Chapter 49

49.24(1) (1) The department shall provide child support incentive payments to counties from one of the following appropriations:

49.24(1)(a) (a) Unless par. (b) applies, from the appropriation under s. 20.437 (2) (bc).

49.24(1)(b) (b) If federal legislation provides for the matching of federal funds for federal child support incentive payments at a rate of 66 percent or more, from the appropriation under s. 20.437 (2) (k) while the federal legislation is in effect. Total payments under this paragraph may not exceed $5,690,000 per year.

49.24(2) (2) 

49.24(2)(a) (a) The department shall, in consultation with representatives of counties, promulgate a rule that specifies the formula according to which the payments under sub. (1) and federal child support incentive payments will be distributed to counties. The rule shall provide that the total of state and federal incentive payments per year to a county may not exceed the costs per year of the county’s child support program under s. 49.22.

49.24(2)(b) (b) Subject to the incentive payments limit specified in par. (a), the department shall distribute to counties, in accordance with the formula established under par. (a), all of the following:

49.24(2)(b)2. 2. Of the amount of federal child support incentive payments awarded to the state for each federal fiscal year, the amount awarded if that amount is less than $12,340,000, or $12,340,000 plus 30 percent of the amount awarded that exceeds $12,340,000.

49.24(2)(b)3. 3. All federal matching funds associated with the amounts distributed under subd. 2.

49.24(2)(c) (c) The department may retain 70 percent of the amount of federal child support incentive payments awarded to the state for each federal fiscal year that exceeds $12,340,000, to be used to pay the costs of the department’s activities under ss. 49.22 and 49.227 and costs related to receiving and disbursing support and support-related payments.

49.24(2)(dm) (dm) If the amount of federal child support incentive payments awarded to the state for a federal fiscal year is less than $12,340,000 and the department is providing child support incentive payments to counties for that federal fiscal year under sub. (1) (b), the total of payments distributed to counties under par. (b) and sub. (1) for that federal fiscal year may not exceed $12,340,000.

49.24(3) (3) A county that receives any state child support incentive payment under sub. (1) or any federal child support incentive payment under sub. (2) may use the funds only to pay costs under its child support program under s. 49.22.

49.24 History History: 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2003 a. 33; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 28.

49.24 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. DCF 153, Wis. adm. code.

49.25 49.25 Incentive payments for identifying children with health insurance. From the appropriation under s. 20.437 (2) (e), the department may provide incentive payments to county child support agencies under s. 59.53 (5) for identifying children who are receiving medical assistance benefits and who have health insurance coverage or access to health insurance coverage. The department of children and families may disclose to the department of health services information that it possesses or obtains that would assist in identifying children with medical assistance coverage who have health insurance coverage or access to health insurance coverage.

49.25 History History: 2009 a. 28.

49.255 49.255 Case management incentive payments. An individual who receives case management services under s. 49.1475 is eligible to receive from the department a supplement of $50 per month over a period of 12 months if the individual meets the federal work participation requirements under 42 USC 607.

49.255 History History: 2017 a. 59.

49.257 49.257 Milwaukee child care grant program.

49.257(1) (1) In this section, “child care provider” has the meaning given in s. 49.155 (1) (ag).

49.257(2) (2) From the allocation under s. 49.175 (1) (p), the department may award grants to child care providers to support access to high-quality child care for families that reside in a geographic area with high-poverty levels, as identified by the department, in the city of Milwaukee. A grant under this section may be used for start-up costs, ongoing operational costs, including subsidy payments for eligible families, and quality improvement activities. A child care provider that is awarded a grant under this subsection shall contribute matching funds equal to 25 percent of the amount awarded. The matching contribution may be in the form of money or in-kind goods or services.

49.257(3) (3) From the allocation under s. 49.175 (1) (qm), the department may award grants to any of the following to improve overall child care quality in the geographic area identified under sub. (2):

49.257(3)(a) (a) Child care providers and employees of child care providers.

49.257(3)(b) (b) Educational institutions for the purpose of educating employees of child care providers.

49.257 History History: 2019 a. 9.

49.26 49.26 Learnfare program.

49.26(1) (1) 

49.26(1)(a) (a) In this subsection:

49.26(1)(a)1. 1. “Habitual truant” has the meaning given in s. 118.16 (1) (a).

49.26(1)(a)2. 2. “School” means any one of the following:

49.26(1)(a)2.a. a. A public school, as described in s. 115.01 (1).

49.26(1)(a)2.b. b. A private school, as defined in s. 115.001 (3r).

49.26(1)(a)2.bm. bm. A tribal school, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m).

49.26(1)(a)2.c. c. A technical college pursuant to a contract under s. 118.15 (2).

49.26(1)(a)2.d. d. A course of study meeting the standards established by the state superintendent of public instruction under s. 115.29 (4) for the granting of a declaration of equivalency of high school graduation.

49.26(1)(c) (c) A county department or Wisconsin works agency may provide services under this subsection directly or may contract with a nonprofit agency or a school district to provide the services.

49.26(1)(d) (d) A county department or Wisconsin Works agency that provides services under this subsection directly shall develop a plan, in coordination with the school districts located in whole or in part in the county, describing the assistance that the county department or Wisconsin Works agency and school districts will provide to individuals receiving services under this subsection, the number of individuals that will be served and the estimated cost of the services. The county department or Wisconsin Works agency shall submit the plan to the department and the department of public instruction by January 15, annually.

49.26(1)(e) (e) For an individual who is a recipient of aid under s. 49.19, or whose custodial parent is a participant under s. 49.147 (3) to (5), who is the parent with whom a dependent child lives and who is subject to the school attendance requirement under par. (ge), the department shall make a monthly payment to the individual or the child care provider for the month’s child care costs in an amount based on need with the maximum amount per child equal to the lesser of the actual cost of the care or the rate established under s. 49.155 (6) if the individual demonstrates the need to purchase child care services in order to attend school and those services are available from a child care provider.

49.26(1)(g) (g) An individual who is a dependent child in a Wisconsin Works group that includes a participant under s. 49.147 (3), (4), or (5) or who is a recipient of aid under s. 49.19 is subject to the school attendance requirement under par. (ge) if all of the following apply:

49.26(1)(g)1. 1. Before the first day of the fall 1994 school term, as defined in s. 115.001 (12), the individual is 13 to 17 years of age. Beginning on the first day of the fall 1997 school term, as defined in s. 115.001 (12), the individual is 6 to 17 years of age.

49.26(1)(g)2. 2. The individual has not graduated from a public, private, or tribal high school or obtained a declaration of equivalency of high school graduation under s. 115.29 (4).

49.26(1)(g)3. 3. The individual is not excused from attending school under s. 118.15 (3).

49.26(1)(g)4. 4. The individual is a parent or is residing with his or her natural or adoptive parent.

49.26(1)(g)5. 5. If the individual is the caretaker of a child, the child is at least 45 days old and child care is available for the child at the school or the school provides an instruction program for the caretaker at home.

49.26(1)(g)6. 6. If child care services are necessary in order for the individual to attend school, child care from a child care provider is available for the child and transportation to and from child care is also available.

49.26(1)(g)7. 7. The individual is not prohibited from attending school while an expulsion under s. 119.25 or 120.13 (1) is pending.

49.26(1)(g)8. 8. If the individual was expelled from a school under s. 119.25 or 120.13 (1), there is another school available which the individual can attend.

49.26(1)(g)10. 10. The individual does not have good cause for failing to attend school, as defined by the department by rule.

49.26(1)(g)11. 11. If the individual is the mother of a child, a physician has not determined that the individual should delay her return to school after giving birth.

49.26(1)(g)12. 12. If the individual is on a waiting list for a children-at-risk program under s. 118.153, a children-at-risk program that is appropriate for the individual is not available.

49.26(1)(ge) (ge)

49.26(1)(ge)1. 1. An individual fails to meet the school attendance requirement if the individual meets at least one of the following conditions:

49.26(1)(ge)1.a. a. The individual is either not enrolled in school or is a habitual truant.

49.26(1)(ge)1.b. b. During the immediately preceding semester, the individual was either not enrolled in school or was a habitual truant.

49.26(1)(ge)2. 2. The Wisconsin Works agency or county department shall verify school enrollment and attendance.

49.26(1)(gm) (gm)

49.26(1)(gm)1. 1. The following individuals who are subject to the school attendance requirement under the learnfare program are required to participate in case management under sub. (2) (b):

49.26(1)(gm)1.a. a. Minor parents.

49.26(1)(gm)1.b. b. Habitual truants.

49.26(1)(gm)1.c. c. Dropouts, as defined in s. 118.153 (1) (b), including individuals who were dropouts and reenrolled in school in the same or immediately succeeding semester in which they dropped out of school.

49.26(1)(gm)1.d. d. A child whose Wisconsin Works group includes a participant under s. 49.147 (3), (4), or (5) who has been unable to participate in activities required under s. 49.147 (3), (4), or (5) due to the child’s school-related problems.

49.26(1)(gm)2. 2. The department may, in accordance with rules promulgated by the department, sanction any individual specified under subd. 1. who fails to cooperate with case management efforts.

49.26(1)(h) (h)

49.26(1)(h)1. 1. An individual who fails to cooperate with case management efforts under par. (gm) is subject to sanctions as provided under subd. 1s. only if all of the following apply:

49.26(1)(h)1.as. as. The individual has failed to request a hearing or has failed to show good cause for not cooperating with case management efforts in a hearing. The hearing shall be requested and held under s. 49.152. The department shall determine by rule the criteria for good cause.

49.26(1)(h)1.b. b. The individual’s family fails to cooperate with the case manager or fails to engage in the activities identified by the case manager as being necessary to improve the individual’s school attendance.

49.26(1)(h)1.c. c. The individual continues to fail to meet the school attendance requirement under par. (ge).

49.26(1)(h)1s. 1s.

49.26(1)(h)1s.a. a. Except as provided under subd. 1s. b., an individual who fails to meet the school attendance requirement under par. (ge) is subject to sanctions determined by the department by rule.

49.26(1)(h)1s.b. b. An individual who is a dependent child in a Wisconsin Works group that includes a participant under s. 49.147 (3), (4), or (5) and who fails to meet the school attendance requirement under par. (ge) is subject to a monthly sanction.

49.26(1)(h)2. 2. If, as a result of the application of sanctions under this paragraph, no child in a family receives payment under s. 49.19, the department shall make a payment to meet only the needs of the parent or parents who would otherwise be eligible for aid under s. 49.19.

49.26(1)(hm) (hm) The department may require consent to the release of school attendance records, under s. 118.125 (2) (e), as a condition of eligibility for benefits under s. 49.147 (3) to (5) or aid under s. 49.19.

49.26(1)(hr) (hr) If an individual subject to the school attendance requirement under par. (ge) is enrolled in a public school, communications between the school district and the department, a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23 or a Wisconsin works agency concerning the individual’s school attendance may only be made by a school attendance officer, as defined under s. 118.16 (1) (b).

49.26(2) (2) Services for learnfare pupils.

49.26(2)(a) (a) In this subsection, “county department” means a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23.

49.26(2)(b) (b) County departments or Wisconsin works agencies shall provide case management services to individuals who are subject to the school attendance requirement under the learnfare program under sub. (1) and their families to improve the school attendance and achievement of those individuals.

49.26 History History: 1995 a. 27 ss. 2319 to 2324, 2898g to 2898r, 3101 to 3120b, 9130 (4), 9145 (1); 1995 a. 289; 1997 a. 3, 27, 239; 1999 a. 9; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 276, 302; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 59.

49.265 49.265 Community action agencies.

49.265(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

49.265(1)(a) (a) “Limited-purpose agency” means a private, nonprofit organization that is a statewide organization whose project has statewide impact.

49.265(1)(b) (b) “Poor person” means a resident of a community served by a community action agency whose income is at or below 125 percent of the poverty line.

49.265(1)(c) (c) “Poverty line” means the nonfarm federal poverty line for the continental United States, as defined in 42 USC 9902 (2).

49.265(2) (2) Creation.

49.265(2)(a) (a)

49.265(2)(a)1. 1. A community action agency is any of the entities specified in par. (b) that meets the following conditions:

49.265(2)(a)1.a. a. Is capable of performing the functions specified in sub. (3).

49.265(2)(a)1.b. b. Receives the approval of the secretary.

49.265(2)(a)1.c. c. Receives the approval of the county board of supervisors, if the community action agency serves an entire county, or, if the agency serves a city, village or town, receives the approval of the city’s, village’s or town’s legislative body.

49.265(2)(a)2. 2. Each private, nonprofit community action agency shall be governed by a board consisting of 15 to 51 members, chosen from the following groups:

49.265(2)(a)2.a. a. One-third of the members shall be elected public officials or their representatives. If the number of elected public officials who are reasonably available and willing to serve on a governing board is insufficient to meet this requirement, appointed public officials may be substituted. The chief executive or the legislative body of the county, city, village or town that approved the creation of a community action agency under subd. 1. c. shall appoint these members.