SB18: Bill Text

Note: Updates language regarding disclosures by parents.

SB18,116 Section 116. 48.981 (7) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7g) (c) and amended to read:

SB18,40,8 48.981 (7g) (c) Authorization of subject. Notwithstanding par. (a), the The subject of a report may authorize the disclosure of a record to the subject's attorney. The authorization shall be in writing. Any information that would identify a reporter shall be deleted before disclosure of a record under this paragraph.

SB18,117 Section 117. 48.981 (7) (cm) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7g) (cm) and amended to read:

SB18,40,13 48.981 (7g) (cm) Abuse or harassment restraining order proceedings. Notwithstanding par. (a), an An agency may disclose information from its records for use in proceedings under s. 48.25 (6), 813.122, or 813.125.

SB18,118 Section 118. 48.981 (7) (cr) 1. (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7m) (a) (intro.) and amended to read:

SB18,40,16 48.981 (7m) (a) Definitions. (intro.) In this paragraph subsection:

SB18,119 Section 119. 48.981 (7) (cr) 1. a. and b. of the statutes are renumbered 48.981 (7m) (a) 1. and 2.

SB18,120 Section 120. 48.981 (7) (cr) 2. (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7m) (b) (intro.) and amended to read:

SB18,41,3 48.981 (7m) (b) Information to department. (intro.) Notwithstanding par. (a) sub. (7), if an agency that receives a report under sub. (3) has reason to suspect that an incident of death or serious injury or an incident of egregious abuse or neglect has occurred, within 2 working days after determining that such an incident is suspected to have occurred the agency shall provide all of the following information to the subunit of the department responsible for statewide oversight of child abuse and neglect programs:

SB18,121 Section 121. 48.981 (7) (cr) 2. a. to f. of the statutes are renumbered 48.981 (7m) (b) 1. to 6.

SB18,122 Section 122. 48.981 (7) (cr) 3. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7m) (c) and amended to read:

SB18,41,20 48.981 (7m) (c) Disclosure of information to public; summary report. 1. Within 2 working days after receiving the information provided under subd. 2. par. (b), the subunit of the department that received the information shall disclose to the public the fact that the subunit has received the information; whether the department is conducting a review of the incident and, if so, the scope of the review and the identities of any other agencies with which the department is cooperating at that point in conducting the review; whether the child was residing in the home or was placed in an out-of-home placement at the time of the incident; and information about the child, including the age of the child. If the information received is about an incident of egregious abuse or neglect, the subunit of the department shall make the same disclosure to a citizen review panel, as described in par. (a) 15g. sub. (7d) (pg), and, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, to the Milwaukee child welfare partnership council.

SB18,42,14 2. Within 90 days after receiving the information provided under subd. 2. par. (b), the subunit of the department that received the information shall prepare, transmit to the governor and to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3), and make available to the public a summary report that contains the information specified in subd. 4. or 5. par. (d) or (e), whichever is applicable. That subunit may also include in the summary report a summary of any actions taken by the agency in response to the incident and of any changes in policies or practices that have been made to address any issues raised in the review and recommendations for any further changes in policies, practices, rules, or statutes that may be needed to address those issues. If the subunit does not include those actions or changes and recommended changes in the summary report, the subunit shall prepare, transmit to the governor and to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3), and make available to the public a report of those actions or changes and recommended changes within 6 months after receiving the information provided under subd. 2. par. (b). Those committees shall review all summary reports and reports of changes and recommended changes transmitted under this subd. 3. b. subdivision, conduct public hearings on those reports no less often than annually, and submit recommendations to the department regarding those reports.

SB18,42,25 3. Subdivision 3. a. and b. does Subdivisions 1. and 2. do not preclude the subunit of the department that prepares the summary report from releasing to the governor, to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3), or to the public any of the information specified in subd. 4. or 5. par. (d) or (e) before the summary report is transmitted to the governor and to those committees and made available to the public; adding to or amending a summary report if new information specified in subd. 4. or 5. par. (d) or (e) is received after the summary report is transmitted to the governor and to those committees and made available to the public; or releasing to the governor, to those committees, and to the public any information at any time to correct any inaccurate information reported in the news media.

SB18,123 Section 123. 48.981 (7) (cr) 4. (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7m) (d) (intro.) and amended to read:

SB18,43,6 48.981 (7m) (d) Summary report; child residing in home. (intro.) If the child was residing in his or her home when the incident of death or serious injury or the incident of egregious abuse or neglect occurred, the summary report under subd. 3. par. (c) 2. shall contain all of the following:

SB18,124 Section 124. 48.981 (7) (cr) 4. a. to d. of the statutes are renumbered 48.981 (7m) (d) 1. to 4.

SB18,125 Section 125. 48.981 (7) (cr) 4. e. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7m) (d) 5. and amended to read:

SB18,43,13 48.981 (7m) (d) 5. The date of the incident and the suspected cause of the death, serious injury, or egregious abuse or neglect of the child, as reported by the agency under subd. 2. c. par. (b) 3.

SB18,126 Section 126. 48.981 (7) (cr) 4. f. and g. of the statutes are renumbered 48.981 (7m) (d) 6. and 7.

SB18,127 Section 127. 48.981 (7) (cr) 5. (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7m) (e) (intro.) and amended to read:

SB18,43,21 48.981 (7m) (e) Summary report; child in out-of-home care. (intro.) If the child was placed in an out-of-home placement under this chapter or ch. 938 at the time of the incident of death or serious injury or incident of egregious abuse or neglect, the summary report under subd. 3. par. (c) 2. shall contain all of the following:

SB18,128 Section 128. 48.981 (7) (cr) 5. a. to d. of the statutes are renumbered 48.981 (7m) (e) 1. to 4.

SB18,129 Section 129. 48.981 (7) (cr) 5. e. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7m) (e) 5. and amended to read:

SB18,44,3 48.981 (7m) (e) 5. The date of the incident and the suspected cause of the death, serious injury, or egregious abuse or neglect of the child, as reported by the agency under subd. 2. c. par. (b) 3.

SB18,130 Section 130. 48.981 (7) (cr) 5. f. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7m) (e) 6.

SB18,131 Section 131. 48.981 (7) (cr) 6. (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7m) (f) (intro.) and amended to read:

SB18,44,10 48.981 (7m) (f) Information prohibited from disclosure. (intro.) A summary report or other release or disclosure of information under subd. 3. par. (c) may not include any of the following:

SB18,132 Section 132. 48.981 (7) (cr) 6. a. to e. of the statutes are renumbered 48.981 (7m) (f) 1. to 5.

SB18,133 Section 133. 48.981 (7) (cr) 7. (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7m) (g) (intro.) and amended to read:

SB18,44,23 48.981 (7m) (g) Disclosure of information; when prohibited. (intro.) The subunit of the department that prepares a summary report or otherwise transmits, releases, or discloses information under subd. 3. par. (c) may not transmit the summary report to the governor and to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3), make the summary report available to the public, or transmit, release, or disclose the information to the governor, to those standing committees, or to the public if the subunit determines that transmitting or making the summary report available or transmitting, releasing, or disclosing the information would jeopardize any of the following:

SB18,134 Section 134. 48.981 (7) (cr) 7. a. and b. of the statutes are renumbered 48.981 (7m) (g) 1. and 2.

SB18,135 Section 135. 48.981 (7) (cr) 8. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7m) (h) and amended to read:

SB18,45,15 48.981 (7m) (h) Request or petition for information. If the department fails to disclose to the governor, to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3), or to the public any information that the department is required to disclose under this paragraph subsection, any person may request the department to disclose that information. If the person's request is denied, the person may petition the court to order the disclosure of that information. On receiving a petition under this subdivision paragraph, the court shall notify the department, the agency, the district attorney, the child, and the child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian of the petition. If any person notified objects to the disclosure, the court may hold a hearing to take evidence and hear argument relating to the disclosure of the information. The court shall make an in camera inspection of the information sought to be disclosed and shall order disclosure of the information, unless the court finds that any of the circumstances specified in subd. 6. or 7. par. (f) or (g) apply.

SB18,136 Section 136. 48.981 (7) (cr) 9. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7m) (i) and amended to read:

SB18,46,2 48.981 (7m) (i) Immunity from liability. Any person acting in good faith in providing information under subd. 2. par. (b), in preparing, transmitting, or making available a summary report under subd. 3. par. (c), or in otherwise transmitting, releasing, or disclosing information under subd. 3. par. (c), is immune from any liability, civil or criminal, that may result by reason of those actions. For purposes of any proceeding, civil or criminal, the good faith of a person in providing information under subd. 2. par. (b), in preparing, transmitting, or making available a summary report under subd. 3. par. (c), or in otherwise transmitting, releasing, or disclosing information under subd. 3. par. (c) shall be presumed.

SB18,137 Section 137. 48.981 (7) (d) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7g) (d) and amended to read:

SB18,46,7 48.981 (7g) (d) Access by department. Notwithstanding par. (a), An agency shall permit the department may to have access to any report or record maintained by an the agency under this section.

SB18,138 Section 138. 48.981 (7) (dm) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7g) (dm) and amended to read:

SB18,46,13 48.981 (7g) (dm) Statewide automated child welfare information system. Notwithstanding par. (a), an An agency may enter the content of any report or record maintained by the agency into the statewide automated child welfare information system established under s. 48.47 (7g).

SB18,139 Section 139. 48.981 (7) (e) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7r) (a) and amended to read:

SB18,46,19 48.981 (7r) (a) Further disclosure prohibited. A person to whom a report or record is disclosed under this subsection sub. (3f) (c), (7d), (7g), or (7m) may not further disclose it the report or record, except to the persons and for the purposes specified in this section those provisions.

SB18,140 Section 140. 48.981 (7) (f) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7r) (b) and amended to read:

SB18,46,25 48.981 (7r) (b) Penalty. Any person who violates this subsection sub. (7), (7d), (7g), or (7m), or who permits or encourages the unauthorized dissemination or use of information contained in reports and records made under this section, may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both.

SB18,141 Section 141. 48.981 (7d) (intro.) of the statutes is created to read:

SB18,47,4 48.981 (7d) Confidentiality; exceptions. (intro.) Notwithstanding sub. (7), reports made under this section and records maintained by an agency or by any other person may be disclosed to any of the following persons:

Note: Creates new introductory text for the subsection authorizing exceptions to the general requirement that reports be kept confidential.

SB18,142 Section 142. 48.981 (7d) (a) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB18,47,6 48.981 (7d) (a) (title) Subject of report.

SB18,143 Section 143. 48.981 (7d) (b) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB18,47,8 48.981 (7d) (b) (title) Agency staff.

SB18,144 Section 144. 48.981 (7d) (c) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB18,47,10 48.981 (7d) (c) (title) Attending physician.

SB18,145 Section 145. 48.981 (7d) (cm) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB18,47,12 48.981 (7d) (cm) (title) Parent, guardian, legal custodian, or expectant mother.

SB18,146 Section 146. 48.981 (7d) (dp) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB18,47,14 48.981 (7d) (dp) (title) Adoption or foster home licensing agency.

SB18,147 Section 147. 48.981 (7d) (hm) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB18,47,16 48.981 (7d) (hm) (title) Correctional community placements.

SB18,148 Section 148. 48.981 (7d) (i) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB18,47,18 48.981 (7d) (i) (title) Facility licensing proceedings.

SB18,149 Section 149. 48.981 (7d) (Lr) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB18,47,20 48.981 (7d) (Lr) (title) Court-appointed special advocate.

SB18,150 Section 150. 48.981 (7d) (m) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB18,47,22 48.981 (7d) (m) (title) Researcher.

SB18,151 Section 151. 48.981 (7d) (om) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB18,48,1 48.981 (7d) (om) (title) John Doe proceeding.

SB18,152 Section 152. 48.981 (7d) (pg) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB18,48,3 48.981 (7d) (pg) (title) Citizen review panel.

SB18,153 Section 153. 48.981 (7g) (intro.) of the statutes is created to read:

SB18,48,7 48.981 (7g) Confidentiality; further exceptions. (intro.) Notwithstanding sub. (7), reports made under this section and records maintained by an agency or by any other person may also be disclosed as follows:

Note: Creates new introductory text for the subsection providing further exceptions to the general confidentiality requirement.

SB18,154 Section 154. 48.981 (7m) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB18,48,10 48.981 (7m) (title) Death, serious injury, or other egregious incidents; public disclosure.

SB18,155 Section 155. 48.981 (7r) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB18,48,12 48.981 (7r) (title) Further disclosure prohibited; penalties.

SB18,156 Section 156. 48.981 (8) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB18,49,12 48.981 (8) (a) Education and training programs. The department, the county departments, and a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department in a county having a population of 500,000 or more to To the extent feasible, agencies shall conduct continuing education and training programs for staff of the department, the county departments, licensed child welfare agencies under contract with the department or a county department, agency staff, staff of law enforcement agencies, and the tribal social services departments, persons and officials required to report, the general public, and others as appropriate and shall develop public information programs about child abuse and neglect and unborn child abuse. The programs shall be designed to encourage reporting of child abuse and neglect and of unborn child abuse, to encourage self-reporting and voluntary acceptance of services, and to improve communication, cooperation, and coordination in the identification, prevention, and treatment of child abuse and neglect and of unborn child abuse. Programs provided for agency staff of the department, county departments, and licensed child welfare agencies under contract with county departments or the department whose responsibilities include the investigation or treatment of child abuse or neglect shall also be designed to provide information on means of recognizing and appropriately responding to domestic abuse, as defined in s. 49.165 (1) (a). The department, the county departments, and a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department in a county having a population of 500,000 or more shall develop public information programs about child abuse and neglect and about unborn child abuse.

Note: Updates language in a provision relating to education and training.

SB18,157 Section 157. 48.981 (8) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB18,49,21 48.981 (8) (b) Program development and coordination. The department shall to To the extent feasible, the department shall ensure that there are available in the state administrative procedures, personnel trained in child abuse and neglect and in unborn child abuse, multidisciplinary programs, and operational procedures and capabilities to deal effectively with child abuse and neglect cases and with unborn child abuse cases. These procedures and capabilities may include, but are not limited to, receipt, investigation and verification of reports; determination of treatment or ameliorative social services; or referral to the appropriate court.

Note: Updates language in a provision regarding DCF's responsibilities for procedures and personnel.

SB18,158 Section 158. 48.981 (8) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB18,50,8 48.981 (8) (c) Contracting for programming. In meeting its responsibilities under par. (a) or (b), the department, a county department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department in a county having a population of 500,000 or more an agency may contract with any public or private organization which that meets the standards set by the department. In entering into the contracts the department, county department or licensed child welfare an agency shall give priority to parental organizations combating child abuse and neglect or unborn child abuse.

SB18,159 Section 159. 48.981 (8) (d) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB18,50,10 48.981 (8) (d) (title) Staff training required.

SB18,160 Section 160. 48.981 (9) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB18,51,2 48.981 (9) (b) 1. Within 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter, the department shall prepare and transmit to the governor, and to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3), a summary report of all reports received by the department under sub. (3) (c) 8. (3g) (h) 3. during the previous calendar quarter of abuse, as defined in s. 48.02 (1) (b) to (f), of a child who is placed in the home of a foster parent or relative other than a parent or in a group home, shelter care facility, or residential care center for children and youth. For each report included in the summary report the department shall provide the number of incidents of abuse reported; the dates of those incidents; the county in which those incidents occurred; the age or age group of the child who is the subject of the report; the type of placement in which the child was placed at the time of the incident; whether it was determined under sub. (3) (c) 4. (3g) (d) that abuse occurred; and, if so, the nature of the relationship between the child and the person who abused the child, but may not provide any of the information specified in sub. (7) (cr) 6. (7m) (f) or any information that would jeopardize an investigation, prosecution, or proceeding described in sub. (7) (cr) 7. a. or b. (7m) (g) 1. or 2.