State of Wisconsin
Department of Children and Families
Technical Changes to Update DCF Rules
DCF 13, 35, 52, 54, 56, 57, 202, 250, 251, and 252
The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families proposes to repeal ch. DCF 35 and ss. DCF 52.65 (1) (Note) and (2) (a) (Note), 54.08 (1) (Note) and (2) (a) (Note), 57.61 (1) (Note) and (2) (a) (Note), 250.04 (1) (bm), and 252.06 (2) (b); to renumber and amend ss. DCF 250.03 (14) and 251.03 (14); to consolidate, renumber, and amend s. DCF 252.06 (title) and (a); to amend ss. DCF 13.01; 13.02 (4) (b), (7) (d), (15), (17) (b), and (19); 13.03 (2) (a) and (b); 13.05 (1) (title), (intro.), and (c) 5. and (2); 13.06 (1) (a); 13.07 (1) (intro.), (a) 2., 3., 5., 7., 8., 9., and 10., and (3); 13.08 (1) (a) 3., 5., and 8.; 13.09 (2) (b) and (c); 13.10 (3); 13.11 (1) (intro.) and (2); 13.13 (4) (intro.) and (5) (c) 1. b. and 3. b.; 13.15 (2) (c); 13.16 (1) (a) 1. a. (Note); 52.59 (5) (a); 52.65 (1) and (2) (a); 54.08 (1) and (2) (a); 56.16 (1) (L) (intro.); 57.61 (1) and (2) (a); 250.04 (2) (g); 250.04 (6) (a) 4. d.; 250.05 (2) (d) 1.; 250.06 (11) (b) 2.; 251.04 (6) (a) 8. d.; 251.05 (2) (a) 3. a.; 251.095 (2) (d) and (e) and (3) (a); and 251.12 (3); to repeal and recreate ss. DCF 13.02 (4) (a) and 56.15 (1) (a) 4. (intro.); and to create ss. DCF 13.02 (3) (c) and (15m), 13.08 (1) (a) 3m., 13.10 (4), 56.15 (1) (a) 4. d., and 202.08 (9) (nm), relating to technical changes to update DCF rules. Analysis Prepared by the Department of Children and Families
Statutes interpreted: Sections 48.62 (3), 48.64 (1r ), 48.651, 48.686, 48.983, 49.34, 49.343, Stats. Explanation of Agency Authority
Section 48.651 (1d), Stats., directs the department to establish standards for the certification of child care providers. Section 48.686 (9), Stats., provides that the department may promulgate any rules necessary for the administration of child care background checks. Section 48.67 (intro.), Stats., provides that the department shall promulgate rules establishing minimum requirements for the issuance of licenses to, and establishing standards for the operation of, child welfare agencies, child care centers, foster homes, group homes, shelter care facilities, and county departments. Those rules shall be designed to protect and promote the health, safety, and welfare of the children in the care of all licensees. The department administers grants to a county, city, private agency, or Indian tribe for home visitation program services under s. 48.983, Stats. Section 49.343 (4), Stats., provides that the department shall promulgate rules that include standards for determining whether a proposed rate is appropriate to the level of services to be provided, the qualifications of a provider to provide those services, and the reasonable and necessary costs of providing those services. Section 227.11 (2) (a), Stats., expressly confers rule-making authority on each agency to promulgate rules interpreting the provisions of any statute enforced or administered by the agency. Summary of the Proposed Rule
The proposed rules make technical corrections to various department rules, including the following:
DCF 13, Background Checks in Child Care Programs
The proposed rules update the department’s child care background check rule ch. DCF 13 to incorporate changes to s. 48.686, Stats., as affected by 2019 Wisconsin Act 9. These changes add “noncaregiver employees” to the list of persons subject to the background check; replace the term “nonclient resident” with “household member”; and change the time period for a person to file an appeal of an ineligibility determination from 60 days to 10 days. DCF 35, Home Visitation to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect
The proposed rules repeal ch. DCF 35, which provides a formula for the distribution of home visiting grants based on statutory language that has been repealed. Section 48.983, Stat., as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act 172, no longer directs the department to promulgate a rule with a formula that determines the need for a home visiting grant based on the number of births funded by Medical Assistance and the rate of poor birth outcomes in a locality. DCF 52, Residential Care Centers for Children and Youth
The proposed rules amend s. DCF 52.59 (5) (a) to replace the term “ physically handicapped” with “physically disabled” as directed by Executive Order 15. DCF 52, 54, and 57, Residential Care Centers, Child-Placing Agencies, and Group Homes
The proposed rules amend the department’s rules on residential care centers, child-placing agencies, and group homes to update cross-references to federal regulations and state statute on allowable costs for rate regulation.
DCF 56, Foster Homes
The proposed rules amend the department’s foster home rule to incorporate changes to ss. 48.62 (3) and 48.64 (1r), Stats., as affected by 2017 Wisconsin Act 251, relating to notice to a school district of a foster home license or placement. DCF 202, Child Care Certification
The proposed rules prohibit children under 13 years of age from riding in the front seat of a vehicle when under the care of a certified child care provider. This prohibition was inadvertently repealed in CR19-089. DCF 250 and 251, Family Child Care Centers and Group Child Care Centers
The proposed rules update the department’s family and group child care center rules to correct cross-references to provisions repealed or renumbered in CR 19-089 and a remaining cross-reference to s. 48.685, Stats., which has not applied to child care programs since s. 48.686, Stats., became effective. The proposed rules also correct a typo and update the term “HealthCheck provider” to “EPSDT provider” based on the terminology in s. DHS 105.37. Summary of Data and Analytical Methodologies
The proposed rules correct cross-references, update terminology, and incorporate minor statutory changes.
