Effective date text
(ag) Notwithstanding s. 111.335, and except as provided in sub. (5), an entity may not employ or contract with a person who will be under the entity's control, as defined by the department by rule, and who has, or is expected to have, access to its clients, or permit to reside at the entity a person who is not a client and who has, or is expected to have, access to a client, if the entity knows or should have known any of the following:
50.065(2)(ag)2.
2. That the person has pending against him or her a charge for a serious crime.
50.065(2)(ag)3.
3. That a unit of government or a state agency, as defined in
s. 16.61 (2) (d), has made a finding that the person has abused or neglected any client or misappropriated the property of any client.
50.065(2)(ag)5.
5. That, in the case of a position for which the person must be credentialed by the department of regulation and licensing, the person's credential is not current or is limited so as to restrict the person from providing adequate care to a client.
50.065(2)(am)
(am) Subject to
subd. 5. and
par. (bd), the department shall obtain all of the following with respect to a person specified under
par. (a) (intro.) and a person specified under
par. (ag) (intro.) who is a nonclient resident or prospective nonclient resident of an entity:
50.065(2)(am)1.
1. A criminal history search from the records maintained by the department of justice.
50.065(2)(am)3.
3. Information maintained by the department of regulation and licensing regarding the status of the person's credentials, if applicable.
50.065(2)(am)4.
4. Information maintained by the department regarding any substantiated reports of child abuse or neglect against the person.
50.065(2)(am)5.
5. Information maintained by the department under this section regarding any denial to the person of a license, certification, certificate of approval or registration or of a continuation of a license, certification, certificate of approval or registration to operate an entity for a reason specified in
par. (a) 1. to
5. and regarding any denial to the person of employment at, a contract with or permission to reside at an entity for a reason specified in
par. (ag) 1. to
5. If the information obtained under this subdivision indicates that the person has been denied a license, certification, certificate of approval or registration, continuation of a license, certification, certificate of approval or registration, a contract, employment or permission to reside as described in this subdivision, the department need not obtain the information specified in
subds. 1. to
4.
50.065(2)(b)1.1. Subject to
subds. 1. e. and
2. and
par. (bd), every entity shall obtain all of the following with respect to a person specified under
par. (ag) (intro.) who is an employe or contractor or a prospective employe or contractor of the entity:
50.065(2)(b)1.a.
a. A criminal history search from the records maintained by the department of justice.
50.065(2)(b)1.c.
c. Information maintained by the department of regulation and licensing regarding the status of the person's credentials, if applicable.
50.065(2)(b)1.d.
d. Information maintained by the department regarding any substantiated reports of child abuse or neglect against the person.
50.065(2)(b)1.e.
e. Information maintained by the department under this section regarding any denial to the person of a license, certification, certificate of approval or registration or of a continuation of a license, certification, certificate of approval or registration to operate an entity for a reason specified in
par. (a) 1. to
5. and regarding any denial to the person of employment at, a contract with or permission to reside at an entity for a reason specified in
par. (ag) 1. to
5. If the information obtained under this
subd. 1. e. indicates that the person has been denied a license, certification, certificate of approval or registration, continuation of a license, certification, certificate of approval or registration, a contract, employment or permission to reside as described in this
subd. 1. e., the entity need not obtain the information specified in
subd. 1. a. to
d.
50.065(2)(b)2.
2. Subdivision 1. does not apply with respect to a person with whom the entity contracts or whom the entity employs to provide infrequent or sporadic services, including maintenance services and other services that are not directly related to the care of a client.
50.065(2)(bd)
(bd) Notwithstanding
pars. (am) and
(b) 1., the department is not required to obtain the information specified in
par. (am) 1. to
5., and an entity is not required to obtain the information specified in
par. (b) 1. a. to
e., with respect to a person under 18 years of age whose background information form under
sub. (6) (am) indicates that the person is not ineligible to be employed, contracted with or permitted to reside at an entity for a reason specified in
par. (ag) 1. to
5. and with respect to whom the department or entity otherwise has no reason to believe that the person is ineligible to be employed, contracted with or permitted to reside at an entity for any of those reasons. This paragraph does not preclude the department from obtaining, at its discretion, the information specified in
par. (am) 1. to
5. with respect to a person described in this paragraph who is a nonclient resident or a prospective nonclient resident of an entity.
50.065(2)(bg)
(bg) If an entity takes an action specified in
par. (ag) (intro.) with respect to an employe, prospective employe, contractor or prospective contractor for whom, within the last 4 years, the information required under
par. (b) 1. a. to
c. and
e. has already been obtained, either by another entity or by a temporary employment agency, the entity may obtain the information required under
par. (b) 1. a. to
c. and
e. from that other entity or temporary employment agency, which shall provide the information, if possible, to the entity. If an entity cannot obtain the information required under
par. (b) 1. a. to
c. and
e. from another entity or from a temporary employment agency or if an entity has reasonable grounds to believe that any information obtained from another entity or from a temporary employment agency is no longer accurate, the entity shall obtain that information from the sources specified in
par. (b) 1. a. to c and
e. 50.065(2)(bm)
(bm) If the person who is the subject of the search under
par. (am) or
(b) 1. is not a resident of this state, or if at any time within the 3 years preceding the date of the search that person has not been a resident of this state, the department or entity shall make a good faith effort to obtain from any state in which the person is a resident or was a resident within the 3 years preceding the date of the search information that is equivalent to the information specified in
par. (am) 1. or
(b) 1. a.
50.065(2)(c)
(c) If the background information form completed by a person under
sub. (6) (am) indicates that the person is not ineligible to be employed or contracted with for a reason specified in
par. (ag) 1. to
5., an entity may employ or contract with the person for not more than 60 days pending the receipt of the information sought under
par. (b) 1. If the background information form completed by a person under
sub. (6) (am) indicates that the person is not ineligible to be permitted to reside at an entity for a reason specified in
par. (ag) 1. to
5. and if an entity otherwise has no reason to believe that the person is ineligible to be permitted to reside at an entity for any of those reasons, the entity may permit the person to reside at the entity for not more than 60 days pending receipt of the information sought under
par. (am). An entity shall provide supervision for a person who is employed or contracted with or permitted to reside as permitted under this paragraph.
50.065(3)(a)(a) Every 4 years or at any time within that period that the department considers appropriate, the department shall request the information specified in
sub. (2) (am) 1. to
4. for all persons who are licensed to operate an entity and for all persons specified in
par. (ag) (intro.) [
sub. (2) (ag) (intro.)] who are nonclient residents of an entity.
50.065 Note
NOTE: The bracketed language indicates the correct cross-reference. Corrective legislation is pending.
50.065(3)(b)
(b) Every 4 years or at any other time within that period that an entity considers appropriate, the entity shall request the information specified in
sub. (2) (b) 1. a. to
d. for all persons specified in
sub. (2) (ag) (intro.) who are employes or contractors of the entity.
50.065(3m)
(3m) Notwithstanding
subs. (2) (b) 1. and
(3) (b), if the department obtains the information required under
sub. (2) (am) or
(3) (a) with respect to a person specified in
sub. (2) (a) (intro.) and that person is also an employe, contractor or nonclient resident of the entity, the entity is not required to obtain the information specified in
sub. (2) (b) 1. or
(3) (b) with respect to that person.
50.065(4)
(4) An entity that violates
sub. (2) or
(3) may be required to forfeit not more than $1,000 and may be subject to other sanctions specified by the department by rule.
50.065(5)
(5) The department may license, certify, issue a certificate of approval to or register to operate an entity a person who otherwise may not be licensed, certified, issued a certificate of approval or registered for a reason specified in
sub. (2) (a) 1. to
5., and an entity may employ, contract with or permit to reside at the entity a person who otherwise may not be employed, contracted with or permitted to reside at the entity for a reason specified in
sub. (2) (ag) 1. to
5., if the person demonstrates to the department by clear and convincing evidence and in accordance with procedures established by the department by rule that he or she has been rehabilitated. No person who has been convicted of any of the following offenses may be permitted to demonstrate that he or she has been rehabilitated:
50.065(5)(d)
(d) Second degree sexual assault of a child under
s. 948.02 (2) if the person was, at the time of the sexual contact or sexual intercourse, more than 4 years older than the child with whom the person had the sexual contact or sexual intercourse.
50.065(5)(e)
(e) Repeated acts of sexual assault of the same child under
s. 948.025 if the child had not attained the age of 13, or if the child had attained the age of 13 and had not attained the age of 16 and the person was, at the time of the sexual contact or sexual intercourse, more than 4 years older than the child with whom the person had the sexual contact or sexual intercourse.
50.065(5c)
(5c) Any person who is permitted but fails under
sub. (5) to demonstrate to the department that he or she has been rehabilitated may appeal to the secretary of health and family services or his or her designee. Any person who is adversely affected by a decision of the secretary or his or her designee under this subsection has a right to a contested case hearing under
ch. 227.
50.065(5g)
(5g) Beginning on January 1, 1999, and annually thereafter, the department shall submit a report to the legislature under
s. 13.172 (2) that specifies the number of persons in the previous year who have requested to demonstrate to the department that they have been rehabilitated under
sub. (5), the number of persons who successfully demonstrated that they have been rehabilitated under
sub. (5) and the reasons for the success or failure of a person who has attempted to demonstrate that he or she has been rehabilitated.
50.065(5m)
(5m) Notwithstanding
s. 111.335, the department may refuse to license, certify or register, or issue a certificate of approval to, a person to operate an entity, and an entity may refuse to employ, contract with or permit to reside at the entity a person specified in
sub. (2) (ag) (intro.), if the person has been convicted of an offense that the department has not defined as a "serious crime" by rule promulgated under
sub. (7) (a), or specified in the list established by rule under
sub. (7) (b), but that is, in the estimation of the department or entity, substantially related to the care of a client.
50.065(6)(a)(a) The department shall require any person who applies for issuance or continuation of a license, certification, certificate of approval or registration to operate an entity to complete a background information form that is provided by the department.
50.065(6)(am)
(am) Every 4 years an entity shall require all of the following persons to complete a background information form that is provided to the entity by the department:
50.065(6)(am)1.
1. A person who is an employe, prospective employe, contractor or prospective contractor of the entity, who will be under the entity's control and who has, or is expected to have, access to its clients, other than a person specified in
sub. (2) (b) 2.
50.065(6)(am)2.
2. A person who is a resident or prospective resident at the entity and who is not a client or prospective client of the entity, if the person has, or is expected to have, access to any client of the entity.
50.065(6)(b)
(b) For persons specified under
par. (a) who are licensed, issued a certificate of approval or certified by, or registered with, the department, for person specified in
par. (am) 2., and for other persons specified by the department by rule, the entity shall send the background information form to the department. For persons specified under
par. (am) 1., the entity shall maintain the background information form on file for inspection by the department.
50.065(6)(c)
(c) A person who provides false information on a background information form required under this subsection may be required to forfeit not more than $1,000 and may be subject to other sanctions specified by the department by rule.
50.065(7)
(7) The department shall do all of the following:
50.065(7)(a)
(a) Establish by rule a definition of "serious crime" for the purpose of this section. The definition shall include only crimes or acts that are substantially related to the care of a client. The definition shall also include those offenses specified in
sub. (5) (a) to
(e) and classes of crimes or acts involving abuse or neglect of a client or misappropriation of the property of a client for which no person who has committed any of those crimes or acts may be permitted to demonstrate under
sub. (5) that he or she has been rehabilitated.
50.065(7)(b)
(b) Establish by rule a list of crimes or acts that are not included in the definition established under
par. (a), that are substantially related to the care of clients and the commission of which warrants a less stringent measure than a bar on employment, residence or similar type of association with an entity. The rule shall be consistent with federal law and regulations and shall include a description of the measures to be taken for the crimes or acts that the department lists under this paragraph.
50.065(7)(c)
(c) Conduct throughout the state periodic training sessions that cover criminal background investigations; reporting and investigating misappropriation of property or abuse or neglect of a client; and any other material that will better enable entities to comply with the requirements of this section.
50.065(7)(d)
(d) Provide a background information form that requires the person completing the form to include his or her date of birth on the form.
50.065(8)
(8) The department may charge a fee for obtaining the information required under
sub. (2) (am) or
(3) (a). The fee may not exceed the reasonable cost of obtaining the information. No fee may be charged to a nurse's assistant, as defined in
s. 146.40 (1) (d), for obtaining or maintaining the information if to do so would be inconsistent with federal law.
50.065 History
History: 1997 a. 27,
105,
237.
50.07
50.07
Prohibited acts. 50.07(1)(a)
(a) Intentionally fail to correct or interfere with the correction of a class "A" or class "B" violation within the time specified on the notice of violation or approved plan of correction under
s. 50.04 as the maximum period given for correction, unless an extension is granted and the corrections are made before expiration of extension.
50.07(1)(b)
(b) Intentionally prevent, interfere with, or attempt to impede in any way the work of any duly authorized representative of the department in the investigation and enforcement of any provision of this subchapter.
50.07(1)(c)
(c) Intentionally prevent or attempt to prevent any such representative from examining any relevant books or records in the conduct of official duties under this subchapter.
50.07(1)(d)
(d) Intentionally prevent or interfere with any such representative in the preserving of evidence of any violation of any of the provisions of this subchapter or the rules promulgated under this subchapter.
50.07(1)(e)
(e) Intentionally retaliate or discriminate against any resident or employe for contacting or providing information to any state official, including any representative of the office of the long-term care ombudsman under
s. 16.009 (4), or for initiating, participating in, or testifying in an action for any remedy authorized under this subchapter.
50.07(1)(em)
(em) Intentionally retaliate or discriminate against any resident or employe on whose behalf another person contacted or provided information to any state official, including any representative of the office of the long-term care ombudsman under
s. 16.009 (4), or initiated, participated in or testified in an action for any remedy authorized under this subchapter.
50.07(1)(f)
(f) Intentionally destroy, change or otherwise modify an inspector's original report.
50.07(2)
(2) Violators of this section may be imprisoned up to 6 months or fined not more than $1,000 or both for each violation.
50.07(3)(a)2.
2. Any employe of a state agency who is discharged or otherwise retaliated or discriminated against in violation of
sub. (1) (e) or
(em) may file a complaint with the personnel commission under
s. 230.45 (1) (j).
50.07(3)(b)
(b) Any employe of an employer not described in
par. (a) who is discharged or otherwise retaliated or discriminated against in violation of
sub. (1) (e) or
(em) may file a complaint with the department of workforce development under
s. 106.06 (5).
50.07(3)(c)
(c) Any person not described in
par. (a) or
(b) who is retaliated or discriminated against in violation of
sub. (1) (e) or
(em) may commence an action in circuit court for damages incurred as a result of the violation.
50.07 History
History: 1977 c. 170;
1997 a. 131.
50.07 Annotation
Sub. (1) (e) does not provide a remedy to a terminated employe and does not prevent a private action for wrongful termination to an employe who reports abuse. There is a public policy exception to the employment-at-will doctrine in this case. Hausman v. St. Croix Care Center, Inc. 214 W (2d) 654, 571 NW (2d) 393 (1997).
50.09
50.09
Rights of residents in certain facilities. 50.09(1)
(1)
Residents' rights. Every resident in a nursing home or community-based residential facility shall, except as provided in
sub. (5), have the right to:
50.09(1)(a)
(a) Private and unrestricted communications with the resident's family, physician, attorney and any other person, unless medically contraindicated as documented by the resident's physician in the resident's medical record, except that communications with public officials or with the resident's attorney shall not be restricted in any event. The right to private and unrestricted communications shall include, but is not limited to, the right to:
50.09(1)(a)1.
1. Receive, send and mail sealed, unopened correspondence, and no resident's incoming or outgoing correspondence shall be opened, delayed, held or censored.
50.09(1)(a)2.
2. Reasonable access to a telephone for private communications.
50.09(1)(b)
(b) Present grievances on the resident's own behalf or others to the facility's staff or administrator, to public officials or to any other person without justifiable fear of reprisal, and to join with other residents or individuals within or outside of the facility to work for improvements in resident care.
50.09(1)(c)
(c) Manage the resident's own financial affairs, including any personal allowances under federal or state programs, unless the resident delegates, in writing, such responsibility to the facility and the facility accepts the responsibility or unless the resident delegates to someone else of the resident's choosing and that person accepts the responsibility. The resident shall receive, upon written request by the resident or guardian, a written monthly account of any financial transactions made by the facility under such a delegation of responsibility.
50.09(1)(d)
(d) Be fully informed, in writing, prior to or at the time of admission of all services included in the per diem rate, other services available, the charges for such services, and be informed, in writing, during the resident's stay of any changes in services available or in charges for services.
50.09(1)(e)
(e) Be treated with courtesy, respect and full recognition of the resident's dignity and individuality, by all employes of the facility and licensed, certified or registered providers of health care and pharmacists with whom the resident comes in contact.
50.09(1)(f)
(f) Physical and emotional privacy in treatment, living arrangements and in caring for personal needs, including, but not limited to:
50.09(1)(f)1.
1. Privacy for visits by spouse. If both spouses are residents of the same facility, they shall be permitted to share a room unless medically contraindicated as documented by the resident's physician in the resident's medical record.
50.09(1)(f)2.
2. Privacy concerning health care. Case discussion, consultation, examination and treatment are confidential and shall be conducted discreetly. Persons not directly involved in the resident's care shall require the resident's permission to authorize their presence.
50.09(1)(f)3.
3. Confidentiality of health and personal records, and the right to approve or refuse their release to any individual outside the facility, except in the case of the resident's transfer to another facility or as required by law or 3rd-party payment contracts and except as provided in
s. 146.82 (2) and
(3).
50.09(1)(g)
(g) Not to be required to perform services for the facility that are not included for therapeutic purposes in the resident's plan of care.
50.09(1)(h)
(h) Meet with, and participate in activities of social, religious and community groups at the resident's discretion, unless medically contraindicated as documented by the resident's physician in the resident's medical record.
50.09(1)(i)
(i) Retain and use personal clothing and effects and to retain, as space permits, other personal possessions in a reasonably secure manner.
50.09(1)(j)
(j) Be transferred or discharged, and be given reasonable advance notice of any planned transfer or discharge, and an explanation of the need for and alternatives to the transfer or discharge. The facility to which the resident is to be transferred must have accepted the resident for transfer, except in a medical emergency or if the transfer or discharge is for nonpayment of charges following a reasonable opportunity to pay a deficiency. No person may be involuntarily discharged for nonpayment under this paragraph if the person meets all of the following conditions:
