Chapter 49

49.32(3) (3) Uniform manual. The department shall adopt policies and procedures and a uniform county policy and procedure manual to minimize unnecessary variations between counties in the administration of the aid to families with dependent children program. The department shall also require each county to use the manual in the administration of the program.

49.32(4) (4) Employment of aid recipients. The department shall assist state agencies in efforts under s. 230.147 to employ recipients of aid under s. 49.19.

49.32(5) (5) Employment and training and education manual. The department shall produce a manual describing employment and training and education programs for which recipients of public assistance benefits under this subchapter may qualify. The department shall distribute the manual, free of charge, to each county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23.

49.32(6) (6) Welfare reform studies. The department shall request proposals from persons in this state for studies of the effectiveness of various program changes, referred to as welfare reform, to the aid to families with dependent children program, including the requirement that certain recipients of aid to families with dependent children with children under age 6 participate in training programs, the learnfare school attendance requirement under s. 49.26 (1) (g) and the modification of the earned income disregard under s. 49.19 (5) (am). The studies shall evaluate the effectiveness of the various efforts, including their cost-effectiveness, in helping individuals gain independence through the securing of jobs and providing financial incentives and in identifying barriers to independence.

49.32(6m) (6m) Milwaukee parental choice program research.

49.32(6m)(a) (a) In this subsection, “qualified independent researcher” means a faculty member of a university who satisfies all of the following:

49.32(6m)(a)1. 1. The faculty member has an approved protocol from an institutional review board for human subjects research to work with data containing personal information for the purposes of evaluating the program under s. 119.23.

49.32(6m)(a)2. 2. The faculty member has received from the state and properly managed data containing personal information for the purposes of evaluating the program under s. 119.23 before July 14, 2015.

49.32(6m)(b) (b) The department shall permit a qualified independent researcher to have access to any database maintained by the department for the purpose of cross-matching information contained in any such database with a database that both is in the possession of the qualified independent researcher and contains information regarding pupils participating in the program under s. 119.23. The department may charge a fee to the qualified independent researcher for the information that does not exceed the cost incurred by the department to provide the information.

49.32(7) (7) Periodic records matches.

49.32(7)(a) (a) The department shall conduct a program to periodically verify the eligibility of recipients of aid to families with dependent children under s. 49.19 and of participants in Wisconsin works under ss. 49.141 to 49.161 through a check of school enrollment records of local school boards as provided in s. 118.125 (2) (i).

49.32(7)(b) (b) The department shall conduct a program to periodically match the records of recipients of aid to families with dependent children under s. 49.19 and, if the department of health services contracts with the department under s. 49.197 (5), recipients of medical assistance under subch. IV and food stamp benefits under the food stamp program under 7 USC 2011 to 2036 with the records of recipients under those programs in other states. If an agreement with the other states can be obtained, matches with records of states contiguous to this state shall be conducted at least annually.

49.32(7)(c) (c) The department shall conduct a program to periodically match the address records of recipients of aid to families with dependent children under s. 49.19 and, if the department of health services contracts with the department under s. 49.197 (5), recipients of medical assistance under subch. IV and food stamp benefits under the food stamp program under 7 USC 2011 to 2036 to verify residency and to identify recipients receiving duplicate or fraudulent payments.

49.32(7)(d) (d) The department, with assistance from the department of corrections, shall conduct a program to periodically match the records of persons confined in state correctional facilities with the records of recipients of aid to families with dependent children under s. 49.19 and, if the department of health services contracts with the department under s. 49.197 (5), recipients of medical assistance under subch. IV and food stamp benefits under the food stamp program under 7 USC 2011 to 2036 to identify recipients who may be ineligible for benefits.

49.32(8) (8) Periodic earnings check by department. The department shall make a periodic check of the amounts earned by recipients of aid to families with dependent children under s. 49.19 and by participants under Wisconsin works under ss. 49.141 to 49.161 through a check of the amounts credited to the recipient’s social security number. The department shall make an investigation into any discrepancy between the amounts credited to a social security number and amounts reported as income on the declaration application and take appropriate action under s. 946.93 when warranted. The department shall use the state wage reporting system under 1985 Wisconsin Act 17, section 65 (1), when the system is implemented, to make periodic earnings checks.

49.32(9) (9) Monthly reports of recipients of aid to families with dependent children.

49.32(9)(a) (a) Each county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23 administering aid to families with dependent children shall maintain a monthly report at its office showing the names of all persons receiving aid to families with dependent children together with the amount paid during the preceding month. Each Wisconsin Works agency administering Wisconsin Works under ss. 49.141 to 49.161 shall maintain a monthly report at its office showing the names of all persons receiving benefits under s. 49.148 together with the amount paid during the preceding month. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to authorize or require the disclosure in the report of any information (names, amounts of aid or otherwise) pertaining to adoptions, or aid furnished for the care of children in foster homes under s. 48.645 or 49.19 (10).

49.32(9)(b) (b) The report under par. (a) shall be open to public inspection at all times during regular office hours and may be destroyed after the next succeeding report becomes available. Any person except any public officer, seeking permission to inspect such report shall be required to prove his or her identity and to sign a statement setting forth his or her address and the reasons for making the request and indicating that he or she understands the provisions of par. (c) with respect to the use of the information obtained. The use of a fictitious name is a violation of this section. Within 7 days after the record is inspected, or on the next regularly scheduled communication with that person, whichever is sooner, the county department or Wisconsin works agency shall notify each person whose name and amount of aid was inspected that the record was inspected and of the name and address of the person making such inspection. County departments under ss. 46.215, 46.22 and 46.23 administering aid to families with dependent children and Wisconsin works agencies administering Wisconsin works under ss. 49.141 to 49.161 may withhold the right to inspect the name of and amount paid to recipients from private individuals who are not inspecting this information for purposes related to public, educational, organizational, governmental or research purposes until the person whose record is to be inspected is notified by the county department or Wisconsin works agency, but in no case may the county department or Wisconsin works agency withhold this information for more than 5 working days. The county department or Wisconsin works agency shall keep a record of such requests. The record shall indicate the name, address, employer and telephone number of the person making the request. If the person refuses to provide his or her name, address, employer and telephone number, the request to inspect this information may be denied.

49.32(9)(c) (c) It is unlawful to use any information obtained through access to such report for political or commercial purposes. The violation of this provision is punishable upon conviction as provided in s. 49.83.

49.32(10) (10) Release of information to law enforcement officers.

49.32(10)(a) (a) Each county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23 may release the current address of a recipient of food stamps or of aid under s. 49.19, and each Wisconsin works agency may release the current address of a participant in Wisconsin works under ss. 49.141 to 49.161, to a law enforcement officer if the officer meets all of the following conditions:

49.32(10)(a)1. 1. The officer provides, in writing, the name of the recipient or participant.

49.32(10)(a)2. 2. The officer satisfactorily demonstrates, in writing, all of the following:

49.32(10)(a)2.a. a. That the recipient or participant is a fugitive felon under 42 USC 608 (a) (9), is violating a condition of probation, extended supervision or parole imposed under state or federal law or has information that is necessary for the officer to conduct the official duties of the officer.

49.32(10)(a)2.b. b. That the location or apprehension of the recipient or participant under subd. 2. a. is within the official duties of the officer.

49.32(10)(a)2.c. c. That the officer is making the request in the proper exercise of his or her duties under subd. 2. b.

49.32(10)(b) (b) If a law enforcement officer believes, on reasonable grounds, that a warrant has been issued and is outstanding for the arrest of a Wisconsin works participant, the law enforcement officer may request that a law enforcement officer be notified when the participant appears to obtain his or her benefits under the Wisconsin works program. At the request of a law enforcement officer under this paragraph, an employee of a Wisconsin works agency who disburses benefits may notify a law enforcement officer when the participant appears to obtain Wisconsin works benefits.

49.32(10m) (10m) Release of addresses of recipients involved in legal proceedings.

49.32(10m)(a) (a) A county department, relief agency under s. 49.01 (3m) or Wisconsin works agency shall, upon request, and after providing the notice to the recipient required by this paragraph, release the current address of a recipient of relief under s. 49.01 (3), aid to families with dependent children or benefits under s. 49.148 to a person, the person’s attorney or an employee or agent of that attorney, if the person is a party to a legal action or proceeding in which the recipient is a party or a witness, unless the person is a respondent in an action commenced by the recipient under s. 813.12, 813.122, 813.123, 813.125 or 813.127. If the person is a respondent in an action commenced by the recipient under s. 813.12, 813.122, 813.123, 813.125 or 813.127, the county department, relief agency or Wisconsin works agency may not release the current address of the recipient. No county department, relief agency or Wisconsin works agency may release an address under this paragraph until 21 days after the address has been requested. A person requesting an address under this paragraph shall be required to prove his or her identity and his or her participation as a party in a legal action or proceeding in which the recipient is a party or a witness by presenting a copy of the pleading or a copy of the subpoena for the witness. The person shall also be required to sign a statement setting forth his or her name, address and the reasons for making the request and indicating that he or she understands the provisions of par. (b) with respect to the use of the information obtained. The statement shall be made on a form prescribed by the department and shall be sworn and notarized. Within 7 days after an address has been requested under this paragraph, the county department, relief agency or Wisconsin works agency shall mail to each recipient whose address has been requested a notification of that fact on a form prescribed by the department. The form shall also include the date on which the address was requested, the name and address of the person who requested the disclosure of the address, the reason that the address was requested and a statement that the address will be released to the person who requested the address no sooner than 21 days after the date on which the request for the address was made. County departments, relief agencies and Wisconsin works agencies shall keep a record of each request for an address under this paragraph.

49.32(10m)(b) (b) No person may use an address obtained under this subsection for a purpose that is not connected with the legal action or proceeding to which the person requesting the address is a party. No person may use an address obtained under this subsection for political or commercial purposes. No person may request an address under par. (a) using a fictitious name. Any person who violates this paragraph is subject to the penalties under s. 49.83.

49.32(11m) (11m) Consolidation of allocated tribal funds. The department may consolidate funds appropriated under s. 20.437 that are authorized or required to be allocated to federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands into a single distribution for each tribe or band in each fiscal year.

49.32(12) (12) Administrative hearings and appeals. Any hearing under s. 227.42 granted by the department under this subchapter or ch. 48 may be conducted before the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration.

49.32 History History: 1995 a. 27 ss. 2035 to 2037, 2276d, 2805 to 2809, 2927 to 2930, 3146 to 3149; 1995 a. 289, 361, 370, 404; 1997 a. 27, 35, 237, 252, 283; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33; 2007 a. 20 ss. 1483 to 1491, 9121 (6) (a); 2009 a. 28; 2013 a. 226; 2015 a. 55 ss. 1765 to 1767m, 4234; 2015 a. 381; 2017 a. 365.

49.32 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).

49.32 Annotation Sections 46.03 (18) and 46.10 (3) permit the Department of Health and Social Services 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).

49.32 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).

49.32 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).

49.32 Note NOTE: The above annotations relate to uniform fee schedules for services provided by predecessor agencies to the Department of Children and Families under s. 46.03 (18).

49.325 49.325 County department budgets and contracts.

49.325(1) (1) Budget.

49.325(1)(a) (a) Each county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23 shall submit its final budget for services purchased or directly provided under this subchapter or ch. 48 and for community-based juvenile delinquency-related services purchased or directly provided under ch. 938 to the department by December 31 annually.

49.325(1)(b) (b) The department shall submit a model of the contract under sub. (2g) (a) to each county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23 by May 1 annually.

49.325(2) (2) Assessment of needs. Before developing and submitting a proposed budget for services purchased or directly provided under this subchapter or ch. 48 and for community-based juvenile delinquency-related services purchased or directly provided under ch. 938 to the county executive or county administrator or the county board, the county departments listed in sub. (1) shall assess needs and inventory resources and services, using an open public participation process.

49.325(2g) (2g) Contract.

49.325(2g)(a) (a) The department shall annually submit to the county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county department or the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty department a proposed written contract containing the allocation of funds for services purchased or directly provided under this subchapter or ch. 48, for community-based juvenile delinquency-related services purchased or directly provided under ch. 938, and for such administrative requirements as necessary. The contract as approved may contain conditions of participation consistent with federal and state law. The contract may also include provisions necessary to ensure uniform cost accounting of services. Any changes to the proposed contract shall be mutually agreed upon. The county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county department or the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty department shall approve the contract before January 1 of the year in which it takes effect unless the department grants an extension. The county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county department or the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty department may designate an agent to approve addenda to any contract after the contract has been approved.

49.325(2g)(b) (b) The department may not approve contracts for amounts in excess of available revenues. The county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county department or the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty department may appropriate funds for community-based juvenile delinquency-related services. Actual expenditure of county funds shall be reported in compliance with procedures developed by the department.

49.325(2g)(c) (c) The joint committee on finance may require the department to submit contracts between county departments under ss. 46.215, 46.22, and 46.23 and providers of services under this subchapter or ch. 48 or of community-based juvenile delinquency-related services under ch. 938 to the committee for review and approval.

49.325(2r) (2r) Withholding funds.

49.325(2r)(a) (a) The department, after reasonable notice, may withhold a portion of the appropriation allocated to a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23 if the department determines that that portion of the allocated appropriation is any of the following:

49.325(2r)(a)1. 1. For services under this subchapter or ch. 48 or community-based juvenile delinquency-related services under ch. 938 that duplicate or are inconsistent with services being purchased or provided by the department or other county departments receiving grants-in-aid or reimbursement from the department.

49.325(2r)(a)2. 2. Inconsistent with state or federal statutes, rules, or regulations, in which case the department may also arrange for the provision of services under this subchapter or ch. 48 or community-based juvenile delinquency-related services under ch. 938 by an alternate agency. The department may not arrange for the provision of those services by an alternate agency unless the joint committee on finance or a review body designated by the committee reviews and approves the department’s determination.

49.325(2r)(a)5. 5. Inconsistent with the provisions of the county department’s contract under sub. (2g).

49.325(2r)(b) (b) If the department withholds a portion of the allocable appropriation under par. (a), the county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23 that is affected by the action of the department may submit to the county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county department or to its designated agent or the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty department or their designated agents a plan to rectify the deficiency found by the department. The county board of supervisors or its designated agent in a county with a single-county department or the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty department or their designated agents may approve or amend the plan and may submit for departmental approval the plan as adopted. If a multicounty department is administering a program, the plan may not be submitted unless each county board of supervisors which participated in the establishment of the multicounty department, or its designated agent, adopts it.

49.325(3) (3) Open public participation process.

49.325(3)(a) (a) Citizen advisory committee. Except as provided in par. (b), the county board of supervisors of each county or the county boards of supervisors of 2 or more counties jointly shall establish a citizen advisory committee to the county departments under ss. 46.215, 46.22 and 46.23. The citizen advisory committee shall advise in the formulation of the budget under sub. (1). Membership on the committee shall be determined by the county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county committee or by the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty committee and shall include representatives of those persons receiving services, providers of services and citizens. A majority of the members of the committee shall be citizens and consumers of services. At least one member of the committee shall be chosen from the governing or administrative board of the community action agency serving the county or counties under s. 49.265, if any. The committee’s membership may not consist of more than 25 percent county supervisors, nor of more than 20 percent services providers. The chairperson of the committee shall be appointed by the county board of supervisors establishing it. In the case of a multicounty committee, the chairperson shall be nominated by the committee and approved by the county boards of supervisors establishing it. The county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county committee or the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty committee may designate an agent to determine the membership of the committee and to appoint the committee chairperson or approve the nominee.

49.325(3)(b) (b) Alternate process. The county board of supervisors or the boards of 2 or more counties acting jointly may submit a report to the department on the open public participation process used under sub. (2). The county board of supervisors may designate an agent, or the boards of 2 or more counties acting jointly may designate an agent, to submit the report. If the department approves the report, establishment of a citizen advisory committee under par. (a) is not required.

49.325(3)(c) (c) Yearly report. The county board of supervisors or its designated agent, or the boards of 2 or more counties acting jointly or their designated agent, shall submit to the department a list of members of the citizen advisory committee under par. (a) or a report on the open public participation process under par. (b) on or before July 1 annually.

49.325 History History: 1995 a. 27; 2007 a. 20; 2015 a. 55.

49.34 49.34 Purchase of care and services.

49.34(1) (1) All services under this subchapter and ch. 48 and all community-based juvenile delinquency-related services under ch. 938 purchased by the department or by a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23 shall be authorized and contracted for under the standards established under this section. The department may require the county departments to submit the contracts to the department for review and approval. For purchases of $10,000 or less the requirement for a written contract may be waived by the department. No contract is required for care provided by foster homes that are required to be licensed under s. 48.62. When the department directly contracts for services, the department shall follow the procedures in this section in addition to meeting purchasing requirements established in s. 16.75.

49.34(2) (2) All services purchased under this subchapter and ch. 48 and all community-based juvenile delinquency-related services purchased under ch. 938 shall meet standards established by the department and other requirements specified by the purchaser in the contract. Based on these standards the department shall establish standards for cost accounting and management information systems that shall monitor the utilization of the services, and document the specific services in meeting the service plan for the client and the objective of the service.

49.34(3) (3) 

49.34(3)(a) (a) Purchase of service contracts shall be written in accordance with rules promulgated and procedures established by the department. Contracts for client services shall show the total dollar amount to be purchased and for each service the number of clients to be served, number of client service units, the unit rate per client service and the total dollar amount for each service.

49.34(3)(b) (b) Payments under a contract may be made on the basis of actual allowable costs or on the basis of a unit rate per client service multiplied by the actual client units furnished each month. The contract may be renegotiated when units vary from the contracted number. The purchaser shall determine actual marginal costs for each service unit less than or in addition to the contracted number.

49.34(3)(c) (c) For proprietary agencies, contracts may include a percentage add-on for profit according to rules promulgated by the department.

49.34(3)(d) (d) Reimbursement to an agency may be based on total costs agreed to by the parties regardless of the actual number of service units to be furnished, when the agency is entering into a contract for a new or expanded service that the purchaser recognizes will require a start-up period not to exceed 180 days. This reimbursement applies only if identified client needs necessitate the establishment of a new service or expansion of an existing service.

49.34(3)(e) (e) If the purchaser finds it necessary to terminate a contract prior to the contract expiration date for reasons other than nonperformance by the provider, the actual cost incurred by the provider may be reimbursed in an amount determined by mutual agreement of the parties.

49.34(4) (4) For purposes of this section and as a condition of reimbursement, each provider under contract shall:

49.34(4)(a) (a) Except as provided in this subsection, maintain a uniform double entry accounting system and a management information system that are compatible with cost accounting and control systems prescribed by the department.

49.34(4)(b) (b) Cooperate with the department and purchaser in establishing costs for reimbursement purposes.

49.34(4)(c) (c) Unless waived by the department, biennially, or annually if required under federal law, provide the purchaser with a certified financial and compliance audit report if the care and services purchased exceed $100,000. The audit shall follow standards that the department prescribes.

49.34(4)(d) (d) Transfer a client from one category of care or service to another only with the approval of the purchaser.

49.34(4)(e) (e) Charge a uniform schedule of fees as specified under s. 49.32 (1) unless waived by the purchaser with the approval of the department. Whenever providers recover funds attributed to the client, such funds shall offset the amount paid under the contract.

49.34(5) (5) Except as provided in sub. (5m), the purchaser shall recover from provider agencies money paid in excess of the conditions of the contract from subsequent payments made to the provider.

49.34(5m) (5m) 

49.34(5m)(a) (a) In this subsection:

49.34(5m)(a)1. 1. “Provider” means a nonstock corporation organized under ch. 181 that is a nonprofit corporation, as defined in s. 181.0103 (17), and that contracts under this section to provide client services on the basis of a unit rate per client service or a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, 46.23, 51.42, or 51.437 that contracts under this section to provide client services on the basis of a unit rate per client service.

49.34(5m)(a)2. 2. “Rate-based service” means a service or a group of services, as determined by the department, that is reimbursed through a prospectively set rate and that is distinguishable from other services or groups of services by the purpose for which funds are provided for that service or group of services and by the source of funding for that service or group of services.

49.34(5m)(b) (b)

49.34(5m)(b)1. 1. If revenue under a contract for the provision of a rate-based service exceeds allowable costs incurred in the contract period, the contract shall allow the provider to retain from the surplus up to 5 percent of the revenue received under the contract unless a uniform rate is established by rule under subd. 5., in which case the contract shall allow the provider to retain the uniform percentage rate established by the rule. The retained surplus is the property of the provider.

49.34(5m)(b)4. 4. If on December 31 of any year the provider’s accumulated surplus from all contract periods ending during that year for a rate-based service exceeds the allowable retention rate under subd. 1., the provider shall provide written notice of that excess to all purchasers of the rate-based service. Upon the written request of such a purchaser received no later than 6 months after the date of the notice, the provider shall refund the purchaser’s proportional share of that excess. If the department determines based on an audit or fiscal review that the amount of the excess identified by the provider was incorrect, the department may seek to recover funds after the 6-month period has expired. The department shall commence any audit or fiscal review under this subdivision within 6 years after the end of the contract period.

49.34(5m)(b)5. 5. The department, in consultation with the department of health services and the department of corrections, shall promulgate rules to implement this subsection including all of the following:

49.34(5m)(b)5.a. a. Requiring that contracts for rate-based services under this subsection allow a provider to retain from any surplus revenue up to 5 percent of the total revenue received under the contract, or a different percentage rate determined by the department. The percentage rate established under this subd. 5. a. shall apply uniformly to all rate-based service contracts under this subsection.

49.34(5m)(b)5.b. b. Establishing a procedure for reviewing rate-based service contracts to determine whether a contract complies with the provisions of this subsection.

49.34(5m)(em) (em) Notwithstanding par. (b), a county department under s. 46.215, 51.42, or 51.437 providing client services in a county having a population of 750,000 or more or a nonstock, nonprofit corporation providing client services in such a county may not retain a surplus generated by a rate-based service or accumulate funds from more than one contract period for a rate-based service from revenues that are used to meet the maintenance-of-effort requirement under the federal temporary assistance for needy families program under 42 USC 601 to 619.

49.34(5m)(f) (f) All providers that are subject to this subsection shall comply with any financial reporting and auditing requirements that the department may prescribe. Those requirements shall include a requirement that a provider provide to any purchaser and the department any information that the department needs to claim federal reimbursement for the cost of any services purchased from the provider and a requirement that a provider provide audit reports to any purchaser and the department according to standards specified in the provider’s contract and any other standards that the department may prescribe.

49.34(6) (6) Contracts may be renegotiated by the purchaser under conditions specified in the contract.

49.34(7) (7) The service provider under this section may appeal decisions of the purchaser in accordance with terms and conditions of the contract and ch. 68 or 227.

49.34 History History: 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 79; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 28, 335; 2015 a. 55, 128, 172; 2017 a. 59.