Amendment AA1-SB70

SB70-AA1,540 Section 540. 938.38 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,262,2 938.38 (2) Permanency plan required. (intro.) Except as provided in sub. (3), for each juvenile living in a foster home, group home, residential care center for children and youth, juvenile detention facility, shelter care facility, or supervised independent living arrangement, the agency that placed the juvenile or arranged the placement or the agency assigned primary responsibility for providing services to the juvenile under s. 938.355 (2) (b) 6g. shall prepare a written permanency plan, if any of the following conditions exists, and, for each juvenile living in the home of a guardian or a relative other than a parent or in the home of like-kin, that agency shall prepare a written permanency plan, if any of the conditions under pars. (a) to (e) exists:

SB70-AA1,541 Section 541. 938.38 (3m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,262,7 938.38 (3m) (a) All appropriate biological family members, relatives, and like-kin of the juvenile, as determined by the agency. Notwithstanding s. 938.02 (12c) (b), in this paragraph, “like-kin” may include a person who is or previously was the child's licensed foster parent.

SB70-AA1,542 Section 542. 938.38 (4) (f) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,262,13 938.38 (4) (f) (intro.) A description of the services that will be provided to the juvenile, the juvenile's family, and the juvenile's foster parent, the operator of the facility where the juvenile is living, or the relative or like-kin with whom the juvenile is living to carry out the dispositional order, including services planned to accomplish all of the following:

SB70-AA1,543 Section 543. 938.38 (4m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,262,23 938.38 (4m) (b) At least 10 days before the date of the hearing the court shall notify the juvenile; any parent, guardian, and legal custodian of the juvenile; any foster parent, or other physical custodian described in s. 48.62 (2) of the juvenile, the operator of the facility in which the juvenile is living, or the relative or like-kin with whom the juvenile is living; and, if the juvenile is an Indian juvenile who is or is alleged to be in need of protection or services under s. 938.13 (4), (6), (6m), or (7), the Indian juvenile's Indian custodian and tribe of the time, place, and purpose of the hearing, of the issues to be determined at the hearing, and of the fact that they shall have a right to be heard at the hearing.

SB70-AA1,544 Section 544. 938.38 (4m) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,263,9 938.38 (4m) (d) The court shall give a foster parent, other physical custodian described in s. 48.62 (2), operator of a facility, or relative, or like-kin who is notified of a hearing under par. (b) a right to be heard at the hearing by permitting the foster parent, other physical custodian, operator, or relative, or like-kin to make a written or oral statement during the hearing, or to submit a written statement prior to the hearing, relevant to the issues to be determined at the hearing. The foster parent, other physical custodian, operator of a facility, or relative, or like-kin does not become a party to the proceeding on which the hearing is held solely on the basis of receiving that notice and right to be heard.

SB70-AA1,545 Section 545. 938.38 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,264,2 938.38 (5) (b) The court or the agency shall notify the juvenile; the juvenile's parent, guardian, and legal custodian; the juvenile's foster parent, the operator of the facility in which the juvenile is living, or the relative or like-kin with whom the juvenile is living; and, if the juvenile is an Indian juvenile who is placed outside the home of his or her parent or Indian custodian under s. 938.13 (4), (6), (6m), or (7), the Indian juvenile's Indian custodian and tribe of the time, place, and purpose of the review, of the issues to be determined as part of the review, and of the fact that they shall have a right to be heard at the review as provided in par. (bm) 1. The court or agency shall notify the person representing the interests of the public, the juvenile's counsel, the juvenile's guardian ad litem, and the juvenile's school of the time, place, and purpose of the review, of the issues to be determined as part of the review, and of the fact that they may have an opportunity to be heard at the review as provided in par. (bm) 1. The notices under this paragraph shall be provided in writing not less than 30 days before the review and copies of the notices shall be filed in the juvenile's case record. The notice to the juvenile's school shall also include the name and contact information for the caseworker or social worker assigned to the juvenile's case.

SB70-AA1,546 Section 546. 938.38 (5) (bm) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,264,16 938.38 (5) (bm) 1. A juvenile, parent, guardian, legal custodian, foster parent, operator of a facility, or relative, or like-kin who is provided notice of the review under par. (b) shall have a right to be heard at the review by submitting written comments relevant to the determinations specified in par. (c) not less than 10 working days before the date of the review or by participating at the review. A person representing the interests of the public, counsel, guardian ad litem, or school who is provided notice of the review under par. (b) may have an opportunity to be heard at the review by submitting written comments relevant to the determinations specified in par. (c) not less than 10 working days before the date of the review. A foster parent, operator of a facility, or relative, or like-kin who receives notice of a review under par. (b) and a right to be heard under this subdivision does not become a party to the proceeding on which the review is held solely on the basis of receiving that notice and right to be heard.

SB70-AA1,547 Section 547. 938.38 (5) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,265,2 938.38 (5) (e) Within 30 days, the agency shall prepare a written summary of the determinations under par. (c) and shall provide a copy to the court that entered the order; the juvenile or the juvenile's counsel or guardian ad litem; the person representing the interests of the public; the juvenile's parent, guardian, or legal custodian; the juvenile's foster parent, the operator of the facility where the juvenile is living, or the relative or like-kin with whom the juvenile is living; and, if the juvenile is an Indian juvenile who is placed outside the home of his or her parent or Indian custodian under s. 938.13 (4), (6), (6m), or (7), the Indian juvenile's Indian custodian and tribe.

SB70-AA1,548 Section 548. 938.38 (5m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,265,19 938.38 (5m) (b) The court shall notify the juvenile; the juvenile's parent, guardian, and legal custodian; and the juvenile's foster parent, the operator of the facility in which the juvenile is living, or the relative or like-kin with whom the juvenile is living of the time, place, and purpose of the hearing, of the issues to be determined at the hearing, and of the fact that they shall have a right to be heard at the hearing as provided in par. (c) 1. The court shall notify the juvenile's counsel and the juvenile's guardian ad litem; the agency that prepared the permanency plan; the juvenile's school; the person representing the interests of the public; and, if the juvenile is an Indian juvenile who is placed outside the home of his or her parent or Indian custodian under s. 938.13 (4), (6), (6m), or (7), the Indian juvenile's Indian custodian and tribe of the time, place, and purpose of the hearing, of the issues to be determined at the hearing, and of the fact that they may have an opportunity to be heard at the hearing as provided in par. (c) 1. The notices under this paragraph shall be provided in writing not less than 30 days before the hearing. The notice to the juvenile's school shall also include the name and contact information for the caseworker or social worker assigned to the juvenile's case.

SB70-AA1,549 Section 549. 938.38 (5m) (c) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,266,9 938.38 (5m) (c) 1. A juvenile, parent, guardian, legal custodian, foster parent, operator of a facility, or relative, or like-kin who is provided notice of the hearing under par. (b) shall have a right to be heard at the hearing by submitting written comments relevant to the determinations specified in sub. (5) (c) not less than 10 working days before the date of the hearing or by participating at the hearing. A counsel, guardian ad litem, agency, school, or person representing the interests of the public who is provided notice of the hearing under par. (b) may have an opportunity to be heard at the hearing by submitting written comments relevant to the determinations specified in sub. (5) (c) not less than 10 working days before the date of the hearing or by participating at the hearing. A foster parent, operator of a facility, or relative, or like-kin who receives notice of a hearing under par. (b) and a right to be heard under this subdivision does not become a party to the proceeding on which the hearing is held solely on the basis of receiving that notice and right to be heard.

SB70-AA1,550 Section 550. 938.38 (5m) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,267,3 938.38 (5m) (e) After the hearing, the court shall make written findings of fact and conclusions of law relating to the determinations under sub. (5) (c) and shall provide a copy of those findings of fact and conclusions of law to the juvenile; the juvenile's parent, guardian, and legal custodian; the juvenile's foster parent, the operator of the facility in which the juvenile is living, or the relative or like-kin with whom the juvenile is living; the agency that prepared the permanency plan; the person representing the interests of the public; and, if the juvenile is an Indian juvenile who is placed outside the home of his or her parent or Indian custodian under s. 938.13 (4), (6), (6m), or (7), the Indian juvenile's Indian custodian and tribe. The court shall make the findings specified in sub. (5) (c) 7. on a case-by-case basis based on circumstances specific to the juvenile and shall document or reference the specific information on which those findings are based in the findings of fact and conclusions of law prepared under this paragraph. Findings of fact and conclusions of law that merely reference sub. (5) (c) 7. without documenting or referencing that specific information in the findings of fact and conclusions of law or amended findings of fact and conclusions of law that retroactively correct earlier findings of fact and conclusions of law that do not comply with this paragraph are not sufficient to comply with this paragraph.

SB70-AA1,551 Section 551. 938.385 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,267,16 938.385 Plan for transition to independent living. (intro.) During the 90 days immediately before a juvenile who is placed in a foster home, group home, or residential care center for children and youth, in the home of a relative other than a parent, in the home of like-kin, or in a supervised independent living arrangement attains 18 years of age or, if the juvenile is placed in such a placement under an order under s. 938.355, 938.357, or 938.365 that terminates under s. 938.355 (4) (am) after the juvenile attains 18 years of age or under a voluntary transition-to-independent-living agreement under s. 938.366 (3) that terminates under s. 938.366 (3) (a) after the juvenile attains 18 years of age, during the 90 days immediately before the termination of the order or agreement, the agency primarily responsible for providing services to the juvenile under the order or agreement shall do all of the following:

SB70-AA1,552 Section 552. DCF 56.23 (1) (c) of the administrative code is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,267,20 DCF 56.23 (1) (c) A placing agency may not make a supplemental or exceptional payment or pay an initial clothing allowance , except for an exceptional payment under sub. (3) (a) 2., for a child placed in a Level 1 foster home.

SB70-AA1,553 Section 553. DCF 58.08 (9) (c) and (d) of the administrative code are created to read:

SB70-AA1,268,2 DCF 58.08 (9) (c) Exceptional payments. A kinship care agency may issue to a relative caregiver who is receiving kinship care payments or long-term kinship care payments an exceptional payment to enable siblings or minor parent and minor children to reside together, subject to a maximum payment amount determined by the department.

SB70-AA1,268,7 (d) Initial clothing allowance. A kinship care agency may pay an initial clothing allowance to a relative caregiver when the relative caregiver is initially approved by the kinship care agency. The amount of the initial clothing allowance shall be the actual cost of the clothing not to exceed a maximum determined by the department.

SB70-AA1,9106 Section 9106. Nonstatutory provisions; Children and Families.

SB70-AA1,268,15 (1) Child care quality improvement program. Using the procedure under s. 227.24, the department of children and families may promulgate the rules authorized under s. 49.133 (2) as emergency rules. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), the department of children and families is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection.

SB70-AA1,9406 Section 9406. Effective dates; Children and Families.

SB70-AA1,268,19 (1) Foster care and kinship care rates. The treatment of ss. 48.57 (3m) (am) (intro.) (by Section 43q) and (3n) (am) (intro.) (by Section 66q) and 48.62 (4) takes effect on January 1, 2024, or on the day after publication, whichever is later.”.

SB70-AA1,268,20 160. Page 374, line 11: after that line insert:

SB70-AA1,268,22 “ Section 554. 234.18 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 234.18 and amended to read:

SB70-AA1,269,4 234.18 Limit on amount of outstanding bonds and notes. The authority may not issue notes and bonds that are secured by a capital reserve fund to which s. 234.15 (4) applies if, upon issuance, the total aggregate outstanding principal amount of notes and bonds that are secured by a capital reserve fund to which s. 234.15 (4) applies would exceed $600,000,000 $1,200,000,000. This section does not apply to bonds and notes issued to refund outstanding notes and bonds.

SB70-AA1,555 Section 555. 234.18 (2) of the statutes is repealed.”.

SB70-AA1,269,6 161. Page 374, line 11: after that line insert:

SB70-AA1,269,7 “ Section 556. 20.437 (1) (dd) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,269,19 20.437 (1) (dd) State out-of-home care, adoption services, and subsidized guardianships. The amounts in the schedule for foster care, institutional child care, and subsidized adoptions under ss. 48.48 (12) and 48.52, for the cost of care for children under s. 49.19 (10) (d), for the cost of placements of children 18 years of age or over in residential care centers for children and youth under voluntary agreements under s. 48.366 (3) or under orders that terminate as provided in s. 48.355 (4) (b) 4., 48.357 (6) (a) 4., or 48.365 (5) (b) 4., for the cost of the foster care monitoring system, for the cost of reimbursing counties and Indian tribes for subsidized guardianship payments under s. 48.623 (3) (a), for the cost of services to children with special needs who are under the guardianship of the department to prepare those children for adoption, and for the cost of postadoption services to children with special needs.

SB70-AA1,557 Section 557. 20.437 (1) (pd) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,270,9 20.437 (1) (pd) Federal aid; state out-of-home care, adoption services, and subsidized guardianships. All federal moneys received for meeting the costs of providing foster care, institutional child care, and subsidized adoptions under ss. 48.48 (12) and 48.52, the cost of care for children under s. 49.19 (10) (d), the cost of placements of children 18 years of age or over in residential care centers for children and youth under voluntary agreements under s. 48.366 (3) or under orders that terminate as provided in s. 48.355 (4) (b) 4., 48.357 (6) (a) 4., or 48.365 (5) (b) 4., the cost of reimbursing counties and Indian tribes for subsidized guardianship payments under s. 48.623 (3) (a), the cost of services to children with special needs who are under the guardianship of the department to prepare those children for adoption, and the cost of postadoption services to children with special needs. Disbursements for foster care under s. 49.32 (2) and for the purposes described under s. 48.627 may be made from this appropriation.

SB70-AA1,558 Section 558. 48.48 (8r) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,270,14 48.48 (8r) To reimburse county departments and Indian tribes, from the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (dd) and (pd), for subsidized guardianship payments made under s. 48.623 (1) or (6), including guardianships of Indian children ordered by tribal courts.

SB70-AA1,559 Section 559. 48.623 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,271,4 48.623 (1) Eligibility. (intro.) A county department or, as provided in sub. (3) (a), an Indian tribe or the department shall provide monthly subsidized guardianship payments in the amount specified in sub. (3) (b) to a guardian of a child under s. 48.977 (2) or under a substantially similar tribal law if the county department, Indian tribe, or department determines that the conditions specified in pars. (a) to (d) have been met. A county department or, as provided in sub. (3) (a), a tribe or the department shall also provide those payments for the care of a sibling of such a child, regardless of whether the sibling meets the conditions specified in par. (a), if the county department, Indian tribe, or department and the guardian agree on the appropriateness of placing the sibling in the home of the guardian. A guardian of a child under s. 48.977 (2) or under a substantially similar tribal law is eligible for monthly subsidized guardianship payments under this subsection if the county department, Indian tribe, or the department, whichever will be providing those payments, determines that all of the following apply:

SB70-AA1,560 Section 560. 48.623 (1) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,271,12 48.623 (1) (b) 3. The guardian is licensed as the child's foster parent and the guardian and all adults residing in the guardian's home meet the requirements specified in s. 48.685 or, for a guardianship of a child ordered by a tribal court in which the background investigation is conducted by the Indian tribe, all adults residing in the guardian's home meet either the requirements specified in s. 48.685 or the background check requirements for foster parent licensing under 42 USC 671 (a) (20).

SB70-AA1,561 Section 561. 48.623 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,271,19 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-AA1,562 Section 562. 48.623 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,272,11 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-AA1,563 Section 563. 48.623 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,272,15 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-AA1,564 Section 564. 48.623 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,273,7 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-AA1,565 Section 565. 48.623 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,273,17 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-AA1,566 Section 566. 48.623 (3) (c) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,274,9 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-AA1,567 Section 567. 48.623 (3) (c) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,274,25 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-AA1,568 Section 568. 48.623 (3) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,275,8 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-AA1,569 Section 569. 48.623 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,275,17 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-AA1,570 Section 570. 48.623 (5) (b) 1. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,276,9 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-AA1,571 Section 571. 48.623 (5) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,276,20 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-AA1,572 Section 572. 48.623 (6) (am) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,277,2 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-AA1,573 Section 573. 48.623 (6) (am) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,277,8 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-AA1,574 Section 574. 48.623 (6) (am) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,277,20 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-AA1,575 Section 575. 48.623 (6) (am) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,277,24 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.

SB70-AA1,576 Section 576. 48.623 (6) (bm) (intro.), 1., 2., 3., 4. and 5. of the statutes are amended to read:

SB70-AA1,278,11 48.623 (6) (bm) (intro.) On the death or incapacity of a guardian receiving payments under sub. (1), the county department, an Indian tribe, or the department providing those payments shall provide monthly subsidized guardianship payments in the amount specified in sub. (3) (b) to a person 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 if all of the following conditions are met and the court appoints the person as successor guardian to assume the duty and authority of guardianship as provided in s. 48.977 (5m):

SB70-AA1,278,14 1. The county department, Indian tribe, or department determines that the child, if 14 years of age or over, has been consulted with regarding the successor guardianship arrangement.

SB70-AA1,278,16 2. The county department, Indian tribe, or department determines that the person has a strong commitment to caring permanently for the child.

SB70-AA1,278,20 3. The county department, Indian tribe, or department inspects the home of the person, interviews the person, and determines that placement of the child with the person 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-AA1,278,23 4. Prior to being appointed as successor guardian to assume the duty and authority of guardianship, the person enters into a subsidized guardianship agreement under sub. (2) with the county department, Indian tribe, or department.

SB70-AA1,279,7 5. Prior to the person entering into the subsidized guardianship agreement, the county department, Indian tribe, or department conducts a background investigation under s. 48.685 of the person and any nonclient resident, as defined in s. 48.685 (1) (bm), of the home of the person and determines that those individuals meet the requirements specified in s. 48.685. 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 a person receiving those payments for a reason specified in s. 48.685 (4m) (a) 1. to 5. or (b) 1. to 5.

SB70-AA1,577 Section 577. 48.623 (7) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,279,14 48.623 (7) (b) Rules establishing requirements for submitting a request under sub. (3) (c) 1. and criteria for determining the amount of the increase in monthly subsidized guardianship payments that a county department, an Indian tribe, or the department shall offer 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 the person receiving those payments.

SB70-AA1,578 Section 578. 48.623 (8) of the statutes is created to read:

SB70-AA1,279,23 48.623 (8) Tribal agreements. (a) The department may enter into an agreement with the governing body of an Indian tribe to allow that governing body to administer subsidized guardianships ordered by a tribal court under a tribal law substantially similar to s. 48.977 (2) and to be reimbursed by the department for eligible tribal subsidized guardianship payments. An agreement under this paragraph shall require the governing body of an Indian tribe to comply with all requirements for administering subsidized guardianship that apply to counties and the department, including eligibility.