AB508: Bill Text

Sober living and mental health

This bill requires DHS to encourage the development, expansion, and quality control of networks of sober living residences and to allocate moneys to create a revolving loan fund for establishing sober living residences or a network of sober living residences or to award grants for purposes specified in the bill.

This bill requires DHS to award grants to entities or groups that meet its qualifications to perform research projects on mental health issues and access to mental health services in rural areas of the state.

Nonemergency medical transportation services

This bill requires DHS to determine and implement a reimbursement rate for nonemergency medical transportation services for Medical Assistance recipients who are nursing home residents that is the same as the prevalent brokerage reimbursement rate applied to other nonemergency medical transportation services for Medical Assistance recipients.

Household and dependent care services expenses tax credit

This bill creates a nonrefundable individual income tax credit for certain expenses for household and dependent care services, based on a similar federal credit.

Under current federal law, there exists a tax credit for expenses for household and dependent care services necessary for gainful employment. Generally, the federal credit is a nonrefundable individual income tax credit that may be claimed by an individual for employment-related expenses for household services and dependent care services for a qualifying individual. Because the credit is nonrefundable, it may be claimed only up to the amount of a taxpayer's tax liability.

Generally, under federal law, a qualifying individual is someone who has the same principal place of abode as the claimant for more than one-half of the year, is the claimant's dependent, and is 1) a child age 12 or under; 2) a child age 13 or older who is incapable of self-care; or 3) the claimant's spouse who is incapable of self-care.

The credit may be claimed for expenses to enable the claimant to be gainfully employed or actively search for gainful employment. Generally, allowable expenses for a qualifying individual under federal law include costs for in-home care or daycare, nursery school or preschool programs, and before-school and after-school care for school-age children. Depending on the claimant's adjusted gross income, the credit may be worth between 20 percent and 35 percent of the claimant's allowable expenses, up to a maximum annual amount of $3,000 if there is one qualifying individual and up to $6,000 if there are two or more qualifying individuals.

This bill creates a nonrefundable individual income tax credit based on the federal tax credit for expenses for household and dependent care services. Under the bill, an individual who is eligible for and claims the federal tax credit for expenses for household and dependent care services may claim the same amount as a nonrefundable credit on his or her Wisconsin income tax return. Under the bill, the Wisconsin credit may not be claimed by a part-year resident or nonresident of this state.

Transportation

Under current law, DOT provides state aid payments to local public bodies in urban areas served by mass transit systems to assist the local public bodies with the expenses of operating those systems. This bill increases the total amount of state aid payments for mass transit systems serving urban areas having a population of less than 50,000 to $5,707,800 in calendar year 2020 and thereafter.

Children

This bill requires DCF to prepare and transmit to the governor and the legislature an annual report on the number of children in out-of-home care in the previous year who have experienced adverse childhood experiences. Under current law, a child may be placed in out-of-home care, such as in a foster home, the home of a guardian or relative other than a parent, or a group home, if a court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under the Children's Code finds the child to be in need of protection or services.

Higher education

This bill requires the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System to allocate $50,000 each fiscal year for the Institute for Research on Poverty at the UW-Madison to study and provide an annual report to the public on poverty in this state.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB508,1 Section 1 . 16.03 (2) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

AB508,6,3 16.03 (2) (d) No later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year, do all of the following:

AB508,6,4 1. Review all of the state's housing and homelessness-related programs.

AB508,6,10 2. Identify ways in which the departments of administration, children and families, health services, public instruction, workforce development, and veterans affairs and the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority can increase access to services for homeless individuals and families, including individuals who are included in the category of homeless children and youths, as defined in 42 USC 11434a (2).

AB508,7,2 3. Advise each of the departments specified in subd. 2. and the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority to revise any policy or practice of the department or authority that the council determines impedes homeless individuals and families from obtaining services.

AB508,2 Section 2. 16.306 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB508,7,12 16.306 (2) (a) From the appropriation appropriations under s. 20.505 (7) (fk) and (fm), the department may award a grant to an eligible applicant for the purpose of providing housing and associated supportive services to homeless individuals and families to facilitate their movement to independent living if the conditions under par. (b) are satisfied. The department shall ensure that the funds for the grants are reasonably balanced among geographic areas of the state that correspond to the geographic areas served by each continuum of care organization designated by the federal department of housing and urban development, consistent with the quality of applications submitted award grants under this paragraph on a competitive basis.

AB508,3 Section 3 . 16.3085 (2) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB508,7,18 16.3085 (2) (b) 2. Employment-related services, including connecting parents who are job training graduates or who have a recent work history with their local workforce development board established under 29 USC 2832 3122 and assisting them with using the job center website maintained by the department of workforce development.

AB508,4 Section 4. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table

AB508,5 Section 5. 20.435 (5) (cg) of the statutes is created to read:

AB508,8,4 20.435 (5) (cg) Rural mental health research grants. The amounts in the schedule for grants for research on mental health issues in rural areas under s. 46.538.

AB508,6 Section 6. 20.435 (5) (em) of the statutes is created to read:

AB508,8,8 20.435 (5) (em) Sober living residences. Biennially, the amounts in the schedule to support sober living residences or sober living residence networks under s. 46.483.

AB508,7 Section 7. 20.437 (2) (cs) of the statutes is created to read:

AB508,8,13 20.437 (2) (cs) Community services block grant; state match. A sum sufficient to match 25 percent of the amounts received under 42 USC 9903 for the federal community services block grant for the purposes for which the the federal community services block grant funds are received.

AB508,8 Section 8. 20.445 (1) (fc) of the statutes is created to read:

AB508,9,4 20.445 (1) (fc) Job and employment services; pilot program. The amounts in the schedule for the pilot program established under 2019 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), section 53 (1).

AB508,9 Section 9 . 20.445 (1) (fc) of the statutes, as created by 2019 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed.

AB508,10 Section 10. 20.505 (7) (fk) of the statutes is created to read:

AB508,9,9 20.505 (7) (fk) Housing grants. As a continuing appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for housing grants under s. 16.306.

AB508,11 Section 11. 36.25 (56) of the statutes is created to read:

AB508,9,15 36.25 (56) Annual poverty study. Of the moneys appropriated to the Board of Regents under s. 20.285 (1) (a), the board shall, beginning in fiscal year 2019-20, allocate $50,000 in each fiscal year for the Institute for Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to study and provide an annual report to the public on poverty in this state.

AB508,12 Section 12 . 38.40 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB508,9,20 38.40 (2) Interagency assistance. The council on workforce investment established under 29 USC 2821 3111 and the department of public instruction shall assist the board in providing the technical preparation, school-to-work, and work-based learning programs under sub. (1m).

AB508,13 Section 13. 46.483 of the statutes is created to read:

AB508,9,24 46.483 Sober living residences. (1) Definition. In this section, “sober living residence" means a residential dwelling unit or other form of group housing that is offered or advertised by a person as a residence that provides a peer-supported, alcohol-free, and drug-free living environment where no treatment services are provided on-site and that would qualify for a loan under 42 USC 300x-25.

AB508,10,6 (2) Requirement; funding support. The department shall encourage the development, expansion, and quality control of networks of sober living residences. From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (5) (em), the department shall allocate moneys for any of the following purposes:

AB508,10,8 (a) Creating a revolving loan fund for establishing a sober living residence or a network of sober living residences.

AB508,10,10 (b) Awarding grants to train and supervise field workers to provide technical assistance to sober living residences.

AB508,10,13 (c) Awarding grants to entities that establish sober living residences or to sober living residences to support the development, expansion, and quality operation of sober living residences.

AB508,14 Section 14. 46.538 of the statutes is created to read:

AB508,10,20 46.538 Rural mental health research grants. From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (5) (cg), the department shall award $50,000 cumulatively in grants to entities or groups to perform research projects on mental health issues and access to mental health services in rural areas of the state. The department shall establish qualifications for entities and groups to be eligible to receive a grant under this section.

AB508,15 Section 15 . 46.56 (14) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB508,11,15 46.56 (14) (a) In order to support the development of a comprehensive service system of coordinated care for children who are involved in 2 or more systems of care and their families, the department shall establish a state advisory committee with representatives of county departments and tribal governing bodies, the department of public instruction, educational agencies, the department of children and families, the department of corrections, the juvenile correctional system, professionals experienced in the provision of services to children who are involved in 2 or more systems of care and their families, advocates for such families and their children, the subunit of the department of workforce development that administers vocational rehabilitation, a representative of the local workforce development board established under 29 USC 2832 3122, a representative of the philanthropy community, the technical college system, health care providers, courts assigned to exercise jurisdiction under chs. 48 and 938, child welfare officials, and other appropriate persons as selected by the department. The department may use an existing committee for this purpose if it has representatives from the listed groups and is willing to perform the required functions. This committee shall establish principles and core values for administering initiatives, monitor the development of initiatives throughout the state, and support communication and mutual assistance among operating initiatives as well as those that are being developed.

AB508,16 Section 16. 48.47 (8) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

AB508,11,18 48.47 (8) (d) The number of children in out-of-home care in the previous year who have experienced adverse childhood experiences.

AB508,17 Section 17 . 49.143 (2) (a) 4m. e. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB508,11,22 49.143 (2) (a) 4m. e. Coordinate with local workforce development boards established under 29 USC 2832 3122 to ensure compatibility of purpose and no duplication of effort.

AB508,18 Section 18 . 49.163 (4) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB508,12,4 49.163 (4) Contract for administration. (intro.) The department may contract with any person to administer the program under this section, including a Wisconsin Works agency; county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23; local workforce development board established under 29 USC 2832 3122; or community action agency under s. 49.265. The department, or the agency or agencies with which the department contracts under this subsection, shall do all of the following:

AB508,19 Section 19. 49.265 (3) (b) 11. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB508,12,10 49.265 (3) (b) 11. Provide, to individuals who work at least 20 hours per week and whose earned income is at or below 150 200 percent of the poverty line, a program of skills enhancement that shall include access to transportation, child care, career counseling, job placement assistance, and financial support for education and training.

AB508,20 Section 20. 49.265 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB508,12,16 49.265 (4) (a) The department shall distribute the federal community services block grant funds received under 42 USC 9903 and credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.437 (2) (mg). From the appropriation account under s. 20.437 (2) (cs), the department shall distribute funds in an amount equal to 25 percent of the amounts received under 42 USC 9903.

AB508,21 Section 21 . 49.265 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB508,12,20 49.265 (4) (b) The department shall allocate at least 90 percent of the funds received under 42 USC 9903 and the state matching funds under par. (a) to community action agencies and organizations.

AB508,22 Section 22 . 49.265 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB508,12,24 49.265 (4) (c) The department may not allocate more than 5 percent of the funds received under 42 USC 9903 and the state matching funds under par. (a) for state administrative expenses.

AB508,23 Section 23 . 49.45 (31m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB508,13,6 49.45 (31m) Nonemergency medical transportation services for nursing home residents. The department shall determine and apply a reimbursement rate for nonemergency medical transportation services under s. 49.46 (2) (b) 3. for Medical Assistance recipients who are nursing home residents that is the same as the prevalent brokerage reimbursement rate applied to other nonemergency medical transportation services for Medical Assistance recipients under this subchapter.

AB508,24 Section 24 . 49.675 of the statutes is created to read:

AB508,13,10 49.675 Community action opioid response grant program. (1) In this section, “community action agency” means an eligible entity as defined under 42 USC 9902 (1) (A).

AB508,13,17 (2) The department shall establish a grant program to enable community action agencies to respond to the needs of communities and low-income families and individuals in crisis resulting from the opioid addiction epidemic. Through the program under this section, the department shall endeavor to expand and support effective community efforts to identify and respond to causes and consequences of opioid misuse and addiction experienced by low-income individuals, families, and communities.

AB508,13,20 (3) Any community action agency is eligible to apply for a grant under this section by submitting an application in the form and manner specified by the department.

AB508,13,23 (4) A recipient of a grant under this section may use the moneys to support one or more of the following activities, which may be conducted in coordination or partnership with other community organizations:

AB508,14,3 (a) Enhanced public education to improve individual and community awareness, with respect to the opioid misuse or addiction, including for children and youth.

AB508,14,6 (b) Outreach and identification of individuals at risk of or experiencing opioid misuse or addiction, and referral of such individuals to appropriate treatment, recovery, or other resources in the community.

AB508,14,7 (c) Direct services to prevent, treat, or recover from opioid addiction.

AB508,14,9 (d) Services to stabilize the education, employment, housing, transportation, or other needs of addicted or at-risk individuals and their family members.

AB508,14,11 (e) Services to address and mitigate the impact of opioid addiction on children in the household.

AB508,14,14 (f) Support and assistance to children who are in foster care or at risk of placement in foster care because of the opioid addiction of their parents and to the caregivers for these children.

AB508,14,19 (g) Development of partnerships with entities such as local health care providers, substance abuse treatment organizations, schools, child welfare agencies, social service organizations, police departments, prosecutors, courts, prisons, local governments, businesses, and religious institutions, in order to coordinate or expand resources available to addicted or at-risk individuals and their family members.

AB508,14,22 (h) Training for agency personnel on issues related to opioid addiction, including early identification of at-risk individuals and administration of overdose prevention medications.

AB508,14,24 (5) Each grant awarded by the department under this section shall be at least $25,000 and not more than $250,000 each fiscal year.

AB508,15,3 (6) A grant awarded by the department under this section may not be more than 3 years in duration unless approved by the secretary based on outcome data or extenuating circumstances.

AB508,15,14 (7) Each grant recipient shall submit an annual report to the department detailing goals, interventions, outcomes, and expenditures related to the recipient's program funded by a grant under this section. Each grant recipient shall make each report under this subsection publicly available on the recipient's Internet site. The department shall publish each report submitted under this subsection on the department's Internet site and coordinate with the department of children and families to provide additional public access to the reports through the Internet site of the department of children and families. Annually, the department shall compile reports submitted under this subsection and submit the compilation with a report containing a summary of the information in the recipients' reports to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2).

AB508,15,18 (8) The department shall publish on its Internet site the application process and criteria for grants under this section. In order to be eligible for a grant under this section, the department shall require each application submitted to include all of the following items: