AB50: Bill Text

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.

AB50,1641,2 (3) Prescription drug importation program. The commissioner of insurance shall submit the first report required under s. 601.575 (5) by the next January 1 or July 1, whichever is earliest, that is at least 180 days after the date the prescription drug importation program is fully operational under s. 601.575 (4). The commissioner of insurance shall include in the first 3 reports submitted under s. 601.575 (5) information on the implementation of the audit functions under s. 601.575 (1) (n).

AB50,1641,6 (4) Public option health insurance plan. From the appropriation under s. 20.145 (1) (g), the office of the commissioner of insurance may expend not more than $500,000 in fiscal year 2025-26 and not more than $500,000 in fiscal year 2026-27 for the development of a public option health insurance plan.

AB50,1641,7 (5) Funding for health insurance navigators.

AB50,1641,8 (a) In this subsection:

AB50,1641,9 1. “Commissioner” means the commissioner of insurance.

AB50,1641,11 2. “Navigator” means an individual navigator licensed under s. 628.92 (1) or a navigator entity licensed under s. 628.92 (2).

AB50,1641,14 (b) From the appropriation under s. 20.145 (1) (g), the commissioner shall award $500,000 in fiscal year 2025-26 and shall award $500,000 in fiscal year 2026- 27 to a navigator to prioritize services for the direct care workforce population.

AB50,9124 Section 9124. Nonstatutory provisions; Investment Board.

AB50,9125 Section 9125. Nonstatutory provisions; Joint Committee on Finance.

AB50,9126 Section 9126. Nonstatutory provisions; Judicial Commission.

AB50,9127 Section 9127. Nonstatutory provisions; Justice.

AB50,1641,24 (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. 20.455 (1) (m), who are employed by the department of justice 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. 20.455 (1) (a), notwithstanding any provision of ch. 230.

AB50,1642,3 (2) Alternatives to prosecution and incarceration grant program. Notwithstanding s. 165.95 (7) and (7m), the department of justice may not make any grants for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2027.

AB50,1642,13 (3) Alternatives to incarceration grant program position transfers to supreme court. On January 1, 2027, 3.0 FTE GPR positions in the department of justice, funded from the appropriation under s. 20.455 (2) (a), that administer the alternative to incarceration grant program and the incumbent employees holding those positions are transferred to the supreme court. Employees transferred under this subsection have all the rights and the same status under ch. 230 under the supreme court that they enjoyed in the department of justice immediately before the transfer. Notwithstanding s. 230.28 (4), no employee transferred under this subsection who has attained permanent status in class is required to serve a probationary period.

AB50,9128 Section 9128. Nonstatutory provisions; Legislature.

AB50,1642,21 (1) Joint legislative council study on the implementation of the marijuana tax and regulation. The joint legislative council shall study the implementation of the marijuana tax and regulation provided under subch. IV of ch. 139 and identify uses for the revenues generated by the tax. The joint legislative council shall report its findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the joint committee on finance no later than 2 years after the effective date of this subsection.

AB50,1642,22 (2) Popular initiative and referendum.

AB50,1643,2 (a) No later than August 1, 2025, both houses of the legislature shall introduce a proposed constitutional amendment by joint resolution, which may not be amended, that substantially provides the following:

AB50,1643,4 “Resolved by the [assembly/senate], the [assembly/senate] concurring, That:

AB50,1 Section 1. Section 1 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:

AB50,1643,7 [Article IV] Section 1. The legislative power, except for the initiative and referendum powers reserved to the people, shall be vested in a senate and assembly.

AB50,2 Section 2. Section 17 (2) of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:

AB50,1643,10 [Article IV] Section 17 (2) No Except as provided under sub. (6) (c), no law shall be enacted except by bill. No law shall be in force until published.

AB50,3 Section 3. Section 17 (5) of article IV of the constitution is created to read:

AB50,1643,16 [Article IV] Section 17 (5) (a) The people reserve to themselves the power to reject at a referendum any act of the legislature or part of an act as provided in this subsection. The people may petition for a referendum on the passage of an act, one or more sections of an act, or one or more items of appropriation in an act. The petition for a referendum shall satisfy all of the following conditions:

AB50,1643,18 1. Be signed by qualified electors equaling at least 4 percent of the vote cast for the office of governor at the last preceding gubernatorial election.

AB50,1643,19 2. Be filed with the agency administering state elections.

AB50,1644,2 (b) All signatures for a petition submitted under par. (a) must be made on paper. After verifying the sufficiency of the signatures for a petition, the agency administering state elections shall order the submission of the act or each act section or each item of appropriation in the petition to the qualified electors of the state for their rejection at the next succeeding general election occurring subsequent to 120 days after the filing of the petition.

AB50,1644,4 (c) No act of the legislature or part of an act rejected in a referendum may be reenacted during the legislative session in which it was rejected.

AB50,4 Section 4. Section 17 (6) of article IV of the constitution is created to read:

AB50,1644,11 [Article IV] Section 17 (6) (a) The people reserve to themselves the power of initiative to propose laws and amendments to this constitution and to approve or reject them at an election independently of the legislature as provided in this subsection. The people may propose an initiative law or constitutional amendment by petition for a vote of the people on the passage of the law or ratification of the amendment. The petition shall satisfy all of the following conditions:

AB50,1644,14 1. If a petition for an initiative law, be signed by qualified electors equaling at least 6 percent of the vote cast for the office of governor at the last preceding gubernatorial election.

AB50,1644,17 2. If a petition for an initiative constitutional amendment, be signed by qualified electors equaling at least 8 percent of the vote cast for the office of governor at the last preceding gubernatorial election.

AB50,1644,23 3. Include the full text of the proposed law or constitutional amendment prepared in proper form, as provided by law. Upon request by any qualified elector, the agency administering state elections shall have the proposed law or constitutional amendment drafted in proper form, as provided by law, and made available to the public. The proposed law or amendment shall embrace no more than one subject, and that shall be expressed in the title.

AB50,1645,2 4. Be filed with the agency administering state elections not less than 120 days before the election at which the proposed law or constitutional amendment is to be voted upon.

AB50,1645,8 (b) All signatures for a petition submitted under par. (a) must be made on paper. After verifying the sufficiency of the signatures for a petition, the agency administering state elections shall order the submission of the initiative law or constitutional amendment to the qualified electors of the state for their approval or rejection at the next succeeding general election occurring subsequent to 120 days after the filing of the petition.

AB50,1645,16 (c) If approved by a majority of the qualified electors voting at the election, an initiative law or constitutional amendment shall go into effect on the 30th day after the date the agency administering state elections certifies the election results as provided by law, unless a different effective date is specified in the initiative law or amendment. The legislature may not repeal or amend an initiative law or any part of an initiative law for the 2 years immediately succeeding its publication and may not repeal or amend an initiative law or any part of an initiative law except by a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house.

AB50,1645,22 (d) If rejected by a majority of the qualified electors voting at the election, substantially the same initiative law or constitutional amendment, as determined by the agency administering state elections, may not be submitted again to the qualified electors under par. (b) until a general election occurring at least 5 years after the general election at which the initiative law or constitutional amendment was rejected.

AB50,5 Section 5. Section 17 (7) of article IV of the constitution is created to read:

AB50,1646,4 [Article IV] Section 17 (7) No person may pay to or receive from another person money or any other thing of value based on the number of signatures obtained on an initiative or referendum petition under this section. This subsection does not prohibit payment for signature gathering that is not based, either directly or indirectly, on the number of signatures obtained.

AB50,6 Section 6. Numbering of new provisions. If another constitutional amendment ratified by the people creates the number of any provision created in this joint resolution, the chief of the legislative reference bureau shall determine the sequencing and the numbering of the provisions whose numbers conflict and shall adjust any cross-references to those provisions.

AB50,1646,12 Be it further resolved, That this proposed amendment be referred to the legislature to be chosen at the next general election and that it be published for three months previous to the time of holding such election.”.

AB50,1646,14 (b) No later than November 1, 2025, both houses of the legislature shall hold a final vote on the joint resolution under par. (a).

AB50,9129 Section 9129. Nonstatutory provisions; Lieutenant Governor.

AB50,9130 Section 9130. Nonstatutory provisions; Local Government.

AB50,1646,22 (1) Levy limit exception for regional planning commission charges. For the purposes of a levy imposed by a city, village, town, or county in December 2025, the base amount to which s. 66.0602 (2) applies does not include any amount that the city, village, town, or county levied in the immediately preceding year to pay for the city’s, village’s, town’s, or county’s share of a regional planning commission’s budget as charged by the commission under s. 66.0309 (14) (a) to (c).

AB50,9131 Section 9131. Nonstatutory provisions; Military Affairs.

AB50,1647,4 (1) Payment to the Town of Westport for disaster assistance. Notwithstanding the requirements under s. 323.31, from the appropriation under s. 20.465 (3) (b), in the 2025-26 fiscal year, the department of military affairs shall provide a payment of $68,100 to the Town of Westport to reimburse the costs incurred from storm damage.

AB50,9132 Section 9132. Nonstatutory provisions; Natural Resources.

AB50,1647,11 (1) Nonprofit conservation organization grants. In the 2025-26 fiscal year, from the appropriation under s. 20.370 (5) (aa), the department of natural resources shall provide grants to Gathering Waters, as authorized under s. 23.0955; to the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, as authorized under s. 23.0956; to River Alliance of Wisconsin, as authorized under s. 281.72; and to Wisconsin Lakes, as authorized under s. 281.69 (1r).