2025 Wisconsin Act 15

3. For a foster parent receiving an initial license, the training under par. (a) subd. 1. shall be completed before the first child is placed with the foster parent.

15,164 Section 164. 48.67 (1b) of the statutes is created to read:

48.67 (1b) In this section, “provider” means an individual who provides care and supervision for children in a child care center licensed under s. 48.65 (1).

15,165 Section 165. 48.67 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

48.67 (2m) (a) In the rules promulgated under sub. (1m), the department shall establish a category of child care centers licensed under s. 48.65 (1) that provide care and supervision for 4 to 12 children.

(b) The department shall regulate a child care center described in par. (a) in the same way that it regulates a child care center that is licensed to provide care and supervision for 4 to 8 children, including the maximum number of children per provider, except for all of the following:

1. The department shall prohibit a child care center described in par. (a) from authorizing more than 2 providers to provide care and supervision for children at one time.

2. The department may regulate a child care center described in par. (a) differently than a child care center that provides care and supervision for 4 to 8 children to the extent necessary to safely accommodate a larger group of children.

15,166 Section 166. 49.132 of the statutes is created to read:

49.132 Community-based option for elementary school readiness. (1) Definitions. In this section:

(a) “Child care provider” means a provider licensed under s. 48.65 or certified under s. 48.651.

(b) “Elementary school readiness program” means an instructional program that provides 4-year-old children with the social and cognitive skills to successfully transition to 5-year-old kindergarten in an elementary school setting.

(c) “School year” has the meaning given in s. 115.001 (13).

(2) Program. The department shall establish a community-based option for an elementary school readiness program under which a participating child care provider offers an elementary school readiness program to eligible children during the school year and receives funding from the department for each eligible child participating in the program.

(3) Eligibility. (a) Child care providers. A child care provider is eligible to participate in the program under this section if the child care provider satisfies all of the following:

1. Is in compliance with all legal, financial, and regulatory requirements imposed by law or by department rule.

2. Demonstrates to the department that it will annually provide at least 437 hours of direct child instruction in elementary school readiness to children participating in the program.

3. Demonstrates to the department that, for purposes of the program under this section, it uses a curriculum that meets the department of public instruction’s model early learning standards.

4. By no later than February 1 of the preceding school year, notifies the department of its intent to participate in the elementary school readiness program under this section according to application requirements established by the department.

5. Does not have a contract with a school district to provide a 4-year-old kindergarten for the school year in which the child care provider intends to participate in the program.

(b) Children. A child is eligible to participate in the program under this section if all of the following apply:

1. The child is 4 years old on or before September 1 in the school year that the child proposes to participate in the program.

2. The child’s parent or guardian submits an application to participate in the program under this section, on a form prepared by the department, to a participating child care provider.

3. A participating child care provider has accepted the child’s application to attend the elementary school readiness program offered by the child care provider under this section.

(4) Participating child care providers; annual notice. Annually, by February 15, the department shall post on its website a list of all child care providers that have submitted a notice of intent to participate in the program under this section in the following school year. The department shall include all of the following for each participating child care provider:

(a) The name of the child care provider.

(b) The address at which the program under this section will be provided.

(c) The name of and contact information for the provider or an employee of the provider who can answer questions about a child participating in the program under this section at the child care provider.

(d) The number of spaces available with the child care provider for children participating in the program under this section.

(5) Funding. (a) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., from the appropriation under s. 20.437 (2) (cr), for each child participating in an elementary school readiness program offered by a child care provider under this section, the department shall pay to the child care provider participating in the program under this section 0.6 times the sum of the revenue ceiling, as defined in s. 121.905 (1), for the current school year and the per pupil amount under s. 115.437 (2) (a) for the current school year.

2. If the appropriation under s. 20.437 (2) (cr) is insufficient to pay the full amount of costs under subd. 1., the department shall prorate payments among the participating child care providers under this section.

(b) The department shall pay 25 percent of the total amount under par. (a) in September, 25 percent in November, 25 percent in February, and 25 percent in May. Each installment may consist of a single check for all children participating in the elementary school readiness program offered by the child care provider.

(c) A child care provider may use payments received under this subsection to cover any costs associated with providing the program under this section. If a child is participating in the program under this section, the child care provider may charge additional amounts to provide care and supervision for that child outside of the elementary school readiness program hours.

(6) Teacher qualifications. A teacher who teaches in an elementary school readiness program offered by a child care provider under this section shall have an associate degree or bachelor’s degree.

15,167 Section 167. 49.1335 of the statutes is created to read:

49.1335 Child care access program. (1) In this section, “rural area” means a city, town, or village with a population of less than 10,000 or a county with a population of less than 50,000.

(2) (a) The department shall award to Wonderschool, Inc., a grant of $1,000,000 from the allocation under s. 49.175 (1) (qm) in fiscal year 2025-26 and a grant of $1,000,000 from the appropriation under s. 20.437 (2) (bp) in fiscal year 2026-27 to do all of the following:

1. Launch an online software platform that is linked to the department’s website to connect child care providers with child care workers.

2. Build child care capacity in this state.

(b) Of any moneys expended to meet the requirements of par. (a) 2., at least 60 percent shall be expended to build child care capacity in rural areas.

(3) From the appropriation under s. 20.437 (2) (bp), the department shall award a grant of $1,000,000 in each fiscal year 2025-26 and 2026-27 to Supporting Families Together Association that it shall use to provide funding to child care resource and referral agencies for services that build child care capacity and increase access to quality child care in this state, including all of the following:

(a) Technical assistance to support child care providers with starting and sustaining high quality child care businesses.

(b) Recruitment of child care providers and child care slots in areas of need.

(c) Training and information about regulatory compliance and continuing education for child care providers.

(d) Any other information or support that increases availability of and access to quality child care services in individual communities on the basis of needs assessed by the child care resource and referral agency.

(4) No later than May 1, 2027, the department shall submit a report to the joint committee on finance on the outcomes of the grants under this section on child care capacity in this state.

15,167m Section 167m. 49.1335 of the statutes, as created by 2025 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed.

15,168 Section 168. 49.155 (6g) (b) 5. of the statutes is created to read:

49.155 (6g) (b) 5. Any hours during which the child participates in an elementary school readiness program under s. 49.132.

15,168m Section 168m. 49.175 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.175 (1) Allocation of funds. (intro.) Except as provided in sub. (2), within the limits of the appropriations under s. 20.437 (2) (a), (cm), (dz), (k), (kx), (L), (mc), (md), (me), (mh), and (s) and (3) (kp), the department shall allocate the following amounts for the following purposes:

15,169 Section 169. 49.175 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.175 (1) (a) Wisconsin Works benefits. For Wisconsin Works benefits, $37,000,000 in fiscal year 2021-22 and $34,000,000 in fiscal year 2022-23. In fiscal year 2023-24, for such benefits, $28,000,000. In fiscal year 2024-25, for such benefits, $29,000,000. In fiscal year 2025-26, for such benefits, $26,806,500. In fiscal year 2026-27, for such benefits, $26,987,700.

Section 170. 49.175 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.175 (1) (c) Case management incentive payments. For supplement payments to individuals under s. 49.255, $2,700,000 in each fiscal year, $1,000,000.

15,171 Section 171. 49.175 (1) (fa) of the statutes is repealed.

15,172 Section 172. 49.175 (1) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.175 (1) (g) State administration of public assistance programs and overpayment collections. For state administration of public assistance programs and the collection of public assistance overpayments, $17,231,100 in fiscal year 2021-22 and $17,482,300 in fiscal year 2022-23. In fiscal year 2023-24, for such purposes, $19,015,300. In fiscal year 2024-25, for such purposes, $19,424,300. In fiscal year 2025-26, for such purposes, $20,314,000. In fiscal year 2026-27, for such purposes, $20,539,800.

15,173 Section 173. 49.175 (1) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.175 (1) (i) Emergency assistance. For emergency assistance under s. 49.138 and for transfer to the department of administration for low-income energy or weatherization assistance programs, $6,000,000 in each fiscal year, $10,414,400.

15,174 Section 174. 49.175 (1) (Lm) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.175 (1) (Lm) Jobs for America’s Graduates. For grants to the Jobs for America’s Graduates-Wisconsin to fund programs that improve social, academic, and employment skills of youth who are eligible to receive temporary assistance for needy families under 42 USC 601 et seq., in each fiscal year 2024-25, $1,000,000. In fiscal year 2025-26, for such grants, $2,000,000. In fiscal year 2026-27, for such grants, $1,000,000.

15,175 Section 175. 49.175 (1) (Lp) of the statutes is repealed.

15,176 Section 176. 49.175 (1) (p) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.175 (1) (p) Direct child care services. For direct child care services under s. 49.155 or 49.257, $376,700,400 in fiscal year 2021-22 and $383,900,400 in fiscal year 2022-23. In fiscal year 2023-24, for such direct child care services, $368,834,800. In fiscal year 2024-25, for such direct child care services, $428,779,700. In fiscal year 2025-26, for such direct child care services, 509,026,700. In fiscal year 2026-27, for such direct child care services, 526,026,700.

15,177 Section 177. 49.175 (1) (q) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.175 (1) (q) Child care state administration and licensing activities. For state administration of child care programs under s. 49.155 and for child care licensing activities, $42,117,800 in fiscal year 2021-22 and $41,803,100 in fiscal year 2022-23. In fiscal year 2023-24, for such programs and activities, $45,796,000. In fiscal year 2024-25, for such programs and activities, $45,570,300. In fiscal year 2025-26, for such programs and activities, $51,064,000. In fiscal year 2026-27, for such programs and activities, $48,734,700.

15,178 Section 178. 49.175 (1) (qm) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.175 (1) (qm) Quality care for quality kids. For the child care quality improvement activities specified in ss. 49.155 (1g) and 49.257, $16,683,700 in fiscal year 2022-23. In fiscal year 2023-24, for such activities, $28,518,700. In fiscal year 2024-25, for such activities, $46,018,700. In fiscal year 2025-26, for such activities, $47,018,700. In fiscal year 2026-27, for such activities, $46,018,700.

15,179 Section 179. 49.175 (1) (s) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.175 (1) (s) Kinship care and long-term kinship care assistance. For kinship care and long-term kinship care payments under s. 48.57 (3m) (am) and (3n) (am), for assessments to determine eligibility for those payments, and for agreements under s. 48.57 (3t) with the governing bodies of Indian tribes for the administration of the kinship care and long-term kinship care programs within the boundaries of the reservations of those tribes, $28,727,100 in fiscal year 2021-22 and $31,441,800 in fiscal year 2022-23. In fiscal year 2023-24, for such payments, $31,719,200. In fiscal year 2024-25, for such payments, $35,661,000. In fiscal year 2025-26, for such payments, $39,223,800. In fiscal year 2026-27, for such payments, $40,075,700.

15,180 Section 180. 49.175 (1) (z) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.175 (1) (z) Grants to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. For grants to the Wisconsin Chapter of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America to fund programs that improve social, academic, and employment skills of youth who are eligible to receive temporary assistance for needy families under 42 USC 601 et seq., focusing on study habits, intensive tutoring in math and English, and exposure to career options and role models, $2,807,000 in each fiscal year 2024-25. In fiscal year 2025-26, for such grants, $7,807,000. In fiscal year 2026-27, for such grants, $3,307,000. Grants provided under this paragraph may not be used by the grant recipient to replace funding for programs that are being funded, when the grant proceeds are received, with moneys other than those from the appropriations specified in sub. (1) (intro.). The total amount of the grants includes funds for the BE GREAT: Graduate program in the amount of matching funds that the program provides, up to $1,532,000 in each fiscal year, to be used only for activities for which federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant moneys may be used.

15,181 Section 181. 49.175 (1) (zh) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.175 (1) (zh) Earned income tax credit supplement. For the transfer of moneys from the appropriation account under s. 20.437 (2) (md) to the appropriation account under s. 20.835 (2) (kf) for the earned income tax credit, $63,600,000 in fiscal year 2021-22 and $66,600,000 in fiscal year 2022-23. In fiscal year 2023-24, for such purposes, $61,725,000. In fiscal year 2024-25, for such purposes, $65,002,000. In fiscal year 2025-26, for such purposes, $63,300,000. In fiscal year 2026-27, for such purposes, $61,800,000.

15,182 Section 182. 49.45 (3) (e) 11. of the statutes is amended to read:

49.45 (3) (e) 11. The department shall use a portion of the moneys collected under s. 50.38 (2) (a) to pay for services provided by eligible hospitals, as defined in s. 50.38 (1), other than critical access hospitals, under the Medical Assistance Program under this subchapter, including services reimbursed on a fee-for-service basis and services provided under a managed care system. For state fiscal year 2008-09, total payments required under this subdivision, including both the federal and state share of Medical Assistance, shall equal the amount collected under s. 50.38 (2) (a) for fiscal year 2008-09 divided by 57.75 percent. For each state fiscal year after state fiscal year 2008-09, total payments required under this subdivision, including both the federal and state share of Medical Assistance, shall equal the amount collected under s. 50.38 (2) (a) for the fiscal year divided by 61.68 percent. For each state fiscal year after state fiscal year 2024-25, total payments required under this subdivision, including both the federal and state share of Medical Assistance, shall equal the amount collected under s. 50.38 (2) (a) and (b) for the fiscal year divided by 56.1 percent.

15,183 Section 183. 49.45 (3) (e) 12. of the statutes is repealed.

15,184 Section 184. 49.45 (3m) of the statutes is repealed.

15,185 Section 185. 49.45 (3p) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.45 (3p) (a) Subject to par. (c) and notwithstanding sub. (3) (e), from the appropriations under s. 20.435 (4) (b) and (o), in each fiscal year, the department shall pay an amount equal to the sum of $4,500,000, as the state share of payments, and the matching federal share of payments, to hospitals that are not eligible for payments under sub. (3m) but that meet the criteria under sub. (3m) (a) 1. and 2. would not be eligible for payments under s. 49.45 (3m), 2023 stats., as determined by the department, and that, in the most recent year for which information is available, charged at least 6 percent of overall charges for services to the Medical Assistance program for services provided to Medical Assistance recipients. The department may make a payment to a hospital under this subsection under a calculation method determined by the department that provides a fee-for-service supplemental payment that increases as the percentage of the total amount of the hospital’s overall charges for services that are charges to the Medical Assistance program increases.

15,186 Section 186. 49.45 (5r) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.45 (5r) Supplemental funding for uncompensated care. Notwithstanding sub. (3) (e), from the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (4) (w), the department shall distribute $3,000,000 in each fiscal year $13,000,000 to the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics for care that is not otherwise compensated, except that the department may not make payments that exceed limitations based on customary charges under 42 USC 1396b (i) (3).

15,187 Section 187. 49.45 (59) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.45 (59) (a) The department shall, from the appropriation accounts account under s. 20.435 (4) (xc) and (xe), pay each health maintenance organization with which it contracts to provide medical assistance a monthly amount that the health maintenance organization shall use to make payments to hospitals under par. (b).

15,188 Section 188. 49.46 (2) (b) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

49.46 (2) (b) 4. Chiropractors’ services, subject to par. (bj).

15,189 Section 189. 49.46 (2) (bj) of the statutes is created to read:

49.46 (2) (bj) 1. The department shall provide reimbursement for services that are reimbursable under this section and that are provided by a chiropractor who is licensed under ch. 446 and is acting within the scope of his or her license. If the department determines that it is unable to implement this paragraph without a state plan amendment or waiver of federal law, the department shall submit to the federal department of health and human services any state plan amendment or waiver of federal law necessary to implement this paragraph.