46.23(3)(b)2.a.a. Except as provided in s. 46.21 (2m) (b) 2. a., any reference in any law to a county department under s. 46.22, 51.42 or 51.437 applies to the county department of human services under this section in its administration of the powers and duties of the county department to which the reference is made.

46.23(3)(b)2.b. b. Any reference in any law to a county director appointed under s. 46.22 (2) (b), 51.42 (5) (a) 4. or 51.437 (9) (a) applies to the county human services director appointed under sub. (5) (f) in his or her administration of the powers and duties of the county director to which the reference is made. Except as provided in s. 46.21 (2m) (b) 2. b., any reference in any law to a county director appointed under s. 46.22 (3m) (a), 51.42 (6m) (intro.) or 51.437 (10m) (intro.) applies to the county human services director appointed under sub. (6m) (intro.) in his or her administration of the powers and duties of the county director to which the reference is made.

46.23(3)(b)2.c. c. Any reference to a county board appointed under s. 46.22 (1m) (b) 1., 51.42 (4) (a) 1. or 51.437 (7) (a) 1. applies to the county human services board appointed under sub. (4) (b) 1. in its administration of the powers and duties of the county board to which the reference is made. Except as provided in s. 46.21 (2m) (b) 2. c., any reference in any law to the county board appointed under s. 46.22 (1m) (b) 2., 51.42 (4) (a) 2. or 51.437 (7) (a) 2. applies to the county human services board appointed under sub. (4) (b) 2. in its administration of the powers and duties of the county board to which the reference is made.

46.23(3)(d) (d) Employee protections. All persons employed by a county or by the state, whose functions are assumed by a county department of human services shall continue as employees of the county department of human services without loss in seniority, status or benefits, subject to the merit or civil service system.

46.23(3)(e) (e) Exchange of information; long-term care. Notwithstanding ss. 46.2895 (9), 48.78 (2) (a), 49.45 (4), 49.83, 51.30, 51.45 (14) (a), 55.22 (3), 146.82, 252.11 (7), 253.07 (3) (c), and 938.78 (2) (a), a subunit of a county department of human services or tribal agency acting under this section may exchange confidential information about a client, without the informed consent of the client, with any other subunit of the same county department of human services or tribal agency, with a resource center, a care management organization, or a long-term care district, with an elder-adult-at-risk agency, an adult-at-risk agency, or any agency to which referral for investigation is made under s. 46.90 (5) (a) 1. or 55.043 (1r) (a) 1g., or with a person providing services to the client under a purchase of services contract with the county department of human services or tribal agency or with a resource center, a care management organization, or a long-term care district, if necessary to enable an employee or service provider to perform his or her duties, or to enable the county department of human services or tribal agency to coordinate the delivery of services to the client. An agency that releases information under this paragraph shall document that a request for information was received and what information was provided.

46.23(3)(ed) (ed) Exchange of information; statewide automated child welfare information system. Notwithstanding ss. 46.2895 (9), 48.396 (1) and (2) (a), 48.78 (2) (a), 48.981 (7), 49.45 (4), 49.83, 51.30, 51.45 (14) (a), 55.22 (3), 146.82, 252.11 (7), 252.15, 253.07 (3) (c), 938.396 (1) (a) and (2), and 938.78 (2) (a), a county department under this section may enter the content of any record kept or information received by that county department into the statewide automated child welfare information system established under s. 48.47 (7g).

46.23(4)(a) (a) Composition.

46.23(4)(a)1.1. In any single-county or multicounty department of human services, the county human services board shall be composed of not less than 7 nor more than 15 persons of recognized ability and demonstrated interest in human services. Not less than one-third nor more than two-thirds of the county human services board members may be members of the county board of supervisors. At least one member appointed to a county human services board shall be an individual who receives or has received human services or shall be a family member of such an individual. The remainder of the county human services board members shall be consumers of services or citizens-at-large. No public or private provider of services may be appointed to the county human services board.

46.23(4)(b) (b) Appointment.

46.23(4)(b)1.1. Except as provided under subd. 2., the county board of supervisors in a county which has established a single-county department of human services or the county boards of supervisors in counties which have established a multicounty department of human services shall, before qualification under this section, appoint a governing and policy-making board to be known as the county human services board.

46.23(4)(b)2. 2. In any county with a county executive or county administrator and which has established a single-county department of human services, the county executive or county administrator shall appoint, subject to confirmation by the county board of supervisors, the county human services board, which shall be only a policy-making body determining the broad outlines and principles governing the administration of programs under this section. A member of a county human services board appointed under this subdivision may be removed by the county executive or county administrator on due notice in writing.

46.23(4)(c) (c) Terms. Members of a county human services board shall serve for terms of 3 years, so arranged that as nearly as practicable, the terms of one-third of the members shall expire each year. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. A county human services board member appointed under par. (b) 1. may be removed from office for the following reasons:

46.23(5)(a)1.1. Shall determine administrative and program policies, except as provided under ch. 48 and subch. III of ch. 49 and except for policies relating to community-based juvenile delinquency-related services or to the purchase of juvenile correctional services, within limits established by the department of health services. Policy decisions, except as provided under ch. 48 and subch. III of ch. 49 and except for policy decisions relating to community-based juvenile delinquency-related services or to the purchase of juvenile correctional services, that are not reserved by statute for the department of health services may be delegated by the secretary to the county human services board.

46.23(5)(a)2. 2. Shall determine administrative and program policies under ch. 48 and subch. III of ch. 49 and administrative and program policies relating to community-based juvenile delinquency-related services within limits established by the department of children and families. Policy decisions under ch. 48 and subch. III of ch. 49 and policy decisions relating to community-based juvenile delinquency-related services that are not reserved by statute for the department of children and families may be delegated by the secretary of children and families to the county human services board.

46.23(5)(a)3. 3. Shall determine administrative programs and policies relating to the purchase of juvenile correctional services within limits established by the department of corrections. Policy decisions relating to the purchase of juvenile correctional services that are not reserved by statute for the department of corrections may be delegated by the secretary of corrections to the county human services board.

46.23(5)(b) (b) Shall establish priorities in addition to those mandated by the department of health services, the department of corrections, or the department of children and families.

46.23(5)(c)1.1. Shall determine whether state mandated services, except for services under ch. 48 and subch. III of ch. 49, community-based juvenile delinquency-related services, and juvenile correctional services, are provided by, purchased from, or contracted for with local providers, and monitor the performance of those contracts. Purchase of services contracts shall be subject to the conditions specified in s. 46.036.

46.23(5)(c)2. 2. Shall determine whether state mandated services under ch. 48 and subch. III of ch. 49 and state-mandated community-based juvenile delinquency-related services are provided by, purchased from, or contracted for with local providers, and monitor the performance of those contracts. Purchase of services contracts shall be subject to the conditions specified in s. 49.34.

46.23(5)(d) (d) Shall determine, subject to the approval of the county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county department of human services or the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty department of human services and with the advice of the county human services director appointed under par. (f), whether services are to be provided directly by the county department of human services or contracted for with other providers and make such contracts. The county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county department of human services or the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty department of human services may elect to require the approval of any such contract by the county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county department of human services or the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty department of human services.