SB161: Bill Text

SB161,6,18 46.215 (1) Creation; powers and duties. (intro.) In a county with a population of 500,000 or more the administration of welfare services, other than child welfare services under s. 48.48 (17) administered by the department and except as provided in s. 49.825, is vested in a county department of social services under the jurisdiction of the county board of supervisors under s. 46.21 (2m) (b) 1. a. Any reference in any law to a county department of social services under this section applies to a county department under s. 46.21 (2m) in its administration under s. 46.21 (2m) of the powers and duties of the county department of social services. The Except as provided in s. 49.825, the county department of social services shall have the following functions, duties and powers, and such other welfare functions as may be delegated to it:

SB161, s. 9 Section 9. 49.496 (4) of the statutes is renumbered 49.496 (4) (a) and amended to read:

SB161,7,10 49.496 (4) (a) The department may require a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23 or the governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe administering medical assistance to gather and provide the department with information needed to recover medical assistance under this section. The Except as provided in par. (b), the department shall pay to a county department or tribal governing body an amount equal to 5% of the recovery collected by the department relating to a beneficiary for whom the county department or tribal governing body made the last determination of medical assistance eligibility. A county department or tribal governing body may use funds received under this subsection paragraph only to pay costs incurred under this subsection paragraph and, if any amount remains, to pay for improvements to functions required under s. 49.78 (2). The department may withhold payments under this subsection paragraph for failure to comply with the department's requirements under this subsection paragraph. The department shall treat payments made under this subsection paragraph as costs of administration of the Medical Assistance program.

SB161, s. 10 Section 10. 49.496 (4) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

SB161,7,16 49.496 (4) (b) The department shall credit to the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (4) (im) any amount that the department would otherwise pay under par. (a) to a county department under s. 46.215 for any recovery collected by a department employee or officer, or by a county employee or officer under the management of the department.

SB161, s. 11 Section 11. 49.496 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB161,7,23 49.496 (5) Use of funds. From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (4) (im), the department shall pay the amount of the payments under sub. (4) (a) that is not paid from federal funds, shall pay to the federal government the amount of the funds recovered under this section equal to the amount of federal funds used to pay the benefits recovered under this section, and shall spend the remainder of the funds recovered under this section for medical assistance benefits under this subchapter.

SB161, s. 12 Section 12. 49.497 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 49.497 (2) (a) and amended to read:

SB161,8,4 49.497 (2) (a) A Except as provided in par. (b), a county or governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe may retain 15% of benefits provided under this subchapter or s. 49.665 that are recovered under this section due to the efforts of an employee or officer of the county or tribe.

SB161, s. 13 Section 13. 49.497 (2) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

SB161,8,9 49.497 (2) (b) Any amount that Milwaukee County would otherwise be entitled to retain under par. (a) for benefits recovered due to the efforts of a department employee or officer, or a county employee or officer under the management of the department, shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (4) (L).

SB161, s. 14 Section 14. 49.78 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB161,8,18 49.78 (2) Contracts. Annually, for the income maintenance program functions, if any, that the department delegates to a county or tribal governing body, the department shall contract with and county departments department under ss. s. 46.215, 46.22, and or 46.23 shall enter into a contract, and the department and tribal governing body may enter into a contract with tribal governing bodies, to reimburse the county departments and tribal governing bodies, for reimbursement of the county department or tribal governing body for the reasonable cost of administering income maintenance programs.

SB161, s. 15 Section 15. 49.78 (10) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB161,9,5 49.78 (10) (a) Each county treasurer and director of a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23 that contracts with the department under sub. (2) and each tribal governing body that contracts with the department under sub. (2) shall certify monthly under oath to the department in such manner as the department prescribes the claim of the county or tribal governing body for state reimbursement under sub. (8) (a). The department shall review each claim of reimbursement and, if the department approves the claim, the department shall certify to the department of administration for reimbursement to the county or tribal governing body for amounts due under sub. (8) (a) and payment claimed to be made to the counties or tribal governing bodies monthly. The department may make advance payments prior to the beginning of each month equal to one-twelfth of the contracted amount.

SB161, s. 16 Section 16. 49.785 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB161,9,14 49.785 (1) (intro.) Except as provided in sub. (1m) and subject to s. 49.825, if any recipient specified in sub. (1c) dies and the estate of the deceased recipient is insufficient to pay the funeral, burial, and cemetery expenses of the deceased recipient, the department or county or applicable tribal governing body or organization responsible for burial of the recipient shall pay, to the person designated by the department or county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23 or applicable tribal governing body or organization responsible for the burial of the recipient, all of the following:

SB161, s. 17 Section 17. 49.785 (1m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB161,9,19 49.785 (1m) (a) If the total cemetery expenses for the recipient exceed $3,500, the department or county or applicable tribal governing body or organization responsible for burial of the recipient is not required to make a payment for the cemetery expenses under sub. (1) (a).

SB161, s. 18 Section 18. 49.785 (1m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB161,9,24 49.785 (1m) (b) If the total funeral and burial expenses for the recipient exceed $3,500, the department or county or applicable tribal governing body or organization responsible for burial of the recipient is not required to make a payment for funeral and burial expenses under sub. (1) (b).

SB161, s. 19 Section 19. 49.785 (1m) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB161,10,4 49.785 (1m) (c) If a request for payment under sub. (1) is made more than 12 months after the death of the recipient, the department or county or applicable tribal governing body or organization responsible for burial of the recipient is not required to make a payment for cemetery, funeral, or burial expenses.

SB161, s. 20 Section 20. 49.793 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 49.793 (2) (a) and amended to read:

SB161,10,14 49.793 (2) (a) A Except as provided in par. (b), a county or governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe may retain a portion of the amount of an overpayment the state is authorized to retain under 7 USC 2025 which that is recovered under sub. (1) due to the efforts of an employee or officer of the county or tribe. The department shall promulgate a rule establishing the portion of the amount of the overpayment that the county or governing body may retain. This subsection paragraph does not apply to recovery of an overpayment that was made as a result of state, county, or tribal governing body error.

SB161, s. 21 Section 21. 49.793 (2) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

SB161,10,20 49.793 (2) (b) Any amount that Milwaukee County would otherwise be entitled to retain under par. (a) for the recovery of an overpayment due to the efforts of a department employee or officer, or a county employee or officer under the management of the department, shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (4) (L).

SB161, s. 22 Section 22. 49.825 of the statutes is created to read:

SB161,10,23 49.825 Department administration in Milwaukee County. (1) Definitions. In this section:

SB161,10,24 (a) "County" means Milwaukee County.

SB161,10,25 (b) "Department" means the department of health services.

SB161,11,1 (c) "Income maintenance program" has the meaning given in s. 49.78 (1) (b).

SB161,11,2 (d) "Secretary" means the secretary of health services.

SB161,11,3 (e) "Unit" means the Milwaukee County enrollment services unit.

SB161,11,6 (2) Establishment of unit. (a) The department shall establish a Milwaukee County enrollment services unit under s. 15.02 (3) (c) 3. to determine eligibility under and administer the following public assistance programs in the county:

SB161,11,7 1. Income maintenance programs.

SB161,11,8 2. The programs under ss. 49.77 and 49.775.

SB161,11,10 3. To the extent contracted under par. (b), the child care subsidy program under s. 49.155.

SB161,11,13 (b) The department of children and families may enter into a contract with the department of health services that provides for the performance of eligibility and authorization functions under the program under s. 49.155 in the county by the unit.

SB161,11,16 (c) The department may enter into a contract with the county that provides for the performance by the county of any of the administrative functions under this subsection.

SB161,11,20 (d) 1. The department shall reimburse the county for all approved, allowable costs that exceed the amounts specified in subd. 2. and that are incurred by the county under a contract with the department for the operation of the public assistance programs under par. (a) in the county.

SB161,12,2 2. In 2009 the county shall expend at least $3,559,800, for which the county shall not be reimbursed by the department, for the operation of income maintenance programs in the county. In each year thereafter, the county's unreimbursed required minimum expenditure for the operation of income maintenance programs in the county shall increase by the percentage increase in annual wage and benefit costs paid with respect to county employees performing services under this section for the unit.

SB161,12,9 (3) Division of employment-related functions. (a) Supervisory personnel in the unit shall be state employees. Nonsupervisory staff performing services under this section for the unit may be a combination of state employees and employees of Milwaukee County. For the performance of services under this section for the unit, the county shall maintain no fewer represented authorized full-time employee positions than the number of represented full-time employee positions that were authorized on February 1, 2009, for performance of the same types of services.

SB161,12,13 (b) 1. The department shall have the authority to hire, transfer, suspend, lay off, recall, promote, discharge, assign, reward, discipline, and adjust grievances with respect to, and state supervisory employees may supervise, county employees performing services under this section for the unit.

SB161,12,16 2. For the purposes under subd. 1., the department shall use the same process and procedures under ch. 230 that are used for the classified service of the state civil service system, including specifically the use of probationary periods under s. 230.28.

SB161,12,19 3. County employees performing services under this section for the unit shall be subject to the residency requirements that apply to other county employees under the county's civil service rules.

SB161,12,25 4. The department may enter into a memorandum of understanding, as described under s. 111.70 (3m), with the certified representative of the county employees performing services under this section for the unit. If there is a dispute as to hours or conditions of employment that remains between the department and the certified representative after a good faith effort to resolve it, the department may unilaterally resolve the dispute.

SB161,13,2 (c) The county shall perform all administrative tasks related to payroll and benefits for the county employees performing services under this section for the unit.

SB161,13,7 (4) Treatment of former county employees appointed to state employee positions in the unit. All of the following shall apply to an employee who is appointed to a state employee position in the unit after the effective date of this subsection .... [LRB inserts date], and who, immediately prior to his or her appointment, was a county employee:

SB161,13,10 (a) The employee shall serve any applicable probationary period under s. 230.28, but shall have his or her seniority with the state computed by treating the employee's total service with the county as state service.

SB161,13,12 (b) Annual leave for the employee shall accrue at the rate provided in s. 230.35 using the employee's state service computed under par. (a).

SB161,13,21 (c) 1. The employee may remain a participating employee in the retirement system established under chapter 201, laws of 1937. To remain under the retirement system established under chapter 201, laws of 1937, the employee must exercise this option in writing, on a form provided by the department, at the time the employee is appointed to a state employee position. The employee shall exercise this option, in writing, no later than 10 days after the employee is appointed to a state employee position. An employee's decision to remain a participating employee in the retirement system established under chapter 201, laws of 1937, is irrevocable during the period that the employee is holding a state employee position in the unit.

SB161,13,24 2. The secretary shall pay, on behalf of the employee, all required employer contributions under the retirement system established under chapter 201, laws of 1937.

SB161,14,9 (d) The employee shall have his or her sick leave accrued with the state computed by treating the employee's unused balance of sick leave accrued with the county as sick leave accrued in state service, but not to exceed the amount of sick leave the employee would have accrued in state service for the same period, if the employee is able to provide adequate documentation in accounting for sick leave used during the accrual period with the county. Sick leave that transfers under this paragraph is not subject to a right of conversion, under s. 40.05 (4) or otherwise, upon death or termination of creditable service for payment of health insurance benefits on behalf of the employee or the employee's dependents.

SB161, s. 23 Section 23. 49.847 (3) of the statutes is renumbered 49.847 (3) (a) and amended to read:

SB161,14,15 49.847 (3) (a) Subject to ss. 49.497 (2) and 49.793 (2), and except as provided in par. (b), a county or elected governing body may retain a portion of an amount recovered under this section due to the efforts of an employee or officer of the county, tribe, or band, as provided by the department by rule.

SB161, s. 24 Section 24. 49.847 (3) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

SB161,14,21 49.847 (3) (b) Any amount that Milwaukee County would otherwise be entitled to retain under par. (a) for the recovery of an amount under this section due to the efforts of a department employee or officer, or a county employee or officer under the management of the department, shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (4) (L).

SB161, s. 25 Section 25. 49.89 (7) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB161,14,25 49.89 (7) (a) Any Except as provided in par. (f), any county or elected tribal governing body that has made a recovery under this section shall receive an incentive payment from the sum recovered as provided under this subsection.

SB161, s. 26 Section 26. 49.89 (7) (f) of the statutes is created to read:

SB161,15,6 49.89 (7) (f) The amount of any incentive payment to which Milwaukee County would otherwise be entitled under this subsection for a recovery under this section due to the efforts of an employee or officer of the department of health services, or a county employee or officer under the management of the department of health services, shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (4) (im).

SB161, s. 27 Section 27. 63.03 (2) (r) of the statutes is created to read:

SB161,15,9 63.03 (2) (r) All staff performing services for the Milwaukee County enrollment services unit under s. 49.825.

SB161, s. 28 Section 28. 111.70 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB161,16,8 111.70 (1) (a) "Collective bargaining" means the performance of the mutual obligation of a municipal employer, through its officers and agents, and the representative of its municipal employees in a collective bargaining unit, to meet and confer at reasonable times, in good faith, with the intention of reaching an agreement, or to resolve questions arising under such an agreement, with respect to wages, hours and conditions of employment, and with respect to a requirement of the municipal employer for a municipal employee to perform law enforcement and fire fighting services under s. 61.66, except as provided in sub. subs. (3m) and (4) (m) and s. 40.81 (3) and except that a municipal employer shall not meet and confer with respect to any proposal to diminish or abridge the rights guaranteed to municipal employees under ch. 164. The duty to bargain, however, does not compel either party to agree to a proposal or require the making of a concession. Collective bargaining includes the reduction of any agreement reached to a written and signed document. The municipal employer shall not be required to bargain on subjects reserved to management and direction of the governmental unit except insofar as the manner of exercise of such functions affects the wages, hours and conditions of employment of the municipal employees in a collective bargaining unit. In creating this subchapter the legislature recognizes that the municipal employer must exercise its powers and responsibilities to act for the government and good order of the jurisdiction which it serves, its commercial benefit and the health, safety and welfare of the public to assure orderly operations and functions within its jurisdiction, subject to those rights secured to municipal employees by the constitutions of this state and of the United States and by this subchapter.

SB161, s. 29 Section 29. 111.70 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB161,16,15 111.70 (3m) Milwaukee county enrollment services unit. A collective bargaining agreement that covers municipal employees performing services for the Milwaukee County enrollment services unit under s. 49.825 shall contain a provision that permits the terms of the agreement to be modified with respect to hours and conditions of employment by a memorandum of understanding under s. 49.825 (3) (b) 4.

SB161, s. 30 Section 30. 230.44 (1) (h) of the statutes is created to read:

SB161,16,19 230.44 (1) (h) Decisions affecting Milwaukee County employees by the department of health services. A decision of the department of health services relating to a Milwaukee County employee under s. 49.825 (3) (b).

SB161, s. 31 Section 31. Nonstatutory provisions.

SB161,16,21 (1) Transfer of public assistance program administrative functions.

SB161,16,22 (a) Definitions. In this subsection:

SB161,16,23 1. "County" means Milwaukee County.

SB161,16,25 2. "County department" means the Milwaukee County department of social services under section 49.215 of the statutes.

SB161,17,1 3. "Department" means the department of health services.

SB161,17,10 (b) Transition plan. On the effective date of this paragraph, the county and the department shall begin the transition from the county to the department of administrative functions for the programs specified in section 49.825 (2) (a) of the statutes, as created by this act, and shall cooperate in the transition. The department shall develop a transition plan that includes the reporting, exchange of information, and staff deployment that the department needs and that the county department must provide for the transition. The secretary of administration shall resolve any disagreement between the department and the county or county department.

SB161,17,15 (c) Records. By January 15, 2010, the county shall transfer to the department all records in the possession of the county that are related to eligibility processing for the programs specified in section 49.825 (2) (a) of the statutes, as created by this act. The county department and the department shall jointly identify those records and jointly develop and implement a plan for the orderly transfer of the records.

SB161,17,24 (d) County administration. In calendar year 2009, the county shall continue to perform the administrative functions for the programs specified in section 49.825 (2) (a) of the statutes, as created by this act, as provided under any contracts requiring those administrative functions until the department notifies the county that it is prepared to assume responsibility for the administrative functions. The county and department shall contract with respect to administrative functions that the department requires the county to perform to assist the department in administering the programs specified in section 49.825 (2) (a) of the statutes, as created by this act, for the years after 2009.

SB161,18,6 (e) Future operation. After the dismissal of the litigation commenced by April West and others against county and department officials, the department and county shall identify the standards required for county operation of the income maintenance programs, as defined in section 49.78 (1) (b) of the statutes, in the county and initiate discussions regarding who shall operate the income maintenance programs in the county in the future and how those programs shall be operated.

SB161,19,2 (2) Treatment of former county employees appointed to positions in the department of health services. Section 49.825 (4) of the statutes, as created by this act, shall apply to any employee who is appointed to a position in the department of health services beginning on April 1, 2009, and ending on the effective date of this subsection, and who, immediately prior to his or her appointment, was a county employee, except that for purposes of section 49.825 (4) (c) of the statutes, as created by this act, the employee may continue to be a participating employee in the retirement system established under chapter 201, laws of 1937, by exercising this option, in writing, on a form provided by the department of health services no later than 10 days after after the effective date of this subsection. If an employee exercises the option to continue to be a participating employee in the retirement system established under chapter 201, laws of 1937, the employee shall notify the department of employee trust funds, in writing, on a form provided by the department of health services, that the employee is no longer a participating employee under the Wisconsin Retirement System and is instead a participating employee in the retirement system established under chapter 201, laws of 1937. An employee's decision to be a participating employee in the retirement system established under chapter 201, laws of 1937, is irrevocable during the period that the employee is holding a state employee position in the Milwaukee County enrollment services unit under section 49.825 of the statutes, as created by this act.

SB161, s. 32 Section 32 . Initial applicability.

SB161,19,8 (1) Collective bargaining. The treatment of sections 63.03 (2) (r) and 111.70 (1) (a) and (3m) of the statutes first applies to any employee of Milwaukee County who is covered by a collective bargaining agreement that contains provisions inconsistent with this act on the day on which the collective bargaining agreement expires or is extended, modified, or renewed, whichever occurs first.

SB161,19,14 (2) Incorrect and correct payment recoveries. The treatment of sections 20.435 (4) (im) and (L), 49.496 (5), and 49.89 (7) (a) and (f) of the statutes, the renumbering and amendment of sections 49.496 (4), 49.497 (2), 49.793 (2), and 49.847 (3) of the statutes, and the creation of sections 49.496 (4) (b), 49.497 (2) (b), 49.793 (2) (b), and 49.847 (3) (b) of the statutes first apply to recovery activities that are commenced on the effective date of this subsection.

SB161, s. 33 Section 33. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after publication, except as follows:

SB161,19,22 (1) Incorrect and correct payment recoveries. The treatment of sections 20.435 (4) (im) and (L), 49.496 (5), and 49.89 (7) (a) and (f) of the statutes, the renumbering and amendment of sections 49.496 (4), 49.497 (2), 49.793 (2), and 49.847 (3) of the statutes, the creation of sections 49.496 (4) (b), 49.497 (2) (b), 49.793 (2) (b), and 49.847 (3) (b) of the statutes, and Section 32 (2 ) of this act take effect on January 1, 2010.

SB161,19,23 (End)