55.043(6)(bt)11.
11. To an agency, including a probation or parole agency, that is legally responsible for the supervision of an alleged perpetrator of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of an adult at risk.
55.043(6)(bt)12.
12. To a grand jury, if it determines that access to specified records is necessary for the conduct of its official business.
55.043(6)(bv)
(bv) The identity of a person making a report of alleged abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or financial exploitation shall be deleted from any record prior to its release under
par. (bt) or from any departmental report form prior to its release under
par. (b). The identity of any reporter may only be released with the written consent of the reporter or under a lawful order of a court of record.
55.043(6)(bw)
(bw) A person to whom a departmental report form or a record is disclosed under this subsection may not further disclose it, except to the persons and for the purposes specified in this subsection.
55.043(6)(by)
(by) A custodian of records or departmental report forms incurs no civil or criminal liability under this subsection and may not be found guilty of unprofessional conduct for the release or nonrelease of records or departmental report forms in accordance with this subsection while acting in good faith and within the scope of his or her authority.
55.043(7)
(7) Exception. Nothing in this section may be construed to mean that a person is abused, financially exploited, neglected, or in need of direct or protective services solely because he or she consistently relies upon treatment by spiritual means through prayer for healing in lieu of medical care in accordance with his or her religious tradition.
55.043(8)(a)(a) The department shall develop a plan to assist adult-at-risk agencies in determining appropriate responses to reports of abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect.
55.043(8)(b)
(b) The department shall prepare and distribute sample departmental report forms for use by adult-at-risk agencies.
55.043(8)(c)
(c) The department shall collect statistical information from each county pertaining to each reported case of abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect. The department may require adult-at-risk agency workers or investigators to submit departmental report forms to the department that summarize the information being reported. These departmental report forms may not name or otherwise identify individuals. The department shall use this information to review the effectiveness of this section, to plan program changes, and to formulate reports.
55.043(8)(d)
(d) The department shall develop and disseminate information on adult-at-risk abuse and the adult-at-risk reporting system under this section. The department shall also develop informational materials to be used by adult-at-risk agencies regarding abuse of adults at risk and regarding the adult-at-risk abuse reporting system. The department shall solicit contributions of labor, materials, and expertise from private sources to assist in developing the informational materials.
55.043(9m)(a)(a) Any person, including the state or any political subdivision of the state, violating
sub. (6) is liable to any person damaged as a result of the violation for such damages as may be proved, together with exemplary damages of not less than $100 nor more than $500 for each violation and the costs and reasonable actual attorney fees that are incurred by the person damaged.
55.043(9m)(b)
(b) In any action brought under
par. (a) in which the court determines that the violator acted in a manner that was knowing and willful, the violator shall be liable for such damages as may be proved together with exemplary damages of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 for each violation, together with costs and reasonable actual attorney fees as may be incurred. It is not a prerequisite to an action under
par. (a) that the plaintiff suffer or be threatened with actual damages.
55.043(9m)(c)
(c) An individual may bring an action to enjoin any violation of
sub. (6) or to compel compliance with
sub. (6), and may in the same action seek damages as provided in this subsection. The individual may recover costs and reasonable actual attorney fees incurred in the action, if he or she prevails.
55.043(9m)(d)
(d) Whoever violates
sub. (1m) (c) 1. may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 6 months or both.
55.043(9m)(e)
(e) Whoever intentionally violates
sub. (1m) (b) by failure to report as required may be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both.
55.043 History
History: 1993 a. 445;
1997 a. 27;
2001 a. 74,
103;
2005 a. 264,
388; s. 13.93 (2) (c).
55.043 Note
NOTE: 2005 Wis. Act 388 made major revisions to this section and contains extensive explanatory notes.
55.045
55.045
Funding. Except as provided in
s. 49.45 (30m) (a), the appropriate county department shall within the limits of available state and federal funds and of county funds required to be appropriated to match state funds, provide for the reasonable program needs of individuals who are provided protective placement or who receive protective services under this chapter, including reasonable expenses for the evaluations required by
s. 55.11. Payment and collections for protective placement or protective services provided in public facilities specified in
s. 46.10 shall be governed in accordance with
s. 46.10. The department may require that an individual who is provided protective placement or receives protective services under this chapter provide reimbursement for services or care and custody received, based on the ability of the individual to pay for such costs.
55.05
55.05
Voluntary protective services. 55.05(1)
(1)
Preference. The department in administering the protective services program shall contract with county departments and other agencies. If the county department contracts for protective services, the department and the county departments shall give preference to an agency with consumer and other citizen representation. The department shall provide services only if no other suitable agency is available. Courts shall adhere to the same preferences in ordering protective services.
55.05(2)
(2) Conditions required. The department or a county department or agency with which the county department contracts under
s. 55.02 (2) that provides protective services may provide the services under any of the following conditions:
55.05(2)(a)
(a) An individual who needs or believes he or she needs protective services requests the services.
55.05(2)(b)
(b) An interested person requests protective services on behalf of an individual in need of services. A guardian may request and consent to protective services on behalf of the guardian's ward. An agent under an activated power of attorney for health care may request and consent to protective services on behalf of the agent's principal.
55.05(3)
(3) Voluntary protective services preferred. An individual shall receive protective services voluntarily unless ordered by the court under
s. 55.12, requested by the individual's guardian or agent under an activated power of attorney for health care, or provided on an emergency basis in accordance with
s. 55.13.
55.055
55.055
Admissions initially made without court involvement. 55.055(1)(a)(a) The guardian of an individual who has been adjudicated incompetent may consent to the individual's admission to a foster home, group home, or community-based residential facility, as defined under
s. 50.01 (1g), without a protective placement order under
s. 55.12 if the home or facility is licensed for fewer than 16 beds. Prior to providing that consent, and annually thereafter, the guardian shall review the ward's right to the least restrictive residential environment and may consent only to admission to a home or facility that implements that right.
55.055 Note
NOTE: Par. (a) is shown as affected by 2 acts of the 2005 Wisconsin legislature and as merged by the revisor under s. 13.93 (2) (c).
55.055(1)(b)
(b) The guardian of an individual who has been adjudicated incompetent may consent to the individual's admission to a nursing home or other facility not specified in
par. (a) for which protective placement is otherwise required for a period not to exceed 60 days. In order to be admitted under this paragraph, the individual must be in need of recuperative care or be unable to provide for his or her own care or safety so as to create a serious risk of substantial harm to himself or herself or others. Prior to providing that consent, the guardian shall review the ward's right to the least restrictive residential environment and consent only to admission to a nursing home or other facility that implements that right. Following the 60-day period, the admission may be extended for an additional 60 days if a petition for protective placement under
s. 55.075 has been brought, or, if no petition for protective placement under
s. 55.075 has been brought, for an additional 30 days for the purpose of allowing the initiation of discharge planning for the individual. Admission under this paragraph is not permitted for an individual for whom the primary purpose of admission is for treatment or services related to the individual's mental illness or developmental disability.
55.055 Note
NOTE: Par. (b) is shown as affected by 2 acts of the 2005 Wisconsin legislature and as merged by the revisor under s. 13.93 (2) (c).
55.055(1)(c)
(c) The guardian of a ward who has been found incompetent in a state other than this state may consent to admission of the ward under
par. (a) or
(b) if the ward is currently a resident of this state. A petition to transfer a foreign guardianship and, if applicable, a petition for protective placement shall be filed in this state within 60 days after the ward's admission under this paragraph.
55.055(1)(d)
(d) A resident of this state who is the guardian of a ward who has been found incompetent in, and resides in, a state other than this state may consent to an admission of the ward under
par. (a) or
(b) if the guardian intends to move the ward to this state within 30 days after the consent to the admission. A petition to transfer a foreign guardianship and, if applicable, a petition for protective placement shall be filed in this state within 60 days after a ward's admission under this paragraph.
55.055(2)(a)(a) In this subsection, "facility" means any of the following:
55.055(2)(b)
(b) Whenever a petition for guardianship on the ground of incompetency is filed with respect to an individual who resides in a facility licensed for 16 or more beds, a petition for protective placement of the individual shall also be filed. The individual may continue to reside in the facility until the court issues a decision on the petition for guardianship and protective placement of the individual. Thereafter, the individual may continue to reside in the facility only if the court's order under
s. 55.12 specifies protective placement of the individual in a facility licensed for 16 or more beds.
55.055(3)
(3) If an individual admitted under
sub. (1) verbally objects to or otherwise actively protests such an admission, the person in charge of the home, nursing home, or other facility shall immediately notify the county department for the county in which the individual is living. Representatives of that county department shall visit the individual as soon as possible, but no later than 72 hours after notification, and do the following:
55.055(3)(a)
(a) Determine whether the protest persists or has been voluntarily withdrawn and consult with the individual's guardian regarding the reasons for the admission.
55.055(3)(b)
(b) Attempt to have the individual released within 72 hours if the protest is not withdrawn and the individual does not satisfy all standards under
s. 55.08 (1) or criteria under 55.135 (1) and provide assistance in identifying appropriate alternative living arrangements.
55.055(3)(c)
(c) Comply with
s. 55.135, if the individual satisfies all criteria under
s. 55.135 (1) and emergency placement in that home, nursing home, or other facility or another home, nursing home, or other facility is necessary, or file a petition for protective placement under
s. 55.075. The court, with the permission of the home, nursing home, or facility, may order the individual to remain in the home, nursing home, or other facility pending the outcome of the protective placement proceedings.
55.055(4)
(4) The admission to a health care facility, as defined in
s. 155.01 (6), of a principal by a health care agent under the terms of a power of attorney for health care instrument and in accordance with
ch. 155 or the admission of an individual to a nursing home or community-based residential facility under the requirements of
s. 50.06 is not a protective placement under this chapter.
55.055(5)
(5) If a ward lives with his or her guardian, the guardian may make temporary protective placement of the ward, to provide the guardian with a vacation or to release the guardian temporarily for a family emergency. The temporary protective placement may be made for not more than 30 days but the court may, upon application, grant an additional period not to exceed 60 days in all. The application shall include any information that the court may reasonably deem necessary. When reviewing the application, the court shall provide the least restrictive temporary protective placement that is consistent with the needs of the ward.
55.055 History
History: 2005 a. 264 ss.
101,
103 to
112,
150;
2005 a. 387; s. 13.93 (2) (c).
55.055 Annotation
A guardian of a person who became incompetent after voluntarily entering a nursing home with 16 or more beds may not consent to the person's continued residence in the home. Upon the appointment of a guardian, the court must hold a protective placement hearing. Guardianship of Agnes T.
189 Wis. 2d 520,
525 N.W.2d 268 (1995).
55.055 Annotation
Guardianships and Protective Placements in Wisconsin After Agnes T. Fennell. Wis. Law. May 1995.
55.06
55.06
Protective services and protective placement; eligibility. A protective placement under this section is a placement of a ward for the primary purpose of providing care and custody. To be eligible for placement, an individual shall have attained the age of 18, but an individual who is alleged to be developmentally disabled may receive placement upon attaining the age of 14. No protective placement under this section may be ordered unless there is an adjudication of incompetency in this state, except in the case of a minor who is alleged to be developmentally disabled, and there is a finding of a need for protective placement in accordance with
sub. (2) [
s. 55.08 (1)] except as provided in
subs. (11) and (12) [
ss. 55.135 and
55.055]. A procedure for adult protective placement may be initiated 6 months prior to an individual's birthday at which he or she first becomes eligible for placement.
Effective date text
55.06 Protective services and protective placement; eligibility. To be eligible for court-ordered protective placement or protective services, an individual shall have filed a petition to transfer a foreign guardianship, whether present in the state or not, or shall be a resident of the state; and shall have a need for protective placement or protective services. The individual shall have attained the age of 18, but an individual who is alleged to be developmentally disabled may receive protective placement or protective services upon attaining the age of 14. Protective placement or protective services may be ordered under this chapter only for an individual who is determined to be incompetent in accordance with ch. 880 or for a minor who is alleged to be developmentally disabled, and only if there is a finding of a need for protective placement under s. 55.12, and ss. 55.055 (5), 55.13, and 55.135 are inappropriate or do not apply. A procedure for court-ordered protective placement or protective services may be initiated 6 months before a minor attains age 18.
55.06 History
History: 1973 c. 284;
1975 c. 41;
1975 c. 94 s.
3;
1975 c. 189 s.
99 (2);
1975 c. 393,
421,
422;
1975 c. 430 ss.
67 to
71,
80;
1977 c. 26,
299,
428;
1977 c. 449 s.
497;
1979 c. 32 s.
92 (1);
1979 c. 110 s.
60 (1);
1979 c. 221;
1981 c. 314 s.
146;
1981 c. 379;
1983 a. 27;
1983 a. 189 s.
329 (19);
1983 a. 219;
1985 a. 29 ss.
1143,
3202 (23);
1987 a. 366;
1989 a. 31,
359;
1991 a. 269;
1993 a. 187,
451;
1995 a. 27,
92;
1997 a. 237,
283;
2001 a. 109;
2003 a. 33,
326;
2005 a. 253,
264,
387; s. 13.93 (2) (c).
55.06 Annotation
Guardianships and Protective Placements. Viney. Wis. Law. Aug. 1991.
55.06 Annotation
Guardianships and Protective Placements in Wisconsin After Agnes T. Fennell. Wis. Law. May 1995.
55.075
55.075
Protective services or protective placement; petition. Except as provided in
s. 971.14 (6) (b):
55.075(1)
(1) Who may petition. The department, the county department or an agency with which the county department contracts under
s. 55.02 (2), a guardian, or an interested person may file a petition for appointment of a guardian and for protective services or protective placement for an [the] individual. The department shall provide for a schedule of reimbursement for the cost of the proceedings based upon the ability to pay of the proposed ward or individual to be protected.
55.075 Note
NOTE: Sub. (1) is shown as affected by 2 acts of the 2005 Wisconsin legislature and as merged by the revisor under s. 13.93 (2) (c). The bracketed language was inserted by
2005 Wis. Act 387, but rendered surplusage by
2005 Wis. Act 264. Corrective legislation is pending.
55.075(2)(a)(a) A petition shall allege that the individual meets the standards specified in
s. 55.08 (1) or
(2) and state with particularity the factual basis for the allegations.
55.075(2)(b)
(b) The petition shall be based on personal knowledge of the individual alleged to need protective placement or protective services.
55.075(3)
(3) Petition for guardianship; review of incompetency. A petition for guardianship described in
s. 55.08 (1) (b) or
(2) (a) shall be heard prior to ordering protective placement or protective services. If the individual is [incompetent] adjudicated [[incompetent]] in this state more than 12 months before the filing of an application for protective placement or protective services on his or her behalf, the court shall review the finding of incompetency.
55.075 Note
NOTE: Sub. (3) is shown as affected by 2 acts of the 2005 Wisconsin legislature and as merged by the revisor under s. 13.93 (2) (c). The single bracketed "incompetent" was inserted by
2005 Wis. Act 264 but the treatment by
2005 Wis. Act 387 resulted in incorrect placement of the word. The double bracketed "incompetent" indicates the correct placement of the word. Corrective legislation is pending.
55.075(4)(a)(a) The court shall award, from the assets of the individual sought to be protectively placed or protectively served, payment of the petitioner's reasonable attorney fees and costs, unless the court finds, after considering all of the following, that it would be inequitable to do so:
55.075(4)(a)1.
1. The petitioner's interest in the matter, including any conflict of interest that the petitioner may have had in pursuing the guardianship or protective placement or services.
55.075(4)(a)2.
2. The ability of the estate of the individual sought to be protectively placed or protectively served to pay the petitioner's reasonable attorney fees and costs.
55.075(4)(a)3.
3. Whether the petition was contested and, if so, the nature of the contest.
55.075(4)(a)4.
4. Whether the individual sought to be protectively placed or protectively served had executed a durable power of attorney under
s. 243.07 or a power of attorney for health care under
s. 155.05 or had provided advance consent to nursing home admission or engaged in other advance planning to avoid protective placement or protective services.
55.075(4)(a)5.
5. Any other factors that the court considers to be relevant.
55.075(4)(b)
(b) If a person seeking to be the guardian of a proposed ward requests the assistance of a county department or an agency with which it contracts under
s. 55.02 (2) in petitioning for guardianship or for protective services or protective placement, the assistance may be considered a service and may be charged for based upon the ability of the person to pay for the service.
55.075(5)
(5) Where a petition may be filed; venue; county of responsibility. 55.075(5)(a)(a) A petition under
sub. (1) shall be filed in the county of residence of the individual to be protected, as determined under
s. 51.40 or by the individual's guardian or where the individual is physically present due to circumstances including those specified under
s. 51.22 (4). If an individual has not received services under
ch. 46,
51, or
55 or if an individual has received services under
ch. 46,
51, or
55 that have been terminated and has established residence in a county other than that in which the individual resided when the services were received, the court may determine the individual's county of residence. The county of residence under this paragraph is the county of responsibility.
Effective date text
(a) A petition under sub. (1) shall be filed in the county of residence of the individual to be protected, except that the petition may be filed in the county in which the individual is physically present due to extraordinary circumstances, including requiring medical aid and preventing harm to the individual or others, or in the county in which the individual intends to reside. The county of residence, as determined by the court, under s. 51.40, or by the guardian, is the county of responsibility.
55.075(5)(b)
(b) The court in which a petition is first filed under
par. (a) shall determine venue. The court shall direct that proper notice be given to any potentially responsible or affected county. Proper notice is given to a potentially responsible or affected county if written notice of the proceeding is sent by certified mail to the county's clerk and corporation counsel. After all potentially responsible or affected counties and parties have been given an opportunity to be heard, the court shall determine that venue lies in the county in which the petition is filed under
par. (a) or in another county, as appropriate. If the court determines that venue lies in another county, the court shall order the entire record certified to the proper court. A court in which a subsequent petition is filed shall, upon being satisfied of an earlier filing in another court, summarily dismiss the subsequent petition.
55.075(5)(bm)
(bm) The court in which a petition is first filed under
par. (c) [
par. (a)] shall determine venue. The court shall direct that proper notice be given to any potentially responsible or affected county. Proper notice is given to a potentially responsible or affected county if written notice of the proceeding is sent by certified mail to the county's clerk and corporation counsel. After all potentially responsible or affected counties and parties have been given an opportunity to be heard, the court shall determine that venue lies in the county in which the petition is filed under
par. (c) [
par. (a)] or in another county, as appropriate. If the court determines that venue lies in another county, the court shall order the entire record certified to the proper court. A court in which a subsequent petition is filed shall, upon being satisfied of an earlier filing in another court, summarily dismiss the subsequent petition. If any potentially responsible or affected county or party objects to the court's finding of venue, the court may refer the issue to the department for a determination of the county of residence under
s. 51.40 (2) (g) and may suspend ruling on the motion for change of venue until the determination under
s. 51.40 (2) (g) is final.
55.075 Note
NOTE: Par. (bm) was created as s. 55.06 (3) (d) by
2005 Wis. Act 387 and renumbered by the revisor under s. 13.93 (1) (b). The bracketed language indicates the correct cross-reference.
55.075 History
History: 2005 a. 264 ss.
114,
115,
123 to
126,
157;
2005 a. 387 ss.
110,
112,
113,
114; s. 13.93 (1) (b), (2) (c).
55.075 Annotation
"Residence" under former s. 55.06 (3) (c) [now sub. (5) (a)] is defined in s. 49.01 (8g).
76 Atty. Gen. 103.
55.08
55.08
Protective services or protective placement: standards. 55.08(1)(1)
Protective placement. A court may under
s. 55.12 order protective placement for an individual who meets all of the following standards:
55.08(1)(a)
(a) The individual has a primary need for residential care and custody.
