AB75: Bill Text

AB75,577,10 48.66 (1) (a) Except as provided in s. 48.715 (6) and (7), the department shall license and supervise child welfare agencies, as required by s. 48.60, group homes, as required by s. 48.625, shelter care facilities, as required by s. 938.22, and day care centers, as required by s. 48.65. The department may license foster homes or treatment foster homes, as provided by s. 48.62, and may license and supervise county departments in accordance with the procedures specified in this section and in ss. 48.67 to 48.74. In the discharge of this duty the department may inspect the records and visit the premises of all child welfare agencies, group homes, shelter care facilities, and day care centers and visit the premises of all foster homes and treatment foster homes in which children are placed.

AB75, s. 1060 Section 1060. 48.66 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,577,17 48.66 (1) (c) A license issued under par. (a) or (b), other than a license to operate a foster home, treatment foster home, or secured residential care center for children and youth, is valid until revoked or suspended. A license issued under this subsection to operate a foster home, treatment foster home, or secured residential care center for children and youth may be for any term not to exceed 2 years from the date of issuance. No license issued under par. (a) or (b) is transferable.

AB75, s. 1061 Section 1061. 48.67 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,578,5 48.67 Rules governing child welfare agencies, day care centers, foster homes, treatment foster homes, group homes, shelter care facilities, and county departments. (intro.) The department shall promulgate rules establishing minimum requirements for the issuance of licenses to, and establishing standards for the operation of, child welfare agencies, day care centers, foster homes, treatment foster homes, group homes, shelter care facilities, and county departments. Those rules shall be designed to protect and promote the health, safety, and welfare of the children in the care of all licensees. The department shall consult with the department of commerce, the department of public instruction, and the child abuse and neglect prevention board before promulgating those rules. For foster homes, those rules shall include the rules promulgated under s. 48.62 (8). Those rules shall include rules that require all of the following:

AB75, s. 1062 Section 1062. 48.67 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

AB75,578,12 48.67 (4) That all foster parents and treatment foster parents successfully complete training in the care and support needs of children who are placed in foster care or treatment foster care that has been approved by the department. The department shall promulgate rules prescribing the training that is required under this subsection and shall monitor compliance with this subsection according to those rules.

AB75, s. 1063 Section 1063. 48.675 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,578,18 48.675 (1) Development of program. The department shall develop a foster care education program to provide specialized training for persons operating family foster homes or treatment foster homes. Participation in the program shall be voluntary and shall be limited to persons operating foster homes or treatment foster homes licensed under s. 48.62 and caring for children with special treatment needs.

AB75, s. 1064 Section 1064. 48.675 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,579,4 48.675 (2) Approval of programs. The department shall promulgate rules for approval of programs to meet the requirements of this section. Such Those programs may include, but need not be limited to: in-service training; workshops and seminars developed by the department or by county departments; seminars and courses offered through public or private education agencies; and workshops, seminars, and courses pertaining to behavioral and developmental disabilities and to the development of mutual support services for foster parents and treatment foster parents. The department may approve programs under this subsection only after consideration of relevant factors including level of education, useful or necessary skills, location, and other criteria as determined by the department.

AB75, s. 1065 Section 1065. 48.675 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,579,10 48.675 (3) Support services. (intro.) The department shall provide funds from the appropriation under s. 20.437 (1) (a) to enable foster parents and treatment foster parents to attend education programs approved under sub. (2) and shall promulgate rules concerning disbursement of the funds. Moneys disbursed under this subsection may be used for the following purposes:

AB75, s. 1066 Section 1066. 48.675 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,579,13 48.675 (3) (a) Care of residents of the foster home or treatment foster home during the time of participation in an education program.

AB75, s. 1067 Section 1067. 48.68 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,580,5 48.68 (1) After receipt of an application for a license, the department shall investigate to determine if the applicant meets the minimum requirements for a license adopted by the department under s. 48.67 and meets the requirements specified in s. 48.685, if applicable. In determining whether to issue or continue a license, the department may consider any action by the applicant, or by an employee of the applicant, that constitutes a substantial failure by the applicant or employee to protect and promote the health, safety, and welfare of a child. Upon satisfactory completion of this investigation and payment of the fee required under s. 48.615 (1) (a) or (b), 48.625 (2) (a), 48.65 (3) (a), or 938.22 (7) (b), the department shall issue a license under s. 48.66 (1) (a) or, if applicable, a probationary license under s. 48.69 or, if applicable, shall continue a license under s. 48.66 (5). At the time of initial licensure and license renewal, the department shall provide a foster home licensee with written information relating to the age-related monthly foster care rates and supplemental payments specified in s. 48.62 (4), including payment amounts, eligibility requirements for supplemental payments, and the procedures for applying for supplemental payments.

AB75, s. 1068 Section 1068. 48.685 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,580,15 48.685 (1) (b) "Entity" means a child welfare agency that is licensed under s. 48.60 to provide care and maintenance for children, to place children for adoption, or to license foster homes or treatment foster homes; a foster home or treatment foster home that is licensed under s. 48.62; a subsidized guardianship home under s. 48.62 (5); a group home that is licensed under s. 48.625; a shelter care facility that is licensed under s. 938.22; a day care center that is licensed under s. 48.65 or established or contracted for under s. 120.13 (14); a day care provider that is certified under s. 48.651; or a temporary employment agency that provides caregivers to another entity.

AB75, s. 1069 Section 1069. 48.685 (2) (c) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,580,24 48.685 (2) (c) 1. If the person who is the subject of the search under par. (am) is seeking an initial license to operate a foster home or treatment foster home or is seeking relicensure after a break in licensure, the department, county department, or child welfare agency shall request under 42 USC 16962 (b) a fingerprint-based check of the national crime information databases, as defined in 28 USC 534 (f) (3) (A). The department, county department, or child welfare agency may release any information obtained under this subdivision only as permitted under 42 USC 16962 (e).

AB75, s. 1070 Section 1070. 48.685 (2) (c) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,581,11 48.685 (2) (c) 2. If the person who is the subject of the search under par. (am) is seeking a license to operate a foster home or treatment foster home or is an adult nonclient resident of the foster home or treatment foster home and if the person is not, or at any time within the 5 years preceding the date of the search has not been, a resident of this state, the department, county department, or child welfare agency shall check any child abuse or neglect registry maintained by any state or other U.S. jurisdiction in which the person is a resident or was a resident within those 5 years for information that is equivalent to the information specified in par. (am) 4. The department, county department, or child welfare agency may not use any information obtained under this subdivision for any purpose other than a search of the person's background under par. (am).

AB75, s. 1071 Section 1071. 48.685 (4m) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,581,21 48.685 (4m) (a) (intro.) Notwithstanding s. 111.335, and except as provided in par. (ad) and sub. (5), the department may not license, or continue or renew the license of, a person to operate an entity, a county department or agency contracted with under s. 48.651 (2) may not certify a day care provider under s. 48.651, a county department or a child welfare agency may not license, or renew the license of, a foster home or treatment foster home under s. 48.62, and a school board may not contract with a person under s. 120.13 (14), if the department, county department, contracted agency, child welfare agency, or school board knows or should have known any of the following:

AB75, s. 1072 Section 1072 . 48.685 (4m) (a) (intro.) of the statutes, as affected by 2009 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

AB75,582,8 48.685 (4m) (a) (intro.) Notwithstanding s. 111.335, and except as provided in par. (ad) and sub. (5), the department may not license, or continue or renew the license of, a person to operate an entity, a county department or agency contracted with under s. 48.651 (2) may not certify a day care provider under s. 48.651, a county department or a child welfare agency may not license, or renew the license of, a foster home or treatment foster home under s. 48.62, the department or a county department may not provide subsidized guardianship payments to a person under s. 48.62 (5), and a school board may not contract with a person under s. 120.13 (14), if the department, county department, contracted agency, child welfare agency, or school board knows or should have known any of the following:

AB75, s. 1073 Section 1073. 48.685 (4m) (ad) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,582,16 48.685 (4m) (ad) The department, a county department , or a child welfare agency may license a foster home or treatment foster home under s. 48.62, a county department or agency contracted with under s. 48.651 (2) may certify a day care provider under s. 48.651, and a school board may contract with a person under s. 120.13 (14), conditioned on the receipt of the information specified in sub. (2) (am) indicating that the person is not ineligible to be licensed, certified or contracted with for a reason specified in par. (a) 1. to 5.

AB75, s. 1074 Section 1074 . 48.685 (4m) (ad) of the statutes, as affected by 2009 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

AB75,583,2 48.685 (4m) (ad) The department, a county department, or a child welfare agency may license a foster home or treatment foster home under s. 48.62, the department or a county department may provide subsidized guardianship payments to a person under s. 48.62 (5), a county department or agency contracted with under s. 48.651 (2) may certify a day care provider under s. 48.651, and a school board may contract with a person under s. 120.13 (14), conditioned on the receipt of the information specified in sub. (2) (am) indicating that the person is not ineligible to be licensed, certified, or contracted with for a reason specified in par. (a) 1. to 5.

AB75, s. 1075 Section 1075. 48.685 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,583,17 48.685 (5) (a) Subject to par. (bm), the department may license to operate an entity, a county department or agency contracted with under s. 48.651 (2) may certify under s. 48.651, a county department or a child welfare agency may license under s. 48.62, and a school board may contract with under s. 120.13 (14) a person who otherwise may not be licensed, certified, or contracted with for a reason specified in sub. (4m) (a) 1. to 5., and an entity may employ, contract with, or permit to reside at the entity a person who otherwise may not be employed, contracted with, or permitted to reside at the entity for a reason specified in sub. (4m) (b) 1. to 5., if the person demonstrates to the department, the county department, the contracted agency, the child welfare agency, or the school board or, in the case of an entity that is located within the boundaries of a reservation, to the person or body designated by the tribe under sub. (5d) (a) 3., by clear and convincing evidence and in accordance with procedures established by the department by rule or by the tribe that he or she has been rehabilitated.

AB75, s. 1076 Section 1076. 48.685 (5) (bm) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,583,23 48.685 (5) (bm) (intro.) For purposes of licensing a foster home or treatment foster home for the placement of a child on whose behalf foster care maintenance payments under s. 48.62 (4) will be provided, no person who has been convicted of any of the following offenses may be permitted to demonstrate that he or she has been rehabilitated:

AB75, s. 1077 Section 1077. 48.685 (5m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,584,18 48.685 (5m) Notwithstanding s. 111.335, the department may refuse to license a person to operate an entity, a county department or a child welfare agency may refuse to license a foster home or treatment foster home under s. 48.62, and an entity may refuse to employ or contract with a caregiver or permit a nonclient resident to reside at the entity if the person has been convicted of an offense that is not a serious crime, but that is, in the estimation of the department, county department, child welfare agency, or entity, substantially related to the care of a client. Notwithstanding s. 111.335, the department may refuse to license a person to operate a day care center, a county department or agency contracted with under s. 48.651 (2) may refuse to certify a day care provider under s. 48.651, a school board may refuse to contract with a person under s. 120.13 (14), a day care center that is licensed under s. 48.65 or established or contracted for under s. 120.13 (14), and a day care provider that is certified under s. 48.651 may refuse to employ or contract with a caregiver or permit a nonclient resident to reside at the day care center or day care provider if the person has been convicted of or adjudicated delinquent on or after his or her 12th birthday for an offense that is not a serious crime, but that is, in the estimation of the department, county department, contracted agency, school board, day care center, or day care provider, substantially related to the care of a client.

AB75, s. 1078 Section 1078 . 48.685 (5m) of the statutes, as affected by 2009 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

AB75,585,15 48.685 (5m) Notwithstanding s. 111.335, the department may refuse to license a person to operate an entity, a county department or a child welfare agency may refuse to license a foster home or treatment foster home under s. 48.62, the department or a county department may refuse to provide subsidized guardianship payments under s. 48.62 (5), and an entity may refuse to employ or contract with a caregiver or permit a nonclient resident to reside at the entity if the person has been convicted of an offense that is not a serious crime, but that is, in the estimation of the department, county department, child welfare agency, or entity, substantially related to the care of a client. Notwithstanding s. 111.335, the department may refuse to license a person to operate a day care center, a county department or agency contracted with under s. 48.651 (2) may refuse to certify a day care provider under s. 48.651, a school board may refuse to contract with a person under s. 120.13 (14), a day care center that is licensed under s. 48.65 or established or contracted for under s. 120.13 (14), and a day care provider that is certified under s. 48.651 may refuse to employ or contract with a caregiver or permit a nonclient resident to reside at the day care center or day care provider if the person has been convicted of or adjudicated delinquent on or after his or her 12th birthday for an offense that is not a serious crime, but that is, in the estimation of the department, county department, contracted agency, school board, day care center, or day care provider, substantially related to the care of a client.

AB75, s. 1079 Section 1079. 48.685 (6) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,586,2 48.685 (6) (a) The department shall require any person who applies for issuance, continuation, or renewal of a license to operate an entity, a county department or agency contracted with under s. 48.651 (2) shall require any day care provider who applies for initial certification under s. 48.651 or for renewal of that certification, a county department or a child welfare agency shall require any person who applies for issuance or renewal of a license to operate a foster home or treatment foster home under s. 48.62, and a school board shall require any person who proposes to contract with the school board under s. 120.13 (14) or to renew a contract under that subsection, to complete a background information form that is provided by the department.

AB75, s. 1080 Section 1080 . 48.685 (6) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2009 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

AB75,586,15 48.685 (6) (a) The department shall require any person who applies for issuance, continuation, or renewal of a license to operate an entity, a county department or agency contracted with under s. 48.651 (2) shall require any day care provider who applies for initial certification under s. 48.651 or for renewal of that certification, a county department or a child welfare agency shall require any person who applies for issuance or renewal of a license to operate a foster home or treatment foster home under s. 48.62, the department or a county department shall require any person who applies for subsidized guardianship payments under s. 48.62 (5), and a school board shall require any person who proposes to contract with the school board under s. 120.13 (14) or to renew a contract under that subsection, to complete a background information form that is provided by the department.

AB75, s. 1081 Section 1081. 48.70 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,586,21 48.70 (2) Special provisions for child welfare agency licenses. A license to a child welfare agency shall also specify the kind of child welfare work the agency is authorized to undertake, whether the agency may accept guardianship of children, whether the agency may place children in foster homes or treatment foster homes, and if so, the area the agency is equipped to serve.

AB75, s. 1082 Section 1082. 48.73 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,587,2 48.73 Inspection of licensees. The department may visit and inspect each child welfare agency, foster home, treatment foster home, group home, and day care center licensed by it the department, and for such that purpose shall be given unrestricted access to the premises described in the license.

AB75, s. 1083 Section 1083. 48.75 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,587,5 48.75 (title) Foster homes and treatment foster homes licensed by public licensing agencies and by child welfare agencies.

AB75, s. 1084 Section 1084. 48.75 (1d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,587,17 48.75 (1d) Child welfare agencies, if licensed to do so by the department, and public licensing agencies may license foster homes and treatment foster homes under the rules promulgated by the department under s. 48.67 governing the licensing of foster homes and treatment foster homes. A foster home or treatment foster home license shall be issued for a term not to exceed 2 years from the date of issuance, is not transferable, and may be revoked by the child welfare agency or by the public licensing agency because the licensee has substantially and intentionally violated any provision of this chapter or of the rules of the department promulgated pursuant to under s. 48.67 or because the licensee fails to meet the minimum requirements for a license. The licensee shall be given written notice of any revocation and the grounds therefor for the revocation.

AB75, s. 1085 Section 1085. 48.75 (1r) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,587,24 48.75 (1r) At the time of initial licensure and license renewal, the child welfare agency or public licensing agency issuing a license under sub. (1d) or (1g) shall provide the licensee with written information relating to the age-related monthly foster care rates and supplemental payments specified in s. 48.62 (4), including payment amounts, eligibility requirements for supplemental payments , and the procedures for applying for supplemental payments.

AB75, s. 1086 Section 1086. 48.75 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,588,3 48.75 (2) Any foster home or treatment foster home applicant or licensee of a public licensing agency or a child welfare agency may, if aggrieved by the failure to issue or renew its license or by revocation of its license, appeal as provided in s. 48.72.

AB75, s. 1087 Section 1087. 48.833 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,588,18 48.833 (1) Placement by department or county department. The department or a county department under s. 48.57 (1) (e) or (hm) may place a child for adoption in a licensed foster home or a licensed treatment foster home without a court order under s. 48.63 (3) (b) or if the department or county department is the guardian of the child or makes the placement at the request of another agency that is the guardian of the child and if the proposed adoptive parents have completed the preadoption preparation required under s. 48.84 (1) or the department or county department determines that the proposed adoptive parents are not required to complete that preparation. When a child is placed under this subsection in a licensed foster home or a licensed treatment foster home for adoption, the department or county department making the placement shall enter into a written agreement with the proposed adoptive parent, which shall state the date on which the child is placed in the licensed foster home or licensed treatment foster home for adoption by the proposed adoptive parent.

AB75, s. 1088 Section 1088. 48.833 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,589,7 48.833 (2) Placement by child welfare agency. A child welfare agency licensed under s. 48.60 may place a child for adoption in a licensed foster home or a licensed treatment foster home without a court order under s. 48.63 (3) (b) or if the child welfare agency is the guardian of the child or makes the placement at the request of another agency that is the guardian of the child and if the proposed adoptive parents have completed the preadoption preparation required under s. 48.84 (1) or the child welfare agency determines that the proposed adoptive parents are not required to complete that preparation. When a child is placed under this subsection in a licensed foster home or a licensed treatment foster home for adoption, the child welfare agency making the placement shall enter into a written agreement with the proposed adoptive parent, which shall state the date on which the child is placed in the licensed foster home or licensed treatment foster home for adoption by the proposed adoptive parent.

AB75, s. 1089 Section 1089. 48.837 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,589,14 48.837 (1) In-state adoptive placement. When the proposed adoptive parent or parents of a child reside in this state and are not relatives of the child, a parent having custody of a child and the proposed adoptive parent or parents of the child may petition the court for placement of the child for adoption in the home of the proposed adoptive parent or parents if the home is licensed as a foster home or treatment foster home under s. 48.62.

AB75, s. 1090 Section 1090. 48.837 (1r) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,589,19 48.837 (1r) (b) The department, a county department under s. 48.57 (1) (e) or (hm), or a child welfare agency licensed under s. 48.60 may place a child under par. (a) in the home of a proposed adoptive parent or parents who reside in this state if that home is licensed as a foster home or treatment foster home under s. 48.62.

AB75, s. 1091 Section 1091. 48.88 (2) (am) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,590,6 48.88 (2) (am) 1. If the petitioner was required to obtain an initial license to operate a foster home or treatment foster home before placement of the child for adoption or relicensure after a break in licensure, the agency making the investigation shall obtain a criminal history search from the records maintained by the department of justice and request under 42 USC 16962 (b) a fingerprint-based check of the national crime information databases, as defined in 28 USC 534 (f) (3) (A), with respect to the petitioner. The agency may release any information obtained under this subdivision only as permitted under 42 USC 16962 (e). In the case of a child on whose behalf adoption assistance payments will be provided under s. 48.975, if the petitioner has been convicted of any of the offenses specified in s. 48.685 (5) (bm) 1. to 4., the agency may not report that the petitioner's home is suitable for the child.

AB75, s. 1092 Section 1092. 48.88 (2) (am) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,590,20 48.88 (2) (am) 2. If the petitioner was required to obtain a license to operate a foster home or treatment foster home before placement of the child for adoption, the agency making the investigation shall obtain information maintained by the department regarding any substantiated reports of child abuse or neglect against the petitioner and any other adult residing in the petitioner's home. If the petitioner or other adult residing in the petitioner's home is not, or at any time within the 5 years preceding the date of the search has not been, a resident of this state, the agency shall check any child abuse or neglect registry maintained by any state or other U.S. jurisdiction in which the petitioner or other adult is a resident or was a resident within those 5 years for information that is equivalent to the information maintained by the department regarding substantiated reports of child abuse or neglect. The agency may not use any information obtained under this subdivision for any purpose other than a background search under this subdivision.

AB75, s. 1093 Section 1093. 48.975 (3) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,591,3 48.975 (3) (a) 1. Except as provided in subd. 3., for support of a child who was in foster care, treatment foster care, or subsidized guardianship care immediately prior to placement for adoption, the initial amount of adoption assistance for maintenance shall be equivalent to the amount of that child's foster care, treatment foster care, or subsidized guardianship care payment at the time that the agreement under sub. (4) (a) is signed or a lesser amount if agreed to by the proposed adoptive parents and specified in that agreement.

AB75, s. 1094 Section 1094. 48.975 (3) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,591,10 48.975 (3) (a) 2. Except as provided in subd. 3., for support of a child not in foster care, treatment foster care, or subsidized guardianship care immediately prior to placement for adoption, the initial amount of adoption assistance for maintenance shall be equivalent to the uniform foster care rate applicable to the child that is in effect at the time that the agreement under sub. (4) (a) is signed or a lesser amount if agreed to by the proposed adoptive parents and specified in that agreement.

AB75, s. 1095 Section 1095. 48.98 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,591,15 48.98 (1) No person may bring a child into this state or send a child out of this state for the purpose of placing the child in foster care or treatment foster care or for the purpose of adoption without a certificate from the department that the home is suitable for the child.

AB75, s. 1096 Section 1096. 48.98 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,591,23 48.98 (2) (a) Any person, except a county department or licensed child welfare agency, who brings a child into this state for the purpose of placing the child in a foster home or treatment foster home shall, before the child's arrival in this state, file with the department a $1,000 noncancelable bond in favor of this state, furnished by a surety company licensed to do business in this state. The condition of the bond shall be that the child will not become dependent on public funds for his or her primary support before the child reaches age 18 or is adopted.

AB75, s. 1097 Section 1097. 48.981 (3) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,592,9 48.981 (3) (a) 3. A Except as provided in sub. (3m), a county department, the department, or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department shall within 12 hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays, refer to the sheriff or police department all cases of suspected or threatened abuse, as defined in s. 48.02 (1) (b) to (f), reported to it. For cases of suspected or threatened abuse, as defined in s. 48.02 (1) (a), (am), (g), or (gm), or neglect, each county department, the department, and a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department shall adopt a written policy specifying the kinds of reports it will routinely report to local law enforcement authorities.

AB75, s. 1098 Section 1098. 48.981 (3) (c) 1. a. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,593,6 48.981 (3) (c) 1. a. Immediately after receiving a report under par. (a), the agency shall evaluate the report to determine whether there is reason to suspect that a caregiver has abused or neglected the child, has threatened the child with abuse or neglect, or has facilitated or failed to take action to prevent the suspected or threatened abuse or neglect of the child. If Except as provided in sub. (3m), if the agency determines that a caregiver is suspected of abuse or neglect or of threatened abuse or neglect of the child, determines that a caregiver is suspected of facilitating or failing to take action to prevent the suspected or threatened abuse or neglect of the child, or cannot determine who abused or neglected the child, within 24 hours after receiving the report the agency shall, in accordance with the authority granted to the department under s. 48.48 (17) (a) 1. or the county department under s. 48.57 (1) (a), initiate a diligent investigation to determine if the child is in need of protection or services. If the agency determines that a person who is not a caregiver is suspected of abuse or of threatened abuse, the agency may, in accordance with that authority, initiate a diligent investigation to determine if the child is in need or protection or services. Within 24 hours after receiving a report under par. (a) of suspected unborn child abuse, the agency, in accordance with that authority, shall initiate a diligent investigation to determine if the unborn child is in need of protection or services. An investigation under this subd. 1. a. shall be conducted in accordance with standards established by the department for conducting child abuse and neglect investigations or unborn child abuse investigations.

AB75, s. 1099 Section 1099. 48.981 (3) (d) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB75,593,14 48.981 (3) (d) 1. In this paragraph, "agent" includes, but is not limited to, a foster parent, treatment foster parent or other person given custody of a child or a human services professional employed by a county department under s. 51.42 or 51.437 or by a child welfare agency who is working with a child or an expectant mother of an unborn child under contract with or under the supervision of the department in a county having a population of 500,000 or more or a county department under s. 46.22.

AB75, s. 1100 Section 1100. 48.981 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB75,593,20 48.981 (3m) Alternative response pilot program. (a) In this subsection, "substantial abuse or neglect" means abuse or neglect or threatened abuse or neglect that under the guidelines developed by the department under par. (b) constitutes severe abuse or neglect or a threat of severe abuse or neglect and a significant threat to the safety of a child and his or her family.

AB75,594,7 (b) The department shall establish a pilot program under which a county department that is selected to participate in the pilot program may employ alternative responses to a report of abuse or neglect or of threatened abuse or neglect. The department shall select county departments to participate in the pilot program in accordance with the department's request-for-proposal procedures and according to criteria developed by the department. Those criteria shall include an assessment of a county department's plan for involving the community in providing services for a family that is participating in the pilot program and a determination whether a county department has an agreement with local law enforcement agencies and the representative of the public under s. 48.09 to ensure interagency cooperation in implementing the pilot program. To implement the pilot program, the department shall provide all of the following:

AB75,594,12 1. Guidelines for determining the appropriate alternative response to a report of abuse or neglect or of threatened abuse or neglect, including guidelines for determining what types of abuse or neglect or threatened abuse or neglect constitute substantial abuse or neglect. The department need not promulgate those guidelines as rules under ch. 227.