AB50: Bill Text

AB50,470,22 1. Improving social, emotional, academic, or career readiness competencies.

AB50,471,2 2. Reducing negative behaviors, including violence and crime, tobacco use, alcohol and substance abuse, disengagement from school, school suspension, truancy, and health-compromising behaviors.

AB50,471,3 3. Providing a safe out-of-school time environment.

AB50,471,4 4. Engaging in career exploration or formal or informal work-based learning.

AB50,471,7 (2) From the appropriation under s. 20.437 (2) (fg), the department shall award grants to out-of-school time programs for the purpose of expanding opportunities for school-age children.

AB50,471,8 (3) The department shall promulgate rules to implement this section.

AB50,819 Section 819. 48.487 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,471,15 48.487 (1m) Tribal family services grants. From the appropriation account appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (bd) and (js), the department may distribute tribal family services grants to the elected governing bodies of the Indian tribes in this state. An elected governing body that receives a grant under this subsection may expend the grant moneys received for any of the purposes specified in subs. (2), (3) (b), (4m) (b), (5) (b), (6), and (7) as determined by that body.

AB50,820 Section 820. 48.49 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,471,21 48.49 Benefits eligibility screening. (1) The department and each county department shall periodically screen each child under the placement and care of the department or county department under this chapter or ch. 938, other than children placed with kinship care providers receiving payments under s. 48.57 (3m) or (3n), to determine whether the child is eligible for federal or state benefits.

AB50,471,24 (2) If a child in out-of-home care is found to be eligible for federal or state benefits under sub. (1), the department or county department shall do all the following:

AB50,472,3 (a) Apply for the benefits on behalf of the child following the procedures established by the department by rule, unless doing so would be contrary to the best interest of the child.

AB50,472,7 (b) Ensure that the child, the child’s attorney or guardian ad litem, and the child’s parent, guardian, or Indian custodian receive proper and timely notice of any application for benefits, the results of an application for benefits, and any appeal of a denial of benefits that could be or is filed on behalf of the child.

AB50,472,9 (c) Provide the child with training covering financial literacy and maintaining benefit eligibility prior to the child aging out of out-of-home care.

AB50,472,12 (3) If the department or county department is appointed as representative payee for a child in out-of-home care who receives benefits under sub. (2), the department or county department shall do all the following:

AB50,472,14 (a) Consistent with the best interests of the child, conserve the child’s benefits in protected accounts that avoid asset limitations for federal and state programs.

AB50,472,18 (b) Provide a periodic accounting to the child, the child’s attorney or guardian ad litem, and the child’s parent, guardian, or Indian custodian regarding the conservation and use of the child’s benefits while the child is in the department or county department’s care.

AB50,472,21 (c) Work with the child and the appropriate federal agency to return remaining funds to the child or another fiduciary once the child exits out-of-home care.

AB50,472,23 (4) The department may take any necessary steps to facilitate statewide compliance with this section.

AB50,473,3 (5) The department or a county department may contract with a public or private agency to fulfill the requirements of this section. The department may contract with a public or private agency to fulfill the requirements of this section on behalf of a county department.

AB50,473,9 (6) State or federal benefits received by the department or a county department on behalf of a child may not be used by the department or a county department to pay for the costs of caring for the child in out-of-home care. The department or a county department may use the child’s federal benefits for the child’s unmet needs beyond what the agency is obligated to, is required to, or has agreed to provide as permitted by rules promulgated under sub. (7).

AB50,473,10 (7) The department shall promulgate rules to implement this section.

AB50,821 Section 821. 48.526 (3) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,473,21 48.526 (3) (e) The department may carry forward $500,000 or transfer to the appropriation account under s. 20.437 (1) (kp) 10 percent of its funds allocated under this subsection and not encumbered expended or carried forward under par. (dm) by counties by December 31, whichever is greater, to the next 2 calendar years. The department may transfer moneys from or within s. 20.437 (1) (cj) or (q) to accomplish this purpose. The department may allocate these transferred moneys to counties with persistently high rates of juvenile arrests for serious offenses during the next 2 calendar years to improve community-based juvenile delinquency-related services, as defined in s. 46.011 (1c). The allocation does not affect a county’s base allocation.

AB50,822 Section 822. 48.526 (3) (em) of the statutes is repealed.

AB50,823 Section 823. 48.526 (7) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,474,5 48.526 (7) Allocations of funds. (intro.) Within the limits of the availability of the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (cj), (o), and (q), the department shall allocate funds for community youth and family aids for the period beginning on July 1, 2021 2025, and ending on June 30, 2023 and for the 2023 fiscal biennium 2027, as provided in this subsection to county departments under ss. 46.215, 46.22, and 46.23 as follows:

AB50,824 Section 824. 48.526 (7) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,474,10 48.526 (7) (a) For community youth and family aids under this section, amounts not to exceed $47,740,750 $48,089,350 for the last 6 months of 2023, $95,481,500 2025, $101,138,500 for 2024 2026, and $47,740,750 $51,610,850 for the first 6 months of 2025 2027.

AB50,825 Section 825. 48.526 (7) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,474,15 48.526 (7) (b) (intro.) Of the amounts specified in par. (a), the department shall allocate $2,000,000 for the last 6 months of 2023 2025, $4,000,000 for 2024 2026, and $2,000,000 for the first 6 months of 2025 2027 to counties based on each of the following factors weighted equally:

AB50,826 Section 826. 48.526 (7) (bm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,474,22 48.526 (7) (bm) Of the amounts specified in par. (a), the department shall allocate $6,250,000 for the last 6 months of 2023 2025, $12,500,000 for 2024 2026, and $6,250,000 for the first 6 months of 2025 2027 to counties based on each county’s proportion of the number of juveniles statewide who are placed in a juvenile correctional facility or a secured residential care center for children and youth during the most recent 3-year period for which that information is available.

AB50,827 Section 827. 48.526 (7) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,475,7 48.526 (7) (c) Of the amounts specified in par. (a), the department shall allocate $1,053,200 for the last 6 months of 2023 2025, $2,106,500 for 2024 2026, and $1,053,300 for the first 6 months of 2025 2027 to counties based on each of the factors specified in par. (b) 1. to 3. weighted equally, except that no county may receive an allocation under this paragraph that is less than 93 percent nor more than 115 percent of the amount that the county would have received under this paragraph if the allocation had been distributed only on the basis of the factor specified in par. (b) 3.

AB50,828 Section 828. 48.526 (7) (e) of the statutes is repealed.

AB50,829 Section 829. 48.526 (7) (h) of the statutes is repealed.

AB50,830 Section 830. 48.526 (8) of the statutes is repealed.

AB50,831 Section 831. 48.5275 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,475,16 48.5275 Seventeen-year-old juvenile justice aids. Notwithstanding s. 48.526, from the appropriation under s. 20.437 (1) (cL), beginning on January 1, 2026, the department shall reimburse counties for the costs under s. 48.526 (2) (c) associated with juveniles who were alleged to have violated a state or federal criminal law or any civil law or municipal ordinance at age 17.

AB50,832 Section 832. 48.528 of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB50,475,20 48.528 Youth justice system improvement program. From the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (cm) and (kp), in each fiscal year, the department may expend funds for the following purposes:

AB50,476,2 (1) To fund programs that enhance diversion, prevention, or early intervention to reduce the number of justice-involved youth, as well as programs that promote successful outcomes for all justice-involved youth. To determine eligibility for a payment under this subsection, the department shall require a county or other provider to submit a plan for the expenditure of the payment.

AB50,476,4 (2) To address emergencies related to community youth and family aids under s. 48.526.

AB50,476,5 (3) To fund activities required of the department under s. 48.526 (1).

AB50,833 Section 833. 48.563 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,476,12 48.563 (2) County allocation. For children and family services under s. 48.569 (1) (d), the department shall distribute not more than $101,154,200 $104,969,500 in fiscal year 2021-22 2025-26 and $101,162,800 $110,869,200 in fiscal year 2022-23. In fiscal year 2023-24, the department shall distribute $101,551,400. In fiscal year 2024-25, the department shall distribute $101,939,600 2026-27.

AB50,834 Section 834. 48.57 (3m) (a) 1m. of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,476,15 48.57 (3m) (a) 1m. “County department” means a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23.

AB50,835 Section 835. 48.57 (3m) (am) (intro.) of the statutes, as affected by 2023 Wisconsin Act 119, is amended to read:

AB50,477,9 48.57 (3m) (am) (intro.) From the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (dd) and (2) (dz), (md), (me), and (s), the department shall reimburse counties having populations of less than 750,000 for payments made under this subsection and shall make payments under this subsection in a county having a population of 750,000 or more. In a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department shall make payments under this subsection or shall reimburse a county department for payments made under this subsection from the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (dd) and (pd). Subject to par. (ap), and if all of the following conditions are met, beginning on January 1, 2026, a county department and, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department or a county department shall make monthly payments per month to a kinship care provider who is providing care and maintenance for a child in the amount of $375 beginning on January 1, 2024, to a kinship care provider who is providing care and maintenance for a child if all of the following conditions are met $463 for a child under 5 years of age; $507 for a child 5 to 11 years of age; $575 for a child 12 to 14 years of age; and $601 for a child 15 years of age or over:

AB50,836 Section 836. 48.57 (3m) (am) 2. of the statutes is renumbered 48.57 (3m) (am) 2. (intro.) and amended to read:

AB50,477,13 48.57 (3m) (am) 2. (intro.) The county department or department determines that the child meets one or more of the following conditions:

AB50,477,15 a. The child meets one or more of the criteria specified in s. 48.13, 938.12, or 938.13, that the.

AB50,477,17 b. The child would be at risk of meeting one or more of those the criteria specified in s. 48.13 or 938.13 if the child were to remain in his or her home or, if.

AB50,477,20 c. If the child is 18 years of age or over, that the child would meet or be at risk of meeting one or more of those the criteria as specified in this subdivision in s. 48.13 or 938.13 if the child were under 18 years of age.

AB50,837 Section 837. 48.57 (3m) (am) 4m. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,478,4 48.57 (3m) (am) 4m. Subject to sub. (3p) (fm) 1. and 2., the kinship care provider states that he or she does not have any arrests or convictions that could adversely affect the child or the kinship care provider’s ability to care for the child and that no adult resident, as defined in sub. (3p) (a) 1., and no employee or prospective employee of the kinship care provider who would have regular contact with the child has any arrests or convictions that could adversely affect the child or the kinship care provider’s ability to care for the child.

AB50,838 Section 838. 48.57 (3m) (an) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,478,13 48.57 (3m) (an) In addition to the monthly payments for kinship care under par. (am), the department or the county department may make payments for exceptional circumstances to enable siblings or a minor parent and minor children to reside together and for initial clothing allowances to a kinship care provider who is providing care and maintenance for a child residing in the home of the kinship care provider who is receiving a monthly rate under par. (am), commensurate with the needs of the child, according to the rules promulgated by the department under par. (i) 3.

AB50,839 Section 839. 48.57 (3m) (ap) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,479,2 48.57 (3m) (ap) 1. Subject to subds. 2. and 3., the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department or the county department may make payments under par. (am) to a kinship care provider who is providing care and maintenance for a child who is placed in the home of the kinship care provider under a court order for no more than 60 days after the date on which the county department or department received under par. (am) 1. the completed application of the kinship care provider for a license to operate a foster home or, if the application is approved or denied or the kinship care provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure within those 60 days, until the date on which the application is approved or denied or the kinship care provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure.

AB50,840 Section 840. 48.57 (3m) (ap) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,479,19 48.57 (3m) (ap) 3. Notwithstanding that an application of a kinship care provider specified in subd. 1. is denied or the kinship care provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure, the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department or the county department may make payments under par. (am) to the kinship care provider for as long as the conditions specified in par. (am) 1. to 6. continue to apply if the county department or department submits to the court information relating to the background investigation specified in par. (am) 4., an assessment of the safety of the kinship care provider’s home and the ability of the kinship care provider to care for the child, and a recommendation that the child remain in the home of the kinship care provider and the court, after considering that information, assessment, and recommendation, orders the child to remain in the kinship care provider’s home. If the court does not order the child to remain in the kinship care provider’s home, the court shall order the county department or department to request a change in placement under s. 48.357 (1) (am) or 938.357 (1) (am). Any person specified in s. 48.357 (2m) (a) or 938.357 (2m) (a) may also request a change in placement.

AB50,841 Section 841. 48.57 (3m) (ar) and (at) of the statutes are created to read:

AB50,480,2 48.57 (3m) (ar) In addition to the monthly payments for kinship care under par. (ap), the department or, with the department’s approval, the county department may make emergency payments for kinship care to kinship care providers who are providing care and maintenance for children residing in the home of kinship care providers under a court order if any of the following conditions are met:

AB50,480,5 1. The governor has declared a state of emergency pursuant to s. 323.10, or the federal government has declared a major disaster under 42 USC 68, that covers the locality of the home of the kinship care provider.

AB50,480,8 2. This state has received federal funding to be used for child welfare purposes due to an emergency or disaster declared for the locality of the home of the kinship care provider.

AB50,480,12 3. The department has determined that conditions in this state or in the locality of the home of the kinship care provider have resulted in a temporary increase in the costs borne by kinship care providers. Those conditions may include any of the following:

AB50,480,13 a. A pandemic or other public health threat.

AB50,480,14 b. A natural disaster.

AB50,480,15 c. Unplanned school closures of 5 consecutive days or more.

AB50,480,17 (at) The department shall determine the amount of emergency payments under par. (ar) based on available funding.

AB50,842 Section 842. 48.57 (3m) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,480,24 48.57 (3m) (b) 1. The county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department or a county department if the county department is making the payments shall refer to the attorney responsible for support enforcement under s. 59.53 (6) (a) the name of the parent or parents of a child for whom a payment is made under par. (am). This subdivision does not apply to a child 18 years of age or over for whom a payment is made under par. (am).

AB50,843 Section 843. 48.57 (3m) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,481,6 48.57 (3m) (c) The county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department or a county department if the county department is making the payments shall require the parent or parents of a child for whom a payment is made under par. (am) to initiate or continue health care insurance coverage for the child.

AB50,844 Section 844. 48.57 (3m) (cm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,481,10 48.57 (3m) (cm) A kinship care provider who receives a payment under par. (am) for providing care and maintenance for a child is not eligible to receive a payment under sub. (3n) or s. 48.62 (4) or 48.623 (1) (1r) or (6) for that child.

AB50,845 Section 845. 48.57 (3m) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,481,19 48.57 (3m) (d) A county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department or a county department if the county department is making the payments shall review a placement of a child for which the county department or department makes payments under par. (am) not less than every 12 months after the county department or department begins making those payments to determine whether the conditions specified in par. (am) continue to exist. If those conditions do not continue to exist, the county department or department shall discontinue making those payments.

AB50,846 Section 846. 48.57 (3m) (g) 2. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,482,6 48.57 (3m) (g) 2. (intro.) If a recipient requests a hearing within 10 days after the date of notice that his or her payments under par. (am) are being discontinued, those payments may not be discontinued until a decision is rendered after the hearing but payments made pending the hearing decision may be recovered by the department if the contested action or failure to act is upheld. The department shall promptly notify the county department of the county in which the recipient resides or, if the recipient resides in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the subunit of the department administering of the kinship care program in that county or the county department that the recipient has requested a hearing. Payments under par. (am) shall be discontinued if any of the following applies:

AB50,847 Section 847. 48.57 (3m) (h) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,482,16 48.57 (3m) (h) A county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department or a county department may recover an overpayment made under par. (am) from a kinship care provider who continues to receive payments under par. (am) by reducing the amount of the kinship care provider’s monthly payment. The department may by rule specify other methods for recovering overpayments made under par. (am). A county department that recovers an overpayment under this paragraph due to the efforts of its officers and employees may retain a portion of the amount recovered, as provided by the department by rule.

AB50,848 Section 848. 48.57 (3m) (i) 3. of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,482,21 48.57 (3m) (i) 3. Rules governing the provision of payments for exceptional circumstances to enable siblings or a minor parent and minor children to reside together and for initial clothing allowances for a child residing in the home of a kinship care provider who is receiving a monthly rate under par. (am).

AB50,849 Section 849. 48.57 (3m) (j) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,482,24 48.57 (3m) (j) The department may promulgate rules governing the provision of emergency payments under par. (ar).