Chapter 301

301.11 History History: 1989 a. 31.

301.12 301.12 Cost of care and maintenance, liability; collection and deportation counsel; collections; court actions; recovery.

301.12(1) (1) Liability and the collection and enforcement of such liability for the care, maintenance, services, and supplies specified in this section is governed exclusively by this section, except in cases of child support ordered by a court under s. 938.183 (4), 938.355 (2) (b) 4. or (4g) (a), 938.357 (5m) (a), or 938.363 (2) or ch. 767.

301.12(2) (2) Except as provided in subs. (2m) and (14) (b) and (c), any person, including a person placed under s. 938.183, 938.32 (1) (bm) or (c), 938.34 (4h) or (4m), or 938.357 (1), (2m), (4), or (5) (e), receiving care, maintenance, services, and supplies provided by any institution in this state operated or contracted for by the department, in which the state is chargeable with all or part of the person’s care, maintenance, services, and supplies, and the person’s property and estate, including the homestead, and the spouse of the person, and the spouse’s property and estate, including the homestead, and, in the case of a minor child, the parents of the person, and their property and estates, including their homestead, and, in the case of a foreign child described in s. 48.839 (1) who became dependent on public funds for his or her primary support before an order granting his or her adoption, the resident of this state appointed guardian of the child by a foreign court who brought the child into this state for the purpose of adoption, and his or her property and estate, including his or her homestead, shall be liable for the cost of the care, maintenance, services, and supplies in accordance with the fee schedule established by the department under s. 301.03 (18). If a spouse, widow, or minor, or an incapacitated person, may be lawfully dependent upon the property for his or her support, the court shall release all or such part of the property and estate from the charges that may be necessary to provide for that person. The department shall make every reasonable effort to notify the liable persons as soon as possible after the beginning of the maintenance, but the notice or the receipt of the notice is not a condition of liability.

301.12(2m) (2m) The liability specified in sub. (2) shall not apply to persons 17 and older receiving care, maintenance, services and supplies provided by prisons named in s. 302.01.

301.12(3) (3) After investigation of the liable persons’ ability to pay, the department shall make collection from the person who in the opinion of the department under all of the circumstances is best able to pay, giving due regard to relationship and the present needs of the person or of the lawful dependents. However, the liability of relatives for maintenance shall be in the following order: first, the spouse of the resident; then, in the case of a minor, the parent or parents.

301.12(4) (4) 

301.12(4)(a) (a) If a person liable under sub. (2) fails to make payment or enter into or comply with an agreement for payment, the department may bring an action to enforce the liability or may issue an order to compel payment of the liability. Any person aggrieved by an order issued by the department under this paragraph may appeal the order as a contested case under ch. 227 by filing with the department a request for a hearing within 30 days after the date of the order.

301.12(4)(b) (b) If judgment is rendered in an action brought under par. (a) for any balance that is 90 or more days past due, interest at the rate of 12 percent per year shall be computed by the clerk and added to the liable person’s costs. That interest shall begin on the date on which payment was due and shall end on the day before the date of any interest that is computed under s. 814.04 (4).

301.12(4)(c) (c) If the department issues an order to compel payment under par. (a), interest at the rate of 12 percent per year shall be computed by the department and added at the time of payment to the person’s liability. That interest shall begin on the date on which payment was due and shall end on the day before the date of final payment.

301.12(5) (5) If any person named in an order to compel payment issued under sub. (4) (a) fails to pay the department any amount due under the terms of the order and no contested case to review the order is pending and the time for filing for a contested case review has expired, the department may present a certified copy of the order to the circuit court for any county. The circuit court shall, without notice, render judgment in accordance with the order. A judgment rendered under this subsection shall have the same effect and shall be entered in the judgment and lien docket and may be enforced in the same manner as if the judgment had been rendered in an action tried and determined by the circuit court.

301.12(6) (6) The sworn statement of the collection and deportation counsel, or of the secretary, shall be evidence of the fee and of the care and services received by the resident.

301.12(7) (7) The department shall administer and enforce this section. The department shall appoint an attorney to be designated “collection and deportation counsel” and other necessary assistants. The department may delegate to the collection and deportation counsel such other powers and duties as the department considers advisable. The collection and deportation counsel or any of the assistants may administer oaths, take affidavits and testimony, examine public records, subpoena witnesses and the production of books, papers, records, and documents material to any matter of proceeding relating to payments for the cost of maintenance. The department shall encourage agreements or settlements with the liable person, having due regard to ability to pay and the present needs of lawful dependents.

301.12(8) (8) The department may do any of the following:

301.12(8)(a) (a) Appear for the state in any collection and deportation matter arising in the several courts, and may commence suit in the name of the department to recover the cost of maintenance against the person liable for that cost.

301.12(8)(b) (b) Determine whether any residents are subject to deportation; and on behalf of this state enter into reciprocal agreements with other states for deportation and importation of persons who are public charges, upon such terms as will protect the state’s interests and promote mutually amicable relations with other states.

301.12(8)(c) (c) From time to time investigate the financial condition and needs of persons liable under sub. (2), their ability to presently maintain themselves, the persons legally dependent upon them for support, the protection of the property and investments from which they derive their living and their care and protection, for the purpose of ascertaining the person’s ability to make payment in whole or in part.

301.12(8)(d) (d) After due regard to the case and to a spouse and minor children who are lawfully dependent on the property for support, compromise or waive any portion of any claim of the state or county for which a person specified under sub. (2) is liable, but not any claim payable by an insurer under s. 632.89 (2) or (4m) or by any other 3rd party.

301.12(8)(e) (e) Make an agreement with a person who is liable under sub. (2), or who may be willing to assume the cost of maintenance of any resident, providing for the payment of such costs at a specified rate or amount.

301.12(8)(f) (f) Make adjustment and settlement with the several counties for their proper share of all moneys collected.

301.12(8)(i) (i) Pay quarterly from the appropriation account under s. 20.410 (3) (gg) the collection moneys due county departments under ss. 46.215, 46.22 and 46.23. Payments shall be made as soon after the close of each quarter as is practicable.

301.12(9) (9) Any person who willfully testifies falsely as to any material matter in an investigation or proceeding under this section shall be guilty of perjury. Banks, employers, insurers, savings banks, savings and loan associations, brokers and fiduciaries, upon request of the department, shall furnish in writing and duly certified, full information regarding the property, earnings or income or any funds deposited to the credit of or owing to any person liable under sub. (2). Such a certified statement shall be admissible in evidence in any action or proceeding to compel payment under this section, and shall be evidence of the facts stated in the certified statement, if a copy of the certified statement is served upon the party sought to be charged not less than 3 days before the hearing.

301.12(10) (10) The department shall make all reasonable and proper efforts to collect all claims for maintenance, to keep payments current, and to periodically review all unpaid claims.

301.12(11) (11) 

301.12(11)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), in any action to recover from a person liable under this section, the statute of limitations may be pleaded in defense.

301.12(11)(b) (b) If a person who is liable under this section is deceased, a claim may be filed against the decedent’s estate and the statute of limitations specified in s. 859.02 shall be exclusively applicable.

301.12(14) (14) 

301.12(14)(a) (a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c), liability of a person specified in sub. (2) or s. 301.03 (18) for care and maintenance of persons under 17 years of age in residential, nonmedical facilities such as group homes, foster homes, residential care centers for children and youth, and juvenile correctional institutions is determined in accordance with the cost-based fee established under s. 301.03 (18). The department shall bill the liable person up to any amount of liability not paid by an insurer under s. 632.89 (2) or (4m) or by other 3rd-party benefits, subject to rules that include formulas governing ability to pay promulgated by the department under s. 301.03 (18). Any liability of the resident not payable by any other person terminates when the resident reaches age 17, unless the liable person has prevented payment by any act or omission.

301.12(14)(b) (b) Except as provided in par. (c) and subject to par. (cm), liability of a parent specified in sub. (2) or s. 301.03 (18) for the care and maintenance of the parent’s minor child who has been placed by a court order under s. 938.183, 938.32, 938.355, or 938.357 in a residential, nonmedical facility such as a group home, foster home, residential care center for children and youth, or juvenile correctional institution shall be determined by the court by using the percentage standard established by the department of children and families under s. 49.22 (9) and by applying the percentage standard in the manner established by the department under par. (g).

301.12(14)(c) (c) Upon request by a parent, the court may modify the amount of child support payments determined under par. (b), subject to par. (cm), if, after considering the following factors, the court finds by the greater weight of the credible evidence that the use of the percentage standard is unfair to the child or to either of the parents:

301.12(14)(c)1. 1. The needs of the child.

301.12(14)(c)2. 2. The physical, mental and emotional health needs of the child, including any costs for the child’s health insurance provided by a parent.

301.12(14)(c)3. 3. The standard of living and circumstances of the parents, including the needs of each parent to support himself or herself at a level equal to or greater than that established under 42 USC 9902 (2).

301.12(14)(c)4. 4. The financial resources of the parents.

301.12(14)(c)5. 5. The earning capacity of each parent, based on each parent’s education, training and work experience and based on the availability of work in or near the parent’s community.

301.12(14)(c)6. 6. The need and capacity of the child for education, including higher education.

301.12(14)(c)7. 7. The age of the child.

301.12(14)(c)8. 8. The financial resources and the earning ability of the child.

301.12(14)(c)9. 9. The needs of any person, including dependent children other than the child, whom either parent is legally obligated to support.

301.12(14)(c)10. 10. The best interests of the child, including, but not limited to, the importance of a placement that will promote the objectives specified in s. 938.01.

301.12(14)(c)11. 11. Any other factors that the court in each case determines are relevant.

301.12(14)(cm) (cm)

301.12(14)(cm)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., if a parent who is required to pay child support under par. (b) or (c) is receiving adoption assistance under s. 48.975 for the child for whom support is ordered, the amount of the child support payments determined under par. (b) or (c) may not exceed the amount of the adoption assistance payments.

301.12(14)(cm)2. 2. Subdivision 1. does not apply if, after considering the factors under par. (c) 1. to 11., the court finds by the greater weight of the credible evidence that limiting the amount of the child support payments to the amount of the adoption assistance payments is unfair to the child or to either of the parents.

301.12(14)(d) (d) If the court finds under par. (c) that use of the percentage standard is unfair to the minor child or either of the parents, the court shall state in writing or on the record the amount of support that would be required by using the percentage standard, the amount by which the court’s order deviates from that amount, the court’s reasons for finding that use of the percentage standard is unfair to the child or the parent, the court’s reasons for the amount of the modification and the basis for the modification.

301.12(14)(e) (e)

301.12(14)(e)1. 1. An order issued under s. 938.183 (4), 938.355 (2) (b) 4. or (4g) (a), 938.357 (5m) (a), or 938.363 (2) for support determined under this subsection constitutes an assignment of all commissions, earnings, salaries, wages, pension benefits, income continuation insurance benefits under s. 40.62, duty disability benefits under s. 40.65, benefits under ch. 102 or 108, and other money due or to be due in the future to the county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23 in the county where the order was entered or to the department, depending upon the placement of the child as specified by rules promulgated under subd. 5. The assignment shall be for an amount sufficient to ensure payment under the order.

301.12(14)(e)2. 2. Except as provided in subd. 3., for each payment made under the assignment, the person from whom the payer under the order receives money shall receive an amount equal to the person’s necessary disbursements, not to exceed $3, which shall be deducted from the money to be paid to the payer.

301.12(14)(e)3. 3. Benefits under ch. 108 may be assigned and withheld only in the manner provided in s. 108.13 (4). Any order to withhold benefits under ch. 108 shall be for an amount certain. When money is to be withheld from these benefits, no fee may be deducted from the amount withheld and no fine may be levied for failure to withhold the money.

301.12(14)(e)4. 4. No employer may use an assignment under this paragraph as a basis for the denial of employment to a person, the discharge of an employee or any disciplinary action against an employee. An employer who denies employment or discharges or disciplines an employee in violation of this subdivision may be fined not more than $500 and may be required to make full restitution to the aggrieved person, including reinstatement and back pay. Except as provided in this subdivision, restitution shall be in accordance with s. 973.20. An aggrieved person may apply to the district attorney or to the department of workforce development for enforcement of this subdivision.

301.12(14)(e)5. 5. The department shall promulgate rules for the operation and implementation of assignments under this paragraph.

301.12(14)(f) (f) If the amount of the child support determined under this subsection is greater than the cost for the care and maintenance of the minor child in the residential, nonmedical facility, the assignee under par. (e) 1. shall expend or otherwise dispose of any funds that are collected in excess of the cost of such care and maintenance in a manner that the assignee determines will serve the best interests of the minor child.

301.12(14)(g) (g) For purposes of determining child support under par. (b), the department shall promulgate rules related to the application of the standard established by the department of children and families under s. 49.22 (9) to a child support obligation for the care and maintenance of a child who is placed by a court order under s. 938.183, 938.32, 938.355, or 938.357 in a residential, nonmedical facility. The rules shall take into account the needs of any person, including dependent children other than the child, whom either parent is legally obligated to support.

301.12(16) (16) The department shall delegate to county departments under ss. 46.215, 46.22 and 46.23 or the local providers of care and services meeting the standards established by the department under s. 301.08, the responsibilities vested in the department under this section for collection of fees for services other than those provided at state facilities if those county departments or providers meet the conditions considered appropriate by the department. The department may delegate to county departments under ss. 46.215, 46.22 and 46.23 the responsibilities vested in the department under this section for collection of fees for services provided at the state facilities if the necessary conditions are met.

301.12 History History: 1995 a. 27 ss. 6361, 9126 (19); 1995 a. 77; 1997 a. 237; 1999 a. 103; 2001 a. 59; 2007 a. 20, 97; 2009 a. 28, 218; 2011 a. 260; 2013 a. 334; 2015 a. 55, 373.

301.12 Annotation Sections 46.03 (18) and 46.10 do not constitute an unlawful delegation of legislative power. Klisurich v. DHSS, 98 Wis. 2d 274, 296 N.W.2d 742 (1980).

301.12 Annotation Sections 46.03 (18) and 46.10 (3) permit the department to promulgate rules that consider non-liable family members’ incomes in determining a liable family member’s ability to pay. J.G.W. v. Outagamie County Department of Social Services, 153 Wis. 2d 412, 451 N.W.2d 416 (1990).

301.12 Annotation Section 46.03 (18) (b) imposes liability upon minors and parents for the costs of services but does not give counties an automatic right of recovery. Section 46.10 governs enforcement procedure and allows courts to exercise discretion. S.E. v. Waukesha County, 159 Wis. 2d 709, 465 N.W.2d 231 (Ct. App. 1990).

301.12 Annotation The uniform fee system under ss. 46.03 (18) and 46.10 allows imputing income and, consequently, looking beyond tax returns to determine ability to pay. Daniel R.C. v. Waukesha County, 181 Wis. 2d 146, 510 N.W.2d 746 (Ct. App. 1993).

301.12 Annotation A circuit court may order parents to pay toward a child’s support when a CHIPS child is placed in residential treatment, but the court may not assess any of the facility’s education-related costs against the parents. Calumet County Department of Human Services v. Randall H., 2002 WI 126, 257 Wis. 2d 57, 653 N.W.2d 503, 01-1272.

301.12 Note NOTE: The above annotations relate to cost of care and maintenance for a person receiving services provided by predecessor agencies to the Department of Corrections under s. 46.10.

301.13 301.13 Minimum security correctional institutions. The department may establish and operate minimum security correctional institutions. The secretary may allocate and reallocate existing and future facilities as part of these institutions. The institutions are subject to s. 301.02 and are state prisons as defined in s. 302.01. Inmates from Wisconsin state prisons may be transferred to these institutions and they shall be subject to all laws pertaining to inmates of other penal institutions of the state. Officers and employees of the institutions shall be subject to the same laws as pertain to other penal institutions. Inmates shall not be received on direct commitment from the courts. In addition to the exemptions under s. 13.48 (13), construction or establishment of facilities at institutions which are community correctional residential centers initially established prior to July 2, 1983, shall not be subject to the ordinances or regulations relating to zoning, including zoning under ch. 91, of the county and municipality in which the construction or establishment takes place. The department shall establish a procedure for soliciting responses from interested communities and persons regarding potential sites for the institutions under this section, except the procedure does not apply to the 125-bed community correctional center in the city of Waupun. The department shall consider locations proposed under this procedure and may consider any other locations on its own initiative. The department need not promulgate rules regarding the site consideration procedures under this section.

301.13 History History: 1977 c. 418; 1983 a. 27; 1985 a. 29; 1987 a. 5; 1989 a. 31 s. 961; Stats. 1989 s. 301.13.

301.132 301.132 Honesty testing of sex offenders.

301.132(1) (1) In this section:

301.132(1)(a) (a) “Lie detector” has the meaning given in s. 111.37 (1) (b).

301.132(1)(b) (b) “Polygraph” has the meaning given in s. 111.37 (1) (c).

301.132(1)(c) (c) “Sex offender” means a person in the custody of the department who meets any of the criteria specified in s. 301.45 (1g).

301.132(2) (2) The department may require a sex offender to submit to a lie detector test when directed to do so by the department. The department may require submission to a lie detector test under this subsection as part of a sex offender’s correctional programming or care and treatment, as a condition of a sex offender’s probation, parole or extended supervision, or both as part of a sex offender’s correctional programming or care and treatment and as a condition of the sex offender’s probation, parole or extended supervision.

301.132(3) (3) The department shall promulgate rules establishing a lie detector test program for sex offenders. The rules shall provide for assessment of fees upon sex offenders to partially offset the costs of the program.

301.132 History History: 1995 a. 440; 1997 a. 283; 1999 a. 89.

301.132 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. DOC 332.015, 332.15, 332.16, 332.17, and 332.18, Wis. adm. code.

301.135 301.135 Electronic monitoring.

301.135(1) (1) The department may contract with counties to provide electronic monitoring services relating to criminal offenders. The department shall charge a fee to counties for providing these services.

301.135(2) (2) The department may charge a fee to offenders under its supervision to cover the costs associated with electronic monitoring. The department may charge a fee under this subsection or the department or the attorney general may collect under s. 301.325, but the state may not collect for the same expenses twice.

301.135(3) (3) The department may charge a fee to offenders who are confined under s. 301.046 or who are in the intensive sanctions program under s. 301.048.

301.135(4) (4) The department shall set the fees charged to offenders under subs. (2) and (3) by rule.

301.135 History History: 1989 a. 31 ss. 958, 959; Stats. 1989 s. 301.135; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 98; 1995 a. 27.

301.14 301.14 State-local shared correctional facilities. In cooperation with any county or group of counties, the department may contract for the establishment and operation of state-local shared correctional facilities under s. 302.45. Except as provided in s. 302.45 (4), the secretary may allocate and reallocate existing and future facilities as state-local shared correctional facilities. The shared facilities shall be institutions under s. 301.02 and shall be prisons under s. 302.01. Inmates from Wisconsin state prisons may be transferred to these facilities and, except as to any separate rules established in the contract governing a shared facility, shall be subject to all laws pertaining to inmates of other penal institutions of this state. Officers and employees of the facilities shall be subject to the same laws as pertain to other penal institutions. Inmates may not be received on direct commitment from the courts.

301.14 History History: 1983 a. 332; 1989 a. 31 s. 967; Stats. 1989 s. 301.14.

301.14 Note NOTE: 1983 Wis. Act 332, which created s. 46.053, the predecessor statute to this section, contains a prefatory note explaining the bill. See 1983 Session Laws.

301.15 301.15 Medium security prison. The department may construct a medium security prison to be known as the Fox Lake Correctional Institution on state-owned land known as prison farm 10 in Dodge County. Inmates from the Wisconsin state prisons may be transferred to this institution, and they shall be subject to all laws pertaining to inmates of other penal institutions of this state. Officers and employees of the institutions shall be subject to the same laws as pertain to other penal institutions. Inmates shall not be received on direct commitment from the courts.

301.15 History History: 1977 c. 418 s. 924 (18) (b); 1989 a. 31 s. 962; Stats. 1989 s. 301.15; 2001 a. 103.

301.16 301.16 Construction or establishment of certain institutions.

301.16(1) (1) The department shall construct or establish an adult medium/maximum security institution or an adult medium security institution or both.

301.16(1f) (1f) In addition to the institutions under sub. (1), the department may establish and operate an adult correctional institution in the town of Birch, Lincoln County, at the location that was the Lincoln Hills School and Copper Lake School.

301.16(1m) (1m) The medium security institution under sub. (1) shall be the Oshkosh Correctional Institution and shall be located north of Oshkosh, north of Snell Road and south of Sunnyview Road at the site that, on July 31, 1981, was the site of the Winnebago Correctional Farm.

301.16(1n) (1n) In addition to the institutions under sub. (1), the department shall establish a maximum security correctional institution that constitutes the prison expansion project enumerated in 1995 Wisconsin Act 27, section 9108 (1) (b), and that is located at a site selected by the building commission.

301.16(1o) (1o)