Chapter 49

49.114 49.114 Contract powers of the department.

49.114(1) (1) Religious organizations; legislative purpose. The purpose of this section is to allow the department to contract with, or award grants to, religious organizations, under any program administered by the department, on the same basis as any other nongovernmental provider without impairing the religious character of such organizations, and without diminishing the religious freedom of beneficiaries of assistance funded under such program.

49.114(2) (2) Nondiscrimination against religious organizations. If the department is authorized under ch. 16 to contract with a nongovernmental entity, or is authorized to award grants to a nongovernmental entity, religious organizations are eligible, on the same basis as any other private organization, as contractors under any program administered by the department so long as the programs are implemented consistent with the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and article I, section 18, of the Wisconsin Constitution. Except as provided in sub. (10), the department may not discriminate against an organization that is or applies to be a contractor on the basis that the organization has a religious character.

49.114(3) (3) Religious character and freedom.

49.114(3)(a) (a) The department shall allow a religious organization with which the department contracts or to which the department awards a grant to retain its independence from state and local governments, including the organization’s control over the definition, development, practice and expression of its religious beliefs.

49.114(3)(b) (b) The department may not require a religious organization to alter its form of internal governance or to remove religious art, icons, scripture or other symbols in order to be eligible for a contract or grant.

49.114(4) (4) Rights of beneficiaries of assistance. If an individual has an objection to the religious character of the organization or institution from which the individual receives, or would receive, assistance funded under any program administered by the department, the department shall provide such individual, if otherwise eligible for such assistance, within a reasonable period of time after the date of the objection with assistance from an alternative provider that is accessible to the individual. The value of the assistance offered by the alternative provider may not be less than the value of the assistance which the individual would have received from the religious organization.

49.114(5) (5) Employment practices. To the extent permitted under federal law, a religious organization’s exemption provided under 42 USC 2000e-la regarding employment practices is not affected by its participation in, or receipt of funds from, programs administered by the department.

49.114(6) (6) Nondiscrimination against beneficiaries. A religious organization may not discriminate against an individual in regard to rendering assistance funded under any program administered by the department on the basis of religion, a religious belief or refusal to actively participate in a religious practice.

49.114(7) (7) Fiscal accountability.

49.114(7)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), any religious organization that contracts with, or receives a grant from, the department is subject to the same laws and rules as other contractors to account in accord with generally accepted auditing principles for the use of such funds provided under such programs.

49.114(7)(b) (b) If the religious organization segregates funds provided under programs administered by the department into separate accounts, then only the financial assistance provided with those funds shall be subject to audit.

49.114(8) (8) Compliance. Any party that seeks to enforce its rights under this section may assert a civil action for injunctive relief against the entity or agency that allegedly commits the violation.

49.114(9) (9) Limitations on use of funds for certain purposes. No funds provided directly to religious organizations by the department may be expended for sectarian worship, instruction or proselytization.

49.114(10) (10) Preemption. Nothing in this section may be construed to preempt any provision of federal law, the U.S. Constitution, the Wisconsin Constitution or any other statute that prohibits or restricts the expenditure of federal or state funds in or by religious organizations.

49.114 History History: 1997 a. 27.

49.114 Annotation Grants to a faith-based counseling organization that integrated religion into its counseling program were unconstitutional when there were insufficient safeguards in place to insure that public funding did not contribute to a religious end. Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. v. McCallum, 179 F. Supp. 2d 950 (2002).

49.131 49.131 Electronic transfer of benefits.

49.131(1) (1) The department shall request any necessary authorization from the appropriate federal agency to deliver benefits that are administered by the department to recipients of benefits by an electronic benefit transfer system.

49.131(2) (2) Subject to receiving any necessary approval from the appropriate federal agency under sub. (1), and subject to sub. (3m), the department may implement a program to deliver by an electronic benefit transfer system any benefit that is administered by the department.

49.131(3m) (3m) Prior to implementing, and receiving funding for implementing, any program to deliver by electronic means Wisconsin Works benefits or child care subsidies under s. 49.155, the department shall submit a plan for implementation to the joint committee on finance. Any plan submitted by the department shall include specific information on the vendor selected, the total start-up and ongoing costs, and how issues of fraud and program integrity will be addressed. If the department submits a plan and the cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the department within 14 working days after the date that the department submits the plan that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the plan, the plan may be implemented and the department shall receive the necessary funding. If, within 14 working days after the date that the department submits a plan, the cochairpersons notify the department that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the plan, the plan may be implemented, and funding received, only upon approval of the committee.

49.131 History History: 2001 a. 16 ss. 1656ug, 1656uh, 1656uv, 1656uw; 2013 a. 20.

49.134 49.134 Child care resource and referral service grants.

49.134(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

49.134(1)(a) (a) “Indian tribe” means a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state.

49.134(1)(b) (b) “Local agency” means a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation or an Indian tribe that provides or proposes to provide child care resource and referral services that are funded under this section.

49.134(1)(c) (c) “Nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation” means a nonstock corporation organized under ch. 181 that is a nonprofit corporation, as defined in s. 181.0103 (17), and that is exempt from taxation under section 501 (c) of the internal revenue code.

49.134(2) (2) Resource and referral service grants.

49.134(2)(a) (a) From the allocation under s. 49.155 (1g), the department shall make grants to local agencies to fund child care resource and referral services provided by those local agencies. The department shall provide an allocation formula to determine the amount of a grant awarded under this section.

49.134(2)(c) (c) A local agency that is awarded a grant under this section shall contribute matching funds equal to 25 percent of the amount awarded under this section. The match may be in the form of money or in-kind goods or services, or both.

49.134(2)(d) (d) The department may award a grant under this section to a local agency only if that local agency meets any of the following requirements:

49.134(2)(d)1. 1. The local agency is solely in the business of providing child care resource and referral services.

49.134(2)(d)2. 2. If the local agency provides services, or is affiliated with a person who provides services, other than child care resource and referral services, the local agency, or the person with whom the local agency is affiliated, is not a provider of child care services or of early childhood education services and the local agency has an advisory committee to provide oversight for the portion of the local agency’s services that are child care resource and referral services.

49.134(3) (3) Use of grant funds.

49.134(3)(a) (a) A local agency that is awarded a grant under this section may use the funds to provide any of the following services:

49.134(3)(a)1. 1. Technical assistance and support to child care providers.

49.134(3)(a)2. 2. Recruitment of child care providers in areas of need.

49.134(3)(a)3. 3. Information on the child care service options that are available in the community served by the local agency.

49.134(3)(a)4. 4. A data resource file that identifies the child care service options that are available in the community served by the local agency and that documents the requests and needs of parents in that community for child care services.

49.134(3)(a)5. 5. Programs or information on continuing education and training for child care providers.

49.134(3)(a)6. 6. Any other information regarding the availability and quality of child care services in the community served by the local agency.

49.134(3)(b) (b) A local agency that is awarded a grant under this section may not use the funds to supplant any other funds that the local agency uses to provide child care resource and referral services at the time of the awarding of the grant.

49.134(4) (4) Department responsibilities. The department shall do all of the following:

49.134(4)(a) (a) Administer, or contract for the administration of, the grant program under this section, provide an application procedure for that program and disburse funds awarded under that program.

49.134(4)(b) (b) Provide consultation and technical assistance to local agencies in the preparation of grant applications and the operation of child care resource and referral services programs funded under this section.

49.134(4)(c) (c) Monitor the child care resource and referral services provided by a grant recipient.

49.134 History History: 1991 a. 275; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 27; 1995 a. 404 ss. 123 to 129; Stats. 1995 s. 49.134; 1997 a. 27, 79; 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 20.

49.136 49.136 Child care start-up and expansion.

49.136(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

49.136(1)(ad) (ad) “Child care center” means a facility operated by a child care provider that provides care and supervision for 4 or more children under 7 years of age for less than 24 hours a day.

49.136(1)(am) (am) “Child care program” means a program established and provided by a school board under s. 120.13 (14) or purchased by a school board from a provider licensed under s. 48.65, which combines care for a child who resides with a student parent who is a parent of that child with parenting education and experience for that student parent.

49.136(1)(b) (b) “Child care provider” means a provider licensed under s. 48.65, certified under s. 48.651 or established or contracted for under s. 120.13 (14).

49.136(1)(g) (g) “Employer” means a person who engages the services of an employee, and includes the state, its political subdivisions and any office, department, independent agency, authority, institution, association, society or other body in state or local government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, including the courts and the legislature.

49.136(1)(j) (j) “Family child care center” means a child care center that provides care and supervision for not less than 4 nor more than 8 children.

49.136(1)(k) (k) “Group child care center” means a child care center that provides care and supervision for 9 or more children.

49.136(1)(m) (m) “Parent” means a parent, guardian, foster parent, legal custodian, or a person acting in the place of a parent.

49.136(1)(n) (n) “Student parent” means a pupil who is enrolled in a middle school, junior high school or senior high school and who is a parent.

49.136(2) (2) Start-up and expansion.

49.136(2)(a) (a) From the allocation under s. 49.155 (1g), the department may award grants for the start-up or expansion of child care services.

49.136(2)(b) (b) If the department awards grants under this section, the department shall attempt to award the grants to head start agencies designated under 42 USC 9836, employers that provide or wish to provide child care services for their employees, family child care centers, group child care centers and child care programs for the children of student parents, organizations that provide child care for sick children, and child care providers that employ participants or former participants in a Wisconsin Works employment position under s. 49.147 (3) to (5).

49.136(2)(cm) (cm) A person who is awarded a grant under this subsection shall contribute matching funds equal to 25 percent of the amount awarded under this subsection. The match may be in the form of money or in-kind goods or services, or both.

49.136(6) (6) Limit on expenditure of funds. No funds provided under this section may be used for the purchase or improvement of land or for the purchase, construction or permanent improvement, other than minor remodeling, of any building or facility.

49.136(7) (7) Grant administration.

49.136(7)(a) (a) The department shall establish guidelines for eligibility for a grant under this section. The department need not promulgate those guidelines as rules under ch. 227.

49.136(7)(b) (b) The department may administer the grant application process under this section or contract for the administration of that process.

49.136 History History: 1991 a. 275; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 27, 289; 1995 a. 404 ss. 131 to 141; Stats. 1995 s. 49.136; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 28, 185.

49.137 49.137 Child care quality improvement.

49.137(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

49.137(1)(ab) (ab) “Child care center” has the meaning given in s. 49.136 (1) (ad).

49.137(1)(am) (am) “Child care provider” means a provider licensed under s. 48.65, certified under s. 48.651 or established or contracted for under s. 120.13 (14).

49.137(1)(bd) (bd) “Family child care center” has the meaning given in s. 49.136 (1) (j).

49.137(1)(c) (c) “Family child care system” means a centralized administrative unit that offers technical assistance and support to a group of child care providers with the goal of improving child care services.

49.137(1)(e) (e) “Group child care center” has the meaning given in s. 49.136 (1) (k).

49.137(2) (2) Staff retention grants.

49.137(2)(a) (a) From the allocation under s. 49.155 (1g), the department may award grants to child care providers that meet the quality of care standards established under s. 49.155 (1d) to improve the retention of skilled and experienced child care staff. In awarding grants under this subsection, the department shall consider the applying child care provider’s total enrollment of children and average enrollment of children who receive or are eligible for publicly funded care from the child care provider.

49.137(2)(b) (b) A child care provider that is awarded a grant under this subsection shall contribute matching funds equal to 25 percent of the amount awarded under this subsection. The match may be in the form of money or in-kind goods or services, or both.

49.137(2)(c) (c) A child care provider that is awarded a grant under this subsection may use the funds to provide advanced training for the child care provider’s child care staff, to improve the salaries and benefits provided to the child care provider’s child care staff and to undertake other activities or projects to improve the retention of the child care provider’s child care staff.

49.137(3) (3) Quality improvement grants.

49.137(3)(a) (a) From the allocation under s. 49.155 (1g), the department may award grants to child care providers for assistance in meeting the quality of care standards established under s. 49.155 (1d).

49.137(3)(b) (b) A child care provider that is awarded a grant under this subsection shall contribute matching funds equal to 25 percent of the amount awarded under this subsection. The match may be in the form of money or in-kind goods or services, or both.

49.137(3)(c) (c) A child care provider that is awarded a grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds to attempt to meet the quality of care standards established under s. 49.132 (4) (e), 1995 stats., within 24 months after receipt of the grant.

49.137(4) (4) Training and technical assistance contracts. From the allocation under s. 49.155 (1g), the department may contract with one or more agencies for the provision of training and technical assistance to improve the quality of child care provided in this state. The training and technical assistance activities contracted for under this subsection may include any of the following activities:

49.137(4)(a) (a) Developing and recommending to the department a system of higher payment rates or a program of grants for child care providers that meet the quality of care standards established under s. 49.132 (4) (e), 1995 stats.

49.137(4)(b) (b) Developing a plan for a uniform, statewide system of career development, credentialing and training for individuals who provide child care.

49.137(4)(c) (c) Disseminating to the public information about child care that meets the quality of care standards established under s. 49.132 (4) (e), 1995 stats.

49.137(4)(d) (d) Providing informational resources to child care providers.

49.137(4)(e) (e) Providing advanced training to child care providers and the staff of child care providers.

49.137(4)(f) (f) Developing family child care systems.

49.137(4)(g) (g) Developing resources to provide child care in a generic setting for children with special needs.