AB296: Bill Text

AB296,15,19 5. Assess how the program initiative relates to other service coordination programs operating at the county, tribal, or local level and take steps to work with the other service coordination programs and to avoid duplication of activities, services, and resources.

AB296,15,21 6. If a county or tribe applies for funding under sub. (15), assist the administering agency in developing the application required under sub. (15) (b).

AB296,16,5 7. Review determinations by the service coordination agency regarding eligibility, for assessment, appropriate services family resources, or funding of services, at the request of any applicant, recipient, parent of a child who is involved in 2 or more systems of care, or participating county department , or tribal agency, school district, cooperative educational service agencies agency, or county children with disabilities education boards board. The coordinating committee shall adopt written procedures for conducting reviews.

Note: Modifies the duties of the coordinating committee.

AB296, s. 34 Section 34. 46.56 (3) (d) 2. (intro.) of the statutes is repealed.

Note: Deletes the provision setting forth optional actions of the coordinating committee.

AB296, s. 35 Section 35. 46.56 (3) (d) 2. a. and b. of the statutes are renumbered 46.56 (3) (d) 13. and 14. and amended to read:

AB296,16,17 46.56 (3) (d) 13. Act Plan for sustainability of the system change started by the initiative beginning in the first year of any funding received for the initiative and thereafter by acting as a consortium to pursue additional funding for the program initiative through grants from the state or federal government or private foundations; maintaining formal collaborative agency relationships; including families in the process by emphasizing rights and advocacy; addressing funding and issues related to providing matching funds required under sub. (15) (c); and recommending a plan for realized savings from substitute care budgets to be reinvested in community-based care.

AB296,16,23 14. Establish target groups of children with severe disabilities who are involved in 2 or more systems of care and their families to be served based on disability of the child, age of the child, geographic areas within the county and other factors with the approval of the department. If by the initiative. For a county or tribe that applies for funding under sub. (15), severely emotionally disturbed children with severe emotional disabilities are required to be a priority target group.

Note: Modifies the optional actions of the coordinating committee so that they are mandatory and modifies those actions.

AB296, s. 36 Section 36. 46.56 (3) (d) 3. of the statutes is created to read:

AB296,17,2 46.56 (3) (d) 3. Oversee the development and implementation of the initiative.

AB296, s. 37 Section 37. 46.56 (3) (d) 8. to 12. of the statutes are created to read:

AB296,17,6 46.56 (3) (d) 8. Establish operational policies and procedures, such as referral and screening procedures, a conflict management policy, and a flexible funding policy, and ensure that the policies and procedures are monitored and adhered to.

AB296,17,8 9. Ensure quality, including adherence to core values as adopted by the state advisory committee established under sub. (14) (a).

AB296,17,11 10. Develop a plan for orientation of new coordinating committee members and coordinated services team members to the coordinated services team approach to providing services to a child and his or her family.

AB296,17,13 11. Identify and address gaps in services for children and families who are enrolled in the initiative.

AB296,17,15 12. Ensure client and partner agency satisfaction through performance of a client and partner agency satisfaction survey.

AB296, s. 38 Section 38. 46.56 (3) (d) 15. of the statutes is created to read:

AB296,17,19 46.56 (3) (d) 15. Distribute information about the availability and operation of the initiative to the general public and to public or private service providers who might seek to make referrals to the initiative.

Note: Creates additional duties of the coordinating committee.

AB296, s. 39 Section 39. 46.56 (3) (e) of the statutes is created to read:

AB296,17,22 46.56 (3) (e) The coordinating committee may direct the initiative coordinator or another person to do any of the following:

AB296,17,23 1. Maintain data of enrollments in the initiative and results of screening.

AB296,18,1 2. Establish and report monitoring and evaluation results.

AB296,18,4 3. Monitor, or ensure proper monitoring by the appropriate entity of, targeted case management and in-home services provided under the Medical Assistance Program, under subch. IV of ch. 49, including record-keeping and billing processes.

AB296,18,6 4. Assist in developing and maintaining additional funding sources, including collaborative efforts with system partners.

AB296,18,7 5. Assist in the development and implementation of advocacy for families.

Note: Permits the coordinating committee to direct the initiative coordinator or another person to perform specified additional duties.

AB296, s. 40 Section 40. 46.56 (4) (a) to (e) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB296,18,11 46.56 (4) (a) Oversee Assist the coordinating committee in overseeing the development and implementation of the program initiative and designate the staff needed for the program initiative.

AB296,18,14 (b) Assist the coordinating committee in drafting and executing interagency agreements and any other operations policies and procedures necessary for the start-up and operation of the program initiative.

AB296,18,18 (c) Distribute Assist the coordinating committee in distributing information about the availability and operation of the program initiative to the general public as well as and to public or private service providers who might seek to make referrals to the program initiative.

AB296,18,21 (d) If the county board of supervisors or tribe decides to seek state funding under sub. (15), develop the application in cooperation with the coordinating committee.

AB296,19,2 (e) Undertake such other activities in compliance with another provision of the other statutes, department rules and, department guidelines, interagency agreements, and the directions of the coordinating committee as are necessary to ensure the effective and efficient operation of the program initiative.

Note: Modifies the role of the administering agency. The administering agency is defined in Section 5 as the department designated by a county board or by a tribe to administer a coordinated services initiative.

AB296, s. 41 Section 41. 46.56 (5) (a), (b) and (d) to (i) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB296,19,7 46.56 (5) (a) The identity of every county department, tribal agency, agency, school district, cooperative educational service agency or , county children with disabilities education board, technical college district, or other organization that will participate in the program initiative.

AB296,19,14 (b) The identification of services and resources that the participating organizations will commit to the program initiative or will seek to obtain, including joint funding of services and resources and funding for the qualified staff needed to support the program initiative, such as by cash or contribution of in-kind services and resources as determined by the department under sub. (15) (c). This identification shall specify the roles and responsibilities of the coordinated services team and the coordinating committee.

AB296,19,16 (d) The identification of any group of children with severe disabilities who will be targeted for services and resources through the program initiative.

AB296,19,18 (e) The procedures for outreach, referral, intake, assessment, case planning, and service coordination that the program initiative will use.

AB296,19,21 (f) The specific criteria, based on sub. (7), that will be used for deciding whether a child with severe disabilities and his or her family are eligible for services and resources through the program initiative.

AB296,20,2 (g) The procedures to be followed to obtain any required authorizations for sharing of confidential information among organizations providing treatment, services, education and support services, and other resources to a child with severe disabilities and his or her family.

AB296,20,5 (h) The procedures that will be used for resolving managing conflicts among service providers or coordinated services team members or between clients a child or his or her family and service providers.

AB296,20,8 (i) The methods that will be used to measure program initiative effectiveness, including client satisfaction of a child and his or her family, and for revising the operation of the program initiative in light of evaluation results.

AB296, s. 42 Section 42. 46.56 (5) (j) and (k) of the statutes are created to read:

AB296,20,10 46.56 (5) (j) The mission and core values of the initiative.

AB296,20,12 (k) Expectations for organizations represented on the coordinating committee under sub. (3), including provision of the funding match required under sub. (15) (c).

Note: Modifies items that an interagency agreement must include. Under Section 15, an interagency agreement is a written document of understanding among service providers and other partner agencies that are represented on the coordinating committee that identifies mutual responsibilities for implementing coordinated services for children and their families.

AB296, s. 43 Section 43. 46.56 (6) (title), (a) (intro.), 1. and 2. of the statutes are amended to read:

AB296,20,20 46.56 (6) (title) Roles of service coordination agency, service coordinator, initiative coordinator, and interdisciplinary coordinated services team. (a) (intro.) There may be one One or more service coordination agencies participating may participate under the program initiative. The organizations and the target groups that are to be served shall be identified in the interagency agreement under sub. (5). A All of the following applies to a service coordination agency shall:

AB296,21,3 1. Be The service coordination agency shall be selected based on the its experience of the service coordination agency or its staff in providing services; and resources.

AB296,21,4 2. Identify The service coordination agency shall do all of the following:

AB296,21,8 a. Identify a specific individual to act as service coordinator for each child with severe disabilities who is enrolled in the initiative and the child's his or her family to facilitate the implementation of the integrated service plan; coordinated services plan of care.

Note: Sets forth the requirements for and duties of the service coordination agency. Under Section 20 , the service coordination agency is a county department, tribe, agency, school district, cooperative educational service agency, or county children with disabilities education board designated in an interagency agreement by the coordinating committee to provide intake and service coordination for one or more target groups of children and their families.

AB296, s. 44 Section 44. 46.56 (6) (a) 3. of the statutes is renumbered 46.56 (6) (a) 2. b. and amended to read:

AB296,21,12 46.56 (6) (a) 2. b. Provide or arrange for intake, assessment, case planning development of the plan of care, and service coordination under sub. (8); and.

AB296, s. 45 Section 45 . 46.56 (6) (a) 4. of the statutes is renumbered 46.56 (6) (a) 2. c. and amended to read:

AB296,21,20 46.56 (6) (a) 2. c. Act as a resource source for information about other services and resources for children with severe disabilities who are involved in 2 or more systems of care and their families who are not eligible for the program initiative, if the coordinating committee determines that this service the service coordination agency can be provided provide the information without interfering with the primary purpose of the program initiative.

Note: Sections 45 and 46 modify the duties of the service coordination agency.

AB296, s. 46 Section 46 . 46.56 (6) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB296,22,2 46.56 (6) (b) The service coordinator shall have the functions specified in sub. (8) (f) to (i) (h), (n), and (r).

AB296, s. 47 Section 47 . 46.56 (6) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB296,22,5 46.56 (6) (c) The interdisciplinary coordinated services team shall have has the functions specified under sub. (8) (f) and, (h), and (i).

Note: Sections 47 and 48 modify the provisions cross-referencing the functions of the service coordinator and the coordinated services team.

AB296, s. 48 Section 48 . 46.56 (6) (cr) of the statutes is created to read:

AB296,22,9 46.56 (6) (cr) Every county and tribe that operates any initiative shall develop written policies and procedures specifying the selection process for the initiative coordinator.

Note: Creates a requirement that every county and tribe that operates any initiative develop written policies and procedures specifying the selection process for the initiative coordinator.

AB296, s. 49 Section 49. 46.56 (6) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

AB296,22,13 46.56 (6) (d) The primary responsibility of the initiative coordinator is to promote collaborative relationships between systems of care. The initiative coordinator shall do all of the following:

AB296,22,17 1. Bring together parents and relevant staff from various agencies and organizations to comprise the coordinating committee under sub. (3) (a) and (b), and support their activities, in order to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures specified in sub. (3) (d).

AB296,22,19 2. Work with the coordinating committee to maintain and support agency participation as established in the interagency agreement.

AB296,22,21 3. Work with the coordinating committee and service coordination agency to receive and review referrals.

AB296,23,3 4. Work with the coordinating committee and service coordination agency to assure provision of service coordination services for all groups of people working with the child and his or her family.

AB296,23,6 5. Guide the development of the coordinated service team working with the child and his or her family in order to ensure compliance with basic principles of the initiative core values.

AB296,23,9 6. Review plans of care, including crisis response plans, for consistency with the coordinated services team approach to providing services to a child and his or her family and core values.

AB296,23,12 7. Assist the coordinating committee and coordinated services teams in establishing consistent measures for the development, implementation, evaluation, and monitoring of the initiative and its outcomes.

AB296,23,14 8. Facilitate public education and awareness of issues and programs for children who are involved in 2 or more systems of care and their families.

AB296,23,17 9. Ensure provision of ongoing support and training that is related to the coordinated services team process for families, service coordinators, and providers and ensure orientation for coordinated services team members.

AB296,23,20 10. Support service providers in developing strategies to enhance existing programs, to increase resources, and to establish new resources relevant to project goals and objectives.

AB296,23,22 11. Ensure that local and state agencies submit data and reports in an accurate and timely manner.

AB296,23,24 12. If directed to do so by the coordinating committee, perform any of the duties set forth in sub. (3) (e).

Note: Provides that the primary responsibility of the initiative coordinator is to promote collaborative relationships in the systems of care, as defined in Section 23, and sets forth the duties of the initiative coordinator.

AB296, s. 50 Section 50. 46.56 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB296,24,10 46.56 (7) Eligibility of children and families. Children with severe disabilities who are involved in 2 of more systems of care and their families shall be eligible for the program. The initiative, except that the coordinating committee may establish specific additional criteria for eligibility for services and may establish certain target groups of children with severe disabilities who are involved in 2 or more systems of care to receive services. If target groups are established, only children with severe disabilities falling within the target groups are eligible for may be enrolled in the program initiative. Any eligibility criteria shall meet all of the following conditions:

AB296,24,12 (a) Be based on a community assessment that identifies areas of greatest need for integrated coordinated services for children with severe disabilities.

AB296,24,18 (b) Give priority to children with severe disabilities who are at risk of placement outside the home or who are in an institution and are not receiving integrated coordinated community-based services based in the community and other resources, or who would be able to return to community placement or their homes from an institutional placement if such the services and other resources were provided.

AB296,24,20 (c) Not exclude a child with severe disabilities or that child's his or her family from services or other resources because of lack of ability to pay.

Note: Modifies the provisions relating to eligibility of children and families.