DOA:......Bork, BB0214 - Independent living expansion
For 2025-2027 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
An Act ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Children
Independent living services eligibility expansion
This bill expands a current program under which DCF must distribute $231,700 each fiscal year for the purpose of assisting individuals who reach the age of 18 while residing in a foster home, group home, or residential care center for children and youth, in the home of a relative other than a parent, or in a supervised independent living arrangement (out-of-home care) to make the transition from out-of-home care to a successful adulthood. The bill expands this program to also assist an individual who resided in out-of-home care, including in the home of like-kin or in the home of a person who is not a relative or like-kin, for at least six months after his or her 16th birthday; an individual who was placed under a guardianship as a child in need of protection or services on or after his or her 16th birthday; and an individual who was adopted on or after his or her 16th birthday following time in out-of-home care. The bill also allows the services funded by this program to be offered until age 23, and allows the funding to be distributed to Indian tribes and private and public agencies and organizations. The bill also removes the requirement that DCF distribute a minimum of $231,700 in each fiscal year for the program.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. 20.437 (1) (bc) of the statutes is amended to read:
20.437 (1) (bc) Grants for children’s community Youth support programs. The amounts in the schedule for grants for children’s community youth support programs under s. 48.481. Notwithstanding ss. 20.001 (3) (a) and 20.002 (1), the department may transfer funds between fiscal years under this paragraph. All moneys under this appropriation account that are distributed under s. 48.481 but are not encumbered by December 31 of each year lapse to the general fund on the next January 1 unless carried forward to the next calendar year by the joint committee on finance.
****Note: This Section involves a change in an appropriation that must be reflected in the revised schedule in s. 20.005, stats.
Section 2. 48.481 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.481 (title) Grants for children’s community Youth support programs.
Section 3. 48.481 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 48.481 (2) (b) and amended to read:
48.481 (2) (b) The From the appropriation under s. 20.437 (1) (bc), the department shall distribute at least $231,700 in each fiscal year funds for the purpose of assisting any of the following individuals who attain, if the individual is under the age of 23, to make the transition from out-of-home care to a successful adulthood:
1. An individual who attained the age of 18 while residing in a foster home, group home, or residential care center for children and youth, in the home of a relative other than a parent, or in a supervised independent living arrangement to make the transition from out-of-home care to a successful adulthood out-of-home care.
(c) Public or private agencies or organizations are eligible for funding under this subsection. No county department or Indian tribe may use funds provided under this subsection to replace funds previously used by the county department or Indian tribe for this purpose.
Section 4. 48.481 (2) (a) of the statutes is created to read:
48.481 (2) (a) In this subsection, “out-of-home care” means the placement and care of a child by the department, a county department, or a tribal child welfare agency in a foster home, group home, or residential care center for children and youth, in the home of a relative other than a parent, in the home of like-kin, in the home of a person who is not a relative or like-kin, or in a supervised independent living arrangement.
Section 5. 48.481 (2) (b) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
48.481 (2) (b) 2. An individual who resided in out-of-home care for at least 6 months after his or her 16th birthday.
Section 6. 48.481 (2) (b) 3. of the statutes is created to read:
48.481 (2) (b) 3. An individual who was placed under a guardianship under s. 48.977 on or after his or her 16th birthday.
Section 7. 48.481 (2) (b) 4. of the statutes is created to read:
48.481 (2) (b) 4. An individual who was adopted on or after his or her 16th birthday following time spent in out-of-home care.
(end)
