SB884: Bill Text

LRB-5639/1

EAW:amn

2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE

2021 Senate BILL 884

January 21, 2022 - Introduced by Senator Jacque, cosponsored by Representatives Snyder and Wichgers. Referred to Committee on Human Services, Children and Families.

SB884,1,1 An Act relating to: expanding the Court-Appointed Special Advocate program.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under the existing Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program, a CASA is an individual who is appointed by the children's court in a proceeding relating to a child who is alleged to be in need of protection or services (CHIPS). The CASA's role is to gather information and make observations about the child and the child's family environment, make regular contact with the child, monitor the family's compliance with the permanency plan and any court orders and any agency's provision of necessary services, promote the best interest of the child, and provide information about these observations to the court. Currently, the Wisconsin Court Appointed Special Advocate Association coordinates CASA programs in 13 counties.

This bill requires the governor to allocate $6.8 million of funds received under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to expand the existing CASA program, and to create two new CASA county programs in 2022 and two new CASA county programs in 2023.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB884,1 Section 1. Nonstatutory provisions.

SB884,2,8 (1) Of the moneys the governor accepts from the federal government under s. 16.54 pursuant to section 602 of the federal Social Security Act as amended by the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2, the governor shall allocate $6,800,000 to provide funding to the Wisconsin Court Appointed Special Advocate Association to expand court-appointed special advocate programs, as described in s. 48.07 (5). Funding provided under this subsection shall be used to create court-appointed special advocate programs in 2 counties in 2022 and 2 counties in 2023 and may be used to expand services in any county with a program.

SB884,2,9 (End)