48.57(3m)(g)1.b.b. The sole issue in the petition concerns an automatic payment adjustment or change that affects an entire class of recipients and is the result of a change in state law. 48.57(3m)(g)1.c.c. The petitioner abandons the petition. Abandonment occurs if the petitioner fails to appear in person or by a representative at a scheduled hearing without good cause, as determined by the department. 48.57(3m)(g)2.2. 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 that the recipient has requested a hearing. Payments under par. (am) shall be discontinued if any of the following applies: 48.57(3m)(g)2.a.a. The recipient is contesting a state law or a change in state law and not the determination of the payment made on the recipient’s behalf. 48.57(3m)(g)2.b.b. The recipient is notified of a change in his or her payments under par. (am) while the hearing decision is pending but the recipient fails to request a hearing on the change. 48.57(3m)(g)3.3. The recipient shall be promptly informed in writing if his or her payments under par. (am) are to be discontinued pending the hearing decision. 48.57(3m)(h)(h) A county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the 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. Effective date noteNOTE: Par. (h) is shown as amended by 2023 Wis. Act 119 eff. 7-1-25 or on the date specified in the Department of Children and Families notice published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register under 2023 Wis. Act 119, section 122 (1), whichever is earlier. Prior to that date par. (h) reads: Effective date text(h) A county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department may recover an overpayment made under par. (am) from a kinship care relative who continues to receive payments under par. (am) by reducing the amount of the kinship care relative’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.
48.57(3m)(i)(i) The department shall promulgate rules to implement this subsection. Those rules shall include all of the following: 48.57(3m)(i)1.1. Rules to provide assessment criteria for determining whether a kinship care provider who is providing care and maintenance for a child is eligible to receive payments under par. (am). The rules shall also provide that any criteria established under the rules shall first apply to applications for payments under par. (am) received, and to reviews under par. (d) conducted, on the effective date of those rules. Effective date noteNOTE: Subd. 1. is shown as amended by 2023 Wis. Act 119 eff. 7-1-25 or on the date specified in the Department of Children and Families notice published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register under 2023 Wis. Act 119, section 122 (1), whichever is earlier. Prior to that date subd. 1. reads: Effective date text1. Rules to provide assessment criteria for determining whether a kinship care relative who is providing care and maintenance for a child is eligible to receive payments under par. (am). The rules shall also provide that any criteria established under the rules shall first apply to applications for payments under par. (am) received, and to reviews under par. (d) conducted, on the effective date of those rules.
48.57(3m)(i)2.2. Rules governing the provision of kinship care payments for the care and maintenance of a child after the child attains 18 years of age. 48.57 Cross-referenceCross-reference: See also ch. DCF 58, Wis. adm. code. 48.57(3n)(a)1.1. “Child” means a person under 18 years of age. “Child” also includes a person 18 years of age or over, if any of the following applies: 48.57(3n)(a)1.a.a. The person is under 19 years of age, is a full-time student in good academic standing at a secondary school or its vocational or technical equivalent, and is reasonably expected to complete his or her program of study and be granted a high school or high school equivalency diploma. 48.57(3n)(a)1.b.b. The person is under 21 years of age, the person is a full-time student in good academic standing at a secondary school or its vocational or technical equivalent, an individualized education program under s. 115.787 is in effect for the person, and the person is placed in the home of the long-term kinship care provider under an order under s. 48.355, 48.357, 48.365, 938.355, 938.357, or 938.365 that terminates under s. 48.355 (4) (b) or 938.355 (4) (am) after the person attains 18 years of age or under a voluntary transition-to-independent-living agreement under s. 48.366 (3) or 938.366 (3). Effective date noteNOTE: Subd. 1. b. is shown as amended by 2023 Wis. Act 119 eff. 7-1-25 or on the date specified in the Department of Children and Families notice published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register under 2023 Wis. Act 119, section 122 (1), whichever is earlier. Prior to that date subd. 1. b. reads: Effective date textb. The person is under 21 years of age, the person is a full-time student in good academic standing at a secondary school or its vocational or technical equivalent, an individualized education program under s. 115.787 is in effect for the person, and the person is placed in the home of the long-term kinship care relative under an order under s. 48.355, 48.357, 48.365, 938.355, 938.357, or 938.365 that terminates under s. 48.355 (4) (b) or 938.355 (4) (am) after the person attains 18 years of age or under a voluntary transition-to-independent-living agreement under s. 48.366 (3) or 938.366 (3).
48.57(3n)(a)2.2. “Long-term kinship care provider” means a relative other than a parent, an extended family member, as defined in s. 48.028 (2) (am), or like-kin. Effective date noteNOTE: Subd. 2. is shown as amended by 2023 Wis. Act 119 eff. 7-1-25 or on the date specified in the Department of Children and Families notice published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register under 2023 Wis. Act 119, section 122 (1), whichever is earlier. Prior to that date subd. 2. reads: Effective date text2. “Long-term kinship care relative” means a relative other than a parent.
48.57(3n)(am)(am) From the appropriations under s. 20.437 (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. Subject to par. (ap), a county department and, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department shall make monthly payments for each child per month in the amount of $375 beginning on January 1, 2024, to a long-term kinship care provider who is providing care and maintenance for that child if all of the following conditions are met: 48.57(3n)(am)1.1. The long-term kinship care provider applies to the county department or department for payments under this subsection, provides proof that he or she has been appointed as the guardian of the child, and, if the child is placed in the home of the long-term kinship care provider under a court order, other than a court order under s. 48.9795 or ch. 54, 2017 stats., applies to the county department or department for a license to operate a foster home. 48.57(3n)(am)2.2. The county department or department inspects the long-term kinship care provider’s home, interviews the long-term kinship care provider and determines that long-term placement with the long-term kinship care provider is in the best interests of the child. 48.57(3n)(am)4.4. The county department or department conducts a background investigation under sub. (3p) of the long-term kinship care provider, the employees and prospective employees of the long-term kinship care provider who have or would have regular contact with the child for whom the payments would be made and any other adult resident, as defined in sub. (3p) (a), of the long-term kinship care provider’s home to determine if the long-term kinship care provider, employee, prospective employee or adult resident has any arrests or convictions that are likely to adversely affect the child or the long-term kinship care provider’s ability to care for the child. 48.57(3n)(am)4m.4m. Subject to sub. (3p) (fm) 1m. and 2m., the long-term kinship care provider states that he or she does not have any arrests or convictions that could adversely affect the child or the long-term kinship care provider’s ability to care for the child and that, to the best of the long-term kinship care provider’s knowledge, no adult resident, as defined in sub. (3p) (a), and no employee or prospective employee of the long-term kinship care provider who would have regular contact with the child has any arrests or convictions that could adversely affect the child or the long-term kinship care provider’s ability to care for the child. 48.57(3n)(am)5.5. The long-term kinship care provider cooperates with the county department or department in the application process, including applying for other forms of assistance for which the child may be eligible. 48.57(3n)(am)5m.5m. The long-term kinship care provider is not receiving payments under sub. (3m) with respect to the child. 48.57(3n)(am)5r.5r. The child for whom the long-term kinship care provider is providing care and maintenance is not receiving supplemental security income under 42 USC 1381 to 1383c or state supplemental payments under s. 49.77. 48.57(3n)(am)6.6. The long-term kinship care provider and the county department or department enter into a written agreement under which the long-term kinship care provider agrees to provide care and maintenance for the child and the county department or department agrees, subject to sub. (3p) (hm), to make monthly payments to the long-term kinship care provider at the rate specified in sub. (3m) (am) (intro.) until the earliest of the following: 48.57(3n)(am)6.a.a. The date on which the child attains the age of 18 years; or, if on that date the child is a full-time student in good academic standing at a secondary school or its vocational or technical equivalent and is reasonably expected to complete his or her program of study and be granted a high school or high school equivalency diploma, the date on which the child is granted a high school or high school equivalency diploma or the date on which the child attains the age of 19 years, whichever occurs first; or, if on that date the child is a full-time student in good academic standing at a secondary school or its vocational or technical equivalent and an individualized education program under s. 115.787 is in effect for the child, the date on which the child is granted a high school or high school equivalency diploma or the date on which the child attains the age of 21 years, whichever occurs first. 48.57(3n)(am)6.c.c. The date on which the child is placed outside the long-term kinship care provider’s home under a court order or under a voluntary agreement under s. 48.63 (1) (a) or (b) or (5) (b). 48.57(3n)(am)6.d.d. The date on which the child ceases to reside with the long-term kinship care provider. 48.57(3n)(am)6.e.e. The date on which the long-term kinship care provider’s guardianship under s. 48.977 terminates. Effective date noteNOTE: Par. (am) is shown as amended by 2023 Wis. Act 119 eff. 7-1-25 or on the date specified in the Department of Children and Families notice published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register under 2023 Wis. Act 119, section 122 (1), whichever is earlier. Prior to that date par. (am) reads: Effective date text(am) From the appropriations under s. 20.437 (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. Subject to par. (ap), a county department and, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department shall make monthly payments for each child per month in the amount of $375 beginning on January 1, 2024, to a long-term kinship care relative who is providing care and maintenance for that child if all of the following conditions are met:
Effective date text1. The long-term kinship care relative applies to the county department or department for payments under this subsection, provides proof that he or she has been appointed as the guardian of the child, and, if the child is placed in the home of the long-term kinship care relative under a court order, other than a court order under s. 48.9795 or ch. 54, 2017 stats., applies to the county department or department for a license to operate a foster home.
Effective date text2. The county department or department inspects the long-term kinship care relative’s home, interviews the long-term kinship care relative and determines that long-term placement with the long-term kinship care relative is in the best interests of the child.
Effective date text4. The county department or department conducts a background investigation under sub. (3p) of the long-term kinship care relative, the employees and prospective employees of the long-term kinship care relative who have or would have regular contact with the child for whom the payments would be made and any other adult resident, as defined in sub. (3p) (a), of the long-term kinship care relative’s home to determine if the long-term kinship care relative, employee, prospective employee or adult resident has any arrests or convictions that are likely to adversely affect the child or the long-term kinship care relative’s ability to care for the child.
Effective date text4m. Subject to sub. (3p) (fm) 1m. and 2m., the long-term kinship care relative states that he or she does not have any arrests or convictions that could adversely affect the child or the long-term kinship care relative’s ability to care for the child and that, to the best of the long-term kinship care relative’s knowledge, no adult resident, as defined in sub. (3p) (a), and no employee or prospective employee of the long-term kinship care relative who would have regular contact with the child has any arrests or convictions that could adversely affect the child or the long-term kinship care relative’s ability to care for the child.
Effective date text5. The long-term kinship care relative cooperates with the county department or department in the application process, including applying for other forms of assistance for which the child may be eligible.
Effective date text5m. The long-term kinship care relative is not receiving payments under sub. (3m) with respect to the child.
Effective date text5r. The child for whom the long-term kinship care relative is providing care and maintenance is not receiving supplemental security income under 42 USC 1381 to 1383c or state supplemental payments under s. 49.77.
Effective date text6. The long-term kinship care relative and the county department or department enter into a written agreement under which the long-term kinship care relative agrees to provide care and maintenance for the child and the county department or department agrees, subject to sub. (3p) (hm), to make monthly payments to the long-term kinship care relative at the rate specified in sub. (3m) (am) (intro.) until the earliest of the following:
Effective date texta. The date on which the child attains the age of 18 years; or, if on that date the child is a full-time student in good academic standing at a secondary school or its vocational or technical equivalent and is reasonably expected to complete his or her program of study and be granted a high school or high school equivalency diploma, the date on which the child is granted a high school or high school equivalency diploma or the date on which the child attains the age of 19 years, whichever occurs first; or, if on that date the child is a full-time student in good academic standing at a secondary school or its vocational or technical equivalent and an individualized education program under s. 115.787 is in effect for the child, the date on which the child is granted a high school or high school equivalency diploma or the date on which the child attains the age of 21 years, whichever occurs first.
Effective date textb. The date on which the child dies.
Effective date textc. The date on which the child is placed outside the long-term kinship care relative’s home under a court order or under a voluntary agreement under s. 48.63 (1) (a) or (b) or (5) (b).
Effective date textd. The date on which the child ceases to reside with the long-term kinship care relative.
Effective date texte. The date on which the long-term kinship care’s guardianship under s. 48.977 terminates.
Effective date textf. The date on which the child moves out of the state.
48.57(3n)(ap)1.1. Subject to subds. 2. and 3., the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department may make payments under par. (am) to a long-term kinship care provider who is providing care and maintenance for a child who is placed in the home of the long-term kinship care provider 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 long-term kinship care provider for a license to operate a foster home or, if the application is approved or denied or the long-term 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 long-term kinship care provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure. 48.57(3n)(ap)2.2. If the application specified in subd. 1. is not approved or denied or the long-term kinship care provider is not otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure within 60 days after the date on which the county department or department received the completed application for any reason other than an act or omission of the long-term kinship care provider, the county department or department may make payments under par. (am) for 4 months after the date on which the county department or department received the completed application or, if the application is approved or denied or the long-term kinship care provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure within those 4 months, until the date on which the application is approved or denied or the long-term kinship care provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure. 48.57(3n)(ap)3.3. Notwithstanding that an application of a long-term kinship care provider specified in subd. 1. is denied or the long-term 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 may make payments under par. (am) to the long-term kinship care provider until an event specified in par. (am) 6. a. to f. occurs 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 long-term kinship care provider’s home and the ability of the long-term kinship care provider to care for the child, and a recommendation that the child remain in the home of the long-term kinship care provider and the court, after considering that information, assessment, and recommendation, orders the child to remain in the long-term 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) or to request a termination of the guardianship order under s. 48.977 (7). Any person specified in s. 48.357 (2m) (a) or 938.357 (2m) (a) may also request a change in placement and any person who is authorized to file a petition for the appointment of a guardian for the child may also request a termination of the guardianship order. Effective date noteNOTE: Par. (ap) is shown as amended by 2023 Wis. Act 119 eff. 7-1-25 or on the date specified in the Department of Children and Families notice published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register under 2023 Wis. Act 119, section 122 (1), whichever is earlier. Prior to that date par. (ap) reads: Effective date text(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 may make payments under par. (am) to a long-term kinship care relative who is providing care and maintenance for a child who is placed in the home of the long-term kinship care relative 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 long-term kinship care relative for a license to operate a foster home or, if the application is approved or denied or the long-term kinship care relative 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 long-term kinship care relative is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure.
Effective date text2. If the application specified in subd. 1. is not approved or denied or the long-term kinship care relative is not otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure within 60 days after the date on which the county department or department received the completed application for any reason other than an act or omission of the long-term kinship care relative, the county department or department may make payments under par. (am) for 4 months after the date on which the county department or department received the completed application or, if the application is approved or denied or the long-term kinship care relative is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure within those 4 months, until the date on which the application is approved or denied or the long-term kinship care relative is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure.
Effective date text3. Notwithstanding that an application of a long-term kinship care relative specified in subd. 1. is denied or the long-term kinship care relative 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 may make payments under par. (am) to the long-term kinship care relative until an event specified in par. (am) 6. a. to f. occurs 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 long-term kinship care relative’s home and the ability of the long-term kinship care relative to care for the child, and a recommendation that the child remain in the home of the long-term kinship care relative and the court, after considering that information, assessment, and recommendation, orders the child to remain in the long-term kinship care relative’s home. If the court does not order the child to remain in the kinship care relative’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) or to request a termination of the guardianship order under s. 48.977 (7). Any person specified in s. 48.357 (2m) (a) or 938.357 (2m) (a) may also request a change in placement and any person who is authorized to file a petition for the appointment of a guardian for the child may also request a termination of the guardianship order.
48.57(3n)(ar)(ar) Subject to sub. (3p) (fm) 1m. and (hm), a county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department shall enter into an agreement under par. (am) 6. if all of the following conditions are met: 48.57(3n)(ar)2.2. The applicant has expressed a willingness to enter into the agreement. 48.57(3n)(b)1.1. The county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department 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). 48.57(3n)(b)2.2. When any long-term kinship care provider of a child applies for or receives payments under this subsection, any right of the child or the child’s parent to support or maintenance from any other person accruing during the time that payments are made under this subsection is assigned to the state. If a child is the beneficiary of support under a judgment or order that includes support for one or more children who are not the beneficiaries of payments under this subsection, any support payment made under the judgment or order is assigned to the state in the amount that is the proportionate share of the child who is the beneficiary of the payment made under this subsection, except as otherwise ordered by the court on the motion of a party. Effective date noteNOTE: Subd. 2. is shown as amended by 2023 Wis. Act 119 eff. 7-1-25 or on the date specified in the Department of Children and Families notice published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register under 2023 Wis. Act 119, section 122 (1), whichever is earlier. Prior to that date subd. 2. reads: Effective date text2. When any long-term kinship care relative of a child applies for or receives payments under this subsection, any right of the child or the child’s parent to support or maintenance from any other person accruing during the time that payments are made under this subsection is assigned to the state. If a child is the beneficiary of support under a judgment or order that includes support for one or more children who are not the beneficiaries of payments under this subsection, any support payment made under the judgment or order is assigned to the state in the amount that is the proportionate share of the child who is the beneficiary of the payment made under this subsection, except as otherwise ordered by the court on the motion of a party.
48.57(3n)(c)(c) The county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department 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. 48.57(3n)(cm)(cm) A long-term 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. (3m) or s. 48.62 (4) or 48.623 (1) or (6) for that child. Effective date noteNOTE: Par. (cm) is shown as amended by 2023 Wis. Act 119 eff. 7-1-25 or on the date specified in the Department of Children and Families notice published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register under 2023 Wis. Act 119, section 122 (1), whichever is earlier. Prior to that date par. (cm) reads: Effective date text(cm) A long-term kinship care relative who receives a payment under par. (am) for providing care and maintenance for a child is not eligible to receive a payment under sub. (3m) or s. 48.62 (4) or 48.623 (1) or (6) for that child.
48.57(3n)(d)(d) The county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department shall, at least once every 12 months after the county department or department begins making payments under this subsection, determine whether any of the events specified in par. (am) 6. a. to f. have occurred. If any such events have occurred, the county department or department shall discontinue making those payments. 48.57(3n)(e)(e) The department shall determine whether the child is eligible for medical assistance under ss. 49.43 to 49.471. 48.57(3n)(f)(f) Any person whose application for payments under par. (am) is not acted on promptly, is denied on the grounds that a condition specified in par. (am) 1., 2., 5., 5m., or 5r. has not been met, or is denied following a review under sub. (3p) (hm) on the grounds that a condition specified in par. (am) 4. or 4m. has not been met, and any person whose payments under par. (am) are discontinued under par. (d), may petition the department under par. (g) for a review of that action or failure to act. Review is unavailable if the action or failure to act arose more than 45 days before submission of the petition for review. 48.57(3n)(g)1.1. Upon receipt of a timely petition under par. (f) the department shall give the applicant or recipient reasonable notice and an opportunity for a fair hearing. The department may make such additional investigation as it considers necessary. Notice of the hearing shall be given to the applicant or recipient and to the county department or subunit of the department whose action or failure to act is the subject of the petition. That county department or subunit of the department may be represented at the hearing. The department shall render its decision as soon as possible after the hearing and shall send a certified copy of its decision to the applicant or recipient and to the county department or subunit of the department whose action or failure to act is the subject of the petition. The decision of the department shall have the same effect as an order of the county department or subunit of the department whose action or failure to act is the subject of the petition. The decision shall be final, but may be reviewed under ss. 227.52 to 227.58 or revoked or modified as altered conditions may require. The department shall deny a petition for review or shall refuse to grant relief if any of the following applies: 48.57(3n)(g)1.b.b. The sole issue in the petition concerns an automatic payment adjustment or change that affects an entire class of recipients and is the result of a change in state law. 48.57(3n)(g)1.c.c. The petitioner abandons the petition. Abandonment occurs if the petitioner fails to appear in person or by a representative at a scheduled hearing without good cause, as determined by the department. 48.57(3n)(g)2.2. 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 long-term kinship care program in that county that the recipient has requested a hearing. Payments under par. (am) shall be discontinued if any of the following applies: 48.57(3n)(g)2.a.a. The recipient is contesting a state law or a change in state law and not the determination of the payment made on the recipient’s behalf. 48.57(3n)(g)2.b.b. The recipient is notified of a change in his or her payments under par. (am) while the hearing decision is pending but the recipient fails to request a hearing on the change. 48.57(3n)(g)3.3. The recipient shall be promptly informed in writing if his or her payments under par. (am) are to be discontinued pending the hearing decision. 48.57(3n)(h)(h) A county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department may recover an overpayment made under par. (am) from a long-term kinship care provider who continues to receive payments under par. (am) by reducing the amount of the long-term 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.
