Advertising related to adoption or other permanent physical placements
Under current law, subject to certain exceptions, no person may communicate
by any public medium that originates within this state, including by newspaper,
periodical, telephone book listing, outdoor advertising sign, radio, or television: 1)

for the purpose of finding a child to adopt; 2) that the person will find an adoptive
home for a child or arrange for or assist in the adoption of adoptive placement of a
child; or 3) that the person will place a child for adoption (advertising related to
adoption). That prohibition, however, does not apply to the Department of Children
and Families (DCF), a county department of human services or social services that
is authorized to place children for adoption (county department), or a child welfare
agency that is licensed to place children for adoption; the State Adoption Information
Exchange or the State Adoption Center; a foster care and adoption resource center
or a postadoption resource center funded by this state; an individual who has
received a favorable recommendation regarding his or her fitness to be an adoptive
parent from DCF, a county department, a child welfare agency, or an entity of another
jurisdiction that is authorized to conduct adoption home studies; or an individual
seeking to place his or her own child for adoption.
This bill expands the prohibition against advertising related to adoption to
include communicating by any computerized communication system, including by
electronic mail, Internet site, Internet profile, or any similar medium of
communication provided via the Internet.
The bill also expands the prohibition against advertising related to adoption to
prohibit a person from advertising: 1) for the purpose of finding a child to otherwise
take into permanent physical custody; 2) that the person will find any other
permanent physical placement for a child or arrange for or assist in any other
permanent physical placement of a child; or 3) that the person will place a child in
any other permanent physical placement.
In addition, the bill limits the current exception to the prohibition against
advertising related to adoption that permits an individual seeking to place his or her
own child for adoption to permit such an individual to advertise for adoption only if
the child is under one year of age.
Delegation of parental powers
Under current law, subject to certain exceptions, a parent who has legal custody
of a child may, by a properly executed power of attorney, delegate to an agent, for no
longer than one year, any of his or her powers regarding the care and custody of the
child (parental powers).
This bill permits a parent who has legal custody of a child, by a properly
executed power of attorney, to delegate to an agent, for longer than one year, any of
his or her parental powers, but only if the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction
under the Children's Code (juvenile court) approves that delegation.
Under the bill, a parent who wishes to delegate his or her parental powers to
an agent for longer than one year, the agent to whom the parent wishes to delegate
those powers, or an organization that is facilitating that delegation must file a
petition with the juvenile court requesting the court's approval of that delegation.
The petition must have a draft copy of the power of attorney delegating those powers
attached to the petition and must state, among other things, all of the following: 1)
the relationship of the agent to the child; 2) whether the parent wishes to delegate
to the agent full parental power or partial parental power and, if the parent wishes
to delegate partial parental power, the specific powers that the parent wishes to

delegate and any limitations on those powers; 3) the proposed term of the delegation
of parental powers, the reasons for the delegation of parental powers, and whether
the parent proposes to provide any support to the agent during that term; and 4) facts
and circumstances showing that the delegation of parental powers would be in the
best interests of the child and that the person nominated as agent is fit, willing, and
able to exercise those powers.
The juvenile court must hold a hearing on a petition requesting the court's
approval of a proposed delegation of parental powers. In determining the
appropriate disposition of such a petition, the juvenile court must consider the best
interests of the child as the prevailing factor and must also consider whether the
person nominated as agent would be fit, willing, and able to exercise the parental
powers to be delegated, the reasons for the delegation of parental powers, and the
amount of support that the parent is willing and able to provide to the agent during
the term of the delegation of parental powers. If the juvenile court determines that
the proposed delegation of parental powers is in the best interests of the child, the
juvenile court may approve the proposed delegation of parental powers and may also
designate an amount of support to be paid by the child's parents to the agent. If the
juvenile court approves the proposed delegation of parental powers, the parent and
the person nominated as agent may execute a power of attorney delegating those
powers as approved by the juvenile court.
Under the bill, any person who delegates his or her powers regarding the care
and custody of a child for longer than one year without first obtaining the approval
of the juvenile court is subject to a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not
to exceed nine months, or both.
Unauthorized interstate placements of children
Under current law, the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children and
certain other statutory provisions govern the interstate placement of children.
This bill prohibits any person from sending a child out of this state, bringing
a child into this state, or causing a child to be sent out of this state or brought into
this state for the purpose of permanently transferring physical custody of the child
to a person who is not a relative of the child. A person who violates that prohibition
is subject to a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed nine months,
or both. That prohibition, however, does not apply to a placement of a child that is
authorized under the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children or any other
statutory provisions governing the interstate placement of children or a placement
of a child that is approved by a court of competent jurisdiction of the sending state
or receiving state.
Study of adoption disruption and dissolution
Finally, the bill requests the JLC to study adoption disruption and dissolution
in this state. If the JLC undertakes such a study, the JLC must do all of the following:
1) study the extent of adoption disruption and dissolution in this state and the efforts
by DCF, counties, and child welfare agencies to prevent such disruption and
dissolution; 2) recommend legislation to define adoption disruption and adoption
dissolution, to prevent adoption disruption and adoption dissolution in this state, to
require DCF, county departments, and child welfare agencies to track and report on

disrupted or dissolved adoptions; 3) consider legislative options to prepare
prospective adoptive parents for adoption and to support adoptive parents after an
adoption; and 4) submit its findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the 2015
legislature when it commences.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB581,1 1Section 1. 48.825 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB581,4,62 48.825 (1) (a) "Advertise" means to communicate by any public medium that
3originates within this state, including by newspaper, periodical, telephone book
4listing, outdoor advertising sign, radio, or television , or by any computerized
5communication system, including by electronic mail, Internet site, Internet profile,
6or any similar medium of communication provided via the Internet
.
AB581,2 7Section 2. 48.825 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB581,4,98 48.825 (2) (a) Advertise for the purpose of finding a child to adopt or to
9otherwise take into permanent physical custody
.
AB581,3 10Section 3. 48.825 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB581,4,1311 48.825 (2) (b) Advertise that the person will find an adoptive home or any other
12permanent physical placement
for a child or arrange for or assist in the adoption or,
13adoptive placement, or any other permanent physical placement of a child.
AB581,4 14Section 4. 48.825 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB581,4,1615 48.825 (2) (c) Advertise that the person will place a child for adoption or in any
16other permanent physical placement
.
AB581,5 17Section 5. 48.825 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB581,5,3
148.825 (3) (a) The department, a county department, or a child welfare agency
2licensed under s. 48.60 to place children for adoption, in licensed foster homes or
3group homes, or in the homes of guardians under s. 48.977 (2)
.
AB581,6 4Section 6. 48.825 (3) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB581,5,65 48.825 (3) (e) An individual seeking to place his or her child under one year of
6age
for adoption.
AB581,7 7Section 7. 48.979 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB581,5,168 48.979 (1) (a) A parent who has legal custody of a child, by a power of attorney
9that is properly executed by all parents who have legal custody of the child, may
10delegate to an agent, for a period not to exceed one year as provided in par. (am), any
11of his or her powers regarding the care and custody of the child, except the power to
12consent to the marriage or adoption of the child, the performance or inducement of
13an abortion on or for the child, the termination of parental rights to the child, or the
14enlistment of the child in the U.S. armed forces. A delegation of powers under this
15paragraph does not deprive the parent of any of his or her powers regarding the care
16and custody of the child.
AB581,8 17Section 8. 48.979 (1) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
AB581,5,2118 48.979 (1) (am) A delegation of powers to an agent under par. (a) may remain
19in effect for no longer than one year, except that such a delegation may remain in
20effect for longer than one year if the delegation is approved by the court as provided
21in sub. (1m).
AB581,9 22Section 9. 48.979 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB581,6,523 48.979 (1m) (a) A parent who wishes a delegation of powers to an agent under
24sub. (1) (a) to remain in effect for longer than one year, the agent to whom the parent
25wishes to delegate those powers, or an organization that is facilitating that

1delegation shall file a petition with the court requesting the court's approval of that
2delegation. The petition shall be entitled "In the interest of .... (child's name), a
3person under the age of 18." The petitioner shall attach a draft copy of the power of
4attorney delegating those powers to the petition and shall state in the petition all of
5the following:
AB581,6,76 1. The name, address, and date of birth of the child who is the subject of the
7delegation of powers.
AB581,6,88 2. The names and addresses of the parents of the child.
AB581,6,109 3. The name and address of the person nominated as agent and the relationship
10of the agent to the child.
AB581,6,1511 4. Whether the parent wishes to delegate to the agent full parental power
12regarding the care and custody of the child or partial parental power regarding the
13care and custody of the child and, if the parent wishes to delegate partial parental
14power, the specific powers that the parent wishes to delegate and any limitations on
15those powers.
AB581,6,1816 5. The proposed term of the delegation of powers, the reasons for the delegation
17of powers, and whether the parent proposes to provide any support to the agent
18during that term. If so, the petition shall indicate the amount of that support.
AB581,6,2119 6. Facts and circumstances showing that the delegation of powers would be in
20the best interests of the child and that the person nominated as agent is fit, willing,
21and able to exercise those powers.
AB581,6,2422 7. If the delegation of powers is being facilitated by an entity, as defined in s.
2348.685 (1) (b), facts and circumstances showing that the entity has complied with
24sub. (1) (b) and is permitted under sub. (1) (b) to facilitate that delegation.
AB581,7,2
18. The information required under s. 822.29 (1) and whether the child is subject
2to the jurisdiction of the court under s. 48.13, 48.14, 938.12, 938.13, or 938.14.
AB581,7,43 9. Whether the proceedings are subject to the Uniform Child Custody
4Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act under ch. 822.
AB581,7,65 10. Whether the child may be subject to the federal Indian Child Welfare Act,
625 USC 1901 to 1963.
AB581,7,167 (b) The court shall hold a hearing on a petition filed under par. (a) within 45
8days after the filing of the petition. The petitioner shall cause the petition and notice
9of the time and place of the hearing to be served at least 10 days before the time of
10the hearing on the child, if 12 years of age or over; the child's guardian ad litem and
11counsel, if any; the parents of the child; the person nominated as agent; any
12guardian, legal custodian, and physical custodian of the child; and any organization
13that is facilitating the delegation of power. Notice shall be served in person or by 1st
14class mail. Notice is considered to be given by proof of personal service, by proof that
15the notice was mailed to the last-known address of the recipient, or, if the recipient
16is an adult, by the written admission of service of the person served.
AB581,7,2417 (c) At the hearing the court shall first determine whether any party wishes to
18contest the petition. If the petition is not contested, the court shall immediately
19proceed to a fact-finding and dispositional hearing, unless an adjournment is
20requested. If the petition is contested or if an adjournment is requested, the court
21shall set a date for a fact-finding and dispositional hearing that allows reasonable
22time for the parties to prepare but is no more than 30 days after the initial hearing.
23At the fact-finding and dispositional hearing, any party may present evidence and
24argument relating to the allegations in the petition.
AB581,8,6
1(d) In determining the appropriate disposition of a petition filed under par. (a),
2the best interests of the child shall be the prevailing factor to be considered by the
3court. The court shall also consider whether the person nominated as agent would
4be fit, willing, and able to exercise the powers to be delegated, the reasons for the
5delegation of powers, and the amount of support that the parent is willing and able
6to provide to the agent during the term of the delegation of powers.
AB581,8,97 (e) At the conclusion of the fact-finding and dispositional hearing, the court
8shall grant one of the following dispositions, unless the court adjourns the hearing
9under par. (f):
AB581,8,1310 1. A disposition dismissing the petition if the court finds that the petitioner has
11not proved the allegations in the petition by clear and convincing evidence or
12determines that approval of the proposed delegation of powers is not in the best
13interests of the child.
AB581,8,2014 2. A disposition approving the proposed delegation of powers, if the court finds
15that the petitioner has proved the allegations in the petition by clear and convincing
16evidence and determines that the proposed delegation of powers is in the best
17interests of the child. The disposition may also designate an amount of support to
18be paid by the child's parents to the agent. If the court approves the proposed
19delegation of powers, the parent and the person nominated as agent may execute a
20power of attorney delegating those powers as approved by the court.
AB581,9,321 (f) If at the conclusion of the fact-finding and dispositional hearing the court
22finds that the petitioner has proved the allegations in the petition by clear and
23convincing evidence, but that the person nominated as agent is not fit, willing, and
24able to serve as agent or that appointment of that person as agent would not be in
25the best interests of the child, the court may, in lieu of granting a disposition

1dismissing the petition under par. (e) 1., adjourn the hearing for not more than 30
2days and request the petitioner or any other party to nominate a different person as
3agent.
AB581,9,74 (g) Any person who delegates his or her powers regarding the care and custody
5of a child for longer than one year without first obtaining the approval of the court
6as provided in this subsection is subject to a fine not to exceed $10,000 or
7imprisonment not to exceed 9 months, or both.
AB581,10 8Section 10. 48.979 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB581,9,109 48.979 (2) A power of attorney complies with sub. (1) (a) if the power of attorney
10substantially conforms to the following form:
AB581,9,11 11power of attorney
AB581,9,12 12delegating parental power
AB581,9,13 13Authorized by s. 48.979, Wis. Stats.
AB581,9,1414 NAME(S) OF CHILD(REN)
AB581,9,1615 This power of attorney is for the purpose of providing for the care and custody
16of:
AB581,9,1717 Name, address, and date of birth of child ....
AB581,9,1818 Name, address, and date of birth of child ....
AB581,9,1919 Name, address, and date of birth of child ....
AB581,9,2020 DELEGATION OF POWER TO AGENT
AB581,9,2521 I, .... (name and address of parent), state that I have legal custody of the
22child(ren) named above. (Only a parent who has legal custody may use this form.)
23A parent may not use this form to delegate parental powers regarding a child who is
24subject to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court under
s. 48.13, 48.14, 938.12, 938.13,
25or 938.14, Wis. Stats.
AB581,10,1
1I delegate my parental power to:
AB581,10,22 Name of agent ....
AB581,10,33 Agent's address ....
AB581,10,44 Agent's telephone number(s) ....
AB581,10,55 Agent's e-mail address ....
AB581,10,66 Relationship of agent to child(ren) ....
AB581,10,77 The parental power I am delegating is as follows:
AB581,10,88 FULL
AB581,10,109 (Check if you want to delegate full parental power regarding the care and
10custody of the child(ren) named above.
)
AB581,10,1211 .... Full parental power regarding the care and custody of the child(ren) named
12above
AB581,10,1313 PARTIAL
AB581,10,1514 (Check each subject over which you want to delegate your parental power
15regarding the child(ren) named above.
)
AB581,10,1616 .... The power to consent to all health care; or
AB581,10,1717 .... The power to consent to only the following health care:
AB581,10,1918 .... Ordinary or routine health care, excluding major surgical procedures,
19extraordinary procedures, and experimental treatment
AB581,10,2020 .... Emergency blood transfusion
AB581,10,2121 .... Dental care
AB581,10,2222 .... Disclosure of health information about the child(ren)
AB581,10,2323 .... The power to consent to educational and vocational services
AB581,10,2424 .... The power to consent to the employment of the child(ren)
AB581,11,2
1.... The power to consent to the disclosure of confidential information, other
2than health information, about the child(ren)
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