AB296: Bill Text

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.

AB296, s. 51 Section 51. 46.56 (8) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB296,25,2 46.56 (8) (title) Referral, intake, assessment, case planning plan of care development, and service coordination.

AB296, s. 52 Section 52. 46.56 (8) (a) to (g) and (h) (intro.), 2., 3., 4., 5. and 6. of the statutes are amended to read:

AB296,25,12 46.56 (8) (a) Referrals to the program initiative may come from any county departments, tribal agencies, agencies, school districts, cooperative educational service agencies, county children with disabilities education boards, technical college districts, courts assigned to exercise jurisdiction under chs. 48 and 938, tribal courts, or any other organization, or the a child with severe disabilities who is involved in 2 or more systems of care or his or her family may contact the administering agency or service coordination agency to request services and resources.

AB296,25,21 (b) Upon referral, staff from the service coordination agency or individuals designated by the coordinating committee shall screen the referral to determine if the child with severe disabilities and the child's his or her family appear to meet the eligibility criteria and any target groups group requirements established by the coordinating committee. If the child with severe disabilities and the child's his or her family appear to be eligible, the staff shall gather assist the entity that made the referral under par. (a), and the parent or parents, in gathering information from the child's family and any current service providers necessary to prepare an application for the program initiative.

AB296,26,2 (c) Consent for release of information and participation of relating to a child with severe disabilities and his or her family in the program and in the program evaluation must shall be obtained from the child's parent, or the child, if appropriate or required by federal statute or regulation or state statute or rule, or by order of a court with appropriate jurisdiction.

AB296,26,10 (d) The service coordination agency or individuals designated by the coordinating committee shall review the completed application with the family, and, in light of the eligibility criteria in the interagency agreement and sub. (7), determine whether the child with severe disabilities and the child's his or her family are eligible for and appropriate for services through the program enrollment in the initiative. The service coordination agency or the individuals designated by the coordinating committee shall approve or disapprove each application within 30 days after the date on which the application was received completed.

AB296,26,17 (e) If the child with severe disabilities who is involved in 2 or more systems of care and the child's his or her family are found to be ineligible, or if it is determined that enrollment in the initiative is not the best method of meeting the needs of the child and his or her family, staff from the service coordination agency or individuals designated by the coordinating committee shall assist them the child and family in obtaining identifying and accessing needed services or resources from appropriate providers.

AB296,26,24 (f) If the child with severe disabilities and the child's his or her family are found to be eligible for the program and are enrolled in the initiative, the agency shall assign a service coordinator who shall assemble an interdisciplinary a coordinated services team to assess the strengths and needs of the child with severe disabilities and the child's his or her family's need for treatment, education, care, and support. The service coordinator shall coordinate the operations of the coordinated services team.

AB296,27,9 (g) The service coordinator shall assemble the results of all prior relevant assessments and evaluations documenting the service strengths and needs of the a child with severe disabilities enrolled in the initiative and the child's his or her family, including individualized education program team evaluations under s. 115.782 or independent educational evaluations, court-ordered evaluations under s. 48.295 or 938.295, family support program evaluations, community integration program or community options program assessments, and any other available medical, psychiatric, psychological, vocational or developmental educational, medical, vocational, and psychosocial evaluations.

AB296,27,18 (h) (intro.) The interdisciplinary coordinated services team, the family of the child with severe disabilities enrolled in the initiative, and the service coordinator shall, based on a review of a summary of existing assessments of strengths and needs that have been assembled and any additional evaluations and plans that they the team, the coordinator, or the family find finds to be necessary, prepare an integrated service a strength-based, gender-competent and culturally competent, family-centered, coordinated services plan of care within 60 days after the date on which the application was received approved. The integrated service coordinated services plan of care shall include all of the following:

AB296,27,21 2. The short-term and long-term goals for treatment and support services for to address the needs of the child with severe disabilities and the child's his or her family.

AB296,28,3 3. The services and resources needed by the child with severe disabilities and the child's his or her family, including the identity of each individual and organization that will be responsible for providing a portion of the treatment, education and support services to be offered to the child and the child's family, and the specific services that each organization will provide the services and other resources. The coordinated services plan of care shall place emphasis on services and resources that are available through community and informal sources.

AB296,28,8 4. Criteria for measuring the effectiveness and appropriateness of the integrated service plan coordinated services plan of care so that it can be modified as needed to better meet the child's and the child's family's needs. A coordinated services plan of care shall be oriented so as to produce meaningful outcomes and to provide services in the least restrictive setting possible.

AB296,28,13 5. Identification of any administrative or judicial procedures under ch. 48, 51, 55, 115, 118, or 938 that may be necessary in order to fully implement the integrated service plan coordinated services plan of care and the identity of the individual or organization that will be responsible for initiating those procedures, if any are required.

AB296,28,18 6. Identification of available sources of funding to support the services and other resources needed for the child with severe disabilities and his or her family and an allocation of funding responsibility among organizations where if more than one organization is responsible for the child's and the child's his or her family's treatment, education and support services.

Note: Modifies the provisions relating to referrals to the coordinated services initiative, screening of children and families referred to the initiative, consent for release of information, review of completed applications with the child's family, assistance to families found to be ineligible, enrollment in the initiative and assignment of a coordinated services team, assembling results of prior assessments and evaluations documenting the strengths and needs of the child, and preparation of a coordinated services plan of care.

AB296, s. 53 Section 53. 46.56 (8) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB296,29,3 46.56 (8) (cm) Consent for participation of a child and his or her family in the initiative and in the initiative evaluation shall be obtained from the child's parent or, if appropriate, the child.

Note: Creates a separate provision relating to consent for participation in a CST initiative. This language is deleted from s. 46.56 (8) (c), stats., in the bill.

AB296, s. 54 Section 54. 46.56 (8) (h) 7. and 8. of the statutes are created to read:

AB296,29,8 46.56 (8) (h) 7. Clear statements articulating the specific needs of the child and family that are to be addressed. Needs may not be stated solely in terms of the need for services but may be described in a strength-based manner with a response that is readily achievable.

AB296,29,10 8. Plans for responding to possible crisis situations that may occur with the child and his or her family.

Note: Creates additional information that must be included in the coordinated services plan of care.

AB296, s. 55 Section 55. 46.56 (8) (i) to (k) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB296,29,14 46.56 (8) (i) If additional evaluations are needed, the service coordination agency coordinated services team shall arrange for them or assist the child's family in obtaining them.

AB296,29,19 (j) The proposed integrated service plan coordinated services plan of care shall be submitted to any service providers who would be are included in the integrated service plan and the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under chs. 48 and 938 if participation in the program has been court ordered under s. 48.345 (6m) or 938.34 (6m) proposed plan of care.

AB296,30,5 (k) Upon written approval of the integrated service plan coordinated services plan of care by the proposed service providers and , the child's family, unless the child's involvement in the program is through court order under s. 48.355 or 938.355, in which case approval of the court may be substituted for that of the family, and the coordinated services team, the integrated service plan plan of care shall be implemented by the service coordination agency and the service providers individuals and organizations designated to provide services and other resources under the integrated service plan plan of care.

Note: Modifies provisions relating to arranging for additional evaluations of the child, submitting the coordinated services plan of care to any service provider included in the plan of care, and implementing the plan of care.