48.59
48.59
Examination and records. 48.59(1)
(1) The county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department or an agency under contract with the department shall investigate the personal and family history and environment of any child transferred to its legal custody or placed under its supervision under
s. 48.345 and of every expectant mother of an unborn child placed under its supervision under
s. 48.347 and make any physical or mental examinations of the child or expectant mother considered necessary to determine the type of care necessary for the child or expectant mother. The county department, department or agency shall screen a child or expectant mother who is examined under this subsection to determine whether the child or expectant mother is in need of special treatment or care because of alcohol or other drug abuse, mental illness or severe emotional disturbance. The county department, department or agency shall keep a complete record of the information received from the court, the date of reception, all available data on the personal and family history of the child or expectant mother, the results of all tests and examinations given the child or expectant mother and a complete history of all placements of the child while in the legal custody or under the supervision of the county department, department or agency or of the expectant mother while under the supervision of the county department, department or agency.
48.59(2)
(2) At the department's request, the county department shall report to the department regarding children who are in the legal custody or under the supervision of the county department and expectant mothers of unborn children who are under the supervision of the county department.
48.59 Annotation
A county with a population under 500,000 may by ordinance under s. 19.21 (6) provide for the destruction of obsolete case records maintained by county social services agencies. 70 Atty. Gen. 196.
CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES
48.599
48.599
Definitions. In this subchapter:
48.599(1)
(1) "Physical restraint" includes all of the following:
48.599(1)(b)
(b) A device or garment that interferes with a child's freedom of movement and that the child is unable to remove easily.
48.599(1)(c)
(c) Restraint by a child welfare agency staff member of a child by use of physical force.
48.599(2)
(2) "Psychotropic medication" means an antipsychotic, antidepressant, lithium carbonate or a tranquilizer.
48.599 History
History: 1989 a. 336.
48.60
48.60
Child welfare agencies licensed. 48.60(1)
(1) No person may receive children, with or without transfer of legal custody, to provide care and maintenance for 75 days in any consecutive 12 months' period for 4 or more such children at any one time unless that person obtains a license to operate a child welfare agency from the department. To obtain a license under this subsection to operate a child welfare agency, a person must meet the minimum requirements for a license established by the department under
s. 48.67, meet the requirements specified in
s. 48.685 and pay the applicable license fee under
s. 48.615 (1) (a) or
(b). A license issued under this subsection is valid until revoked or suspended, but shall be reviewed every 2 years as provided in
s. 48.66 (5).
48.60(2)
(2) This section does not include:
48.60(2)(a)
(a) A relative or guardian who provides care and maintenance for such children.
48.60(2)(b)
(b) A bona fide educational institution whose pupils, in the ordinary course of events, return annually to the homes of their parents or guardians for not less than 2 months of summer vacation.
48.60(2)(d)
(d) A hospital, maternity hospital, maternity home or nursing home licensed, approved or supervised by the department.
48.60(2)(e)
(e) A licensed foster home or a licensed treatment foster home.
48.60(2)(f)
(f) Institutions for mentally deficient children, which institutions have a full-time child population of not less than 150 children and which are subject to examination as provided in
s. 46.03 (5).
48.60(3)
(3) Before issuing or continuing any license to a child welfare agency under this section, the department of health and family services shall review the need for the additional placement resources that would be made available by licensing or continuing the license of any child welfare agency after August 5, 1973, providing care authorized under
s. 48.61 (3). Neither the department of health and family services nor the department of corrections may make any placements to any child welfare agency where the departmental review required under this subsection has failed to indicate the need for the additional placement resources.
48.60(4)(b)
(b) Notwithstanding
ss. 121.78 (3) (a) and
121.79 (1) (a), a child welfare agency shall pay for the costs incurred by a school district in providing special education and related services to a child with a disability who is a resident of the child welfare agency, if the child was placed in the child welfare agency pursuant to the interstate compact on the placement of children under
s. 48.988.
48.60(5)(a)(a) No later than 24 hours after the death of a child who resided in a building operated by a child welfare agency, the child welfare agency shall report the death to the department if one of the following applies:
48.60(5)(a)1.
1. There is reasonable cause to believe that the death was related to the use of physical restraint or a psychotropic medication for the child.
48.60(5)(a)3.
3. There is reasonable cause to believe that the death was a suicide.
48.60(5)(c)
(c) No later than 14 days after the date of the death reported under
par. (a), the department shall investigate the death.
48.61
48.61
Powers and duties of child welfare agencies. A child welfare agency shall have authority:
48.61(1)
(1) To accept legal or physical custody of children transferred to it by the court under
s. 48.355.
48.61(2)
(2) To contract with any parent or guardian or other person for the supervision or care and maintenance of any child.
48.61(3)
(3) To provide appropriate care and training for children in its legal or physical custody and, if licensed to do so, to place children in licensed foster homes, licensed treatment foster homes and licensed group homes.
48.61(4)
(4) To provide for the moral and religious training of children in its legal custody according to the religious belief of the child or the child's parents.
48.61(5)
(5) If licensed to do so, to accept guardianship of children when appointed by the court, and to place children under its guardianship for adoption.
48.61(7)
(7) To license foster homes or treatment foster homes in accordance with
s. 48.75 if licensed to do so.
48.615
48.615
Child welfare agency licensing fees. 48.615(1)(a)(a) Before the department may issue a license under
s. 48.60 (1) to a child welfare agency that regularly provides care and maintenance for children within the confines of its building, the child welfare agency must pay to the department a biennial fee of $121, plus a biennial fee of $18.15 per child, based on the number of children that the child welfare agency is licensed to serve.
48.615(1)(b)
(b) Before the department may issue a license under
s. 48.60 (1) to a child welfare agency that places children in licensed foster homes, licensed treatment foster homes and licensed group homes, the child welfare agency must pay to the department a biennial fee of $254.10
48.615(1)(c)
(c) A child welfare agency that wishes to continue a license issued under
s. 48.60 (1) shall pay the applicable fee under
par. (a) or
(b) by the continuation date of the license.
48.615(1)(d)
(d) A new child welfare agency shall pay the applicable fee under
par. (a) or
(b) no later than 30 days before the opening of the child welfare agency.
48.615(2)
(2) A child welfare agency that wishes to continue a license issued under
s. 48.60 (1) and that fails to pay the applicable fee under
sub. (1) (a) or
(b) by the continuation date of the license or a new child welfare agency that fails to pay the applicable fee under
sub. (1) (a) or
(b) by 30 days before the opening of the child welfare agency shall pay an additional fee of $5 per day for every day after the deadline that the agency fails to pay the fee.
FOSTER HOMES AND TREATMENT FOSTER HOMES
48.62
48.62
Licensing of foster homes and treatment foster homes; rates. 48.62(1)(a)(a) Any person who receives, with or without transfer of legal custody, 4 or fewer children or, if necessary to enable a sibling group to remain together, 6 or fewer children or, if the department promulgates rules permitting a different number of children, the number of children permitted under those rules, to provide care and maintenance for those children shall obtain a license to operate a foster home from the department, a county department or a licensed child welfare agency as provided in
s. 48.75.
48.62(1)(b)
(b) Any person who receives, with or without transfer of legal custody, 4 or fewer children into a home to provide care and maintenance and structured, professional treatment for those children shall obtain a license to operate a treatment foster home from the department, a county department or a licensed child welfare agency as provided in
s. 48.75.
48.62(2)
(2) A relative as defined in
s. 48.02 (15) or as specified in
s. 49.19 (1) (a) or a guardian of a child, who provides care and maintenance for a child, is not required to obtain the license specified in this section. The department, county department or licensed child welfare agency as provided in
s. 48.75 may issue a license to operate a foster home or a treatment foster home to a relative who has no duty of support under
s. 49.90 (1) (a) and who requests a license to operate a foster home or treatment foster home for a specific child who is either placed by court order or who is the subject of a voluntary placement agreement under
s. 48.63. The department, a county department or a licensed child welfare agency may, at the request of a guardian appointed under
s. 48.977 or
48.978 or
ch. 880, license the guardian's home as a foster home or treatment foster home for the guardian's minor ward who is living in the home and who is placed in the home by court order. Relatives with no duty of support and guardians appointed under
s. 48.977 or
48.978 or
ch. 880 who are licensed to operate foster homes or treatment foster homes are subject to the department's licensing rules.
48.62(3)
(3) When the department, a county department or a child welfare agency issues a license to operate a foster home, the department, county department or child welfare agency shall notify the clerk of the school district in which the foster home is located that a foster home has been licensed in the school district.
48.62(4)
(4) Monthly payments in foster care shall be provided according to the age-related rates specified in this subsection. Beginning on January 1, 2000, the age-related rates are: $299 for children aged 4 and under; $326 for children aged 5 to 11; $371 for children aged 12 to 14 and $387 for children aged 15 to 17. Beginning on January 1, 2001, the age-related rates are: $302 for children aged 4 and under; $329 for children aged 5 to 11; $375 for children aged 12 to 14; and $391 for children aged 15 to 17. In addition to these grants for basic maintenance, the department shall make supplemental payments for special needs, exceptional circumstances, care in a treatment foster home and initial clothing allowances according to rules promulgated by the department.
48.62 Annotation
A foster child in a family owned foster home under a one-year dispositional order is a resident of the household for insurance purposes. A. G. v. Travelers Ins. Co.
112 Wis. 2d 18,
331 N.W.2d 643 (Ct. App. 1983).
48.62 Annotation
Foster homes owned, operated, or contracted for by the department or a county department are immune from local zoning ordinances. Foster homes owned, operated, or contracted for by licensed child welfare agencies are not immune. All family operated foster homes are subject to local zoning. Municipal foster home licensing ordinances are unenforceable. 63 Atty. Gen. 34.
48.62 Annotation
State-licensed foster homes are immune from local zoning ordinances restricting the number of unrelated occupants of single family dwellings. 66 Atty. Gen. 342.
48.625
48.625
Licensing of group homes; fees. 48.625(1)
(1) Any person who receives, with or without transfer of legal custody, 5 to 8 children, to provide care and maintenance for those children shall obtain a license to operate a group home from the department. To obtain a license under this subsection to operate a group home, a person must meet the minimum requirements for a license established by the department under
s. 48.67, meet the requirements specified in
s. 48.685 and pay the license fee under
sub. (2). A license issued under this subsection is valid until revoked or suspended, but shall be reviewed every 2 years as provided in
s. 48.66 (5).
48.625(2)(a)(a) Before the department may issue a license under
sub. (1) to a group home, the group home must pay to the department a biennial fee of $121, plus a biennial fee of $18.15 per child, based on the number of children that the group home is licensed to serve. A group home that wishes to continue a license issued under
sub. (1) shall pay the fee under this paragraph by the continuation date of the license. A new group home shall pay the fee under this paragraph no later than 30 days before the opening of the group home.
48.625(2)(b)
(b) A group home that wishes to continue a license issued under
sub. (1) and that fails to pay the fee under
par. (a) by the continuation date of the license or a new group home that fails to pay the fee under
par. (a) by 30 days before the opening of the group home shall pay an additional fee of $5 per day for every day after the deadline that the group home fails to pay the fee.
48.625(2m)
(2m) When the department issues a license to operate a group home, the department shall notify the clerk of the school district in which the group home is located that a group home has been licensed in the school district.
48.625(3)
(3) This section does not apply to a foster home licensed under
s. 48.62 (1) (a) in which care and maintenance is provided for more than 4 siblings.
48.625 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See s.
48.66 for the department's licensing authority.
48.627
48.627
Foster, treatment foster and family-operated group home parent insurance and liability. 48.627(1)
(1) In this section, "family-operated group home" means a home licensed under
s. 48.625 for which the licensee is one or more individuals who operate not more than one group home.
48.627(2)(a)(a) Before the department, a county department or a licensed child welfare agency may issue, renew or continue a foster home, treatment foster home or family-operated group home license, the licensing agency shall require the applicant to furnish proof satisfactory to the licensing agency that he or she has homeowner's or renter's liability insurance that provides coverage for negligent acts or omissions by children placed in a foster home, treatment foster home or family-operated group home that result in bodily injury or property damage to 3rd parties.
48.627(2)(b)
(b) A licensing agency may, in accordance with rules promulgated by the department, waive the requirement under
par. (a) if the applicant shows that he or she is unable to obtain the required insurance, that he or she has had a homeowner's or renter's liability insurance policy canceled or that payment of the premium for the required insurance would cause undue financial hardship.
48.627(2)(c)
(c) The department shall conduct a study to determine the cost-effectiveness of purchasing insurance to provide standard homeowner's or renter's liability insurance coverage for applicants who are granted a waiver under
par. (b). If the department determines that it would be cost-effective to purchase such insurance, it may purchase the insurance from the appropriations under
s. 20.435 (3) (cf) and
(pd).
48.627(2)(d)
(d) The licensing agency shall specify the amounts of liability insurance coverage required under
par. (a).
48.627(2c)
(2c) The department shall determine the cost-effectiveness of purchasing private insurance that would provide coverage to foster, treatment foster and family-operated group home parents for acts or omissions by or affecting a child who is placed in a foster home, a treatment foster home or a family-operated group home. If this private insurance is cost-effective and available, the department shall purchase the insurance from the appropriations under
s. 20.435 (3) (cf) and
(pd). If the insurance is unavailable, payment of claims for acts or omissions by or affecting a child who is placed in a foster home, a treatment foster home or a family-operated group home shall be in accordance with
subs. (2m) to
(3).
48.627(2m)
(2m) Within the limits of the appropriations under
s. 20.435 (3) (cf) and
(pd), the department shall pay claims to the extent not covered by any other insurance and subject to the limitations specified in
sub. (3), for bodily injury or property damage sustained by a licensed foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent or a member of the foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent's family as a result of the act of a child in the foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent's care.
48.627(2s)
(2s) Within the limits of the appropriations under
s. 20.435 (3) (cf) and
(pd), the department may pay claims to the extent not covered by any other insurance and subject to the limitations specified in
sub. (3), for all of the following:
48.627(2s)(a)
(a) Acts or omissions of the foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent that result in bodily injury to the child who is placed in the foster home, treatment foster home or family-operated group home or that form the basis for a civil action for damages by the foster child's parent against the foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent.
48.627(2s)(b)
(b) Bodily injury or property damage caused by an act or omission of a child who is placed in the foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent's care for which the foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent becomes legally liable.
48.627(3)(b)(b) A claim under
sub. (2m) shall be submitted to the department within 90 days after the bodily injury or property damage occurs. A claim under
sub. (2s) shall be submitted within 90 days after a foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent learns that a legal action has been commenced against that parent. No claim may be paid under this subsection unless it is submitted within the time limits specified in this paragraph.
