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SB532-SSA1,12,83 3. Counsel for the foster parent or other physical custodian may inspect and
4obtain copies of all records relating to the child as provided under s. 48.293. If counsel
5for the foster parent or other physical custodian discloses a record to the foster parent
6or other physical custodian, counsel shall advise that person that the information
7contained in the record is confidential and may be disclosed only for the purpose of
8participating in the change-in-placement proceeding.
SB532-SSA1,16 9Section 16. 48.64 (4) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 48.64 (4) (a) 1. and
10amended to read:
SB532-SSA1,13,311 48.64 (4) (a) 1. Except as provided in par. (d), any decision or order issued by
12an agency that affects the head of a foster home or group home, the head of the home
13of a relative other than a parent in which a child is placed, or the child involved may
14be appealed to the department under fair hearing procedures established under
15rules promulgated by the department. Upon receipt of an appeal, the department
16shall give the head of the home reasonable notice and an opportunity for a fair
17hearing. The department may make any additional investigation that the
18department considers necessary. The department shall give notice of the hearing to
19the head of the home and to the departmental subunit, county department, or child
20welfare agency that issued the decision or order. Each person receiving notice of the
21hearing
is entitled to be represented at the hearing. At all hearings conducted under
22this paragraph, the head of the home, or a representative of the head of the home,
23shall have an adequate opportunity, notwithstanding s. 48.78 (2) (a), to examine all
24documents and records to be used at the hearing at a reasonable time before the date
25of the hearing as well as during the hearing, to bring witnesses, to establish all

1pertinent facts and circumstances, and to question or refute any testimony or
2evidence, including an opportunity to confront and cross-examine adverse
3witnesses.
SB532-SSA1,13,19 44. The department shall grant a continuance for a reasonable period of time
5when an issue is raised for the first time during a hearing. This requirement may
6be waived with the consent of the parties. The decision of the department shall be
7based exclusively on evidence introduced at the hearing. A transcript of testimony
8and exhibits, or an official report containing the substance of what transpired at the
9hearing, together with all papers and requests filed in the proceeding, and the
10findings of the hearing examiner shall constitute the exclusive record for decision by
11the department. The department shall make the record available at any reasonable
12time and at an accessible place to the head of the home or his or her representative.
13Decisions by the department shall specify the reasons for the decision and identify
14the supporting evidence. No person participating in an agency action being appealed
15may participate in the final administrative decision on that action. The department
16shall render its decision as soon as possible after the hearing and shall send a
17certified copy of its decision to the head of the home and to the departmental subunit,
18county department, or child welfare agency that issued the decision or order. The
19decision shall be binding on all parties concerned.
SB532-SSA1,17 20Section 17. 48.64 (4) (a) 2. and 3. of the statutes are created to read:
SB532-SSA1,14,721 48.64 (4) (a) 2. The head of a foster home or the head of the home of a relative
22other than a parent who receives notice of intent to remove the child under sub. (1m)
23and who requests a hearing under subd. 1. is a party to the proceeding under this
24paragraph and, as a party, may be represented by counsel and has the right to be
25heard, to request an examination or assessment of the child as provided in s. 48.295

1by an expert of his or her own choosing, to present evidence relative to the issue of
2placement, including expert testimony, to confront and cross-examine witnesses,
3and to make alternative placement recommendations. If the child is an Indian child,
4any alternative placement recommendations shall comply with s. 48.028 (7) (b) or (c),
5whichever is applicable. The amount of time that a child has spent in a foster home
6or home of a relative other than a parent is not, on its own, good cause for departing
7from the order of placement preference under s. 48.028 (7) (b) or (c).
SB532-SSA1,14,158 3. Counsel for the head of the foster home or for the head of the home of the
9relative other than a parent may inspect and obtain copies of all records relating to
10the child as provided under s. 48.293. If counsel for the head of the foster home or
11for the head of the home of the relative other than a parent discloses a record to the
12head of the foster home or to the head of the home of the relative other than a parent,
13counsel shall advise him or her that the information contained in the record is
14confidential and may be disclosed only for the purpose of participating in the
15proceeding under this paragraph.
SB532-SSA1,18 16Section 18. 48.64 (4) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 48.64 (4) (c) 1. and
17amended to read:
SB532-SSA1,14,2318 48.64 (4) (c) 1. Except as provided in par. (d), the circuit court for the county
19where the dispositional order placing a child in a foster home or group home or in the
20home of a relative other than a parent was entered or the voluntary agreement under
21s. 48.63 placing a child in a foster home or group home was made has jurisdiction
22upon petition of any interested party over the child who is placed in the foster home,
23group home, or home of the relative. The
SB532-SSA1,15,4 242. Subject to subd. 3., the circuit court may call a hearing, at which the head
25of the home and the supervising agency under sub. (2) shall be present, for the

1purpose of reviewing any decision or order of that agency involving the placement
2and care of the child. If the child has been placed in a foster home or in the home of
3a relative other than a parent, the foster parent or relative may present relevant
4evidence at the hearing.
SB532-SSA1,15,6 55. The petitioner has the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence
6that the decision or order issued by the agency is not in the best interests of the child.
SB532-SSA1,19 7Section 19. 48.64 (4) (c) 3. and 4. of the statutes are created to read:
SB532-SSA1,15,248 48.64 (4) (c) 3. If the head of a foster home or the head of the home of a relative
9other than a parent who receives notice of intent to remove the child under sub. (1m)
10petitions for a hearing under this paragraph, the circuit court shall call a hearing,
11at which the head of the foster home or the head of the home of the relative other than
12a parent and the supervising agency under sub. (2) shall be present, for the purpose
13of reviewing the decision to remove the child from the home. The head of the foster
14home or the head of the home of the relative other than a parent is a party to the
15proceeding under this paragraph and, as a party, may be represented by counsel and
16has the right to be heard, to request an examination or assessment of the child as
17provided in s. 48.295 by an expert of his or her own choosing, to present evidence
18relative to the issue of placement, including expert testimony, to confront and
19cross-examine witnesses, and to make alternative placement recommendations. If
20the child is an Indian child, any alternative placement recommendations shall
21comply with s. 48.028 (7) (b) or (c), whichever is applicable. The amount of time that
22a child has spent in a foster home or home of a relative other than a parent is not,
23on its own, good cause for departing from the order of placement preference under
24s. 48.028 (7) (b) or (c).
SB532-SSA1,16,8
14. Counsel for the head of the foster home or for the head of the home of the
2relative other than a parent may inspect and obtain copies of all records relating to
3the child as provided under s. 48.293. If counsel for the head of the foster home or
4for the head of the home of the relative other than a parent discloses a record to the
5head of the foster home or to the head of the home of the relative other than a parent,
6counsel shall advise him or her that the information contained in the record is
7confidential and may be disclosed only for the purpose of participating in the
8proceeding under this paragraph.
SB532-SSA1,20 9Section 20. 48.78 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB532-SSA1,16,1510 48.78 (2) (a) No agency may make available for inspection or disclose the
11contents of any record kept or information received about an individual who is or was
12in its care or legal custody, except as provided under sub. (2m) or s. 48.293 (2), 48.371,
1348.38 (5) (b) or (d) or (5m) (d), 48.396 (3) (bm) or (c) 1r., 48.432, 48.433, 48.48 (17) (bm),
1448.57 (2m), 48.66 (6), 48.93, 48.981 (7), 938.293 (2), 938.396 (2m) (c) 1r., 938.51, or
15938.78 or by order of the court.
SB532-SSA1,21 16Section 21. 938.293 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB532-SSA1,17,517 938.293 (2) Records relating to juvenile. All records relating to a juvenile
18which are relevant to the subject matter of a proceeding under this chapter shall be
19open to inspection by a guardian ad litem or counsel for any party or by counsel for
20any foster parent or other physical custodian described in s. 938.357 (2r) (b)
, upon
21demand and upon presentation of releases where when necessary, at least 48 hours
22before the proceeding. Persons entitled to inspect the records may obtain copies of
23the records with the permission of the custodian of the records or with the permission
24of the court. The court may instruct counsel not to disclose specified items in the
25materials records to the juvenile or, the parent, or the juvenile's foster parent or other

1physical custodian described in s. 938.357 (2r) (b)
if the court reasonably believes
2that the disclosure would be harmful to the interests of the juvenile. Section 971.23
3shall be applicable in all delinquency proceedings under this chapter, except that the
4court shall establish the timetable for the disclosures required under s. 971.23 (1),
5(2m), (8), and (9).
SB532-SSA1,22 6Section 22. 938.295 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB532-SSA1,17,107 938.295 (1) (b) The court shall hear any objections by the juvenile and the
8juvenile's parents, guardian, or legal custodian or the juvenile's foster parent or other
9physical custodian described in s. 938.357 (2r) (b)
to the request under par. (a) for an
10examination or assessment before ordering the examination or assessment.
SB532-SSA1,23 11Section 23. 938.295 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB532-SSA1,17,1612 938.295 (3) Objection to a particular professional. If the juvenile or, a
13parent, or the juvenile's foster parent or other physical custodian described in s.
14938.357 (2r) (b)
objects to a particular physician, psychiatrist, licensed psychologist,
15or other expert, the court shall appoint a different physician, psychiatrist,
16psychologist, or other expert.
SB532-SSA1,24 17Section 24. 938.357 (2r) of the statutes is renumbered 938.357 (2r) (a) and
18amended to read:
SB532-SSA1,18,419 938.357 (2r) (a) If a hearing is held under sub. (1) (am) 2. or (2m) (b) 1. and the
20change in placement would remove a juvenile from a foster home or other placement
21with a physical custodian described in s. 48.62 (2) in which the juvenile has been
22placed for less than 6 months
, the court shall give the foster parent or other physical
23custodian a right to be heard at the hearing by permitting the foster parent or other
24physical custodian to make a written or oral statement during the hearing or to
25submit a written statement prior to the hearing relating to the juvenile and the

1requested change in placement. A foster parent or other physical custodian who
2receives notice of a hearing under sub. (1) (am) 1. or (2m) (b) 2. and a right to be heard
3under this subsection paragraph does not become a party to the proceeding on which
4the hearing is held solely on the basis of receiving that notice and right to be heard.
SB532-SSA1,25 5Section 25. 938.357 (2r) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
SB532-SSA1,18,216 938.357 (2r) (b) If a hearing is held under sub. (1) (am) 2. or (2m) (b) 1. and the
7change in placement would remove a juvenile from a foster home or other placement
8with a physical custodian described in s. 48.62 (2) in which the juvenile has been
9placed for 6 months or more, the foster parent or other physical custodian is a party
10to the proceeding and, as a party, may be represented by counsel and has the right
11to be heard as described in par. (a), to request an examination or assessment of the
12juvenile under s. 938.295 by an expert of the foster parent's or other physical
13custodian's own choosing, to present evidence relative to the issue of placement,
14including expert testimony, to confront and cross-examine witnesses, and to make
15alternative placement recommendations. In addition, counsel for the foster parent
16or other physical custodian may inspect and obtain copies of all records relating to
17the juvenile as provided under s. 938.293. If counsel for the foster parent or other
18physical custodian discloses a record to the foster parent or other physical custodian,
19counsel shall advise that person that the information contained in the record is
20confidential and may be disclosed only for the purpose of participating in the
21change-in-placement proceeding.
SB532-SSA1,26 22Section 26 . 938.396 (2m) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB532-SSA1,19,1323 938.396 (2m) (b) 1. The court shall make information relating to a proceeding
24under this chapter that is contained in the electronic records of the court available
25to any other court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under this chapter and ch. 48, a

1municipal court exercising jurisdiction under s. 938.17 (2), a court of criminal
2jurisdiction, a person representing the interests of the public under s. 48.09 or
3938.09, an attorney or guardian ad litem for a parent or child who is a party to a
4proceeding in a court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under this chapter or ch. 48,
5or an attorney for a foster parent or other physical custodian described in s. 938.357
6(2r) (b)
or a municipal court, a district attorney prosecuting a criminal case, a law
7enforcement agency, the department of children and families, the department of
8corrections, or a county department, regardless of whether the person to whom the
9information is disclosed is a party to or is otherwise involved in the proceedings in
10which the electronic records containing that information were created. The director
11of state courts may use the circuit court automated information systems established
12under s. 758.19 (4) to make information contained in the electronic records of the
13court available as provided in this subdivision.
SB532-SSA1,27 14Section 27 . 938.396 (2m) (c) 1m. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB532-SSA1,20,215 938.396 (2m) (c) 1m. A person representing the interests of the public under
16s. 48.09 or 938.09, an attorney or guardian ad litem for a parent or child who is a party
17to a proceeding in a court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under this chapter or ch.
1848, or an attorney for a foster parent or other physical custodian described in s.
19938.357 (2r) (b)
or a municipal court, or a district attorney prosecuting a criminal
20case shall keep any information made available to that person under par. (b) 1.
21confidential and may use or allow access to that information only for the purpose of
22performing his or her official duties relating to a proceeding in a court assigned to
23exercise jurisdiction under this chapter and ch. 48, a municipal court, or a court of
24criminal jurisdiction. That person may allow that access regardless of whether the
25person who is allowed that access is a party to or is otherwise involved in the

1proceedings in which the electronic records containing that information were
2created.
SB532-SSA1,28 3Section 28. 938.78 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB532-SSA1,20,84 938.78 (2) (a) No agency may make available for inspection or disclose the
5contents of any record kept or information received about an individual who is or was
6in its care or legal custody, except as provided under sub. (2m) or (3) or s. 48.396 (3)
7(bm) or (c) 1r., 938.293 (2), 938.371, 938.38 (5) (b) or (d) or (5m) (d), 938.396 (2m) (c)
81r., 938.51, or 938.57 (2m) or by order of the court.
SB532-SSA1,29 9Section 29 . Initial applicability.
SB532-SSA1,20,1610 (1) Changes in placement. The treatment of ss. 48.293 (2), 48.295 (1) and (3),
1148.357 (1) (am) 2. a. and 3. and (2m) (am) 2. and (c) 2., 48.396 (3) (b) 1. and (c) 1m.,
1248.437 (1) (c), 48.78 (2) (a), 938.293 (2), 938.295 (1) (b) and (3), 938.396 (2m) (b) 1. and
13(c) 1m., and 938.78 (2) (a), the renumbering and amendment of ss. 48.357 (2r), 48.437
14(2r), and 938.357 (2r), and the creation of ss. 48.357 (2r) (b), 48.437 (2r) (b), and
15938.357 (2r) (b) first apply to a change of placement requested on the effective date
16of this subsection.
SB532-SSA1,20,2017 (2) Decisions affecting out-of-home placements. The renumbering and
18amendment of s. 48.64 (4) (a) and (c) and the creation of s. 48.64 (4) (a) 2. and 3. and
19(c) 3. and 4. first apply to a decision or order of an agency involving the placement
20and care of a child issued on the effective date of this subsection.
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