AB557: Bill Text

AB557,31 Section 31. 48.38 (5m) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,66 48.38 (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 child; the child’s parent, guardian, and legal custodian; the child’s foster parent, the operator of the facility in which the child is living, or the relative or like-kin with whom the child is living; the child’s court-appointed special advocate; the agency that prepared the permanency plan; the person representing the interests of the public; and, if the child is an Indian child who is placed outside the home of his or her parent or Indian custodian, the Indian child’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 child 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.

AB557,32 Section 32. 48.385 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,68 48.385 Plan for transition to independent living. (intro.) During the 90 days immediately before a child 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 child is placed in such a placement under an order under s. 48.355, 48.357, or 48.365 that terminates under s. 48.355 (4) (b) after the child attains 18 years of age or under a voluntary transition-to-independent-living agreement under s. 48.366 (3) that terminates under s. 48.366 (3) (a) after the child 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 child under the order or agreement shall do all of the following:

AB557,33 Section 33. 48.40 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,70 48.40 (1m) “Kinship care relative provider” means a person receiving payments under s. 48.57 (3m) (am) for providing care and maintenance for a child.

AB557,34 Section 34. 48.427 (3m) (a) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,72 48.427 (3m) (a) 5. A relative with whom the child resides, if the relative has filed a petition to adopt the child or if the relative is a kinship care relative provider or is receiving payments under s. 48.62 (4) for providing care and maintenance for the child.

AB557,35 Section 35. 48.43 (5) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,74 48.43 (5) (b) 1. The court shall hold a hearing to review the permanency plan within 30 days after receiving a report under par. (a). At least 10 days before the date of the hearing, the court shall provide notice of the time, place, and purpose of the hearing to the agency that prepared the report, the child’s guardian, the child, and the child’s foster parent, the operator of the facility in which the child is living, or the relative or like-kin with whom the child is living.

AB557,36 Section 36. 48.43 (5) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,76 48.43 (5) (b) 3. The court shall give a foster parent, operator of a facility, or relative or like-kin who is notified of a hearing under subd. 1. a right to be heard at the hearing by permitting the foster parent, 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, 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.

AB557,37 Section 37. 48.43 (5m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,78 48.43 (5m) Either the court or the agency that prepared the permanency plan shall furnish a copy of the original plan and each revised plan to the child, if he or she is 12 years of age or over, to the child’s guardian, to the child’s foster parent, the operator of the facility in which the child is living, or the relative or like-kin with whom the child is living, and, if the order under sub. (1) involuntarily terminated parental rights to an Indian child, to the Indian child’s tribe.

AB557,38 Section 38. 48.57 (3m) (a) 1. b. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,80 48.57 (3m) (a) 1. b. The person is under 21 years of age, the person is a full-time student in good academic standing at a secondary school or its vocational or technical equivalent, an individualized education program under s. 115.787 is in effect for the person, and the person is placed in the home of the kinship care relative provider under an order under s. 48.355, 48.357, 48.365, 938.355, 938.357, or 938.365 that terminates under s. 48.355 (4) (b) or 938.355 (4) (am) after the person attains 18 years of age or under a voluntary transition-to-independent-living agreement under s. 48.366 (3) or 938.366 (3).

AB557,39 Section 39. 48.57 (3m) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,82 48.57 (3m) (a) 2. “Kinship care relative provider” means a relative other than a parent, an extended family member, as defined in s. 48.028 (2) (am), or like-kin.

AB557,40 Section 40. 48.57 (3m) (am) (intro.) of the statutes, as affected by Wisconsin Act 19, is amended to read:

AB557,,84 48.57 (3m) (am) (intro.) From the appropriations under s. 20.437 (2) (dz), (md), (me), and (s), the department shall reimburse counties having populations of less than 750,000 for payments made under this subsection and shall make payments under this subsection in a county having a population of 750,000 or more. Subject to par. (ap), a county department and, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department shall make payments per month in the amount of $375 beginning on January 1, 2024, to a kinship care relative provider who is providing care and maintenance for a child if all of the following conditions are met:

AB557,41 Section 41. 48.57 (3m) (am) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,86 48.57 (3m) (am) 1. The kinship care relative provider applies to the county department or department for payments under this subsection and, if the child is placed in the home of the kinship care relative provider under a court order, other than a court order under s. 48.9795 or ch. 54, 2017 stats., for a license to operate a foster home.

AB557,42 Section 42. 48.57 (3m) (am) 1m. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,88 48.57 (3m) (am) 1m. The county department or department determines that there is a need for the child to be placed with the kinship care relative provider and that the placement with the kinship care relative provider is in the best interests of the child.

AB557,43 Section 43. 48.57 (3m) (am) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,90 48.57 (3m) (am) 4. The county department or department conducts a background investigation under sub. (3p) of the kinship care relative provider, any employee and prospective employee of the kinship care relative provider who has or would have regular contact with the child for whom the payments would be made and any other adult resident of the kinship care relative’s provider’s home to determine if the kinship care relative provider, employee, prospective employee or adult resident has any arrests or convictions that could adversely affect the child or the kinship care relative’s provider’s ability to care for the child.

AB557,44 Section 44. 48.57 (3m) (am) 4m. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,92 48.57 (3m) (am) 4m. Subject to sub. (3p) (fm) 1. and 2., the kinship care relative provider states that he or she does not have any arrests or convictions that could adversely affect the child or the kinship care relative’s provider’s ability to care for the child and that no adult resident, as defined in sub. (3p) (a), and no employee or prospective employee of the kinship care relative provider who would have regular contact with the child has any arrests or convictions that could adversely affect the child or the kinship care relative’s provider’s ability to care for the child.

AB557,45 Section 45. 48.57 (3m) (am) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,94 48.57 (3m) (am) 5. The kinship care relative provider cooperates with the county department or department in the application process, including applying for other forms of assistance for which the child may be eligible.

AB557,46 Section 46. 48.57 (3m) (am) 5m. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,96 48.57 (3m) (am) 5m. The kinship care relative provider is not receiving payments under sub. (3n) with respect to the child.

AB557,47 Section 47. 48.57 (3m) (am) 6. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,98 48.57 (3m) (am) 6. The child for whom the kinship care relative provider is providing care and maintenance is not receiving supplemental security income under 42 USC 1381 to 1383c or state supplemental payments under s. 49.77.

AB557,48 Section 48. 48.57 (3m) (ap) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,100 48.57 (3m) (ap) 1. Subject to subds. 2. and 3., the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department may make payments under par. (am) to a kinship care relative provider who is providing care and maintenance for a child who is placed in the home of the kinship care relative provider under a court order for no more than 60 days after the date on which the county department or department received under par. (am) 1. the completed application of the kinship care relative provider for a license to operate a foster home or, if the application is approved or denied or the kinship care relative provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure within those 60 days, until the date on which the application is approved or denied or the kinship care relative provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure.

AB557,49 Section 49. 48.57 (3m) (ap) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,102 48.57 (3m) (ap) 2. If the application specified in subd. 1. is not approved or denied or the kinship care relative provider is not otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure within 60 days after the date on which the county department or department received the completed application for any reason other than an act or omission of the kinship care relative provider, the county department or department may make payments under par. (am) for 4 months after the date on which the county department or department received the completed application or, if the application is approved or denied or the kinship care relative provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure within those 4 months, until the date on which the application is approved or denied or the kinship care relative provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure.

AB557,50 Section 50. 48.57 (3m) (ap) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,104 48.57 (3m) (ap) 3. Notwithstanding that an application of a kinship care relative provider specified in subd. 1. is denied or the kinship care relative provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure, the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department may make payments under par. (am) to the kinship care relative provider for as long as the conditions specified in par. (am) 1. to 6. continue to apply if the county department or department submits to the court information relating to the background investigation specified in par. (am) 4., an assessment of the safety of the kinship care relative’s provider’s home and the ability of the kinship care relative provider to care for the child, and a recommendation that the child remain in the home of the kinship care relative provider and the court, after considering that information, assessment, and recommendation, orders the child to remain in the kinship care relative’s provider’s home. If the court does not order the child to remain in the kinship care relative’s provider’s home, the court shall order the county department or department to request a change in placement under s. 48.357 (1) (am) or 938.357 (1) (am). Any person specified in s. 48.357 (2m) (a) or 938.357 (2m) (a) may also request a change in placement.

AB557,51 Section 51. 48.57 (3m) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,106 48.57 (3m) (b) 2. When any kinship care relative provider of a child applies for or receives payments under this subsection, any right of the child or the child’s parent to support or maintenance from any other person accruing during the time that payments are made under this subsection is assigned to the state. If a child who is the beneficiary of a payment under this subsection is also the beneficiary of support under a judgment or order that includes support for one or more children who are not the beneficiaries of payments under this subsection, any support payment made under the judgment or order is assigned to the state in the amount that is the proportionate share of the child who is the beneficiary of the payment made under this subsection, except as otherwise ordered by the court on the motion of a party.

AB557,52 Section 52. 48.57 (3m) (cm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,108 48.57 (3m) (cm) A kinship care relative provider who receives a payment under par. (am) for providing care and maintenance for a child is not eligible to receive a payment under sub. (3n) or s. 48.62 (4) or 48.623 (1) or (6) for that child.

AB557,53 Section 53. 48.57 (3m) (h) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,110 48.57 (3m) (h) A county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department may recover an overpayment made under par. (am) from a kinship care relative provider who continues to receive payments under par. (am) by reducing the amount of the kinship care relative’s provider’s monthly payment. The department may by rule specify other methods for recovering overpayments made under par. (am). A county department 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.

AB557,54 Section 54. 48.57 (3m) (i) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,112 48.57 (3m) (i) 1. Rules to provide assessment criteria for determining whether a kinship care relative provider who is providing care and maintenance for a child is eligible to receive payments under par. (am). The rules shall also provide that any criteria established under the rules shall first apply to applications for payments under par. (am) received, and to reviews under par. (d) conducted, on the effective date of those rules.

AB557,55 Section 55. 48.57 (3n) (a) 1. b. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,114 48.57 (3n) (a) 1. b. The person is under 21 years of age, the person is a full-time student in good academic standing at a secondary school or its vocational or technical equivalent, an individualized education program under s. 115.787 is in effect for the person, and the person is placed in the home of the long-term kinship care relative provider under an order under s. 48.355, 48.357, 48.365, 938.355, 938.357, or 938.365 that terminates under s. 48.355 (4) (b) or 938.355 (4) (am) after the person attains 18 years of age or under a voluntary transition-to-independent-living agreement under s. 48.366 (3) or 938.366 (3).

AB557,56 Section 56. 48.57 (3n) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,116 48.57 (3n) (a) 2. “Long-term kinship care relative provider” means a relative other than a parent, an extended family member, as defined in s. 48.028 (2) (am), or like-kin.

AB557,57 Section 57. 48.57 (3n) (am) (intro.) of the statutes, as affected by Wisconsin Act 19, is amended to read:

AB557,,118 48.57 (3n) (am) (intro.) From the appropriations under s. 20.437 (2) (dz), (md), (me), and (s), the department shall reimburse counties having populations of less than 750,000 for payments made under this subsection and shall make payments under this subsection in a county having a population of 750,000 or more. Subject to par. (ap), a county department and, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department shall make monthly payments for each child per month in the amount of $375 beginning on January 1, 2024, to a long-term kinship care relative provider who is providing care and maintenance for that child if all of the following conditions are met:

AB557,58 Section 58. 48.57 (3n) (am) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,120 48.57 (3n) (am) 1. The long-term kinship care relative provider applies to the county department or department for payments under this subsection, provides proof that he or she has been appointed as the guardian of the child, and, if the child is placed in the home of the long-term kinship care relative provider under a court order, other than a court order under s. 48.9795 or ch. 54, 2017 stats., applies to the county department or department for a license to operate a foster home.

AB557,59 Section 59. 48.57 (3n) (am) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,122 48.57 (3n) (am) 2. The county department or department inspects the long-term kinship care relative’s provider’s home, interviews the long-term kinship care relative provider and determines that long-term placement with the long-term kinship care relative provider is in the best interests of the child.

AB557,60 Section 60. 48.57 (3n) (am) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,124 48.57 (3n) (am) 4. The county department or department conducts a background investigation under sub. (3p) of the long-term kinship care relative provider, the employees and prospective employees of the long-term kinship care relative provider who have or would have regular contact with the child for whom the payments would be made and any other adult resident, as defined in sub. (3p) (a), of the long-term kinship care relative’s provider’s home to determine if the long-term kinship care relative provider, employee, prospective employee or adult resident has any arrests or convictions that are likely to adversely affect the child or the long-term kinship care relative’s provider’s ability to care for the child.

AB557,61 Section 61. 48.57 (3n) (am) 4m. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,126 48.57 (3n) (am) 4m. Subject to sub. (3p) (fm) 1m. and 2m., the long-term kinship care relative provider states that he or she does not have any arrests or convictions that could adversely affect the child or the long-term kinship care relative’s provider’s ability to care for the child and that, to the best of the long-term kinship care relative’s provider’s knowledge, no adult resident, as defined in sub. (3p) (a), and no employee or prospective employee of the long-term kinship care relative provider who would have regular contact with the child has any arrests or convictions that could adversely affect the child or the long-term kinship care relative’s provider’s ability to care for the child.

AB557,62 Section 62. 48.57 (3n) (am) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,128 48.57 (3n) (am) 5. The long-term kinship care relative provider cooperates with the county department or department in the application process, including applying for other forms of assistance for which the child may be eligible.

AB557,63 Section 63. 48.57 (3n) (am) 5m. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,130 48.57 (3n) (am) 5m. The long-term kinship care relative provider is not receiving payments under sub. (3m) with respect to the child.

AB557,64 Section 64. 48.57 (3n) (am) 5r. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,132 48.57 (3n) (am) 5r. The child for whom the long-term kinship care relative provider is providing care and maintenance is not receiving supplemental security income under 42 USC 1381 to 1383c or state supplemental payments under s. 49.77.

AB557,65 Section 65. 48.57 (3n) (am) 6. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,134 48.57 (3n) (am) 6. (intro.) The long-term kinship care relative provider and the county department or department enter into a written agreement under which the long-term kinship care relative provider agrees to provide care and maintenance for the child and the county department or department agrees, subject to sub. (3p) (hm), to make monthly payments to the long-term kinship care relative provider at the rate specified in sub. (3m) (am) (intro.) until the earliest of the following:

AB557,66 Section 66. 48.57 (3n) (am) 6. c. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,136 48.57 (3n) (am) 6. c. The date on which the child is placed outside the long-term kinship care relative’s provider’s home under a court order or under a voluntary agreement under s. 48.63 (1) (a) or (b) or (5) (b).

AB557,67 Section 67. 48.57 (3n) (am) 6. d. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,138 48.57 (3n) (am) 6. d. The date on which the child ceases to reside with the long-term kinship care relative provider.

AB557,68 Section 68. 48.57 (3n) (am) 6. e. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,140 48.57 (3n) (am) 6. e. The date on which the long-term kinship care’s care provider’s guardianship under s. 48.977 terminates.

AB557,69 Section 69. 48.57 (3n) (ap) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,142 48.57 (3n) (ap) 1. Subject to subds. 2. and 3., the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department may make payments under par. (am) to a long-term kinship care relative provider who is providing care and maintenance for a child who is placed in the home of the long-term kinship care relative provider for no more than 60 days after the date on which the county department or department received under par. (am) 1. the completed application of the long-term kinship care relative provider for a license to operate a foster home or, if the application is approved or denied or the long-term kinship care relative provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure within those 60 days, until the date on which the application is approved or denied or the long-term kinship care relative provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure.

AB557,70 Section 70. 48.57 (3n) (ap) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,144 48.57 (3n) (ap) 2. If the application specified in subd. 1. is not approved or denied or the long-term kinship care relative provider is not otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure within 60 days after the date on which the county department or department received the completed application for any reason other than an act or omission of the long-term kinship care relative provider, the county department or department may make payments under par. (am) for 4 months after the date on which the county department or department received the completed application or, if the application is approved or denied or the long-term kinship care relative provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure within those 4 months, until the date on which the application is approved or denied or the long-term kinship care relative provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure.

AB557,71 Section 71. 48.57 (3n) (ap) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,146 48.57 (3n) (ap) 3. Notwithstanding that an application of a long-term kinship care relative provider specified in subd. 1. is denied or the long-term kinship care relative provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure, the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department may make payments under par. (am) to the long-term kinship care relative provider until an event specified in par. (am) 6. a. to f. occurs if the county department or department submits to the court information relating to the background investigation specified in par. (am) 4., an assessment of the safety of the long-term kinship care relative’s provider’s home and the ability of the long-term kinship care relative provider to care for the child, and a recommendation that the child remain in the home of the long-term kinship care relative provider and the court, after considering that information, assessment, and recommendation, orders the child to remain in the long-term kinship care relative’s provider’s home. If the court does not order the child to remain in the kinship care relative’s provider’s home, the court shall order the county department or department to request a change in placement under s. 48.357 (1) (am) or 938.357 (1) (am) or to request a termination of the guardianship order under s. 48.977 (7). Any person specified in s. 48.357 (2m) (a) or 938.357 (2m) (a) may also request a change in placement and any person who is authorized to file a petition for the appointment of a guardian for the child may also request a termination of the guardianship order.

AB557,72 Section 72. 48.57 (3n) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,148 48.57 (3n) (b) 2. When any long-term kinship care relative provider of a child applies for or receives payments under this subsection, any right of the child or the child’s parent to support or maintenance from any other person accruing during the time that payments are made under this subsection is assigned to the state. If a child is the beneficiary of support under a judgment or order that includes support for one or more children who are not the beneficiaries of payments under this subsection, any support payment made under the judgment or order is assigned to the state in the amount that is the proportionate share of the child who is the beneficiary of the payment made under this subsection, except as otherwise ordered by the court on the motion of a party.

AB557,73 Section 73. 48.57 (3n) (cm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,150 48.57 (3n) (cm) A long-term kinship care relative provider who receives a payment under par. (am) for providing care and maintenance for a child is not eligible to receive a payment under sub. (3m) or s. 48.62 (4) or 48.623 (1) or (6) for that child.

AB557,74 Section 74. 48.57 (3n) (h) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,,152 48.57 (3n) (h) A county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department may recover an overpayment made under par. (am) from a long-term kinship care relative provider who continues to receive payments under par. (am) by reducing the amount of the long-term kinship care relative’s provider’s monthly payment. The department may by rule specify other methods for recovering overpayments made under par. (am). A county department 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.

AB557,75 Section 75. 48.57 (3p) (h) 3. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read: