Chapter 49

49.345(14)(cm)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., if a parent who is required to pay child support under par. (b) or (c) is receiving adoption assistance under s. 48.975 for the child for whom support is ordered, the amount of the child support payments determined under par. (b) or (c) may not exceed the amount of the adoption assistance maintenance payments under s. 48.975 (3) (a). If an agreement under s. 48.975 (4) is in effect that provides for a payment of $0 under s. 48.975 (3) (a), the payment of $0 shall be considered to be an adoption assistance maintenance payment for purposes of this subdivision.

49.345(14)(cm)2. 2. Subdivision 1. does not apply if, after considering the factors under par. (c) 1. to 11., the court finds by the greater weight of the credible evidence that limiting the amount of the child support payments to the amount of the adoption assistance maintenance payments under s. 48.975 (3) (a) is unfair to the child or to either of the parents.

49.345(14)(d) (d) If the court finds under par. (c) that use of the percentage standard is unfair to the minor child or either of the parents, the court shall state in writing or on the record the amount of support that would be required by using the percentage standard, the amount by which the court’s order deviates from that amount, its reasons for finding that use of the percentage standard is unfair to the child or the parent, its reasons for the amount of the modification, and the basis for the modification.

49.345(14)(e) (e)

49.345(14)(e)1. 1. An order issued under s. 48.355 (2) (b) 4. or (4g) (a), 48.357 (5m) (a), 48.363 (2), 938.183 (4), 938.355 (2) (b) 4., 938.357 (5m) (a), or 938.363 (2) for support determined under this subsection constitutes an assignment of all commissions, earnings, salaries, wages, pension benefits, income continuation insurance benefits under s. 40.62, duty disability benefits under s. 40.65, benefits under ch. 102 or 108, and other money due or to be due in the future to the county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23 in the county where the order was entered or to the department, depending upon the placement of the child as specified by rules promulgated under subd. 5. The assignment shall be for an amount sufficient to ensure payment under the order.

49.345(14)(e)2. 2. Except as provided in subd. 3., for each payment made under the assignment, the person from whom the payer under the order receives money shall receive an amount equal to the person’s necessary disbursements, not to exceed $3, which shall be deducted from the money to be paid to the payer.

49.345(14)(e)3. 3. Benefits under ch. 108 may be assigned and withheld only in the manner provided in s. 108.13 (4). Any order to withhold benefits under ch. 108 shall be for an amount certain. When money is to be withheld from these benefits, no fee may be deducted from the amount withheld and no fine may be levied for failure to withhold the money.

49.345(14)(e)4. 4. No employer may use an assignment under this paragraph as a basis for the denial of employment to a person, the discharge of an employee, or any disciplinary action against an employee. An employer who denies employment or discharges or disciplines an employee in violation of this subdivision may be fined not more than $500 and may be required to make full restitution to the aggrieved person, including reinstatement and back pay. Except as provided in this subdivision, restitution shall be in accordance with s. 973.20. An aggrieved person may apply to the district attorney or to the department of workforce development for enforcement of this subdivision.

49.345(14)(e)5. 5. The department shall promulgate rules for the operation and implementation of assignments under this paragraph.

49.345(14)(f) (f) If the amount of the child support determined under this subsection is greater than the cost for the care and maintenance of the minor child in the residential, nonmedical facility, the assignee under par. (e) 1. shall expend or otherwise dispose of any funds that are collected in excess of the cost of such care and maintenance in a manner that the assignee determines will serve the best interests of the minor child.

49.345(14)(g) (g) For purposes of determining child support under par. (b), the department shall promulgate rules related to the application of the standard established by the department under s. 49.22 (9) to a child support obligation for the care and maintenance of a child who is placed by a court order under s. 48.32, 48.355, 48.357, 938.183, 938.355, or 938.357 in a residential, nonmedical facility. The rules shall take into account the needs of any person, including dependent children other than the child, whom either parent is legally obligated to support.

49.345(16) (16) The department shall delegate to county departments under ss. 46.215, 46.22, and 46.23 or the local providers of care and services meeting the standards established by the department under s. 49.34 the responsibilities vested in the department under this section for collection of fees for services other than those provided at state facilities, if the county departments or providers meet the conditions that the department determines are appropriate. The department may delegate to county departments under ss. 46.215, 46.22, and 46.23 the responsibilities vested in the department under this section for collection of fees for services provided at the state facilities if the necessary conditions are met.

49.345 History History: 2007 a. 20 ss. 893, 1507; 2009 a. 28, 218; 2011 a. 260; 2015 a. 55, 373.

49.345 Annotation Sections 46.03 (18) and 46.10 do not constitute an unlawful delegation of legislative power. Klisurich v. DHSS, 98 Wis. 2d 274, 296 N.W.2d 742 (1980).

49.345 Annotation Sections 46.03 (18) and 46.10 permit the Department of Health and Social Services to promulgate rules that consider non-liable family members’ incomes in determining a liable family member’s ability to pay. J.G.W. v. Outagamie County Department of Social Services, 153 Wis. 2d 412, 451 N.W.2d 416 (1990).

49.345 Annotation Section 46.03 (18) (b) imposes liability upon minors and parents for the costs of services but does not give counties an automatic right of recovery. Section 46.10 governs enforcement procedure and allows courts to exercise discretion. S.E. v. Waukesha County, 159 Wis. 2d 709, 465 N.W.2d 231 (Ct. App. 1990).

49.345 Annotation The uniform fee system under ss. 46.03 (18) and 46.10 allows imputing income and, consequently, looking beyond tax returns to determine ability to pay. Daniel R.C. v. Waukesha County, 181 Wis. 2d 146, 510 N.W.2d 746 (Ct. App. 1993).

49.345 Annotation A circuit court may order parents to pay toward a child’s support when a CHIPS child is placed in residential treatment, but the court may not assess any of the facility’s education-related costs against the parents. Calumet County Department of Human Services v. Randall H., 2002 WI 126, 257 Wis. 2d 57, 653 N.W.2d 503, 01-1272.

49.345 Note NOTE: The above annotations relate to cost of care and maintenance for a person receiving services provided by predecessor agencies to the Department of Children and Families under s. 46.10.

49.348 49.348 Recidivism reduction program.

49.348(1) (1) The department may request proposals for a program that reduces the rate of recidivism of persons in the city of Milwaukee who have previously been incarcerated following a criminal conviction. The department shall specify that the program will be conducted under a contract with a 5-year term and that no payment will be made under the contract until the organization selected to conduct the program demonstrates, after the 5-year term, that the program met a certain minimum level of success, as determined under subs. (2) and (4). The selected organization may serve as an intermediary for obtaining funding to perform the contract by raising capital from private donors or investors and for subcontracting with direct providers to achieve the specified performance outcomes. In evaluating proposals, the department shall give a preference to those that incorporate reuniting parents with their children.

49.348(2) (2) The legislative audit bureau shall assist the department and the selected organization in identifying benchmarks by which to measure the organization’s performance under the contract.

49.348(4) (4) After completion of the 5-year contract term, the legislative audit bureau shall conduct an audit of the program to determine whether the benchmarks identified under sub. (2) have been met.

49.348 History History: 2015 a. 55.

49.35 49.35 Public assistance; supervisory functions of department.

49.35(1) (1) 

49.35(1)(a) (a) The department shall supervise the administration of programs under this subchapter and ch. 48 and of community-based juvenile delinquency-related programs under ch. 938. The department shall submit to the federal authorities state plans for the administration of programs under this subchapter and ch. 48 and of community-based juvenile delinquency-related programs under ch. 938 in such form and containing such information as the federal authorities require, and shall comply with all requirements prescribed to ensure their correctness.

49.35(1)(b) (b) All records of the department and all county records relating to programs under this subchapter and ch. 48, community-based juvenile delinquency-related programs under ch. 938, and aid under s. 49.18, 1971 stats., s. 49.20, 1971 stats., and s. 49.61, 1971 stats., as affected by chapter 90, laws of 1973, shall be open to inspection at all reasonable hours by authorized representatives of the federal government. Notwithstanding ss. 48.396 (2) and 938.396 (2), all county records relating to the administration of the services and public assistance specified in this paragraph shall be open to inspection at all reasonable hours by authorized representatives of the department.

49.35(1)(bm) (bm) All records of the department relating to aid provided under s. 49.19 are open to inspection at reasonable hours by members of the legislature who require the information contained in the records in pursuit of a specific state legislative purpose. All records of any county relating to aid provided under s. 49.19 are open to inspection at reasonable hours by members of the board of supervisors of the county or the governing body of a city, village or town located in the county who require the information contained in the records in pursuit of a specific county or municipal legislative purpose. The right to records access provided by this paragraph does not apply if access is prohibited by federal law or regulation or if this state is required to prohibit such access as a condition precedent to participation in a federal program in which this state participates.

49.35(1)(c) (c) The department may at any time audit all county records relating to the administration of the services and public assistance specified in this section and may at any time conduct administrative reviews of county departments under ss. 46.215, 46.22 and 46.23. If the department conducts such an audit or administrative review in a county, the department shall furnish a copy of the audit or administrative review report to the chairperson of the county board of supervisors and the county clerk in a county with a single-county department or to the county boards of supervisors and the county clerks in counties with a multicounty department, and to the director of the county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23.

49.35(2) (2) The county administration of all laws relating to programs under this subchapter and ch. 48 and to community-based juvenile delinquency-related programs under ch. 938 shall be vested in the officers and agencies designated in the statutes.

49.35 History History: 1995 a. 27; 2005 a. 344; 2007 a. 20; 2015 a. 55.

49.36 49.36 Work experience program for noncustodial parents.

49.36(1) (1) In this section:

49.36(1)(a) (a) “Custodial parent” means a parent who lives with his or her child for substantial periods of time.

49.36(1)(b) (b) “Tribal governing body” means an elected tribal governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band.

49.36(2) (2) The department may contract with any county, tribal governing body, or Wisconsin Works agency to administer a work experience and job training program for parents who are not custodial parents and who fail to pay child support or to meet their children’s needs for support as a result of unemployment or underemployment. The program may provide the kinds of work experience and job training services available from the program under s. 49.193, 1997 stats., or s. 49.147 (3) or (4). The program may also include job search and job orientation activities. The department shall fund the program from the appropriations under s. 20.437 (2) (dz) and (k).

49.36(3) (3) 

49.36(3)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (f) and subject to sub. (3m), a person ordered to register under s. 767.55 (2) (am) shall participate in a work experience program if services are available.

49.36(3)(b) (b) A person may not be required to participate for more than 32 hours per week in the program under this section.

49.36(3)(c) (c) A person may not be required to participate for more than 16 weeks during each 12-month period in a program under this section.

49.36(3)(d) (d) If a person is required by a governmental entity to participate in another work or training program, the person may not be required to participate in a program under this section in a week for more than 32 hours minus the number of hours he or she is required to participate in the other work or training program in that week.

49.36(3)(e) (e) If a person is employed, the person may not be required to participate in a program under this section in a week for more than 80 percent of the difference between 40 hours and the number of hours actually worked in the unsubsidized job during that week.

49.36(3)(f) (f) A person who works, on average, 32 hours or more per week in an unsubsidized job is not required to participate in a program under this section.

49.36(3m) (3m) A person is not eligible to participate in a program under this section unless the person satisfies all of the requirements related to substance abuse screening, testing, and treatment under s. 49.162 that apply to the individual.

49.36(4) (4) When a person completes 16 weeks of participation in a program under this section, the county, tribal governing body, or Wisconsin works agency operating the program shall inform the clerk of courts, by affidavit, of that completion.

49.36(5) (5) A person participating in work experience as part of the program under this section is considered an employee of the county, tribal governing body, or Wisconsin works agency administering the program under this section for purposes of worker’s compensation benefits only.

49.36(6) (6) A county, tribal governing body, or Wisconsin works agency administering the program under this section shall reimburse a person for reasonable transportation costs incurred because of participation in a program under this section up to a maximum of $25 per month.

49.36(7) (7) The department shall pay a county, tribal governing body, or Wisconsin works agency not more than $800 for each person who participates in the program under this section in the region in which the county, tribal governing body, or Wisconsin works agency administers the program under this section. The county, tribal governing body, or Wisconsin works agency shall pay any additional costs of the program.

49.36 History History: 1987 a. 413; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 27 ss. 2135 to 2142; 1995 a. 289; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16; 2005 a. 25; 2005 a. 443 s. 265; 2007 a. 20; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 55; 2019 a. 9.

49.37 49.37 Offender reentry demonstration project.

49.37(1) (1) Beginning in fiscal year 2017-18, the department of children and families shall establish a 5-year offender reentry demonstration project focused on noncustodial fathers in a 1st class city.

49.37(2) (2) Upon completion of the demonstration project under sub. (1) and by June 30, 2023, the department of children and families shall conduct an evaluation of the demonstration project.

49.37 History History: 2017 a. 59.

49.38 49.38 Menominee Enterprises, Inc., bonds, acquisition.

49.38(1) (1) The department is authorized to exercise options to purchase securities assigned to the state of Wisconsin under s. 710.05, 1973 stats., at par value, or to accept an assignment of such securities, for the purpose of providing relief, public assistance or welfare aid under this section.

49.38(2) (2) The department shall exercise the options to purchase such securities or accept an assignment of such securities when it finds that the owner of the securities is a resident of this state and is in need of public assistance, or who but for the ownership of such securities would qualify for public assistance. If the department exercises an option to purchase such security, the purchase price shall be paid out, at par value, as a relief payment. Where the department accepts an assignment of such security as provided in this section it shall pay out as relief an amount equal to the par value of the security assigned. The relief furnished, whether by money or otherwise, shall be at such times and in such amounts as will in the discretion of the department meet the needs of the recipient and protect the public. The department is authorized to exercise the options to purchase assigned to it in whole or in part, or to accept an assignment of such securities in whole or in part. The department is granted such authority as may be necessary and convenient to enable it to exercise the functions and perform the duties required of it by this section, including without limitation because of enumeration the authority to promulgate rules governing eligibility and the furnishing and paying of relief under this section, the authority to enter into suitable agreements with the owner of the security or other appropriate persons for the purpose of carrying out this section, and the authority to sell or transfer the securities or defend and prosecute all actions concerning it and pay all just claims against it and do all other things necessary for the protection, preservation and management of the securities.

49.38(3) (3) If the relief, public assistance, or other welfare aid provided pursuant to this section is discontinued during the life of the person receiving such aid and the value of the securities transferred to the department exceed the total amount of assistance paid under this section, the excess of such property shall be returned to such person; and in the event of the person’s death the excess shall be considered the property of such person for administration proceedings.

49.38(4) (4) The department may make loans to the owner of such securities for relief and welfare purposes which loans shall be secured by pledges of the securities to the state. The department may by rule establish the purposes for which loans may be made, permissible interest rates and fees, time and manner in which the loan is paid out, time and manner of repayment, general procedures to be followed in making loans, the action which shall be taken if a borrower defaults on a loan, maximum amount which may be loaned to any one borrower, and any other rules necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

49.38(5) (5) Nothing in this section as created by chapter 2, laws of Special Session of 1963, is in derogation of other rights and remedies provided by law.

49.38(6) (6) On and after May 20, 1972, where the owner of such security is otherwise eligible for welfare assistance, such security shall be an exempt asset under the welfare law and shall not disqualify such person from receiving welfare assistance.

49.38 History History: 1971 c. 302; 1975 c. 422 s. 163; 1981 c. 390 s. 252; 1983 a. 189 s. 329 (19); 1985 a. 29, 120; 1989 a. 359; 1991 a. 316; 1995 a. 27 ss. 3180, 3181; Stats. 1995 s. 49.38.

49.38 Note NOTE: Ch. 303, 1971 laws, provided for returning to its original owners Menominee Enterprises, Inc. bonds assigned to the state as a condition for receiving public assistance.

49.385 49.385 No action against members of the Menominee Indian tribe in certain cases. No action shall be commenced under s. 46.10 or 49.08 or any other provision of law for the recovery from assets distributed to members of the Menominee Indian tribe and others by the United States pursuant to P.L. 83-399, as amended, for the value of relief or old-age assistance under s. 49.20, 1971 stats., as affected by chapter 90, laws of 1973, and the value of maintenance in state institutions under ch. 46, furnished prior to termination date as defined in s. 70.057 (1), 1967 stats., to any legally enrolled member of the Menominee Indian tribe, his or her dependents, or lawful distributees of such member under section 3, said P.L. 83-399, as amended. For purposes of this section, “legally enrolled members of the Menominee Indian tribe” shall include only those persons whose names appear on “Final Roll-Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin” as proclaimed by the secretary of the interior November 26, 1957, and published at pages 9951 et seq. of the federal register, Thursday, December 12, 1957.

49.385 History History: 1973 c. 147, 243; 1983 a. 192; 1995 a. 27 s. 2768m; Stats. 1995 s. 49.385.

subch. IV of ch. 49 SUBCHAPTER IV

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

49.43 49.43 Definitions. As used in ss. 49.43 to 49.497 unless the context indicates otherwise:

49.43(1e) (1e) “Accommodated person” means any person in a hospital or in a skilled nursing facility or intermediate care facility, as defined in Title XIX of the social security act, who would have been eligible for benefits under s. 49.19 or 49.77 or federal Title XVI if the person were not in such a hospital or facility, and any person in such an institution who can be found eligible for Title XIX under the social security act.

49.43(1m) (1m) “Charge” means the customary, usual and reasonable demand for payment as established prospectively, concurrently or retrospectively by the department for services, care or commodities which does not exceed the general level of charges by others who render such service or care, or provide such commodities, under similar or comparable circumstances within the community in which the charge is incurred.

49.43(2) (2) “Cost” means the reasonable cost of services, care or commodities as determined by the principles of reimbursement used under 42 USC 1395 to 1395rr, in effect on April 30, 1980.

49.43(2m) (2m) “Cost-effective” has the meaning given in P.L. 101-508, section 4402 (a) (2).

49.43(2r) (2r) “County,” “county department,” and “county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23” includes a multicounty consortium in accordance with a contract under s. 49.78 (2).

49.43(3) (3) “Dentist” means a person licensed to practice dentistry.

49.43(3e) (3e) “Department” means the department of health services.

49.43(3m) (3m) “Developmentally disabled” has the meaning specified in s. 51.01 (5).

49.43(3r) (3r) “Group health plan” has the meaning given in P.L. 101-508, section 4402 (a) (2). 

49.43(4) (4) “Home health agency” has the meaning specified in s. 50.49 (1) (a). 

49.43(5) (5) “Hospital” means an institution, approved by the appropriate state agency, providing 24-hour continuous nursing service to patients confined therein; which provides standard dietary, nursing, diagnostic and therapeutic facilities; and whose professional staff is composed only of physicians and surgeons, or of physicians and surgeons and doctors of dental surgery. 

49.43(6) (6) “Inpatient psychiatric hospital services for individuals 21 years of age or for individuals under 22 years of age who are receiving such service immediately prior to reaching age 21” has the same meaning as provided in section 1905 (h) of the federal social security act.

49.43(6m) (6m) “Institution for mental diseases” has the meaning specified in 42 CFR 435.1010.

49.43(7) (7) “Intermediate care facility” means either of the following:

49.43(7)(a) (a) An institution or distinct part thereof, which is:

49.43(7)(a)1. 1. Licensed or approved under state law to provide, on a regular basis, health related care and services to individuals who do not require the degree of care and treatment which a hospital or skilled nursing home is designated to provide but who because of their mental or physical condition require care and services above the level of room and board, which can be made available to them only through institutional facilities; and

49.43(7)(a)2. 2. Qualifies as an “intermediate care facility” within the meaning of Title XIX of the social security act.

49.43(7)(b) (b) A public institution, or distinct part thereof, which is:

49.43(7)(b)1. 1. Licensed or approved under state law for individuals with an intellectual disability or persons with related conditions, the primary purpose of which is to provide health or rehabilitative services for individuals with an intellectual disability according to rules promulgated by the department; and

49.43(7)(b)2. 2. Qualifies as an “intermediate care facility” within the meaning of Title XIX of the social security act.

49.43(8) (8) “Medical assistance” means any services or items under ss. 49.45 to 49.473, except s. 49.472 (6), and under ss. 49.49 to 49.497, or any payment or reimbursement made for such services or items.