AB50: Bill Text

AB50,1627,6 (2) Child care partnership grant program; emergency rule making. The department of children and families may promulgate emergency rules under s. 227.24 to implement s. 49.132. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), emergency rules promulgated under this subsection remain in effect until July 1, 2027, or the date on which permanent rules take effect, whichever is sooner. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a), (2) (b), and (3), the department 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.

AB50,1627,15 (3) Benefits eligibility screening; emergency rule-making authority. The department of children and families may use the procedure under s. 227.24 to promulgate rules under s. 48.49 for the period before the effective date of any permanent rules promulgated under s. 48.49, notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c). 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.

AB50,1627,21 (4) Foster care aid-related child support arrears. Any balance of court- ordered child support obligations assigned to this state under s. 48.645 (3), 2023 stats., is set to $0 and is unenforceable and uncollectable. Any warrant or lien issued prior to July 1, 2026, is vacated if it is based on the alleged failure to pay such a balance or the failure to appear to a court hearing set for the purpose of enforcing the obligation assigned to the state.

AB50,1628,8 (5) Grants for out-of-school time programs; emergency rule-making authority. The department of children and families may use the procedure under s. 227.24 to promulgate emergency rules under s. 48.483 for the period before the date on which permanent rules under s. 48.483 take effect. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), emergency rules promulgated under this subsection remain in effect until July 1, 2027, or the date on which permanent rules take effect, whichever is sooner. 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.

AB50,1628,17 (6) Child support debt reduction; emergency rule making. The department of children and families may promulgate emergency rules under s. 227.24 to implement s. 49.226. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), emergency rules promulgated under this subsection remain in effect until July 1, 2027, or the date on which permanent rules take effect, whichever is sooner. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), the department 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.

AB50,1628,18 (7) Juvenile justice reform review committee.

AB50,1628,20 (a) There is created in the department of children and families a juvenile justice reform review committee with members appointed by the governor.

AB50,1628,23 (b) The juvenile justice reform review committee shall study and, prior to September 15, 2026, provide recommendations to the department of children and families and the department of corrections on how to do all of the following:

AB50,1628,24 1. Increase the minimum age of delinquency.

AB50,1629,1 2. Eliminate original adult court jurisdiction over juveniles under s. 938.183.

AB50,1629,4 3. Modify the waiver procedure for adult court jurisdiction over juveniles and incorporate offenses currently subject to original adult court jurisdiction into the waiver procedure.

AB50,1629,7 4. Eliminate the serious juvenile offender program under s. 938.538 and create extended juvenile court jurisdiction with a blended juvenile and adult sentence structure for certain juvenile offenders.

AB50,1629,10 5. Prohibit placement of a juvenile in a juvenile detention facility for a status offense and limit sanctions and short-term holds in a juvenile detention facility to cases where there is a public safety risk.

AB50,1629,11 6. Sunset long-term post-disposition programs at juvenile detention facilities.

AB50,1629,12 7. Create a sentence adjustment procedure for youthful offenders.

AB50,1629,14 8. Conform with the U.S. Constitution the statutes that mandate imposing sentences of life imprisonment without parole or extended supervision to minors.

AB50,1629,18 (c) In submitting information under s. 16.42 (1) for purposes of the 2027-29 biennial budget bill, the department of children and families and the department of corrections shall each include a request to implement the juvenile justice reform review committee’s recommendations.

AB50,1629,20 (d) The juvenile justice reform review committee terminates on September 15, 2026.

AB50,9107 Section 9107. Nonstatutory provisions; Circuit Courts.

AB50,1630,2 (1) Extreme risk protection orders; intent statement. The intent of s. 813.124 is to implement a state crisis intervention court proceeding in the form of an extreme risk protection order program that is eligible for federal grants under 34 USC 10152 (a) (1) (I) (iv).

AB50,1630,5 (2) Circuit court branches; branch 9. The initial election for circuit judge for branch 9 of the circuit court for Brown County shall be at the spring election of 2026 for a term commencing August 1, 2026, and ending July 31, 2032.

AB50,1630,8 (3) Circuit court branches; branch 10. The initial election for circuit judge for branch 10 of the circuit court for Brown County shall be at the spring election of 2026 for a term commencing August 1, 2026, and ending July 31, 2032.

AB50,9108 Section 9108. Nonstatutory provisions; Corrections.

AB50,1630,14 (1) Earned release program rules. The department of corrections shall update its administrative rules to implement earned release for completion of a vocational readiness training program under s. 302.05 (3), including specification of the eligibility criteria for persons sentenced before the effective date of this subsection to participate in the program.

AB50,1631,2 (2) Earned compliance credit. A person who is serving a sentence for a violation other than a crime specified in ch. 940 or s. 948.02, 948.025, 948.03, 948.05, 948.051, 948.055, 948.06, 948.07, 948.075, 948.08, 948.085, or 948.095 and who is in custody upon revocation of extended supervision or parole on the effective date of this subsection may petition the department of corrections to be given credit under s. 973.156. Upon proper verification of the facts alleged in the petition, credit under s. 973.156 shall be applied retroactively to the person. If the department of corrections is unable to determine whether credit under s. 973.156 should be given, or otherwise refuses to award retroactive credit, the person may petition the sentencing court for relief. This subsection applies regardless of the date the person was sentenced. A person who is required to register under s. 301.45 is not eligible to receive credit under this subsection.

AB50,9109 Section 9109. Nonstatutory provisions; Court of Appeals.

AB50,9110 Section 9110. Nonstatutory provisions; District Attorneys.

AB50,1631,10 (1) Incumbent staff. Individuals in project positions that were funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2, and funded from the appropriation under s. 20.475 (1) (m), and who are employed in offices of district attorneys on the day before the effective date of this subsection may be appointed to the permanent equivalent of those positions, funded from the appropriation under s. 20.475 (1) (d), notwithstanding any provision of ch. 230.

AB50,9111 Section 9111. Nonstatutory provisions; Educational Communications Board.

AB50,9112 Section 9112. Nonstatutory provisions; Elections Commission.

AB50,1631,19 (1) Grants to counties and municipalities for the purchase of election supplies and equipment. In the 2025-26 fiscal year, from the appropriation under s. 20.510 (1) (bp), the elections commission shall award grants to cities, villages, towns, and counties in this state for the purchase of election supplies and equipment, including electronic poll books. The total amount of grants awarded under this subsection may not exceed $400,000.

AB50,1632,2 (2) Initial sharing of registration information. Notwithstanding ss. 85.61 (1), 110.09 (2), 342.06 (1) (eg), and 343.14 (2j), the department of transportation shall enter into and begin transferring information under a revised agreement with the elections commission administrator pursuant to s. 85.61 (1) no later than the first day of the 9th month beginning after the effective date of this subsection.

AB50,1632,17 (3) Report on voter registration information integration. No later than July 1, 2027, the elections commission shall report to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature, in the manner specified in s. 13.172 (3), and to the governor its progress in initially implementing a system to ensure the complete and continuous registration of all eligible electors in this state, specifically including the operability and utility of information integration with the department of transportation and the feasibility and desirability of integrating public information maintained by other state agencies and by technical colleges with the commission’s registration information to enhance the completeness and accuracy of the information. At a minimum, the report shall contain an assessment of the feasibility and desirability of the integration of registration information with information maintained by the departments of health services, children and families, workforce development, revenue, safety and professional services, and natural resources; the University of Wisconsin System; and the technical college system board, as well as the technical colleges within each technical college district.

AB50,9113 Section 9113. Nonstatutory provisions; Employee Trust Funds.

AB50,1632,22 (1) Incumbent internal auditor. The individual holding the position of internal auditor in the department of employee trust funds on the day before the effective date of this subsection shall continue to serve in that position until an internal auditor is appointed under s. 15.165 (5).

AB50,1633,3 (2) Incumbent staff. Individuals holding positions as staff internal auditors in the department of employee trust funds on the day before the effective date of this subsection shall continue to serve in those positions until staff are appointed under s. 40.03 (1) (dm).

AB50,1633,10 (3) Election to continue annuity suspension. No later than 60 days after the effective date of this subsection, if an individual who is employed by a covered employer under the Wisconsin Retirement System has his or her annuity suspended under s. 40.26 (1m), 2023 stats., on the effective date of this subsection and wants to continue the suspension, the individual shall notify the department of employee trust funds on a form provided by the department. An election to continue the suspension is irrevocable.

AB50,9114 Section 9114. Nonstatutory provisions; Employment Relations Commission.

AB50,9115 Section 9115. Nonstatutory provisions; Ethics Commission.

AB50,9116 Section 9116. Nonstatutory provisions; Financial Institutions.

AB50,9117 Section 9117. Nonstatutory provisions; Governor.

AB50,9118 Section 9118. Nonstatutory provisions; Health and Educational Facilities Authority.

AB50,9119 Section 9119. Nonstatutory provisions; Health Services.

AB50,1634,5 (1) Childless adults demonstration project. The department of health services shall submit any necessary request to the federal department of health and human services for a state plan amendment or waiver of federal Medicaid law or to modify or withdraw from any waiver of federal Medicaid law relating to the childless adults demonstration project under s. 49.45 (23), 2023 stats., to reflect the incorporation of recipients of Medical Assistance under the demonstration project into the BadgerCare Plus program under s. 49.471 and the termination of the demonstration project. The department of health services may submit a request to the federal department of health and human services to modify or withdraw from the waiver granted under s. 49.45 (23) (g), 2023 stats.

AB50,1634,15 (2) Rules regarding training of certified peer specialists. The department of health services may promulgate the rules required under s. 49.45 (30j) (bm) 4. as emergency rules under s. 227.24. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), the department of health services 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. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), emergency rules promulgated under this subsection remain in effect until January 1, 2027, or the date the permanent rules take effect, whichever is sooner.

AB50,1634,16 (3) Complex patient pilot program.

AB50,1634,17 (a) In this subsection:

AB50,1634,18 1. “Department” means the department of health services.

AB50,1634,20 2. “Partnership group” means one or more hospitals in partnership with one or more post-acute facilities.

AB50,1635,2 (b) The department shall use a competitive grant selection process to select partnership groups to be designated as participating sites for a complex patient pilot program under this subsection and, from the appropriation under s. 20.435 (7) (d), award grants to the groups selected.

AB50,1635,7 (c) The department shall solicit feedback regarding the complex patient pilot program from representatives of healthcare system organizations, long-term care provider organizations, long-term care operator organizations, patient advocate groups, insurers, and any other organization determined to be relevant by the secretary of health services.

AB50,1635,10 (d) The department shall require that each partnership group that applies to the department to be designated as a site for the complex patient pilot program shall address all of the following issues in its application:

AB50,1635,14 1. The number of complex patient care beds that will be set aside in a post- acute facility or through implementation of an innovative model of patient care in a post-acute facility to which participating hospitals agree, such as dedicated staffing for dementia or a behavioral health unit.

AB50,1635,16 2. Defined goals and measurable outcomes of the partnership group during the pilot program and after the pilot program.

AB50,1635,20 3. The types of complex patients for whom care will be provided, which may include patients needing total care for multiple conditions or comorbidities such as cardiac and respiratory diseases, obesity, mental health, substance use, or dementia.

AB50,1635,23 4. An operating budget for the proposed site that details how fiscal responsibility will be shared among members of the partnership group and includes all of the following:

AB50,1636,2 a. Estimated patient revenues from other sources, including the Medical Assistance program under subch. IV of ch. 49, and estimated total costs.

AB50,1636,3 b. A margin to account for reserved beds.

AB50,1636,5 5. The partnership group’s expertise to successfully implement the proposal, which may include a discussion of the following issues:

AB50,1636,7 a. Documented experience of the partners working together to serve complex patients.

AB50,1636,10 b. The implementation timeline and the plan for post-acute facilities to accept admissions and transfer patients within 72 hours of a request submitted by a hospital.

AB50,1636,14 c. The plan for an interdisciplinary team that will staff the unit in the post- acute facility, including the availability of staff with appropriate expertise that includes physicians, nurses, advance practice health professionals, pharmacists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and social workers.

AB50,1636,15 d. Ability to electronically exchange health information.

AB50,1636,17 e. Resources to conduct patient intake and discharge planning from the post- acute facility, including case managers and social workers.

AB50,1636,20 f. Ability to conduct monthly case management reviews with the interdisciplinary team for every complex care patient that cover care plan progress and any readmissions to an acute care hospital.

AB50,1636,21 g. Ability to conduct monthly quality assurance reviews.

AB50,1636,22 h. Ability of the treatment model to be replicated by other healthcare systems.

AB50,1637,2 i. Plans to document decreases in lengths of stay for complex patients in hospitals and avoided hospital days.

AB50,1637,7 j. Documentation of stable finances among partnership group members to support the proposal, including matching funds that could be dedicated to the pilot program under this subsection. No applicant may be required to provide matching funds or a contribution, but the department may take into consideration the availability of matching funds or a contribution in evaluating an application.

AB50,1637,9 k. Description of anticipated impediments to successful implementation and how the partnership group intends to overcome the anticipated impediments.

AB50,1637,11 (e) In implementing this subsection, the department shall do all of the following:

AB50,1637,15 1. Develop a methodology to evaluate the complex patient pilot program and contract with an independent organization to complete the evaluation. The department may pay the fee of the organization selected from the appropriation under s. 20.435 (7) (d).

AB50,1637,17 2. Give additional weight to partnership groups that would ensure geographic diversity.

AB50,1637,20 (f) Upon completion of the evaluation required under par. (e) 1., the independent organization contracted by the department to complete the evaluation shall provide the evaluation to the department.

AB50,1638,3 (4) Newborn screening program; conditions approved as of January 1, 2025. For any disorder included in the federal recommended uniform screening panel approved by the federal department of health and human services as of January 1, 2025, that is not included in the list of disorders under s. DHS 115.04, Wis. Adm. Code, on the effective date of this subsection, the department of health services shall do all of the following within 18 months of the effective date of this subsection:

AB50,1638,5 (a) Evaluate whether the disorder should be included in the testing required under s. 253.13 (1).

AB50,1638,8 (b) If, in its evaluation, the department of health services determines that the disorder should be included in the testing required under s. 253.13 (1), commence rule making to add the disorder to the list under s. DHS 115.04, Wis. Adm. Code.

AB50,1638,14 (5) Newborn screening program; pending rule promulgation. Subsection (4) does not apply to any disorder included in the federal recommended uniform screening panel that will be added to the list of disorders under s. DHS 115.04, Wis. Adm. Code, pending promulgation of a rule for which the department of health services has commenced the rule-making procedure as of the effective date of this subsection.

AB50,1638,18 (6) Newborn screening program; testing start date. The department of health services shall ensure that testing for any disorder added by rule to the list under s. DHS 115.04, Wis. Adm. Code, in accordance with sub. (4) begins within 6 months after the date of publication, as defined in s. 227.22 (1), of the rule.

AB50,1639,8 (7) Emergency rules on psychiatric residential treatment facilities. The department of health services may promulgate emergency rules under s. 227.24 implementing certification of psychiatric residential treatment facilities under s. 51.044, including development of a new provider type and a reimbursement model for psychiatric residential treatment facilities under the Medical Assistance program under subch. IV of ch. 49. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), the department of health services 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. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), emergency rules promulgated under this subsection remain in effect until July 1, 2027, or the date on which permanent rules take effect, whichever is sooner.

AB50,1639,16 (8) Electrocardiogram screening pilot program. The department of health services shall develop a pilot program to provide electrocardiogram screenings for participants in middle school and high school athletics programs in Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties. From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (1) (b), in fiscal year 2026-27, the department shall award $4,067,200 in grants to local health departments, as defined under s. 250.01 (4), to implement the pilot program under this subsection. Participation in the pilot program by participants in middle school and high school athletics programs shall be optional.

AB50,1639,21 (9) Health care provider innovation grants. From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (4) (bm), the department of health services shall award $7,500,000 in fiscal year 2025-26 as grants to health care providers and long-term care providers to implement best practices and innovative solutions to increase worker recruitment and retention.

AB50,1640,2 (10) Falls prevention funding. From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (1) (b), the department of health services shall award a grant of $450,000 in each of fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to an organization committed to reducing falls among older adults in this state for the purpose of statewide falls prevention awareness and initiatives.

AB50,9120 Section 9120. Nonstatutory provisions; Higher Educational Aids Board.

AB50,9121 Section 9121. Nonstatutory provisions; Historical Society.

AB50,9122 Section 9122. Nonstatutory provisions; Housing and Economic Development Authority.

AB50,9123 Section 9123. Nonstatutory provisions; Insurance.

AB50,1640,11 (1) Prescription drug purchasing entity. During the 2025-27 fiscal biennium, the office of the commissioner of insurance shall conduct a study on the viability of creating or implementing a state prescription drug purchasing entity.

AB50,1640,18 (2) Staggered terms for prescription drug affordability review board. Notwithstanding the length of terms specified for the members of the prescription drug affordability review board under s. 15.735 (1) (b) to (e), 2 of the initial members shall be appointed for terms expiring on May 1, 2027; 2 of the initial members shall be appointed for terms expiring on May 1, 2028; 2 of the initial members shall be appointed for terms expiring on May 1, 2029; and 2 of the initial members shall be appointed for terms expiring on May 1, 2030.