, the representation and reporting of the actual number of beds
operated by a nursing home on the nursing home's license would more accurately reflect
reality.
SB495, s. 16 3Section 16 . 50.035 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB495,12,84 50.035 (6) Posting of notice required. Beginning on January 1, 1992, the The
5licensee of a community-based residential facility, or his or her designee, shall post
6in a conspicuous location in the community-based residential facility a notice,
7provided by the board on aging and long-term care, of the name, address and
8telephone number of the long-term care ombudsman program under s. 16.009 (2) (b).
Note: The amendment in Section 16 deletes an outdated reference to the date that
a posting requirement for CBRF licenses went into effect.
SB495, s. 17 9Section 17 . 50.04 (2v) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB495,12,1310 50.04 (2v) Posting of notice required. Beginning on January 1, 1992, a A
11nursing home shall post in a conspicuous location in the nursing home a notice,
12provided by the board on aging and long-term care, of the name, address and
13telephone number of the long-term care ombudsman program under s. 16.009 (2) (b).
Note: The amendment in Section 17 deletes an outdated reference to the date that
a posting requirement for nursing home ombudsman program information went into
effect.
SB495, s. 18 14Section 18 . 50.04 (3) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB495,13,215 50.04 (3) (d) Survey of institutions for mental diseases. Before July 1, 1988
16During inspections conducted under par. (a), the department shall conduct a survey
17to determine whether any nursing home that is licensed under this section is an
18institution for mental diseases, as defined under 42 CFR 435.1009. On or after July

11, 1988, the department shall make these determinations during inspections
2conducted under par. (a).
Note: The amendment in Section 18 deletes an outdated reference to a date by
which the DHFS had to conduct a survey to determine whether any licensed nursing
home was an institution for mental disease.
SB495, s. 19 3Section 19 . 50.09 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB495,13,114 50.09 (4) Each facility shall make available a copy of the rights and
5responsibilities established under this section and the facility's rules to each resident
6and to each resident's guardian legal representative, if any, at or prior to the time of
7admission to the facility, to each person who is a resident of the facility on December
812, 1975
and to each member of the facility's staff. The rights, responsibilities and
9rules shall be posted in a prominent place in each facility. Each facility shall prepare
10a written plan and provide appropriate staff training to implement each resident's
11rights established under this section.
Note: The amendments in Section 19 change a reference to a nursing home
resident's guardian to a nursing home resident's legal representative. According to the
DHFS, the broader term "legal representative" is more appropriate here because it
encompasses other substitute decision makers who may exist for nursing home residents,
such as those acting under a health care power of attorney. In addition, an outdated
reference to a date that the requirement that a copy of certain information be given to the
resident and his or her guardian went into effect is deleted.
SB495, s. 20 12Section 20 . 50.095 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB495,13,13 1350.095 (title) Resident's right to know ; nursing home reports.
SB495, s. 21 14Section 21. 50.095 of the statutes is renumbered 50.095 (1).
SB495, s. 22 15Section 22. 50.096 (title) of the statutes is repealed.
SB495, s. 23 16Section 23. 50.096 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 50.095 (2) and amended
17to read:
SB495,13,2018 50.095 (2) Beginning in 1988, the The department may request from a nursing
19home information necessary for preparation of a report under sub. (2) (3), and the
20nursing home, if so requested, shall provide the information.
SB495, s. 24
1Section 24. 50.096 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 50.095 (3), and 50.095 (3)
2(intro.), as renumbered, is amended to read:
SB495,14,53 50.095 (3) (intro.) By July 1, 1988, and annually thereafter, the The
4department shall provide each nursing home with a report that includes the
5following information for the nursing home:
SB495, s. 25 6Section 25 . 50.096 (3) of the statutes is renumbered 50.095 (4) and amended
7to read:
SB495,14,98 50.095 (4) Upon receipt of a report under sub. (2) (3), the nursing home shall
9make the report available to any person requesting the report.
Note: The amendments in Sections 20 to 25 delete outdated references to
beginning dates authorizing the DHFS to request information from nursing homes, and
requiring that DHFS provide each nursing home with an annual report.
SB495, s. 26 10Section 26 . 50.14 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB495,14,2111 50.14 (3) By October 31, 1992, each facility shall submit to the department the
12facility's occupied licensed bed count and the amount due under sub. (2) for each
13occupied licensed bed of the facility for each month for the period from July 1, 1992,
14to September 30, 1992. Thereafter, by
the end of each month, each facility shall
15submit its to the department the facility's occupied licensed bed count and payment
16the amount due under sub. (2) for each occupied licensed bed of the facility for the
17month preceding the month during which the bed count and payment are being
18submitted. The department shall verify the bed count and, if necessary, make
19adjustments to the payment, notify the facility of changes in the bed count or
20payment and send the facility an invoice for the additional amount due or send the
21facility a refund.
Note: The amendment in Section 26 deletes outdated references to dates by which
inpatient health care facility bed counts and payments are due the DHFS.
SB495, s. 27 22Section 27 . 69.05 (6) of the statutes is repealed.
SB495, s. 28
1Section 28 . 69.18 (1) (e) 1. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB495,15,62 69.18 (1) (e) 1. (intro.) If a death is a miscarriage and 20 weeks or more have
3elapsed between the mother's last normal menstrual period and delivery or the
4stillbirth weighs 350 grams or more, one of the following shall submit, within 5 days
5after delivery, a fetal death report to the registration district where delivery occurred
6state registrar:
Note: Under current law, fetal death reports must first be filed at the local
registration office in the place where the fetus was delivered. Local registrars are then
required to forward these reports to the state registrar of vital statistics. The
amendments in Sections 27 and 28 change current law to require filing of fetal death
reports directly with the state registrar. According to the DHFS, this change will speed
up the filing process for these documents; decrease the risk that confidential information
could become public; and decrease mailing and other costs currently incurred by local
registrars in handling these reports.
SB495, s. 29 7Section 29. 115.28 (16) of the statutes is repealed.
SB495, s. 30 8Section 30 . 146.82 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB495,15,149 146.82 (1) Confidentiality. All patient health care records shall remain
10confidential. Patient health care records may be released only to the persons
11designated in this section or to other persons with the informed consent of the patient
12or of a person authorized by the patient. This subsection does not prohibit reports
13made in compliance with s. 146.995 or 979.01 or testimony authorized under s.
14905.04 (4) (h).
SB495, s. 31 15Section 31 . 146.82 (2) (a) 18. of the statutes is created to read:
SB495,16,416 146.82 (2) (a) 18. Following the death of a patient, to a coroner, deputy coroner,
17medical examiner or medical examiner's assistant, for the purpose of completing a
18medical certificate under s. 69.18 (2) or investigating a death under s. 979.01 or
19979.10. The health care provider may release information by initiating contact with
20the office of the coroner or medical examiner without receiving a request for release
21of the information and shall release information upon receipt of an oral or written

1request for the information from the coroner, deputy coroner, medical examiner or
2medical examiner's assistant. The recipient of any information under this
3subdivision shall keep the information confidential except as necessary to comply
4with s. 69.18, 979.01 or 979.10.
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