Chapter ATCP 74

ATCP 74.01(19) (19) “Standardization exercise” means an evaluation conducted by a standard to determine if a sanitarian is correctly interpreting and enforcing chs. ATCP 72, 73, 75, 76, 78, and 79 and ch. ATCP 75 Appendix.

ATCP 74.01 History History: CR 16-082: cr. Register February 2018 No. 746, eff. 5-27-18; correction in (14) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., and correction in (14), (19) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register February 2018 No. 746.

ATCP 74.02 ATCP 74.02 Scope.

ATCP 74.02(1) (1) This chapter applies to agent program inspection and regulatory oversight of licensees and establishments, as defined in this chapter.

ATCP 74.02(2) (2) An agent program shall ensure that licensees operating retail food establishments under its jurisdiction comply with ch. ATCP 75 Appendix.

ATCP 74.02 Note Note: Pursuant to s. 227.14 (1s), Stats., the department has published ch. ATCP 75 Appendix in the format of the model food code published by the United States food and drug administration.

ATCP 74.02(3) (3) An agent program shall enforce applicable provisions in ch. ATCP 70, at retail food establishments conducting food processing operations but exempt from the requirement to hold a food processing plant license, pursuant to s. ATCP 70.03 (7) (a).

ATCP 74.02 History History: CR 16-082: cr. Register February 2018 No. 746, eff. 5-27-18; correction in (3) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register February 2018 No. 746.

ATCP 74.04 ATCP 74.04 Agent status.

ATCP 74.04(1) (1) Agent proposed program plan. To become a new agent, a local health department shall submit a written proposed program plan to the department, in a form specified by the department, describing the proposed agent program. The proposed program plan shall describe all of the following:

ATCP 74.04(1)(a) (a) Employee positions that will issue licenses or conduct investigations and inspections.

ATCP 74.04(1)(b) (b) Staffing and budget plans for issuing licenses, making investigations and inspections, providing technical assistance, and enforcing applicable state statutes and rules and local ordinances.

ATCP 74.04(1)(c) (c) A list of the licenses that may be issued by the agent. A local ordinance may combine and expand license categories, so long as those categories include all of the types of establishments that shall be licensed under the agent contract.

ATCP 74.04(1)(d) (d) A list of the fees to be charged by the agent to licensees. A local ordinance may establish local license fees that differ from fees charged under chs. ATCP 72, 73, 75, 76, 78, and 79 and ch. ATCP 75 Appendix, for licenses issued by the department. All license fees shall be based on the agent’s reasonable program costs, pursuant to s. 97.41 (4), Stats.

ATCP 74.04(1)(e) (e) A description of the inspection and enforcement program to be implemented by the agent including a copy of applicable village, city, or county ordinances or regulations.

ATCP 74.04(1)(f) (f) Procedures to ensure cooperation between the agent and appropriate federal, state, local, and tribal agencies in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency.

ATCP 74.04(1)(g) (g) Procedures for investigating complaints concerning licensees under the contract and unlicensed activity that may require licensing and inspection.

ATCP 74.04(1)(h) (h) Procedures for notifying the department when the agent receives information or a complaint concerning an establishment that may need to be licensed or inspected within the agent’s geographical area but under the department’s jurisdiction.

ATCP 74.04(1)(i) (i) Procedures for investigating reports of suspected foodborne illness, including cooperation with the department.

ATCP 74.04(1)(j) (j) Procedures to ensure the time period, within which the agent will make a determination on an application for a license, does not exceed 30 days following receipt of a complete application.

ATCP 74.04(1)(k) (k) Any other information that the department may reasonably require for its review of the agent’s program plan.

ATCP 74.04(2) (2) Local health department outreach to affected license holders. The local health department shall provide opportunities for affected licensees to review the proposed program plan and provide comments and feedback to the local health agency and the department.

ATCP 74.04(3) (3) Department action on proposed plan. The department shall review the proposed program plan and accept or deny the application, pursuant to sub. (1), within 60 days after the department receives it.

ATCP 74.04 History History: CR 16-082: cr. Register February 2018 No. 746, eff. 5-27-18; correction in (1) (d) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register February 2018 No. 746.

ATCP 74.06 ATCP 74.06 Terms of the contract.

ATCP 74.06(1) (1) If the department accepts the proposed program plan from the local health department, the department shall prepare a contract to be signed by both parties, whereby the agent agrees to comply with this chapter and chs. ATCP 72, 73, 75, 76, 78, and 79 and ch. ATCP 75 Appendix, and has met all the conditions in the accepted program plan, including enactment of local ordinances that adopt the department’s rules, by reference, or are at least as stringent and do not conflict with the department’s rules.

ATCP 74.06(2) (2) The contract shall be in effect for three fiscal years unless otherwise specified, and shall remain in effect during the three fiscal years unless specifically terminated, revoked, or suspended, as provided in the contract. The department shall issue contracts for future contract periods to the agent by January 1 of the last fiscal year of the current contract. The agent shall commit to continue as the department’s agent for the future contract period, by signing and returning the contract by March 1 of the last fiscal year of the current contract.

ATCP 74.06(3) (3) Either party may terminate the contract by providing written notice of termination to the other party at least 90 days before the termination is to take effect.

ATCP 74.06(4) (4) When the contract is signed by both parties, the local health department shall assume authority and the responsibility to enforce the provisions of ss. 97.30, 97.617, and 97.67, Stats., and chs. ATCP 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 78, and 79 and ch. ATCP 75 Appendix. The agent program shall issue licenses and perform all inspections necessary to enforce these statutes and rules.

ATCP 74.06(5) (5) Upon execution of the contract, the department shall discontinue all licensing and enforcement activities in the agent’s jurisdiction, for the period of time the contract is in effect, pursuant to ss. 97.30 and 97.65, Stats.

ATCP 74.06(6) (6) Notwithstanding subs. (4) and (5), the department may act, pursuant to ss. 97.41 (8) and 97.615 (2) (h), Stats., to take appropriate inspection or enforcement action or both if the department has determined that the agent program has not acted expeditiously or appropriately to take such action.

ATCP 74.06(7) (7) Whenever feasible, the department shall provide notice to an agent program at least one fiscal year before making any changes to department policies and procedures not specified in the contract that would adversely affect the budget of an agent program.

ATCP 74.06 History History: CR 16-082: cr. Register February 2018 No. 746, eff. 5-27-18; correction in (1), (4) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register February 2018 No. 746.

ATCP 74.08 ATCP 74.08 Staffing.

ATCP 74.08(1) (1) The agent program shall have sufficient employees to implement the program according to the terms of the agent program’s contract with the department.

ATCP 74.08(2) (2) Sanitarians employed by agent programs shall meet one of the following requirements:

ATCP 74.08(2)(a) (a) Is RS-eligible, which means having met one of the following criteria:

ATCP 74.08(2)(a)1. 1. Holding a baccalaureate or higher degree in environmental health from an accredited college or university and completing at least 30 semester or 45-quarter hour academic credits in environmental, physical, biological, chemical, or environmental health courses.

ATCP 74.08(2)(a)2. 2. Holding a baccalaureate or higher degree in physical or biological sciences from an accredited college or university and completing at least 30 semester or 45 quarter hour academic credits in environmental, physical, biological, chemical, or environmental health courses.

ATCP 74.08(2)(a)3. 3. Holding a baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited college or university.

ATCP 74.08(2)(a)4. 4. Holding an associate degree from an accredited college, community college. or technical institute in environmental, physical, biological, or chemical sciences.

ATCP 74.08(2)(b) (b) Is an RS in training.

ATCP 74.08(2)(c) (c) Holds a valid Wisconsin registered sanitarian or REHS/RS credential.

ATCP 74.08(3) (3) The agent program shall employ at least one registered sanitarian to conduct inspections and supervise any inspectors or sanitarians who are not registered sanitarians. The agent shall only hire sanitarians who are registered sanitarians or will become registered sanitarians within five years after the date of hire. Inspectors or sanitarians who were employed by the agent program prior to July 1, 2018, and are not eligible to become registered sanitarians within five years, shall perform inspections under the supervision of a registered sanitarian and shall be deemed competent to perform inspections by passing standardization exercises.

ATCP 74.08(4) (4) If an agent loses its only registered sanitarian, the agent shall hire a registered sanitarian replacement within 120 days or, upon the agent’s written request, the department may allow the agent additional time to hire a qualified replacement. A replacement who is not a registered sanitarian may be hired, if approved by the department, if the agent has a signed agreement with another agent for a registered sanitarian to provide supervisory oversight and the replacement hire shall become a registered sanitarian within six months of being hired. A copy of the supervisory oversight contract shall be provided to the department and shall include the amount of time allotted for oversight activities and what specific duties the supervising registered sanitarian will provide.

ATCP 74.08(5) (5) The agent shall designate a sanitarian or registered sanitarian, as required by the department, to undergo the standardization exercise evaluating enforcement of ch. ATCP 75 and ch. ATCP 75 Appendix. After successfully completing the exercises, the staff person shall be designated as the agent standard.

ATCP 74.08(6) (6) The agent standard shall perform department-required exercises with the department to maintain his or her status as the agent standard.

ATCP 74.08(7) (7) The agent standard shall perform standardization and maintenance exercises with other sanitarians in their jurisdiction, using procedures specified by the department.

ATCP 74.08(8) (8) The agent is required to send at least one sanitarian or registered sanitarian to attend training provided by the department.

ATCP 74.08(9) (9) An employee of the agent shall participate on department rulemaking and policy advisory committees when requested.

ATCP 74.08(10) (10) The agent may not permit an employee to conduct an inspection in a situation in which the employee, a member of his or her family, or an organization with which the employee is associated or has a financial interest or where the employee’s relationship with any person at the inspected facility could cause the employee not to be able to conduct an objective, unbiased inspection.

ATCP 74.08(11) (11) The agent program is solely responsible for all employment-related issues involving the persons it employs in the program and for the actions or omissions of the agent program’s employees, except as otherwise provided by law.

ATCP 74.08(12) (12) Upon the agent’s request, the department shall provide technical assistance and training to staff.

ATCP 74.08(13) (13) The agent shall report to the department in writing any change in the assignment of a supervisor of sanitarians and any change in the organization of the staff including authority line changes within 10 days after the date on which it takes place. For those agents employing one or two sanitarians, the agent shall also report any change in assignment of inspection staff who are providing services under the contract.

ATCP 74.08 History History: CR 16-082: cr. Register February 2018 No. 746, eff. 5-27-18; correction in (3), (5) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register February 2018 No. 746.

ATCP 74.10 ATCP 74.10 Inspections.

ATCP 74.10(1) (1) Agent program sanitarians shall inspect all establishments covered in the contract for compliance with s. 97.30, Stats., subchs. III and IV of ch. 97, Stats., and chs. ATCP 72, 73, 75, 76, 78, and 79 and ch. ATCP 75 Appendix.

ATCP 74.10(2) (2) The agent program shall follow standard inspection methods and procedures prescribed by the department.

ATCP 74.10(3) (3) Each fiscal year the agent shall conduct one routine inspection of each licensed establishment under its jurisdiction, except for vending machines and temporary retail food establishments. The agent may propose a different inspection frequency to the department which may only be implemented if approved by the department in writing.

ATCP 74.10(4) (4) The agent program shall collect food and water samples as necessary or as requested by the department.

ATCP 74.10(5) (5) The agent program shall perform a pre-licensing inspection of a license applicant’s establishment for compliance with all applicable ordinances, rules, and statutes. The pre-licensing inspection shall be conducted before the applicant is issued a license and conducts business.

ATCP 74.10(6) (6) The department may conduct inspections at an establishment in an agent program’s jurisdiction for all of the following purposes:

ATCP 74.10(6)(a) (a) Training or standardization of department staff or agent program staff.

ATCP 74.10(6)(b) (b) In response to an emergency.

ATCP 74.10(6)(c) (c) For monitoring and evaluating the agent program’s licensing, inspection, and enforcement program.

ATCP 74.10(6)(d) (d) At the request of the agent program.

ATCP 74.10(7) (7) Whenever feasible, the department shall notify the agent program of the department’s intent to inspect an establishment in the agent program’s jurisdiction.

ATCP 74.10 History History: CR 16-082: cr. Register February 2018 No. 746, eff. 5-27-18; correction in (1) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register February 2018 No. 746.

ATCP 74.12 ATCP 74.12 Complaint investigations.

ATCP 74.12(1) (1) An agent program shall investigate every complaint that it receives against any licensee under its jurisdiction. The agent shall prioritize and investigate complaints according to the procedures in this section and procedures adopted by the agent program under the contract with the department. The complaints shall be addressed in decreasing order of priority as follows:

ATCP 74.12(1)(a) (a) An allegation indicating a serious or imminent public health hazard is associated with a licensee or establishment under the agent program’s jurisdiction.

ATCP 74.12(1)(b) (b) An allegation indicating a potential public health problem, that is neither a serious or imminent public health hazard, is associated with a licensee or establishment under the agent program’s jurisdiction.

ATCP 74.12(1)(c) (c) An allegation of a violation, not indicating a public health hazard, associated with a licensee or establishment under the agent program’s jurisdiction.

ATCP 74.12(2) (2) Agent programs shall notify and consult with the department and other affected agencies having jurisdiction, as necessary, about complaints or foodborne or waterborne illnesses that may be of significant concern to those agencies. An agent program shall coordinate complaint investigations, as necessary, with other agencies having jurisdiction.

ATCP 74.12 History History: CR 16-082: cr. Register February 2018 No. 746, eff. 5-27-18.

ATCP 74.14 ATCP 74.14 Evaluation and training.

ATCP 74.14(1) (1) At least once each year, the agent program shall submit a self-assessment in a format determined by the department. The department shall evaluate the agent program based on the following required information in the self-assessment:

ATCP 74.14(1)(a) (a) The agent program’s compliance with the contract terms.

ATCP 74.14(1)(b) (b) The agent program’s progress in meeting program standards adopted by the department.

ATCP 74.14(1)(c) (c) The agent program’s records and reports required pursuant to s. ATCP 74.20.

ATCP 74.14(2) (2) At least once every three years, the department shall conduct an on-site evaluation of the agent’s program.

ATCP 74.14(3) (3) The department shall provide the agent program with the department’s written findings based on the review of the self-assessment or an on-site evaluation. The department may, as deemed necessary, increase the evaluation frequency.

ATCP 74.14(4) (4) The agent shall submit to the department any required corrective action plan detailing how the agent will meet contract requirements.

ATCP 74.14(5) (5) The department shall review the corrective action plan and may make additional comments or approve the corrective action plan if deemed acceptable.

ATCP 74.14(6) (6) If the agent fails to meet the conditions specified in the corrective action plan, the department shall:

ATCP 74.14(6)(a) (a) Notify the agent, in writing, of the deficiencies in meeting the corrective action plan and place the contract in a conditional status with a deadline for the agent to meet the corrective action plan conditions.

ATCP 74.14(6)(b) (b) Remove conditional status of the contract if deficiencies are corrected within the conditional time period.

ATCP 74.14(6)(c) (c) Notify the agent of its intent to terminate the contract and revoke agent status, as provided pursuant to s. ATCP 74.26, if deficiencies remain uncorrected after a conditional deadline has passed.

ATCP 74.14(7) (7) Notwithstanding these provisions, the department may exercise its right to immediately suspend a contract, pursuant to s. ATCP 74.26 (3), to protect public health or safety.