49.26(1)(a)2.d.
d. A course of study meeting the standards established by the state superintendent of public instruction under
s. 115.29 (4) for the granting of a declaration of equivalency of high school graduation.
49.26(1)(c)
(c) A county department or Wisconsin works agency may provide services under this subsection directly or may contract with a nonprofit agency or a school district to provide the services.
49.26(1)(d)
(d) A county department or Wisconsin works agency that provides services under this subsection directly shall develop a plan, in coordination with the school districts located in whole or in part in the county, describing the assistance that the county department or Wisconsin works agency and school districts will provide to individuals receiving services under this subsection, the number of individuals that will be served and the estimated cost of the services. The county department or Wisconsin works agency shall submit the plan to the department of workforce development and the department of public instruction by January 15, annually.
49.26(1)(e)
(e) For an individual who is a recipient of aid under
s. 49.19, or whose custodial parent is a participant under
s. 49.147 (3) to
(5), who is the parent with whom a dependent child lives and who is subject to the school attendance requirement under
par. (ge), the department shall make a monthly payment to the individual or the child care provider for the month's child care costs in an amount based on need with the maximum amount per child equal to the lesser of the actual cost of the care or the rate established under
s. 49.155 (6) if the individual demonstrates the need to purchase child care services in order to attend school and those services are available from a child care provider.
49.26(1)(g)
(g) An individual who is a dependent child in a Wisconsin works group that includes a participant under
s. 49.147 (3),
(4) or
(5) or who is a recipient of aid under
s. 49.19 is subject to the school attendance requirement under
par. (ge) if all of the following apply:
49.26(1)(g)1.
1. Before the first day of the fall 1994 school term, as defined in
s. 115.001 (12), the individual is 13 to 17 years of age. Beginning on the first day of the fall 1997 school term, as defined in
s. 115.001 (12), the individual is 6 to 17 years of age.
49.26(1)(g)2.
2. The individual has not graduated from a public or private high school or obtained a declaration of equivalency of high school graduation under
s. 115.29 (4).
49.26(1)(g)4.
4. The individual is a parent or is residing with his or her natural or adoptive parent.
49.26(1)(g)5.
5. If the individual is the caretaker of a child, the child is at least 45 days old and child care is available for the child at the school or the school provides an instruction program for the caretaker at home.
49.26(1)(g)6.
6. If child care services are necessary in order for the individual to attend school, child care from a child care provider is available for the child and transportation to and from child care is also available.
49.26(1)(g)8.
8. If the individual was expelled from a school under
s. 119.25 or
120.13 (1), there is another school available which the individual can attend.
49.26(1)(g)10.
10. The individual does not have good cause for failing to attend school, as defined by the department by rule.
49.26(1)(g)11.
11. If the individual is the mother of a child, a physician has not determined that the individual should delay her return to school after giving birth.
49.26(1)(g)12.
12. If the individual is on a waiting list for a children-at-risk program under
s. 118.153, a children-at-risk program that is appropriate for the individual is not available.
49.26(1)(ge)
(ge) An individual fails to meet the school attendance requirement if the individual is not enrolled in school or was not enrolled in the immediately preceding semester. The Wisconsin works agency or county department shall verify enrollment.
49.26(1)(gm)1.1. The following individuals who are subject to the school attendance requirement under the learnfare program are required to participate in case management under
sub. (2) (b):
49.26(1)(gm)1.c.
c. Dropouts, as defined in
s. 118.153 (1) (b), including individuals who were dropouts and reenrolled in school in the same or immediately succeeding semester in which they dropped out of school.
49.26(1)(gm)2.
2. The department may, in accordance with rules promulgated by the department, sanction any individual specified under
subd. 1. who fails to cooperate with case management efforts.
49.26(1)(h)1.1. An individual who fails to cooperate with case management efforts under
par. (gm) is subject to sanctions as provided under
subd. 1s. only if all of the following apply:
49.26(1)(h)1.as.
as. The individual has failed to request a hearing or has failed to show good cause for not cooperating with case management efforts in a hearing. The hearing shall be requested and held under
s. 49.152. The department shall determine by rule the criteria for good cause.
49.26(1)(h)1.b.
b. The individual's family fails to cooperate with the case manager or fails to engage in the activities identified by the case manager as being necessary to improve the individual's school attendance.
49.26(1)(h)1.c.
c. The individual continues to fail to meet the school attendance requirement under
par. (ge).
49.26(1)(h)1s.a.a. Except as provided under
subd. 1s. b., an individual who fails to meet the school attendance requirement under
par. (ge) is subject to sanctions determined by the department by rule.
49.26(1)(h)1s.b.
b. An individual who is a dependent child in a Wisconsin works group that includes a participant under
s. 49.147 (3),
(4) or
(5) and who fails to meet the school attendance requirement under
par. (ge) is subject to a monthly sanction.
49.26(1)(h)2.
2. If, as a result of the application of sanctions under this paragraph, no child in a family receives payment under
s. 49.19, the department shall make a payment to meet only the needs of the parent or parents who would otherwise be eligible for aid under
s. 49.19.
49.26(1)(hr)
(hr) If an individual subject to the school attendance requirement under
par. (ge) is enrolled in a public school, communications between the school district and the department, a county department under
s. 46.215,
46.22 or
46.23 or a Wisconsin works agency concerning the individual's school attendance may only be made by a school attendance officer, as defined under
s. 118.16 (1) (a).
49.26(2)
(2) Services for learnfare pupils. 49.26(2)(b)
(b) County departments or Wisconsin works agencies shall provide case management services to individuals who are subject to the school attendance requirement under the learnfare program under
sub. (1) and their families to improve the school attendance and achievement of those individuals.
49.26 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also s.
DWD 12.20, Wis. adm. code.
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.
49.32
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(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 the records of recipients of aid to families with dependent children under
s. 49.19 and, if the department of health and family services contracts with the department under
s. 49.197 (5), recipients of medical assistance under
subch. IV and food stamp benefits under the food stamp program under
7 USC 2011 to
2036 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 aid to families with dependent children under
s. 49.19 and, if the department of health and family services contracts with the department under
s. 49.197 (5), recipients of medical assistance under
subch. IV and food stamp benefits under the food stamp program under
7 USC 2011 to
2036 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 aid to families with dependent children under
s. 49.19 and, if the department of health and family services contracts with the department under
s. 49.197 (5), recipients of medical assistance under
subch. IV and food stamp benefits under the food stamp program under
7 USC 2011 to
2036 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, 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 employee 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 employee 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.
