SB70,701,24 48.623 (1) (c) An order under s. 48.345, 48.357, 48.363, 48.365, 938.345, 938.357, 938.363, or 938.365 or a tribal court under a substantially similar tribal law placing the child, or continuing the placement of the child, outside of the child's home has been terminated, or any proceeding in which the child has been adjudged to be in need of protection or services specified in s. 48.977 (2) (a) has been dismissed, as provided in s. 48.977 (3r) (a).

SB70,974 Section 974. 48.623 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,702,16 48.623 (2) Subsidized guardianship agreement. (intro.) Before a county department, an Indian tribe, or the department may approve the provision of subsidized guardianship payments under sub. (1) to a proposed guardian, the county department, Indian tribe, or department shall negotiate and enter into a written, binding subsidized guardianship agreement with the proposed guardian and provide the proposed guardian with a copy of the agreement. A subsidized guardianship agreement or an amended subsidized guardianship agreement may also name a prospective successor guardian of the child to assume the duty and authority of guardianship on the death or incapacity of the guardian. A successor guardian is eligible for monthly subsidized guardianship payments under this section only if the successor guardian is named as a prospective successor guardian of the child in a subsidized guardianship agreement or amended subsidized guardianship agreement that was entered into before the death or incapacity of the guardian, the conditions specified in sub. (6) (bm) are met, and the court appoints the successor guardian to assume the duty and authority of guardianship as provided in s. 48.977 (5m). A subsidized guardianship agreement shall specify all of the following:

SB70,975 Section 975. 48.623 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,702,20 48.623 (2) (c) That the county department, Indian tribe, or department will pay the total cost of the nonrecurring expenses that are associated with obtaining guardianship of the child, not to exceed $2,000.

SB70,976 Section 976. 48.623 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,703,12 48.623 (3) (a) Except as provided in this paragraph, the county department shall provide the monthly payments under sub. (1) or (6). An Indian tribe that has entered into an agreement with the department under sub. (8) shall provide the monthly payments under sub. (1) or (6) for guardianships of children ordered by the tribal court, or a county department may provide the monthly payments under sub. (1) or (6) for guardianships of children ordered by the tribal court if the county department has entered into an agreement with the governing body of an Indian tribe to provide those payments. The county department or Indian tribe shall provide those payments from moneys received under s. 48.48 (8r). The department shall reimburse county departments and Indian tribes for the cost of subsidized guardianship payments, including payments made by county departments for guardianships of Indian children ordered by tribal courts, from the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (dd) and (pd). In a county having a population of 750,000 or more or in the circumstances specified in s. 48.43 (7) (a) or 48.485 (1), the department shall provide the monthly payments under sub. (1) or (6). The department shall provide those payments from the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (cx) and (mx).

SB70,977 Section 977. 48.623 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,703,22 48.623 (3) (b) The county department or, as provided in par. (a), an Indian tribe or the department shall determine the initial amount of a monthly payment under sub. (1) or (6) for the care of a child based on the circumstances of the guardian and the needs of the child. That amount may not exceed the amount received under s. 48.62 (4) or a substantially similar tribal law by the guardian of the child for the month immediately preceding the month in which the guardianship order was granted. A guardian or an interim caretaker who receives a monthly payment under sub. (1) or (6) for the care of a child is not eligible to receive a payment under s. 48.57 (3m) or (3n) or 48.62 (4) for the care of that child.

SB70,978 Section 978. 48.623 (3) (c) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,704,14 48.623 (3) (c) 1. If a person who is receiving monthly subsidized guardianship payments under an agreement under sub. (2) believes that there has been a substantial change in circumstances, as defined by the department by rule promulgated under sub. (7) (a), he or she may request that the agreement be amended to increase the amount of those payments. If a request is received under this subdivision, the county department, Indian tribe, or department shall determine whether there has been a substantial change in circumstances and whether there has been a substantiated report of abuse or neglect of the child by the person receiving those payments. If there has been a substantial change in circumstances and if there has been no substantiated report of abuse or neglect of the child by that person, the county department, Indian tribe, or department shall offer to increase the amount of those payments based on criteria established by the department by rule promulgated under sub. (7) (b). If an increased monthly subsidized guardianship payment is agreed to by the person receiving those payments, the county department, Indian tribe, or department shall amend the agreement in writing to specify the increased amount of those payments.

SB70,979 Section 979. 48.623 (3) (c) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,705,5 48.623 (3) (c) 2. Annually, a county department , Indian tribe, or the department shall review an agreement that has been amended under subd. 1. to determine whether the substantial change in circumstances that was the basis for amending the agreement continues to exist. If that substantial change in circumstances continues to exist, the agreement, as amended, shall remain in effect. If that substantial change in circumstances no longer exists, the county department, Indian tribe, or department shall offer to decrease the amount of the monthly subsidized guardianship payments provided under sub. (1) based on criteria established by the department under sub. (7) (c). If the decreased amount of those payments is agreed to by the person receiving those payments, the county department , Indian tribe, or department shall amend the agreement in writing to specify the decreased amount of those payments. If the decreased amount of those payments is not agreed to by the person receiving those payments, that person may appeal the decision of the county department, Indian tribe, or department regarding the decrease under sub. (5).

SB70,980 Section 980. 48.623 (3) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,705,13 48.623 (3) (d) The department, an Indian tribe, or a county department may recover an overpayment made under sub. (1) or (6) from a guardian or interim caretaker who continues to receive those payments by reducing the amount of the person's monthly payment. The department may by rule specify other methods for recovering those overpayments. A county department or Indian tribe that recovers an overpayment under this paragraph due to the efforts of its officers and employees may retain a portion of the amount recovered, as provided by the department by rule.

SB70,981 Section 981. 48.623 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,705,22 48.623 (4) Annual review. A county department, an Indian tribe, or the department shall review a placement of a child for which the county department, Indian tribe, or department makes payments under sub. (1) not less than every 12 months after the county department, Indian tribe, or department begins making those payments to determine whether the child and the guardian remain eligible for those payments. If the child or the guardian is no longer eligible for those payments, the county department, Indian tribe, or department shall discontinue making those payments.

SB70,982 Section 982. 48.623 (5) (b) 1. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,706,14 48.623 (5) (b) 1. (intro.) Upon receipt of a timely petition described in par. (a) the department shall give the applicant or recipient reasonable notice and an opportunity for a fair hearing. The department may make such additional investigation as it considers necessary. Notice of the hearing shall be given to the applicant or recipient and to the county department, Indian tribe, or subunit of the department whose action or failure to act is the subject of the petition. That county department, Indian tribe, or subunit of the department may be represented at the hearing. The department shall render its decision as soon as possible after the hearing and shall send a certified copy of its decision to the applicant or recipient and to the county department, Indian tribe, or subunit of the department whose action or failure to act is the subject of the petition. The decision of the department shall have the same effect as an order of the county department, Indian tribe, or subunit of the department whose action or failure to act is the subject of the petition. The decision shall be final, but may be revoked or modified as altered conditions may require. The department shall deny a petition for review or shall refuse to grant relief if any of the following applies:

SB70,983 Section 983. 48.623 (5) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,706,25 48.623 (5) (b) 2. If a recipient requests a hearing within 10 days after the date of notice that his or her payments under sub. (1) are being decreased or discontinued, those payments may not be decreased or discontinued until a decision is rendered after the hearing but payments made pending the hearing decision may be recovered by the department if the contested action or failure to act is upheld. The department shall promptly notify the county department, Indian tribe, or the subunit of the department whose action is the subject of the hearing that the recipient has requested a hearing. Payments under sub. (1) shall be decreased or discontinued if the recipient is contesting a state law or a change in state law and not the determination of the payment made on the recipient's behalf.

SB70,984 Section 984. 48.623 (6) (am) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,707,6 48.623 (6) (am) (intro.) On the death, incapacity, resignation, or removal of a guardian receiving payments under sub. (1), the county department , Indian tribe, or the department providing those payments shall provide monthly subsidized guardianship payments in the amount specified in sub. (3) (b) for a period of up to 12 months to an interim caretaker if all of the following conditions are met:

SB70,985 Section 985. 48.623 (6) (am) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,707,12 48.623 (6) (am) 1. The county department, Indian tribe, or department inspects the home of the interim caretaker, interviews the interim caretaker, and determines that placement of the child with the interim caretaker is in the best interests of the child. In the case of an Indian child, the best interests of the Indian child shall be determined in accordance with s. 48.01 (2).

SB70,986 Section 986. 48.623 (6) (am) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,707,24 48.623 (6) (am) 2. The county department, Indian tribe, or department conducts a background investigation under s. 48.685 of the interim caretaker and any nonclient resident, as defined in s. 48.685 (1) (bm), of the home of the interim caretaker and determines that those individuals meet the requirements specified in s. 48.685. For investigations conducted by an Indian tribe, the background investigation may be conducted under s. 48.685 or by meeting the background check requirements for foster parent licensing under 42 USC 671 (a) (20). The county department, Indian tribe, or department shall provide the department of health services with information about each person who is denied monthly subsidized guardianship payments or permission to reside in the home of an interim caretaker for a reason specified in s. 48.685 (4m) (a) 1. to 5. or (b) 1. to 5.

SB70,987 Section 987. 48.623 (6) (am) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70,708,3 48.623 (6) (am) 3. The interim caretaker cooperates with the county department, Indian tribe, or department in finding a permanent placement for the child.