Chapter 46

46.29(3)(d) (d) The administrator of the division of personnel management in the department of administration.

46.29(3)(e) (e) The secretary of safety and professional services.

46.29(3)(f) (f) The commissioner of insurance.

46.29(3)(g) (g) The president of the University of Wisconsin System.

46.29(3)(h) (h) The president of the technical college system board.

46.29(3)(i) (i) The executive director of the board on aging and long-term care.

46.29 History History: 1989 a. 202; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 256, 399; 1995 a. 27 ss. 9116 (5), 9130 (4), 9145 (1); 1995 a. 131; 1997 a. 3, 27; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33 ss. 1142, 9160; 2007 a. 20, 96; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 32; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 59.

46.293 46.293 Specialized programs for the blind and visually impaired. The department shall provide rehabilitation teaching services for persons who are blind or visually impaired including elderly persons and young persons and their parents or guardians, regardless of their eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services. These services may include assessments of each client’s service needs, development of an individual service plan, instruction in braille, training in orientation and movement in the person’s home or neighborhood, counseling and guidance to increase the blind or visually impaired person’s independence, instruction in the use of low-vision aids, personal and home management training and instruction in leisure activities. In conjunction with the provision of these services the department shall:

46.293(1) (1) Work with blind and visually impaired persons, in a setting appropriate to each individual, to form rehabilitation plans for independent living to enable them to increase their self-reliance.

46.293(2) (2) Assist blind and visually impaired persons in physical orientation and personal adjustment.

46.293 History History: 1995 a. 27 ss. 2270, 2413; Stats. 1995 s. 46.293.

46.295 46.295 Interpreters for the hearing-impaired.

46.295(1) (1) The department may, on the request of any hearing-impaired person, city, village, town, or county or private agency, provide funds from the appropriation accounts under s. 20.435 (1) (da) and (hs) to reimburse interpreters for hearing-impaired persons for the provision of interpreter services.

46.295(2) (2) The department shall grant priority to requests to pay fees charged by interpreters for the following, in the following order:

46.295(2)(a) (a) Emergencies.

46.295(2)(b) (b) Medical, mental health, alcohol and drug abuse, psychiatric and psychological services.

46.295(2)(c) (c) Legal services and civil court proceedings.

46.295(2)(d) (d) Matters concerning law enforcement personnel.

46.295(2)(e) (e) Matters concerning any federal, state, county or municipal agency.

46.295(3) (3) The department shall maintain lists of qualified interpreters under s. 885.37 (5) (b).

46.295(4) (4) The department may use as an interpreter for hearing-impaired persons only the following:

46.295(4)(a) (a) An interpreter for hearing-impaired persons who is certified by the national registry of interpreters for the deaf.

46.295(4)(b) (b) If an interpreter under par. (a) is unavailable, an interpreter for hearing-impaired persons whose qualifications have been determined appropriate by the department.

46.295(5) (5) The department may bill any public or private agency at the rates established by the department for interpreter services for hearing-impaired persons commensurate with the certification or qualification level of the interpreter providing services if the department determines that the agency is required under state or federal law to provide interpreter services to a hearing-impaired person or if the agency agrees to pay for the services.

46.295(6) (6) The department shall promulgate rules to implement this section.

46.295 History History: 1995 a. 27 ss. 2271, 2417; Stats. 1995 s. 46.295; 2003 a. 33; 2009 a. 28; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 59.

46.295 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. DHS 77, Wis. adm. code.

46.297 46.297 Telecommunication aid for the hearing impaired.

46.297(1) (1) Assistance. From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (1) (da), the department shall, subject to the availability of funds, provide assistance to hearing-impaired persons to secure telecommunication devices capable of serving their needs. Except in extraordinary circumstances, the department shall purchase or provide funds for the purchase of telecommunication devices.

46.297(2) (2) Eligibility. A person is eligible to receive assistance under sub. (1) if all of the following conditions are met:

46.297(2)(a) (a) The person is certified as deaf or severely hearing impaired by a physician, an audiologist who is licensed under subch. II of ch. 459 or who holds a compact privilege under subch. III of ch. 459, or the department.

46.297(2)(b) (b) The adjusted gross income of the person’s family is equal to or less than 200 percent of the poverty line established under 42 USC 9902 (2).

46.297(3) (3) Hearing rights. Any person aggrieved by a decision of the department under this section has a right to a contested case hearing under ch. 227.

46.297(4) (4) Departmental duties. The department shall:

46.297(4)(a) (a) Promulgate rules necessary for the administration of this section.

46.297(4)(b) (b) Establish application procedures and determine eligibility.

46.297 History History: 1983 a. 427; Stats. 1983 s. 46.90; 1983 a. 538 s. 51; Stats. 1983 s. 46.92; 1987 a. 27; 1987 a. 257 s. 2; 1989 a. 173 s. 3; Stats. 1989 s. 47.20; 1989 a. 316; 1995 a. 27 s. 2421; Stats. 1995 s. 46.297; 2017 a. 59; 2023 a. 56.

46.297 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. DHS 77 and 78, Wis. adm. code.

46.298 46.298 Vehicle sticker for the hearing impaired. Upon the request of a person who is certified as hearing impaired by the department, by a physician, by a hearing instrument specialist licensed under subch. I of ch. 459, or by an audiologist who is licensed under subch. II of ch. 459 or who holds a compact privilege under subch. III of ch. 459, the department shall issue to the person a decal or sticker for display on a motor vehicle owned or frequently operated by the person to apprise law enforcement officers of the fact that the vehicle is owned or operated by a hearing-impaired person. No charge shall be made for issuance of the decal or sticker. The department shall specify the design of the decal or sticker. The department shall designate the location on the vehicle at which the decal or sticker shall be affixed by its own adhesive.

46.298 History History: 1987 a. 257; 1989 a. 31; 1989 a. 173 s. 4; Stats. 1989 s. 47.25; 1989 a. 316; 1995 a. 27 s. 2422; Stats. s. 46.298; 2023 a. 56.

46.33 46.33 Employee counseling referral programs. The department may provide technical assistance to municipalities, counties, school districts and private employers for referral programs for employee counseling. The department may charge fees to cover the costs of these services.

46.33 History History: 1989 a. 31.

46.34 46.34 Emission standards for hazardous air contaminants. The department may assist the department of natural resources in the development of emission standards for hazardous air contaminants under s. 285.27 (2) (b).

46.34 History History: 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 227.

46.37 46.37 Certain water and sewerage service in Winnebago County. The department, as a member of the tri-institutional Winnebago Mental Health Institute, Winnebago County Asylum, and Sunny View Sanatorium sewer agreement in Winnebago County, is authorized to furnish and charge for water and sewerage services to business and dwelling units located in the privately owned area lying west of the Winnebago Mental Health Institute and bounded on the west by the railroad properties and on the north, east, and south by the grounds of the Winnebago Mental Health Institute, together with any dwelling or other units located on the railroad-owned and state-owned property adjacent to this area.

46.37 History History: 1973 c. 90 s. 560 (3); 2001 a. 103.

46.40 46.40 Community aids funding.

46.40(1) (1) Distribution limits.

46.40(1)(a) (a) Within the limits of available federal funds and of the appropriations under s. 20.435 (7) (b) and (o), the department shall distribute funds for community social, mental health, developmental disabilities, and alcohol and other drug abuse services and for services under ss. 46.87 and 51.421 to county departments under ss. 46.215, 46.22, 46.23, 51.42, and 51.437 and to county aging units, as provided in subs. (2), (2m), (8), and (9).

46.40(1)(d) (d) If the department of health services receives any federal moneys under 42 USC 1396 to 1396v in reimbursement of the cost of preventing out-of-home placements of children, the department of health services shall transfer those moneys to the department of children and families, and the department of children and families shall use those moneys as the first source of moneys used to meet the amount of the allocation under s. 48.563 (2) that is budgeted from federal funds.

46.40(2) (2) Basic county allocation. Subject to sub. (9), for social services under s. 46.495 (1) (d) and services under s. 51.423 (2), the department shall distribute not more than $176,068,400 in each fiscal year.

46.40(2m) (2m) Federal block grant allocations.

46.40(2m)(a) (a) Prevention and treatment of substance abuse. For prevention and treatment of substance abuse under 42 USC 300x-21 to 300x-35, the department shall distribute not more than $13,975,500 in fiscal year 2009-10 and $9,735,700 in each fiscal year thereafter.

46.40(2m)(b) (b) Community mental health services. For community mental health services under 42 USC 300x to 300x-9, the department shall distribute $2,513,400 in each fiscal year.

46.40(7m) (7m) State community mental health allocation. For community mental health services, the department shall distribute not less than $24,348,700 in each fiscal year.

46.40(8) (8) Alzheimer’s family and caregiver support allocation. Subject to sub. (9), the department cannot distribute more than $3,058,900 in each fiscal year for services to persons with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers under s. 46.87.

46.40(9) (9) Transfer or adjustment of community aids allocations.

46.40(9)(ag) (ag) Adjustment for family care. If a care management organization under s. 46.284 is available in a county and the county has under s. 46.281 (4) agreed to a reduction in its distribution under sub. (2), the department shall use the amount established under s. 46.281 (4) to fund the services of care management organizations under s. 46.284 (4).

46.40(9)(ar) (ar) Transfer to family care program and adult protective services allocation. If a care management organization under s. 46.284 is available in a county, the department may, of the amount allocated under sub. (8), dispose of the lesser of up to 60 percent or the amount remaining after subtracting an amount necessary to maintain funding for recipients under sub. (8) who, on September 1, 2001, are ineligible for the family care benefit under s. 46.286, to that county, as follows:

46.40(9)(ar)1. 1. By transferring a portion of that amount, as determined by the department, to the family care program to fund the services of resource centers under s. 46.283 (5) and the services of care management organizations under s. 46.284 (4).

46.40(9)(ar)2. 2. By transferring a portion of that amount, as determined by the department, to the county’s adult protective services allocation under par. (b).

46.40(9)(b) (b) Adult protective services allocation. For adult protective services, the department shall distribute the amounts transferred under par. (ar) 2. in each fiscal year.

46.40(9)(c) (c) Adjustment for medical assistance buy-in program. If a former recipient of services funded under the allocation under sub. (2) is a participant in the medical assistance buy-in program under s. 49.472, the department may decrease that allocation by the amount that the department estimates it will incur in providing services to that participant under s. 49.472.

46.40(9)(d) (d) Payment adjustments for certain Medical Assistance services. The department may decrease a county’s allocation under sub. (2) by the amount of any payment adjustments under s. 49.45 (52) (a) made for that county from the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (7) (b) for services described under s. 49.45 (52) (a) 1. The total amount of the decrease for a county under this paragraph during any fiscal year may not exceed that part of the county’s allocation under sub. (2) that derives from the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (7) (b) for that fiscal year.

46.40(9)(e) (e) County income maintenance administration. Beginning in calendar year 2012, the department shall decrease the allocation under sub. (2) for a county with a population of 750,000 or more from the appropriation under s. 20.435 (7) (b) by $2,700,000.

46.40(14m) (14m) County community aids budgets. Before December 1 of each year, each county department under ss. 46.215, 46.22, 46.23, 51.42 and 51.437 and each tribal governing body shall submit to the department a proposed budget for the expenditure of funds allocated under this section or carried forward under s. 46.45 (3). The proposed budget shall be submitted on a form developed by the department and approved by the department of administration.

46.40 History History: 1987 a. 27, 399, 405; 1989 a. 31, 122, 336; 1991 a. 6, 39, 189, 269, 275, 315; 1993 a. 16, 437, 446; 1995 a. 27, 275, 303, 404; 1997 a. 27, 35, 237, 292; 1999 a. 9, 185; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33, 318; 2005 a. 25 ss. 879, 2501, 2510; 2007 a. 20 ss. 1096 to 1104g, 9121 (6) (a); 2009 a. 28, 180; 2011 a. 32; 2015 a. 55, 273; 2021 a. 58; 2023 a. 19.

46.45 46.45 Carry-over of community aids funds. Funds allocated by the department under ss. 46.495 (1) (d), 46.87 (3) (c) 4. and (4) and 51.423 (2) but not spent or encumbered by counties, governing bodies of federally recognized American Indian tribes or private nonprofit organizations by December 31 of each year and funds recovered under ss. 46.495 (2) (b) and 51.423 (15) and deposited in the appropriation under s. 20.435 (7) (b) lapse to the general fund on the succeeding January 1 unless carried forward to the next calendar year under s. 20.435 (7) (b) or as follows:

46.45(3) (3) 

46.45(3)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), at the request of a county, tribal governing body, or private nonprofit organization, the department shall carry forward up to 3 percent of the total amount allocated to the county, tribal governing body, or nonprofit organization for a calendar year. All funds carried forward for a tribal governing body or nonprofit organization and all funds allocated under s. 46.40 (2m) carried forward for a county shall be used for the purpose for which the funds were originally allocated. Other funds carried forward under this paragraph may be used for any purpose under s. 20.435 (7) (b), except that a county may not use any funds carried forward under this paragraph for administrative or staff costs. An allocation of carried-forward funding under this paragraph does not affect a county’s base allocations under s. 46.40 (2), (2m), (8), and (9).

46.45(3)(b) (b) The department may not carry forward funds allocated to a private nonprofit organization for a calendar year for use in the next calendar year unless the organization continues to be eligible to receive an allocation under s. 46.87 (4) in the next calendar year.

46.45(6) (6) The department may carry forward 10 percent of any funds specified in sub. (3) that are not carried forward under sub. (3) for emergencies, for justifiable unit services costs above planned levels, and for increased costs due to population shifts. An allocation of carried-forward funding under this paragraph does not affect a county’s base allocations under s. 46.40 (2), (2m), (8), and (9).

46.45 History History: 1987 a. 27, 399, 405; 1989 a. 31, 122, 336; 1991 a. 39, 269; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 27, 404; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33, 320; 2007 a. 20; 2015 a. 55.

46.47 46.47 Grants for nonnarcotic drug treatment in county jails.

46.47(1) (1) From the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (5) (bd), the department shall award grants to provide nonnarcotic drug treatment as provided in sub. (2) to a county or federally recognized American Indian tribe or band that meets all of the following criteria:

46.47(1)(a) (a) The county or tribe has a county or tribal jail.

46.47(1)(b) (b) The county or tribe has an established drug court, as defined in s. 165.955 (1).

46.47(1)(c) (c) The county or tribe provides care coordination for inmates exiting county or tribal jail.

46.47(1)(d) (d) The county or tribe has identified how it will use care coordination to ensure that all program participants are enrolled in Medical Assistance under subch. IV of ch. 49 and will continue to receive treatment after an inmate leaves county or tribal jail custody.

46.47(2) (2) Grant funds awarded under sub. (1) may be used only to provide nonnarcotic, non-addictive, injectable medically assisted treatment to inmates of county or tribal jails who voluntarily receive the treatment within the 5 days immediately preceding release from jail into the community.

46.47(3) (3) The department shall provide application procedures for awarding grants to counties or tribes under sub. (1) in accordance with the department’s request-for-proposal procedures.

46.47 History History: 2017 a. 261; 2021 a. 238 s. 45.

46.48 46.48 Grants for community programs.

46.48(1) (1) General. From the appropriation accounts under s. 20.435 (1) (b), (5) (bc), and (7) (bc), the department shall award grants for community programs as provided in this section.

46.48(4) (4) Treatment alternative program. For grants under s. 46.65, the department shall award not more than $261,300 in each fiscal year as grants to applicants that have previously received grants under s. 46.65.

46.48(5) (5) Alcohol and other drug abuse residential treatment. For funding of at least 8 beds at a community-based residential facility in which English and Spanish are spoken, to provide treatment for alcohol and other drug abuse to residents of a 1st class city, the department may distribute not more than $248,200 for each fiscal year as a grant to the New Beginning residential treatment program in the city of Milwaukee.

46.48(8) (8) Prisoner reintegration program.

46.48(8)(a) (a) In this subsection, “prisoner” has the meaning given in s. 301.01 (2).

46.48(8)(b) (b) The department shall award $125,000 in each fiscal year as a grant to an organization or a group of organizations to provide a pilot program in Milwaukee County for prisoner reintegration.