State of Wisconsin Department of Children and Families
EMERGENCY RULE DCF 105
Substance Abuse Screening, Testing, and Treatment for Certain Department Work Experience Programs
The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families proposes an order to create chapter DCF 105 relating to substance abuse screening, testing, and treatment for certain department work experience programs.
This emergency rule was approved by the governor on November 2, 2015.
The statement of scope for this rule, 099-15, was approved by the governor on September 8, 2015, published in Register 717A3, on September 21, 2015, and approved by Secretary Eloise Anderson on October 1, 2015. Finding of Emergency
Section 9106(2c) of 2015 Wisconsin Act 55 permits the department to promulgate an emergency rule to implement the requirement for individuals in certain public assistance programs to participate in drug screening, drug testing, and drug treatment, without providing “evidence that promulgating a rule under this paragraph as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare” and providing “a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this paragraph.” Analysis Prepared by the Department of Children and Families
Explanation of Agency Authority
Section 49.162 (7), Stats., as created by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55, provides that “the department shall promulgate rules to implement the substance abuse screening, testing, and treatment requirements” under s. 49.162, Stats. Section 49.162, Stats., as created by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55, requires substance abuse screening, testing, and treatment as a condition of eligibility for all of the following: • Persons who apply to participate in the Transform Milwaukee program or the Transitional Jobs program under s. 49.163, Stats. • Persons who apply to participate in W-2 services and benefits for noncustodial parents under s. 49.159 (1) (b), Stats. • Persons who are ordered by a court to register for Children First because they are not meeting their child support obligations. The proposed rule does not apply to the Children First program.
• Rules for the Children First program will be promulgated separately due to unique and substantial differences in how that program is administered.
Section 49.162, Stats., requires applicants to the Transform Milwaukee program, the Transitional Jobs program, and the Wisconsin Works program for services and benefits for noncustodial parents to complete a questionnaire that screens for the abuse of a controlled substance. If the administering agency determines that there is a reasonable suspicion that an individual who is otherwise eligible for the work experience program is abusing a controlled substance based on the applicant’s answers to the questionnaire, the individual must undergo a test for the use of a controlled substance to be eligible for the work experience program. If the individual refuses to answer the questionnaire or submit to a drug test, the individual is not eligible for the work experience program until the individual complies with the requirement to complete the questionnaire or undergo a test for the use of a controlled substance. An individual who undergoes a test for the use of a controlled substance and tests negative will have satisfactorily completed the substance abuse testing requirements. An individual who tests positive but presents evidence of a valid prescription that explains any metabolites detected by the test will also have satisfactorily completed the substance abuse testing requirements. An individual who tests positive without presenting evidence of a valid prescription will be required to participate in substance abuse treatment to remain eligible for the work experience program.
During the time an individual is participating in required substance abuse treatment, he or she is required to undergo random substance abuse tests. An individual who tests positive during treatment without presenting evidence of a valid prescription that explains any metabolites detected by the test will have one opportunity to begin treatment again. The individual re- entering treatment after an unexplained positive test remains eligible for the program only if the individual does not have another unexplained positive test before successfully completing treatment. Upon completion of the substance abuse treatment program, the individual must undergo a test for substance abuse. If the test result is negative or positive for metabolites associated with a valid prescription, the individual will have satisfactorily completed the substance abuse testing requirements.
Summary of the Proposed Rules
The purpose of this chapter is to establish a process to screen for, and, if appropriate, test for the use of controlled substances, as defined in this chapter, by applicants for work experience programs administered by the Department of Children and Families, and to refer individuals determined to be abusing a controlled substance to a treatment provider for a substance abuse assessment and evaluation and appropriate treatment.
The proposed rule permits the department to approve one or more screening questionnaires that may be used to determine whether there is reasonable suspicion that an individual who is otherwise eligible for a work experience program is abusing a controlled substance, standards for concluding a reasonable suspicion of controlled substance abuse exists, and procedures for determining when an individual has refused to comply with the screening requirement. The proposed rule defines how individuals reasonably suspected of abusing a controlled substance will be tested for use of a controlled substance, what alternative test results may be accepted to satisfy the testing requirement, what confirmation testing may be required, how test result records will be stored to assure confidentiality and compliance with federal regulations relating to diagnosis and treatment records for drug abuse, how applicants may consent to sharing test result information, and how refusal to submit to a test will be determined.
For applicants who test positive for use of a controlled substance without evidence of a valid prescription that explains all controlled substances identified in the test, the proposed rule defines how the individual will be assessed to determine the need for treatment, how random drug tests during treatment and at the completion of treatment will be carried out, what standards will be used to determine if an individual with a positive test result during or after treatment can continue or re-start treatment, and who has access to and maintains records of substance abuse treatment. Finally, the proposed rule determines whether an individual who is ineligible for a work experience program may reapply for the same program or apply for other department programs covered by the substance abuse screening, testing, and treatment requirement.
Summary of Factual Data and Analytical Methodologies
The rules were developed with the assistance of agencies administering the W-2 program under the department’s 2013-2016 contracts and agencies administering the Transform Milwaukee Jobs program. Agencies offered examples, descriptions of their eligibility determination processes, and information about drug testing practices of employers with whom they work to place participants in subsidized or unsubsidized employment.
Summary of Related Federal Requirements
Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients
Pursuant to 21 USC 862b, the federal government may not prohibit states from requiring drug tests for welfare recipients nor from sanctioning welfare recipients who fail such tests. Pursuant to 42 USC 608 (b), states are permitted to require substance abuse treatment as a component of an individual responsibility plan and to apply a penalty for noncompliance in the absence of good cause. Confidentiality
Confidentiality of records relating to drug testing and treatment is governed by regulations specific to drug testing and treatment programs that are federally assisted under 42 CFR Part 2 and by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), 45 CFR Parts 160 and 164, Subparts A and E. Programs subject to both sets of rules must comply with both, and they are generally compatible. Both sets of rules are directed toward assuring patient records remain private and are not disclosed unless the patient voluntarily consents to their release.
