49.79(10)(a)(a) The department may implement a policy that complies with
7 CFR 273.24. If the department implements a policy under this paragraph, all of the following apply:
49.79(10)(a)1.
1. The department shall require an able-bodied adult who is participating in the food stamp program to fulfill the work requirement defined under
7 CFR 273.24 (a) (1).
49.79(10)(a)2.
2. If an able-bodied adult does not fulfill the work requirement, the department may limit the able-bodied adult's eligibility for food stamps to no more than 3 months during a 3-year period.
49.79(10)(a)3.
3. The department may exempt up to 15 percent of the able-bodied adults who are participating in the food stamp program from the time limit under
subd. 2.
49.79(10)(b)
(b) If the department determines that a waiver, or an amendment to a waiver, is necessary to implement a policy that complies with
7 CFR 273.24, the department shall request the waiver or the amendment to the waiver from the federal department of agriculture to permit the department to implement a policy that complies with
7 CFR 273.24 as provided under this subsection.
49.793
49.793
Recovery of food stamps. 49.793(1)
(1) The department or a county, a multicounty consortium, as defined in
s. 49.78 (1) (br), or an elected governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band acting on behalf of the department, may recover overpayments that arise from an overissuance of food coupons under the food stamp program administered under
s. 46.215 (1) (k) or
46.22 (1) (b) 2. d. Recovery shall be made in accordance with
7 USC 2022.
49.793(2)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), a county, multicounty consortium, as defined in
s. 49.78 (1) (br), or governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe may retain a portion of the amount of an overpayment the state is authorized to retain under
7 USC 2025 that is recovered under
sub. (1) due to the efforts of an employee or officer of the county, multicounty consortium, or tribe. The department shall promulgate a rule establishing the portion of the amount of the overpayment that the county, multicounty consortium, or governing body may retain. This paragraph does not apply to recovery of an overpayment that was made as a result of state, county, multicounty consortium, or tribal governing body error.
49.793(2)(b)
(b) Any amount that Milwaukee County would otherwise be entitled to retain under
par. (a) for the recovery of an overpayment due to the efforts of a department employee or officer, or a county employee or officer under the management of the department, shall be credited to the appropriation account under
s. 20.435 (4) (L).
49.793 History
History: 2001 a. 16 ss.
1656ty,
1656tym; Stats. 2001 s. 49.793;
2009 a. 15;
2011 a. 32.
49.796
49.796
Food stamp reinstatement. A person may apply to a multicounty consortium, as defined in
s. 49.78 (1) (br), or a federally recognized American Indian tribal governing body or, if the person is a supplier, as defined in
s. 946.92 (1) (d), to the federal department of agriculture for reinstatement of benefits following a period of suspension imposed under
s. 946.92, if the suspension is not permanent.
49.796 History
History: 2013 a. 226 s.
43; Stats. 2013 s. 49.796.
49.797
49.797
Electronic benefit transfer. 49.797(1)
(1)
Definition. In this section, “food stamp program" means the federal food stamp program under
7 USC 2011 to
2029 or, if the department determines that the food stamp program no longer exists, a nutrition program that the department determines is a successor to the food stamp program.
49.797(2)(a)(a) Notwithstanding
s. 46.028 and except as provided in
par. (b) and
sub. (8), the department shall administer a statewide program to deliver food stamp benefits to recipients of food stamp benefits by an electronic benefit transfer system. All suppliers, as defined in
s. 946.92 (1) (d), may participate in the delivery of food stamp benefits under the electronic benefit transfer system. The department shall explore methods by which nontraditional retailers, such as farmers' markets, may participate in the delivery of food stamp benefits under the electronic benefit transfer system.
49.797(2)(b)
(b) The department need not implement a program to deliver food stamp benefits by an electronic benefit transfer system if any of the following applies:
49.797(2)(b)1.
1. The department determines that the cost of the electronic benefit transfer system would be greater than the cost of another food stamp delivery system.
49.797(4)
(4) Duties. In administering a program to deliver benefits by an electronic benefit transfer system, the department shall do all of the following:
49.797(4)(a)
(a) Consult with members of the following groups:
49.797(4)(a)4.
4. Appropriate county, state and tribal governing body employees.
49.797(4)(a)5.
5. Persons who sell goods or services to recipients for which payment may be made by use of an electronic benefit transfer system, including, as appropriate, retailers, landlords and public utilities.
49.797(4)(b)
(b) Hold informational meetings at a variety of locations around the state.
49.797(4)(c)
(c) To the extent possible, maximize the use of existing automated teller machines and point-of-sale terminals.
49.797(5)
(5) State agencies. The department may enter into an agreement with any state agency to deliver benefits paid by that agency by an electronic benefit transfer system.
49.797(6)
(6) Administration; contracts. The department may enter into a contract with any financial institution, as defined in
s. 705.01 (3), or other fiscal intermediary to administer a program to deliver benefits to recipients by an electronic benefit transfer system. The contract shall require the contractor to do all of the following:
49.797(6)(a)
(a) Provide training on the use of the electronic benefit transfer system to the persons enumerated in
sub. (4) (a).
49.797(6)(b)
(b) Provide ongoing assistance, on a 24-hour basis, on the use of the electronic benefit transfer system.
49.797(7)
(7) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules for the administration of the electronic benefit transfer system under this section. The rules shall include all of the following:
49.797(7)(a)
(a) The liability, and limits on the liability, of a recipient for lost benefits after the loss or theft of a card issued to the recipient under
sub. (4) (d).
49.797(7)(b)
(b) The suspension from a program of recipients, retailers or other participants for fraudulent activity, as defined by the department.
49.797(7)(d)
(d) Measures to be taken by the department or the person with whom the department contracts under
sub. (6) to ensure the security of card issuance and electronic transfer of benefits.
49.797(8)
(8) County participation; exception. The department may not require a multicounty consortium, as defined in
s. 49.78 (1) (br), or tribal governing body to participate in an electronic benefit transfer system under this section if the costs to the multicounty consortium or tribal governing body would be greater than the costs that the multicounty consortium or tribal governing body would incur in delivering the benefits through a system that is not an electronic benefit transfer system.
49.797 History
History: 2001 a. 16 ss.
1656u to
1656ue,
1656uj to
1656ut; Stats. 2001 s. 49.797;
2009 a. 28;
2011 a. 32;
2013 a. 226.
49.797 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ch.
DHS 252, Wis. adm. code.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
49.81
49.81
Public assistance recipients' bill of rights. The department of health services, the department of children and families, and all public assistance and relief-granting agencies shall respect rights for recipients of public assistance. The rights shall include all rights guaranteed by the U.S. constitution and the constitution of this state, and in addition shall include:
49.81(1)
(1) The right to be treated with respect by state agents.
49.81(2)
(2) The right to confidentiality of agency records and files on the recipient. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the use of such records for auditing or accounting purposes or, to the extent permitted under federal law, for the purposes of locating persons, or the assets of persons, who have failed to file tax returns, who have underreported their taxable income or who are delinquent taxpayers, identifying fraudulent tax returns or providing information for tax-related prosecutions.
49.81(3)
(3) The right to access to agency records and files relating to the recipient, except that the agency may withhold information obtained under a promise of confidentiality.
49.81(4)
(4) The right to a speedy determination of the recipient's status or eligibility for public assistance, to notice of any proposed change in such status or eligibility, and, in the case of assistance granted under
s. 49.19,
49.46,
49.468,
49.47, or
49.471, to a speedy appeals process for resolving contested determinations.
49.82
49.82
Administration of public assistance programs. 49.82(1)(1)
Departments to advise counties. The department of health services and the department of children and families shall advise all county officers charged with the administration of requirements relating to public assistance programs under this chapter and shall render all possible assistance in securing compliance therewith, including the preparation of necessary forms and reports. The department of health services and the department of children and families shall also publish any information that those departments consider advisable to acquaint persons entitled to public assistance, and the public generally, with the laws governing public assistance under this chapter.
49.82(2)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), for each person included in an application for public assistance under this chapter, proof shall be provided of his or her social security number or that an application for a social security number has been made.
49.82(2)(b)3.
3. A person who is applying for medical assistance under
subch. IV, coverage under the Badger Care health care program under
s. 49.665, or coverage under the program for prescription drug assistance for elderly persons under
s. 49.688 and who refuses to obtain a social security number because of well-established religious objections, as defined in
42 CFR 435.910 (h) (2).
49.825
49.825
Department administration in Milwaukee County. 49.825(1)(b)
(b) “Department" means the department of health services.
49.825(1)(d)
(d) “Secretary" means the secretary of health services.
49.825(1)(e)
(e) “Unit" means the Milwaukee County enrollment services unit.
49.825(2)(a)(a) The department shall establish a Milwaukee County enrollment services unit under
s. 15.02 (3) (c) 3. to determine eligibility under and administer the following public assistance programs in the county:
49.825(2)(b)
(b) The department of children and families may enter into a contract with the department of health services that provides for the performance of eligibility and authorization functions under the program under
s. 49.155 in the county by the unit.
49.825(2)(c)
(c) The department may enter into a contract with the county that provides for the performance by the county of any of the administrative functions under this subsection.
49.825(2)(d)
(d) The department shall reimburse the county for all approved, allowable costs that are incurred by the county under a contract with the department for the operation of the public assistance programs under
par. (a) in the county.
49.825(3)
(3) Division of employment-related functions. 49.825(3)(a)(a) Supervisory personnel in the unit shall be state employees. Nonsupervisory staff performing services under this section for the unit may be a combination of state employees and employees of Milwaukee County.
49.825(3)(b)1.1. The department shall have the authority to hire, transfer, suspend, lay off, recall, promote, discharge, assign, reward, discipline, and adjust grievances with respect to, and state supervisory employees may supervise, county employees performing services under this section for the unit.
49.825(3)(b)2.
2. For the purposes under
subd. 1., the department shall use the same process and procedures under
ch. 230 that are used for the classified service of the state civil service system, including specifically the use of probationary periods under
s. 230.28.
49.825(3)(b)3.
3. County employees performing services under this section for the unit shall be subject to the residency requirements that apply to other county employees under the county's civil service rules.
49.825(3)(c)
(c) The county shall perform all administrative tasks related to payroll and benefits for the county employees performing services under this section for the unit.
49.825(4)
(4) Treatment of former county employees appointed to state employee positions in the unit before July 1, 2011. All of the following shall apply to an employee who is appointed to a state employee position in the unit after May 29, 2009, and before July 1, 2011, and who, immediately prior to his or her appointment, was a county employee:
49.825(4)(a)
(a) The employee shall serve any applicable probationary period under
s. 230.28, but shall have his or her seniority with the state computed by treating the employee's total service with the county as state service.
49.825(4)(b)
(b) Annual leave for the employee shall accrue at the rate provided in
s. 230.35 using the employee's state service computed under
par. (a).
49.825(4)(c)1.1. The employee may remain a participating employee in the retirement system established under
chapter 201, laws of 1937. To remain under the retirement system established under
chapter 201, laws of 1937, the employee must exercise this option in writing, on a form provided by the department, at the time the employee is appointed to a state employee position. The employee shall exercise this option, in writing, no later than 10 days after the employee is appointed to a state employee position. An employee's decision to remain a participating employee in the retirement system established under
chapter 201, laws of 1937, is irrevocable during the period that the employee is holding a state employee position in the unit.
49.825(4)(d)
(d) The employee shall have his or her sick leave accrued with the state computed by treating the employee's unused balance of sick leave accrued with the county as sick leave accrued in state service, but not to exceed the amount of sick leave the employee would have accrued in state service for the same period, if the employee is able to provide adequate documentation in accounting for sick leave used during the accrual period with the county. Sick leave that transfers under this paragraph is not subject to a right of conversion, under
s. 40.05 (4) or otherwise, upon death or termination of creditable service for payment of health insurance benefits on behalf of the employee or the employee's dependents.
