Chapter DCF 40

DCF 40.04(3)(b)1. 1. To receive a contested case hearing under ch. 227, Stats., the person shall file a request for a hearing with the division of hearings and appeals within 10 days after the date of the notice.

DCF 40.04(3)(b)2. 2. Materials may be submitted to the division of hearings and appeals by mail, personal service, inter-departmental mail, or fax. The date of filing shall be one of the following:

DCF 40.04(3)(b)2.a. a. Materials mailed to the division of hearings and appeals shall be considered filed on the date of the postmark. If the postmark date is illegible or absent, the filing date shall be the date of receipt by the division of hearings and appeals.

DCF 40.04(3)(b)2.b. b. Materials submitted by personal service or by inter-departmental mail shall be considered filed on the date they are received by the division of hearings and appeals.

DCF 40.04(3)(b)2.c. c. Materials transmitted to the division of hearings and appeals by facsimile shall be considered filed or served on the division or the administrative law judge on the date and at the time that is imprinted by the division’s facsimile machine on the transaction report that accompanies the document. Documents received after midnight local time shall be deemed filed on the first following business day.

DCF 40.04 Note Note: The mailing address is Division of Hearings and Appeals, P.O. Box 7875, Madison, WI 53707-7875. The street address is 4822 Madison Yards Way, Madison, WI 53705. The fax number is [phone].

DCF 40.04(3)(b)3. 3. A person who is the subject of a final determination may request that the division of hearings and appeals expedite the person’s appeal if any of the following apply:

DCF 40.04(3)(b)3.a. a. The person currently has, or has applied for, a license, certification, certificate of approval, or registration that may be revoked or denied as provided in s. 48.685, 48.686, or 50.065, Stats.

DCF 40.04(3)(b)3.b. b. The person is currently employed by or contracts with, or the person is actively engaged in seeking employment or a contract with, an entity or a child care program for duties subject to the background check requirements under s. 48.685, 48.686, or 50.065, Stats.

DCF 40.04(3)(b)3.c. c. The person is enrolled in an academic program that leads to license, certification, or employment or contract position that will be subject to the background check requirements under s. 48.685 or 50.065, Stats., and the person can be expected to complete the academic program within 150 days after the date of the request for a hearing with the division of hearings and appeals.

DCF 40.04(3)(b)4. 4. A person who requests that the division of hearings and appeals expedite the appeal shall indicate the request on the request for a hearing and provide documentation that a qualifying condition under subd. 3. applies.

DCF 40.04(3)(b)5. 5. The division of hearings and appeals shall commence the hearing within 90 days after receipt of the request for hearing, unless any of the following apply:

DCF 40.04(3)(b)5.a. a. The hearing is rescheduled on the request of the person requesting the hearing.

DCF 40.04(3)(b)5.b. b. The contested case proceeding is held in abeyance pending the outcome of any criminal proceedings or any proceedings under s. 48.13, Stats., based on the alleged abuse or neglect or the outcome of any investigation that may lead to the filing of a criminal complaint or a petition under s. 48.13, Stats., based on the alleged abuse or neglect.

DCF 40.04(3)(b)6. 6. The division of hearings and appeals shall issue a final decision within 60 days after the close of the hearing.

DCF 40.04(3)(b)7. 7. Judicial review of the final decision following the hearing may be had by any party to the contested case proceeding as provided in ch. 227, Stats.

DCF 40.04(3)(c) (c) Information on background checks under ss. 48.685, 48.686, and 50.065, Stats., including all of the following:

DCF 40.04(3)(c)1. 1. A final determination that the person abused or neglected a child is a bar to certain licenses, employment, residence, and other specified actions involving an entity, child care program, or person that is covered by the background check requirements in s. 48.685, 48.686, or 50.065, Stats.

DCF 40.04(3)(c)2. 2. The person may request a review to demonstrate that the person has been rehabilitated.

DCF 40.04(3)(c)3. 3. Rehabilitation may be denied, approved for all actions that would otherwise be barred by the final determination under s. 48.685, 48.686, or 50.065, Stats., or limited to approval for specified actions only.

DCF 40.04 Note Note: Chapter DCF 12 contains information on the rehabilitation review process under s. 48.685, Stats. Chapter DCF 13 contains information on the rehabilitation review process under s. 48.686, Stats. Chapter DHS 12 contains information on the rehabilitation review process under s. 50.065, Stats.

DCF 40.04(4) (4) 

DCF 40.04(4)(a) (a) The division of hearings and appeals shall consider the date of filing of a person’s request for a hearing to be the date determined under sub. (3) (b) 2.

DCF 40.04(4)(b) (b) The division of hearings and appeals shall provide an expedited hearing and final decision for a person who meets a condition in sub. (3) (b) 3. as soon as practicable.

DCF 40.04 History History: EmR1427: emerg. cr., eff. 1-1-15; CR 14-072: cr. Register June 2015 No. 714, eff. 7-1-15; EmR1918: emerg. am. (3) (b) 3. a. to c., (c) (intro.), 1., 3., eff. 1-30-19; CR 19-089: am. (3) (b) 3. a. to c., (c) (intro.), 1., 3. Register March 2020 No. 770, eff. 4-1-20; CR 21-107: am. (3) (b) 3. c., 4., (c) 2. Register June 2022 No. 798, eff. 7-1-22.

DCF 40.05 DCF 40.05 Other requirements.

DCF 40.05(1) (1) The agency records related to an initial determination and the subsequent review and hearing shall be governed by the confidentiality provisions of s. 48.981 (7), Stats.

DCF 40.05(2) (2) An initial or final determination that a specific person has abused or neglected a child shall be based on a preponderance of the evidence.

DCF 40.05(3) (3) Any review or appeal of an initial or final determination shall be governed by the standards established by the department for conducting child abuse and neglect investigations under s. 48.981 (3) (c) 1. a., Stats.

DCF 40.05 Note Note: The department’s Child Protective Services Access and Initial Assessment Standards are available on the department’s website, http://dcf.wisconsin.gov, by clicking on Child and Family Safety/Wisconsin’s Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (WiSACWIS)/Frequently Used Links/CPS, Safety, Ongoing Standards.

DCF 40.05 History History: EmR1427: emerg. cr., eff. 1-1-15; CR 14-072: cr. Register June 2015 No. 714, eff. 7-1-15; correction in (3) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register June 2015 No. 714.

DCF 40.06 DCF 40.06 Background checks. The agency shall ensure that authorized information regarding the final determination that a specific person has abused or neglected a child is available for background checks under ss. 48.685, 48.686, and 50.065, Stats., within 15 days after the agency’s final determination. If a contested case hearing under ch. 227, Stats., or judicial review overturns the agency’s final determination that a specific person has abused or neglected a child, the agency shall update the authorized information available for background checks within 15 days after the decision.

DCF 40.06 History History: EmR1427: emerg. cr., eff. 1-1-15; CR 14-072: cr. Register June 2015 No. 714, eff. 7-1-15; EmR1918: emerg. am., eff. 1-30-19; CR 19-089: am. Register March 2020 No. 770, eff. 4-1-20.