49.27(10)(b)1.1. Each county department under
s. 46.215,
46.22 or
46.23 entering into a contract with the department under
par. (a) shall establish a community steering committee instead of an employment and training council under
s. 49.193 (10). The chairperson and the other members of the community steering committee shall be appointed by the county executive or county administrator in the pilot county or, if the pilot county has no county executive or county administrator, by the chairperson of the county board of supervisors. The appointments shall be made in consultation with the department. The community steering committee shall have at least 12 members but not more than 15 members. The chairperson of the community steering committee shall be a person who represents business interests.
49.27(10)(b)2.
2. The community steering committee shall do all of the following:
49.27(10)(b)2.b.
b. Identify and encourage employers to provide permanent jobs for persons who are subject to the employment and training program described in
sub. (5).
49.27(10)(b)2.c.
c. Create and encourage others to create subsidized jobs for persons who are subject to the employment and training program described in
sub. (5).
49.27(10)(b)2.d.
d. Create and encourage others to create on-the-job training sites for persons who are subject to the employment and training program described in
sub. (5).
49.27(10)(b)2.e.
e. Foster and guide the entrepreneurial efforts of persons who are subject to the employment and training program described in
sub. (5).
49.27(10)(b)2.f.
f. Provide mentors, both from its membership and from recruitment of members of the community, to provide job-related guidance, including assistance in resolving job-related issues and the provision of job leads or references, to persons who are subject to the requirements of the employment and training program described in
sub. (5).
49.27(10)(c)
(c)
Children's services network. Each county department under
s. 46.215,
46.22 or
46.23 entering into a contract with the department under
par. (a) shall establish a children's services network. The children's services network shall provide information about community resources available to the children in a work-not-welfare group during the work-not-welfare group's benefit period and the work-not-welfare group's period of ineligibility under
sub. (4) (f), including charitable food and clothing centers; the state supplemental food program for women, infants and children under
s. 253.06; and child care programs under s.
49.132, 1995 stats.
49.27(10)(d)1.1. The county department under
s. 46.215,
46.22 or
46.23 administering a work-not-welfare pilot program under this section shall assign each work-not-welfare group to a case management team. The case management team shall be composed of case managers representing the income maintenance, job opportunities and basic skills, child care and child support components of the work-not-welfare pilot program under this section.
49.27(10)(d)2.
2. During the month beginning with the work-not-welfare group's enrollment date, the county department under
s. 46.215,
46.22 or
46.23 shall provide work-not-welfare group members with orientation services. The services shall include provision of oral and written explanations of the limitations on the benefits described under this section and of the participation requirements for the employment and training program described in
sub. (5). As a condition of receiving benefits under this section, adult work-not-welfare group members may be required to sign a statement, which may be referred to as an "Independence Pact", indicating that they received a copy of the written explanation of benefits and understand the employment and training requirements and the time-limited benefits of the work-not-welfare pilot program under this section. The orientation services shall also include the provision of a benefit account book, in which the case management team will indicate the remaining number of months of eligibility for cash and transitional benefits under this section.
49.27(10)(d)3.
3. To the extent that assignments are available, the case management team shall assign to persons who are subject to the employment and training requirements described in
sub. (5) an employment or training assignment that enables the person to fulfill the participation requirements described in
sub. (5) (d). To the extent that funding for child care is available, the case management team shall also assist persons who are subject to the employment and training program described in
sub. (5) in obtaining child care services.
49.27(10)(e)
(e)
Child support assistance. From the appropriation under
s. 20.445 (3) (cb), the department may provide funds to pilot counties for assistance in establishing paternity and obtaining child support.
49.27(11)
(11) Administration in nonpilot counties. A county department under
s. 46.215,
46.22 or
46.23 in a nonpilot county may not pay aid to families with dependent children benefits under
s. 49.19 to any person in a work-not-welfare group, except as provided in this subsection. With respect to persons in a work-not-welfare group residing in a nonpilot county, the county department in the nonpilot county shall do all of the following:
49.27(11)(a)
(a) Determine the eligibility of a work-not-welfare group member for aid to families with dependent children under
s. 49.19 without regard to
sub. (4) (b).
49.27(11)(b)
(b) Determine the amount of aid to families with dependent children under
s. 49.19 without regard to
sub. (4) (c).
49.27(11)(d)
(d) Adjust aid to families with dependent children and food stamp benefits without regard to
sub. (4) (d).
49.27(11)(e)
(e) Apply the limitations contained in
sub. (4) (e) to
(g) to aid to families with dependent children payments under
s. 49.19.
49.27(11)(g)
(g) Administer the job opportunities and basic skills program under
s. 49.193 and the food stamp employment and training program under
s. 49.124 (1m) without regard to any of the provisions in
sub. (5), including the hours-of-participation requirement under
sub. (5) (d) and the sanctions provisions under
sub. (5) (f).
49.27(11)(i)
(i) Provide transitional child care services under
sub. (6) and shelter payments under
sub. (7).
49.27(12)
(12) Evaluation. If the work-not-welfare program under this section is conducted, the department shall enter into a contract with a public or private agency for the preparation of evaluations of the work-not-welfare program under this section. These evaluations shall include an implementation evaluation, an outcome evaluation and an impact evaluation.
49.27(13)
(13) Sunset. Beginning on January 1, 1999, or beginning on the first day of the 6th month beginning after the date stated in the notice under
s. 49.141 (2) (d), whichever is sooner, no person is eligible to receive benefits under this section and no aid may be granted under this section. No additional notice, other than enactment of this subsection, is required to be given to recipients of aid under this section to terminate their benefits under this subsection.
49.275
49.275
Cooperation with federal government. The department may cooperate with the federal government in carrying out federal acts concerning public assistance under this subchapter and in other matters of mutual concern under this subchapter pertaining to public welfare.
49.275 History
History: 1995 a. 27.
49.29
49.29
Loss of eligibility. If a court finds or it is determined after an administrative hearing that meets the requirements in regulations of the federal department of health and human services under
42 USC 616 (b) that an individual who is a member of a family applying for or receiving aid under
s. 49.19, for the purpose of establishing or maintaining eligibility for aid under
s. 49.19 or of increasing the amount of aid received under
s. 49.19, intentionally made a false or misleading statement, intentionally misrepresented or withheld facts or committed an act intended to mislead or to misrepresent or withhold facts, the department shall consider the income and assets of the person but shall remove the needs of the person in determining the amount of any payment made to the person's family under
s. 49.19 as follows:
49.29(1)
(1) Upon the first occurrence, for 6 months.
49.29(2)
(2) Upon the 2nd occurrence, for one year.
49.29(3)
(3) Upon the 3rd occurrence, permanently.
49.30
49.30
Funeral expenses. 49.30(1)(1) Except as provided in
sub. (1m), if any recipient of benefits under
s. 49.148,
49.46 or
49.77, or under
42 USC 1381 to
1385 in effect on May 8, 1980, dies and the estate of the deceased recipient is insufficient to pay the funeral, burial and cemetery expenses of the deceased recipient, the county or applicable tribal governing body or organization responsible for burial of the recipient shall pay, to the person designated by the 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:
49.30(1)(a)
(a) The lesser of $1,000 or the cemetery expenses that are not paid by the estate of the deceased and other persons.
49.30(1)(b)
(b) The lesser of $1,000 or the funeral and burial expenses not paid by the estate of the deceased and other persons.
49.30(1m)(a)(a) If the total cemetery expenses for the recipient exceed $3,500, the 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).
49.30(1m)(b)
(b) If the total funeral and burial expenses for the recipient exceed $3,500, the 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).
49.30(2)
(2) From the appropriation under
s. 20.445 (3) (dz), the department shall reimburse a county or applicable tribal governing body or organization for any amount that the county or applicable tribal governing body or organization is required to pay under
sub. (1). From the appropriation under
s. 20.445 (3) (dz), the department shall reimburse a county or applicable tribal governing body or organization for cemetery expenses or for funeral and burial expenses for persons described under
sub. (1) that the county or applicable tribal governing body or organization is not required to pay under
subs. (1) and
(1m) only if the department approves the reimbursement due to unusual circumstances.
49.30 Annotation
A cement grave liner will be considered a funeral and burial expense or a cemetery expense depending on who provides the liner; a liner provided by a funeral home constitutes a funeral and burial expense subject to the statutory payment limit.
79 Atty. Gen. 164.
49.32
49.32
Department; powers and duties. 49.32(1)
(1)
Uniform fee schedule, liability and collections. 49.32(1)(a)(a) The department shall establish a uniform system of fees for services provided or purchased under this subchapter by the department, or a county department under
s. 46.215,
46.22 or
46.23, except as provided in
s. 49.22 (6) and except where, as determined by the department, a fee is administratively unfeasible or would significantly prevent accomplishing the purpose of the service. A county department under
s. 46.215,
46.22 or
46.23 shall apply the fees which it collects under this program to cover the cost of such services.
49.32(1)(b)
(b) Any person receiving services provided or purchased under
par. (a) or the spouse of the person and, in the case of a minor, the parents of the person, and, in the case of a foreign child described in
s. 48.839 (1) who became dependent on public funds for his or her primary support before an order granting his or her adoption, the resident of this state appointed guardian of the child by a foreign court who brought the child into this state for the purpose of adoption, shall be liable for the services in the amount of the fee established under
par. (a).
49.32(1)(c)
(c) The department shall make collections from the person who in the opinion of the department is best able to pay, giving due regard to the present needs of the person or of his or her lawful dependents. The department may bring an action in the name of the department to enforce the liability established under
par. (b).
49.32(1)(d)
(d) The department may compromise or waive all or part of the liability for services received. The sworn statement of the secretary shall be evidence of the services provided and the fees charged for the services.
49.32(1)(e)
(e) The department may delegate to county departments under
s. 46.215,
46.22 or
46.23 and other providers of care and services the powers and duties vested in the department by
pars. (c) and
(d) as it considers necessary to efficiently administer this subsection, subject to such conditions as the department considers appropriate.
49.32(1)(g)
(g) The department shall return to county departments under
s. 46.215,
46.22 or
46.23 50% of collections made by the department for delinquent accounts previously delegated under
par. (e) and then referred back to the department for collections.
49.32(2)(a)(a) The department may make payments directly to recipients of public assistance or to such persons authorized to receive such payments in accordance with law and rules of the department on behalf of the counties. The department may charge the counties for the cost of operating public assistance systems which make such payments.
49.32(2)(b)
(b) The department may make social services payments directly to recipients, vendors or providers in accordance with law and rules of the department on behalf of the counties which have contracts to have such payments made on their behalf.
49.32(2)(c)
(c) A county department under
s. 46.215,
46.22 or
46.23 shall provide the department with information which the department shall use to determine each person's eligibility and amount of payment. A county department under
s. 46.215,
46.22 or
46.23 shall provide the department all necessary information in the manner prescribed by the department.
49.32(2)(d)
(d) The department shall disburse from state or federal funds or both the entire amount and charge the county for its share under
s. 49.33 (8) and
(9).
49.32(3)
(3) Uniform manual. The department shall adopt policies and procedures and a uniform county policy and procedure manual to minimize unnecessary variations between counties in the administration of the aid to families with dependent children program. The department shall also require each county to use the manual in the administration of the program.
49.32(4)
(4) Employment of aid recipients. The department shall assist state agencies in efforts under
s. 230.147 to employ recipients of aid under
s. 49.19.
49.32(5)
(5) Employment and training and education manual. The department shall produce a manual describing employment and training and education programs for which recipients of public assistance benefits under this subchapter may qualify. The department shall distribute the manual, free of charge, to each county department under
s. 46.215,
46.22 or
46.23.
49.32(6)
(6) Welfare reform studies. The department shall request proposals from persons in this state for studies of the effectiveness of various program changes, referred to as welfare reform, to the aid to families with dependent children program, including the requirement that certain recipients of aid to families with dependent children with children under age 6 participate in training programs, the learnfare school attendance requirement under
s. 49.26 (1) (g) and the modification of the earned income disregard under
s. 49.19 (5) (am). The studies shall evaluate the effectiveness of the various efforts, including their cost-effectiveness, in helping individuals gain independence through the securing of jobs and providing financial incentives and in identifying barriers to independence.
49.32(7)(a)(a) The department shall conduct a program to periodically verify the eligibility of recipients of aid to families with dependent children under
s. 49.19 and of participants in Wisconsin works under
ss. 49.141 to
49.161 through a check of school enrollment records of local school boards as provided in
s. 118.125 (2) (i).
49.32(7)(b)
(b) The department shall conduct a program to periodically match records of recipients of medical assistance under
s. 49.46,
49.468 or
49.47, aid to families with dependent children under
s. 49.19 and the food stamp program under
7 USC 2011 to
2029 with the records of recipients under those programs in other states. If an agreement with the other states can be obtained, matches with records of states contiguous to this state shall be conducted at least annually.
49.32(7)(c)
(c) The department shall conduct a program to periodically match the address records of recipients of medical assistance under
s. 49.46,
49.468 or
49.47, aid to families with dependent children under
s. 49.19 and the food stamp program under
7 USC 2011 to
2029 to verify residency and to identify recipients receiving duplicate or fraudulent payments.
49.32(7)(d)
(d) The department, with assistance from the department of corrections, shall conduct a program to periodically match the records of persons confined in state correctional facilities with the records of recipients of medical assistance under
s. 49.46,
49.468 or
49.47, aid to families with dependent children under
s. 49.19 and the food stamp program under
7 USC 2011 to
2029 to identify recipients who may be ineligible for benefits.
49.32(8)
(8) Periodic earnings check by department. The department shall make a periodic check of the amounts earned by recipients of aid to families with dependent children under
s. 49.19 and by participants under Wisconsin works under
ss. 49.141 to
49.161 through a check of the amounts credited to the recipient's social security number. The department shall make an investigation into any discrepancy between the amounts credited to a social security number and amounts reported as income on the declaration application and take appropriate action under
s. 49.95 when warranted. The department shall use the state wage reporting system under
1985 Wisconsin Act 17, section 65 (1), when the system is implemented, to make periodic earnings checks.
49.32(9)
(9) Monthly reports of recipients of aid to families with dependent children. 49.32(9)(a)(a) Each county department under
s. 46.215,
46.22 or
46.23 administering aid to families with dependent children shall maintain a monthly report at its office showing the names of all persons receiving aid to families with dependent children together with the amount paid during the preceding month. Each Wisconsin works agency administering Wisconsin works under
ss. 49.141 to
49.161 shall maintain a monthly report at its office showing the names of all persons receiving benefits under
s. 49.148 together with the amount paid during the preceding month. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to authorize or require the disclosure in the report of any information (names, amounts of aid or otherwise) pertaining to adoptions, or aid furnished for the care of children in foster homes or treatment foster homes under
s. 46.261 or
49.19 (10).
49.32(9)(b)
(b) The report under
par. (a) shall be open to public inspection at all times during regular office hours and may be destroyed after the next succeeding report becomes available. Any person except any public officer, seeking permission to inspect such report shall be required to prove his or her identity and to sign a statement setting forth his or her address and the reasons for making the request and indicating that he or she understands the provisions of
par. (c) with respect to the use of the information obtained. The use of a fictitious name is a violation of this section. Within 7 days after the record is inspected, or on the next regularly scheduled communication with that person, whichever is sooner, the county department or Wisconsin works agency shall notify each person whose name and amount of aid was inspected that the record was inspected and of the name and address of the person making such inspection. County departments under
ss. 46.215,
46.22 and
46.23 administering aid to families with dependent children and Wisconsin works agencies administering Wisconsin works under
ss. 49.141 to
49.161 may withhold the right to inspect the name of and amount paid to recipients from private individuals who are not inspecting this information for purposes related to public, educational, organizational, governmental or research purposes until the person whose record is to be inspected is notified by the county department or Wisconsin works agency, but in no case may the county department or Wisconsin works agency withhold this information for more than 5 working days. The county department or Wisconsin works agency shall keep a record of such requests. The record shall indicate the name, address, employer and telephone number of the person making the request. If the person refuses to provide his or her name, address, employer and telephone number, the request to inspect this information may be denied.
49.32(9)(c)
(c) It is unlawful to use any information obtained through access to such report for political or commercial purposes. The violation of this provision is punishable upon conviction as provided in
s. 49.83.
49.32(10)
(10) Release of information to law enforcement officers. 49.32(10)(a)(a) Each county department under
s. 46.215,
46.22 or
46.23 may release the current address of a recipient of food stamps or of aid under
s. 49.19, and each Wisconsin works agency may release the current address of a participant in Wisconsin works under
ss. 49.141 to
49.161 or, if administering the food stamp program, of a food stamp recipient, to a law enforcement officer if the officer meets all of the following conditions:
49.32(10)(a)1.
1. The officer provides, in writing, the name of the recipient or participant.
49.32(10)(a)2.
2. The officer satisfactorily demonstrates, in writing, all of the following:
49.32(10)(a)2.a.
a. That the recipient or participant is a fugitive felon under
42 USC 608 (a) (9), is violating a condition of probation, extended supervision or parole imposed under state or federal law or has information that is necessary for the officer to conduct the official duties of the officer.
49.32(10)(a)2.b.
b. That the location or apprehension of the recipient or participant under
subd. 2. a. is within the official duties of the officer.
49.32(10)(a)2.c.
c. That the officer is making the request in the proper exercise of his or her duties under
subd. 2. b.
49.32(10)(b)
(b) If a law enforcement officer believes, on reasonable grounds, that a warrant has been issued and is outstanding for the arrest of a Wisconsin works participant, the law enforcement officer may request that a law enforcement officer be notified when the participant appears to obtain his or her benefits under the Wisconsin works program. At the request of a law enforcement officer under this paragraph, an employe of a Wisconsin works agency who disburses benefits may notify a law enforcement officer when the participant appears to obtain Wisconsin works benefits.
49.32(10m)
(10m) Release of addresses of recipients involved in legal proceedings. 49.32(10m)(a)(a) A county department, relief agency under
s. 49.01 (3m) or Wisconsin works agency shall, upon request, and after providing the notice to the recipient required by this paragraph, release the current address of a recipient of relief under
s. 49.01 (3), aid to families with dependent children or benefits under
s. 49.148 to a person, the person's attorney or an employe or agent of that attorney, if the person is a party to a legal action or proceeding in which the recipient is a party or a witness, unless the person is a respondent in an action commenced by the recipient under
s. 813.12,
813.122,
813.123,
813.125 or
813.127. If the person is a respondent in an action commenced by the recipient under
s. 813.12,
813.122,
813.123,
813.125 or
813.127, the county department, relief agency or Wisconsin works agency may not release the current address of the recipient. No county department, relief agency or Wisconsin works agency may release an address under this paragraph until 21 days after the address has been requested. A person requesting an address under this paragraph shall be required to prove his or her identity and his or her participation as a party in a legal action or proceeding in which the recipient is a party or a witness by presenting a copy of the pleading or a copy of the subpoena for the witness. The person shall also be required to sign a statement setting forth his or her name, address and the reasons for making the request and indicating that he or she understands the provisions of
par. (b) with respect to the use of the information obtained. The statement shall be made on a form prescribed by the department and shall be sworn and notarized. Within 7 days after an address has been requested under this paragraph, the county department, relief agency or Wisconsin works agency shall mail to each recipient whose address has been requested a notification of that fact on a form prescribed by the department. The form shall also include the date on which the address was requested, the name and address of the person who requested the disclosure of the address, the reason that the address was requested and a statement that the address will be released to the person who requested the address no sooner than 21 days after the date on which the request for the address was made. County departments, relief agencies and Wisconsin works agencies shall keep a record of each request for an address under this paragraph.
49.32(10m)(b)
(b) No person may use an address obtained under this subsection for a purpose that is not connected with the legal action or proceeding to which the person requesting the address is a party. No person may use an address obtained under this subsection for political or commercial purposes. No person may request an address under
par. (a) using a fictitious name. Any person who violates this paragraph is subject to the penalties under
s. 49.83.
49.32(11)
(11) Community action agencies. The department shall distribute all of the funds under
s. 20.445 (3) (cr) to community action agencies and organizations, including any of the 11 federally recognized tribal governing bodies in this state and limited-purpose agencies, in proportion to the share of funds actually allocated to these entities under
42 USC 1315 and from other federal and private foundation sources that provide funds for job creation and development for individuals with low incomes.
49.32(12)
(12) Administrative hearings and appeals. Any hearing under
s. 227.42 granted by the department under this subchapter may be conducted before the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration.
49.32 History
History: 1995 a. 27 ss.
2035 to
2037,
2276d,
2805 to
2809,
2927 to
2930,
3146 to
3149;
1995 a. 289,
361,
370,
404;
1997 a. 27,
35,
237,
252,
283.
49.325
49.325
County department budgets and contracts. 49.325(1)(a)(a) Each county department under
s. 46.215,
46.22 or
46.23 shall submit its final budget for services directly provided or purchased under this subchapter to the department by December 31 annually.
