49.155(1)(c)
(c) Notwithstanding
s. 49.141 (1) (j), "parent" means a custodial parent, guardian, foster parent, treatment foster parent, legal custodian or a person acting in the place of a parent.
Effective date note
NOTE: Par. (c) is amended by
2009 Wis. Act 28 eff. the date stated in the notice provided by the secretary of children and families and published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register under s. 48.62 (9) to read:
Effective date text
(c) Notwithstanding s. 49.141 (1) (j), "parent" means a custodial parent, guardian, foster parent, legal custodian, or a person acting in the place of a parent.
49.155(1)(d)
(d) "Tribal governing body" means an elected governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe.
49.155(1d)(a)(a) The department shall promulgate rules establishing standards for the certification of child care providers under
s. 48.651. The department shall consult with the child abuse and neglect prevention board before promulgating those rules. In establishing the requirements for certification under this paragraph of a child care provider, the department shall include a requirement that all providers and all employees and volunteers of a provider who provide care and supervision for children receive, before the date on which the provider is certified or the employment or volunteer work commences, whichever is applicable, training in the most current medically accepted methods of preventing sudden infant death syndrome, if the provider, employee, or volunteer provides care and supervision for children under one year of age, and the training relating to shaken baby syndrome and impacted babies required under
s. 253.15 (4) (b) or
(c), if the provider, employee, or volunteer provides care and supervision for children under 5 years of age. In establishing the requirements for certification as a Level II certified family child care provider, the department may not include any other requirement for training for providers.
49.155(1d)(b)
(b) The department shall promulgate rules to establish quality of care standards for child care providers that are higher than the quality of care standards required for licensure under
s. 48.65 or for certification under
s. 48.651. The standards established by rules promulgated under this paragraph shall consist of the standards provided for the accreditation of child care centers by the National Association for the Education of Young Children or any other comparable standards that the department may establish, including standards regarding the turnover of child care provider staff and the training and benefits provided for child care provider staff.
49.155(1g)
(1g) Child care allocations. Within the limits of the availability of the federal child care and development block grant funds received under
42 USC 9858, the department shall allocate funding in each fiscal year for all of the following:
49.155(1g)(ac)
(ac) A child care scholarship and bonus program, in the amount of at least $3,475,000 per fiscal year.
49.155(1g)(bc)
(bc) Grants under
s. 49.134 (2) for child care resource and referral services, in the amount of at least $1,298,600 per fiscal year.
49.155(1g)(c)
(c) Child care licensing activities, in the amount of at least $5,763,900 per fiscal year.
49.155(1g)(f)
(f) The department's share of the costs for the Child Care Information Center operated by the division for libraries, technology, and community learning in the department of public instruction.
49.155(1h)
(1h) Prohibition on transfer of funds. For purposes of the maximum spending amount under
sub. (1g) (ac), the department shall not transfer any federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant funds received by the department to federal Child Care and Development block grant funds received by the department.
49.155(1j)
(1j) Unanticipated federal funds. If the department receives unanticipated federal child care and development block grant funds under
42 USC 9858 and it proposes to allocate the unanticipated funds so that an allocation limit in
sub. (1g) is exceeded, the department shall submit a plan for the proposed allocation to the secretary of administration. If the secretary of administration approves the plan, he or she shall submit it to the joint committee on finance. If the cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the secretary of administration within 14 working days after the date of his or her submittal that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the plan, the department may implement the plan, notwithstanding any allocation limit under
sub. (1g). If within 14 working days after the date of the submittal by the secretary of administration the cochairpersons of the committee notify him or her that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the plan, the department may implement the plan, notwithstanding
sub. (1g), only with the approval of the committee.
49.155(1m)
(1m) Eligibility. Except as provided in
s. 49.155 (3g), the department shall contract with a county department or agency to determine the eligibility of individuals residing in a particular geographic region or who are members of a particular Indian tribal unit for child care subsidies under this section. Under this section, an individual may receive a subsidy for child care for a child who has not attained the age of 13 or, if the child is disabled, who has not attained the age of 19, if the individual meets all of the following conditions:
49.155(1m)(a)
(a) The individual is a parent of a child who meets the requirement under
s. 49.145 (2) (c) and who is under the age of 13 or, if the child is disabled, is under the age of 19; or is a relative who, under
s. 48.57 (3m) or
(3n) or
48.62, is providing care and maintenance for a child who meets the requirement under
s. 49.145 (2) (c) and who is under the age of 13 or, if the child is disabled, is under the age of 19; and child care services for that child are needed in order for the individual to do any of the following:
49.155(1m)(a)1m.
1m. Obtain a high school diploma or participate in a course of study meeting the standards established by the state superintendent of public instruction for the granting of a declaration of equivalency of high school graduation, if the individual is not subject to the school attendance requirement under
s. 49.26 (1) (ge) and at least one of the following conditions is met:
49.155(1m)(a)1m.b.
b. The individual has not yet attained the age of 18 years and the individual resides with his or her custodial parent or with a kinship care relative under
s. 48.57 (3m) or with a long-term kinship care relative under
s. 48.57 (3n) or is in a foster home or treatment foster home licensed under
s. 48.62, a subsidized guardianship home under
s. 48.62 (5), a group home, or an independent living arrangement supervised by an adult.
Effective date note
NOTE: Subd. 1m. b. is amended by
2009 Wis. Act 28 eff. the date stated in the notice provided by the secretary of children and families and published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register under s. 48.62 (9) to read:
49.155 Note
b. The individual has not yet attained the age of 18 years and the individual resides with his or her custodial parent or with a kinship care relative under s. 48.57 (3m) or with a long-term kinship care relative under s. 48.57 (3n) or is in a foster home licensed under s. 48.62, a subsidized guardianship home under s. 48.62 (5), a group home, or an independent living arrangement supervised by an adult.
49.155(1m)(a)2.
2. Work in an unsubsidized job, including training provided by an employer during the regular hours of employment.
49.155(1m)(a)3m.
3m. Participate in a job search or work experience component of the food stamp employment and training program under
s. 49.79 (9).
49.155(1m)(a)4.
4. If the Wisconsin works agency determines that basic education would facilitate the individual's efforts to maintain employment, participate in basic education, including an English as a 2nd language course; literacy tutoring; or 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. An individual may receive aid under this subdivision for up to 2 years.
49.155(1m)(a)5.
5. Participate in a course of study at a technical college, or participate in educational courses that provide an employment skill, as determined by the department, if the Wisconsin works agency determines that the course or courses would facilitate the individual's efforts to maintain employment. An individual may receive aid under this subdivision for up to 2 years.
49.155(1m)(b)
(b) Except as provided in
par. (bm), the individual meets the eligibility criteria under all of the following:
49.155(1m)(bm)
(bm) If the individual is providing care for a child under a court order and is receiving payments on behalf of the child under
s. 48.57 (3m) or
(3n) or
48.62 (5), or if the individual is a foster parent or treatment foster parent, and child care is needed for that child, the child meets the requirement under
s. 49.145 (2) (c).
Effective date note
NOTE: Par. (bm) is amended by
2009 Wis. Act 28 eff. the date stated in the notice provided by the secretary of children and families and published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register under s. 48.62 (9) to read:
Effective date text
(bm) If the individual is providing care for a child under a court order and is receiving payments on behalf of the child under s. 48.57 (3m) or (3n) or 48.62 (5), or if the individual is a foster parent, and child care is needed for that child, the child meets the requirement under s. 49.145 (2) (c).
49.155(1m)(c)1.1. Except as provided in
subds. 1g.,
1h.,
1m.,
2., and
3., the gross income of the individual's family is at or below 185% of the poverty line for a family the size of the individual's family or, for an individual who is already receiving a child care subsidy under this section, the gross income of the individual's family is at or below 200% of the poverty line for a family the size of the individual's family. In calculating the gross income of the family, the department or county department or agency determining eligibility shall include court-ordered child or family support payments received by the individual, if those support payments exceed $1,250 per month, and income described under
s. 49.145 (3) (b) 1. and
3., except that, in calculating farm and self-employment income, the department or county department or agency determining eligibility shall include the sum of the following:
49.155(1m)(c)1.b.
b. Depreciation expenses, personal business and entertainment expenses, personal transportation costs, purchases of capitol equipment and payments on the principal of loans.
49.155(1m)(c)1g.
1g. If the individual is a foster parent of the child or a subsidized guardian or interim caretaker of the child under
s. 48.62 (5), the child's biological or adoptive family has a gross income that is at or below 200% of the poverty line. In calculating the gross income of the child's biological or adoptive family, the department or county department or agency determining eligibility shall include court-ordered child or family support payments received by the individual, if those support payments exceed $1,250 per month, and income described under
s. 49.145 (3) (b) 1. and
3.
49.155(1m)(c)1h.
1h. If the individual is a relative of the child, is providing care for the child under a court order, and is receiving payments under
s. 48.57 (3m) or
(3n) on behalf of the child, the child's biological or adoptive family has a gross income that is at or below 200% of the poverty line. In calculating the gross income of the child's biological or adoptive family, the department or county department or agency determining eligibility shall include court-ordered child or family support payments received by the individual, if those support payments exceed $1,250 per month, and income described under
s. 49.145 (3) (b) 1. and
3.
49.155(1m)(c)1m.
1m. If the individual was eligible under s.
49.132 (4) (a), 1995 stats., for aid under s.
49.132, 1995 stats., and received aid under s.
49.132, 1995 stats., on September 30, 1997, but lost aid solely because of the application of s.
49.132 (6), 1995 stats., the gross income of the individual's family is at or below 200% of the poverty line for a family the size of the individual's family. This subdivision does not apply to an individual whose family's gross income at any time on or after September 30, 1997, is more than 200% of the poverty line for a family the size of the individual's family.
49.155(1m)(c)2.
2. If the individual was eligible under s.
49.132 (4) (am), 1995 stats., for aid under s.
49.132, 1995 stats., and received aid under s.
49.132, 1995 stats., on or after May 10, 1996, but lost eligibility solely because of increased income, the gross income of the individual's family is at or below 200% of the poverty line for a family the size of the individual's family. This subdivision does not apply to an individual whose family's gross income increased to more than 200% of the poverty line for a family the size of the individual's family.
49.155(1m)(c)3.
3. If the individual was eligible for a child care subsidy under s.
49.191 (2), 1997 stats., on or after May 10, 1996, and received a child care subsidy on or after May 10, 1996, but lost the subsidy solely because of increased income, the gross income of the individual's family is at or below 200% of the poverty line for a family the size of the individual's family. This subdivision does not apply to an individual whose family's gross income increased to more than 200% of the poverty line for a family the size of the individual's family.
49.155(1m)(d)
(d) The individual satisfies other eligibility criteria established by the department by rule.
49.155(3)
(3) Child care local administration. Except as provided in
sub. (3g), the county department or agency with which the department contracts under
sub. (1m) to determine eligibility in a particular geographic region or for a particular Indian tribal unit shall administer child care assistance in that geographic region or for that tribal unit. For the administration of child care assistance under this section, the department may require the county department or agency to do all of the following:
49.155(3)(a)
(a) Determine an individual's liability for copayments under
sub. (5).
49.155(3)(b)
(b) Determine and authorize the amount of child care for which an individual may receive a subsidy.
49.155(3)(c)
(c) Annually perform a survey of market child care rates, as directed by the department, and determine maximum reimbursement rates, if the department so directs.
49.155(3)(d)
(d) Assist individuals who are eligible for child care subsidies under this section to identify available child care providers and select appropriate child care arrangements.
49.155(3)(e)
(e) At intervals, or as otherwise required by the department, review and redetermine the financial and nonfinancial eligibility of individuals receiving child care subsidies under this section.
49.155(3g)
(3g) Child care administration in certain counties. In a county having a population of 500,000 or more all of the following apply:
49.155(3g)(a)
(a) The department may contract with the Milwaukee County enrollment services unit, as provided in
s. 49.825 (2) (b), to do any of the following:
49.155(3g)(a)1.
1. Determine the eligibility of individuals for a child care subsidy under this section.
49.155(3g)(a)3.
3. Determine and authorize the amount of child care for which an individual may receive a subsidy.
49.155(3g)(a)4.
4. At intervals, or as otherwise required by the department, review and redetermine the financial and nonfinancial eligibility of individuals receiving child care subsidies under this section.
49.155(3g)(b)
(b) The department may establish a child care provider services unit, as provided in
s. 49.826, to perform the provider services functions specified in
s. 49.826 (2) (a).
49.155(3m)(a)(a) The department shall reimburse child care providers or shall distribute funds to county departments under
s. 46.215,
46.22 or
46.23 or tribal governing bodies for child care services provided under this section and to private nonprofit agencies that provide child care for children of migrant workers. The department may reimburse a Wisconsin works agency for child care that the Wisconsin works agency provides to the children of Wisconsin works participants and applicants.
49.155(3m)(b)1.1. Subject to
subds. 2. and
3., the department shall, to the extent practicable, allocate funds to a contract entered into under
sub. (1m) for the administration of the program under
sub. (3) in the same proportion as the geographic region's or Indian tribal unit's proportionate share of all statewide subsidy authorizations and eligibility redeterminations under
sub. (3) (e) in the 12-month period before the start of the contract period.
49.155(3m)(b)2.
2. The department shall allocate to each contract at least $20,000 per year for the administrative responsibilities for each geographic region or Indian tribal unit.
49.155(3m)(b)3.
3. If the department renews a contract for a subsequent year, the department shall allocate to the contract not less than 95 percent of the amount allocated to the contract in the previous year, unless the geographic region or Indian tribal unit is not comparable or total funding available for all contracts is lower than the total amount available in the previous year.
49.155(3m)(b)4.
4. Within any contract period, the department may redistribute unexpended contract balances for a county department or agency to another county department or agency that reports expenditures in excess of their original contract total for the period.
49.155(3m)(c)
(c) From the funds distributed under
par. (a), a county may provide child care services itself, purchase child care services from a child care provider, provide vouchers to an eligible parent for the payment of child care services provided by a child care provider, reimburse an eligible parent for payments made by the parent to a child care provider for child care services, adopt, with the approval of the department, any other arrangement that the county considers appropriate or use any combination of these methods to provide child care.
49.155(3m)(d)
(d) No funds distributed under
par. (a) may be used for child care services that are provided for a child by a child care provider who is the parent of the child or who resides with the child, unless the county determines that the care is necessary because of a special health condition of the child.
49.155(3m)(e)1.1. In this paragraph, "qualifying child" means a child who satisfies both of the following:
49.155(3m)(e)1.a.
a. He or she is not a child of an employee of the child care provider.
49.155(3m)(e)1.b.
b. He or she does not reside with an employee of the child care provider.
49.155(3m)(e)2.
2. No funds distributed under
par. (a) may be used for child care services that are provided for a child by a child care provider who employs either the parent of the child or a person who resides with the child, unless the child care provider is licensed under
s. 48.65 and at all times at least 60 percent of the children for whom the child care provider is providing care are qualifying children.
49.155(3m)(e)3.
3. Notwithstanding
subd. 2., if a child care provider described in
subd. 2. satisfies the requirements for payment under
subd. 2. but the percentage of qualifying children for whom the provider is providing care falls below 60 percent, the provider shall have 6 weeks to raise the percentage of qualifying children for whom the provider is providing care to at least 60 percent before payments to the provider are discontinued for child care services provided for a child who is not a qualifying child.
49.155(4)
(4) Choice of provider. An eligible individual shall choose whether the child care will be provided by a child care center licensed under
s. 48.65, a Level I certified family child care provider, a Level II certified family child care provider, or a child care program provided or contracted for by a school board under
s. 120.13 (14).
49.155(5)
(5) Liability for payment. An individual is liable for the percentage of the cost of the child care specified by the department in a printed copayment schedule. An individual who is under the age of 20 and is attending high school or participating in a course of study meeting the standards established under
s. 115.29 (4) for the granting of a declaration of equivalency to high school graduation may not be determined liable for more than the minimum copayment amount for the type of child care received and the number of children receiving child care.
49.155 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also s.
DCF 56.08, Wis. adm. code.
49.155(6)
(6) Child care rates and quality standards. 49.155(6)(a)(a) Subject to review and approval by the department, each county shall establish the maximum reimbursement rate for licensed child care services provided under this section. A county shall set the rate so that at least 75% of the number of places for children within the licensed capacity of all child care providers in that county can be purchased at or below that maximum rate.
49.155(6)(b)
(b) Subject to review and approval by the department, each county shall set a maximum reimbursement rate for Level I certified family child care providers for services provided to eligible individuals under this section. The maximum rate set under this paragraph may not exceed 75% of the rate established under
par. (a).
49.155(6)(c)
(c) Subject to review and approval by the department, each county shall set a maximum reimbursement rate for Level II certified family child care providers for services provided to eligible individuals under this section. The maximum rate set under this paragraph may not exceed 50% of the rate established under
par. (a).
49.155(6)(cm)
(cm) The department shall modify child care provider reimbursement rates established under
pars. (a) to
(c) so that reimbursement rates are lower for providers of after-school child care.
49.155(6)(d)
(d) The department may promulgate rules to establish a system of rates or a program of grants that the department will pay to child care providers that meet the higher quality of care standards established by rules promulgated under
sub. (1d) (b). If a system of rates is established under this paragraph, the rates under that system shall be higher than the rates established under
pars. (a) to
(c).
49.155(6)(e)
(e) The department may not increase the maximum reimbursement rates for child care providers in 2009, in 2010, or before June 30 in 2011.
49.155 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also s.
DCF 56.06, Wis. adm. code.
49.155(6g)(a)1.1. In this paragraph, "department" means the department or the county department or agency determining and authorizing the amount of child care for which an individual may receive a subsidy under this section.
