Chapter 49

49.81 49.81 Public assistance recipients’ bill of rights. The department of health services, the department of children and families, and all public assistance and relief-granting agencies shall respect rights for recipients of public assistance. The rights shall include all rights guaranteed by the U.S. constitution and the constitution of this state, and in addition shall include:

49.81(1) (1) The right to be treated with respect by state agents.

49.81(2) (2) The right to confidentiality of agency records and files on the recipient. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the use of such records for auditing or accounting purposes or, to the extent permitted under federal law, for the purposes of locating persons, or the assets of persons, who have failed to file tax returns, who have underreported their taxable income or who are delinquent taxpayers, identifying fraudulent tax returns or providing information for tax-related prosecutions.

49.81(3) (3) The right to access to agency records and files relating to the recipient, except that the agency may withhold information obtained under a promise of confidentiality.

49.81(4) (4) The right to a speedy determination of the recipient’s status or eligibility for public assistance, to notice of any proposed change in such status or eligibility, and, in the case of assistance granted under s. 49.19, 49.46, 49.468, 49.47, or 49.471, to a speedy appeals process for resolving contested determinations.

49.81 History History: 1977 c. 29; 1989 a. 31; 1995 a. 27 ss. 2638, 2640 to 2643, 9126 (19), 9130 (4); 1997 a. 3, 237; 2007 a. 20 ss. 1670 to 1671, 9121 (6) (a).

49.82 49.82 Administration of public assistance programs.

49.82(1) (1) Departments to advise counties. The department of health services and the department of children and families shall advise all county officers charged with the administration of requirements relating to public assistance programs under this chapter and shall render all possible assistance in securing compliance therewith, including the preparation of necessary forms and reports. The department of health services and the department of children and families shall also publish any information that those departments consider advisable to acquaint persons entitled to public assistance, and the public generally, with the laws governing public assistance under this chapter.

49.82(2) (2) Eligibility verification.

49.82(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), for each person included in an application for public assistance under this chapter, proof shall be provided of his or her social security number or that an application for a social security number has been made.

49.82(2)(b) (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to any of the following:

49.82(2)(b)1. 1. A child who is eligible for medical assistance under s. 49.46, 49.47, or 49.471 because of 42 USC 1396a (e) (4).

49.82(2)(b)2. 2. An unborn child who is eligible for coverage under s. 49.471 or the Badger Care health care program under s. 49.665 (4) (ap).

49.82(2)(b)3. 3. A person who is applying for medical assistance under subch. IV, coverage under the Badger Care health care program under s. 49.665, or coverage under the program for prescription drug assistance for elderly persons under s. 49.688 and who refuses to obtain a social security number because of well-established religious objections, as defined in 42 CFR 435.910 (h) (2).

49.82 History History: 1995 a. 27 ss. 3088, 3125, 3209, 9126 (19), 9130 (4); 1997 a. 3; 2001 a. 107; 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 20 ss. 1672 to 1676, 9121 (6) (a).

49.823 49.823 Public benefit database review. The department of health services and the department of children and families shall, at least once every 3 months, perform a comparison of each department’s respective public benefit database information against nationally recognized databases that contain information on death records, including the federal social security administration’s Death Master File, to identify participants in public benefit programs that are deceased. If a department determines during a review under this section that a participant is deceased, the department shall designate that individual as ineligible for benefits in any applicable database. The requirements under this section do not apply to the department of children and families with regard to child care subsidies under s. 49.155.

49.823 History History: 2017 a. 269.

49.825 49.825 Department administration in Milwaukee County.

49.825(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

49.825(1)(a) (a) “County” means Milwaukee County.

49.825(1)(b) (b) “Department” means the department of health services.

49.825(1)(c) (c) “Income maintenance program” has the meaning given in s. 49.78 (1) (b).

49.825(1)(d) (d) “Secretary” means the secretary of health services.

49.825(1)(e) (e) “Unit” means the Milwaukee County enrollment services unit.

49.825(2) (2) Establishment of unit.

49.825(2)(a) (a) The department shall establish a Milwaukee County enrollment services unit under s. 15.02 (3) (c) 3. to determine eligibility under and administer the following public assistance programs in the county:

49.825(2)(a)1. 1. Income maintenance programs.

49.825(2)(a)2. 2. The programs under ss. 49.77 and 49.775.

49.825(2)(a)3. 3. To the extent contracted under par. (b), the child care subsidy program under s. 49.155.

49.825(2)(b) (b) The department of children and families may enter into a contract with the department of health services that provides for the performance of eligibility and authorization functions under the program under s. 49.155 in the county by the unit.

49.825(2)(c) (c) The department may enter into a contract with the county that provides for the performance by the county of any of the administrative functions under this subsection.

49.825(2)(d) (d) The department shall reimburse the county for all approved, allowable costs that are incurred by the county under a contract with the department for the operation of the public assistance programs under par. (a) in the county.

49.825(3) (3) Division of employment-related functions.

49.825(3)(a) (a) Supervisory personnel in the unit shall be state employees. Nonsupervisory staff performing services under this section for the unit may be a combination of state employees and employees of Milwaukee County.

49.825(3)(b) (b)

49.825(3)(b)1. 1. The department shall have the authority to hire, transfer, suspend, lay off, recall, promote, discharge, assign, reward, discipline, and adjust grievances with respect to, and state supervisory employees may supervise, county employees performing services under this section for the unit.

49.825(3)(b)2. 2. For the purposes under subd. 1., the department shall use the same process and procedures under ch. 230 that are used for the classified service of the state civil service system, including specifically the use of probationary periods under s. 230.28.

49.825(3)(b)3. 3. County employees performing services under this section for the unit shall be subject to the residency requirements that apply to other county employees under the county’s civil service rules.

49.825(3)(c) (c) The county shall perform all administrative tasks related to payroll and benefits for the county employees performing services under this section for the unit.

49.825(4) (4) Treatment of former county employees appointed to state employee positions in the unit before July 1, 2011. All of the following shall apply to an employee who is appointed to a state employee position in the unit after May 29, 2009, and before July 1, 2011, and who, immediately prior to his or her appointment, was a county employee:

49.825(4)(a) (a) The employee shall serve any applicable probationary period under s. 230.28, but shall have his or her seniority with the state computed by treating the employee’s total service with the county as state service.

49.825(4)(b) (b) Annual leave for the employee shall accrue at the rate provided in s. 230.35 using the employee’s state service computed under par. (a).

49.825(4)(c) (c)

49.825(4)(c)1. 1. The employee may remain a participating employee in the retirement system established under chapter 201, laws of 1937. To remain under the retirement system established under chapter 201, laws of 1937, the employee must exercise this option in writing, on a form provided by the department, at the time the employee is appointed to a state employee position. The employee shall exercise this option, in writing, no later than 10 days after the employee is appointed to a state employee position. An employee’s decision to remain a participating employee in the retirement system established under chapter 201, laws of 1937, is irrevocable during the period that the employee is holding a state employee position in the unit.

49.825(4)(c)2. 2. The secretary shall pay, on behalf of the employee, all required employer contributions under the retirement system established under chapter 201, laws of 1937.

49.825(4)(d) (d) The employee shall have his or her sick leave accrued with the state computed by treating the employee’s unused balance of sick leave accrued with the county as sick leave accrued in state service, but not to exceed the amount of sick leave the employee would have accrued in state service for the same period, if the employee is able to provide adequate documentation in accounting for sick leave used during the accrual period with the county. Sick leave that transfers under this paragraph is not subject to a right of conversion, under s. 40.05 (4) or otherwise, upon death or termination of creditable service for payment of health insurance benefits on behalf of the employee or the employee’s dependents.

49.825(4)(e) (e) Notwithstanding par. (c), beginning on July 1, 2011, an employee who has opted under par. (c) to remain a participating employee in the retirement system established under chapter 201, laws of 1937, shall remain a participating employee in the retirement system until the employee has vested in all retirement contributions paid by, or on behalf of, the employee. When the employee becomes vested in all of the contributions paid by, or on behalf of, the employee in the retirement system established under chapter 201, laws of 1937, the employee may no longer be a participating employee in that retirement system and shall immediately become a participating employee in the Wisconsin retirement system.

49.825(5) (5) Treatment of former county employees appointed to state employee positions in the unit on or after July 1, 2011. All of the following shall apply to an employee who is appointed to a state employee position in the unit on or after July 1, 2011, and who, immediately prior to his or her appointment, was a county employee performing services for the unit:

49.825(5)(a) (a) The employee shall serve any applicable probationary period under s. 230.28, but shall have his or her seniority with the state computed by treating the employee’s total service with the county as state service.

49.825(5)(b) (b) Annual leave for the employee shall accrue at the rate provided in s. 230.35 using the employee’s state service computed under par. (a).

49.825(5)(c) (c)

49.825(5)(c)1. 1. The employee shall remain a participating employee in the retirement system established under chapter 201, laws of 1937, until the employee becomes vested in all of the contributions paid by, or on behalf of, the employee in the retirement system. When the employee becomes vested in all of the contributions paid by, or on behalf of, the employee in the retirement system established under chapter 201, laws of 1937, the employee may no longer be a participating employee in that retirement system and shall immediately become a participating employee in the Wisconsin retirement system.

49.825(5)(c)2. 2. The secretary shall pay, on behalf of the employee, all required employer contributions under the retirement system established under chapter 201, laws of 1937.

49.825(5)(d) (d) The employee shall have his or her sick leave accrued with the state computed by treating the employee’s unused balance of sick leave accrued with the county as sick leave accrued in state service, but not to exceed the amount of sick leave the employee would have accrued in state service for the same period, if the employee is able to provide adequate documentation in accounting for sick leave used during the accrual period with the county. Sick leave that transfers under this paragraph is not subject to a right of conversion, under s. 40.05 (4) or otherwise, upon death or termination of creditable service for payment of health insurance benefits on behalf of the employee or the employee’s dependents.

49.825(5)(e) (e) The employee shall not be subject to s. 40.23 (2m) (er) and (3) (b).

49.825 History History: 2009 a. 15; 2011 a. 10, 32.

49.826 49.826 Administration of child care provider services in certain counties.

49.826(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

49.826(1)(a) (a) “County” means a county having a population of 750,000 or more.

49.826(1)(b) (b) “Department” means the department of children and families.

49.826(1)(c) (c) “Secretary” means the secretary of children and families.

49.826(1)(d) (d) “Unit” means the child care provider services unit.

49.826(2) (2) Establishment of unit.

49.826(2)(a) (a) The department may establish a child care provider services unit under s. 15.02 (3) (c) 3. to perform any of the following administrative functions under the program under s. 49.155 in a county:

49.826(2)(a)1. 1. Certify child care providers under s. 48.651.

49.826(2)(a)2. 2. Provide child care program integrity services under s. 49.197 (2).

49.826(2)(a)4. 4. Assist individuals who are eligible for child care subsidies under s. 49.155 to identify available child care providers and select appropriate child care arrangements.

49.826(2)(b) (b) The department may enter into a contract with a county that provides for the performance by the county of any of the administrative functions under this subsection in the county.

49.826(2)(c) (c) The department shall reimburse a county for all approved, allowable costs that are incurred by the county under a contract with the department under par. (b).

49.826(3) (3) Division of employment-related functions.

49.826(3)(a) (a) Supervisory personnel in the unit shall be state employees. Nonsupervisory staff performing services under this section for the unit in a county may be a combination of state employees and employees of the county. For the performance of services under this section for the unit, a county shall maintain no fewer represented authorized full-time employee positions than the number of represented full-time employee positions that were authorized on February 1, 2009, for performance of the same types of services.

49.826(3)(b) (b)

49.826(3)(b)1. 1. The department shall have the authority to hire, transfer, suspend, lay off, recall, promote, discharge, assign, reward, discipline, and adjust grievances with respect to, and state supervisory employees may supervise, county employees performing services under this section for the unit.

49.826(3)(b)2. 2. For the purposes under subd. 1., the department shall use the same process and procedures under ch. 230 that are used for the classified service of the state civil service system, including specifically the use of probationary periods under s. 230.28.

49.826(3)(b)3. 3. County employees performing services under this section for the unit in a county shall be subject to the residency requirements that apply to other county employees under the county’s civil service rules.

49.826(3)(c) (c) A county shall perform all administrative tasks related to payroll and benefits for the county employees performing services under this section in the county for the unit.

49.826(4) (4) Treatment of former county employees appointed to state employee positions in the unit. All of the following shall apply to an employee who is appointed to a state employee position in the unit after July 1, 2009, and who, immediately prior to his or her appointment, was a county employee:

49.826(4)(a) (a) The employee shall serve any applicable probationary period under s. 230.28, but shall have his or her seniority with the state computed by treating the employee’s total service with the county as state service.

49.826(4)(b) (b) Annual leave for the employee shall accrue at the rate provided in s. 230.35 using the employee’s state service computed under par. (a).

49.826(4)(c) (c)

49.826(4)(c)1. 1. The employee may remain a participating employee in the retirement system established under chapter 201, laws of 1937. To remain under the retirement system established under chapter 201, laws of 1937, the employee must exercise this option in writing, on a form provided by the department, at the time the employee is appointed to a state employee position. The employee shall exercise this option, in writing, no later than 10 days after the employee is appointed to a state employee position. An employee’s decision to remain a participating employee in the retirement system established under chapter 201, laws of 1937, is irrevocable during the period that the employee is holding a state employee position in the unit.

49.826(4)(c)2. 2. The secretary shall pay, on behalf of the employee, all required employer contributions under the retirement system established under chapter 201, laws of 1937.

49.826(4)(d) (d) The employee shall have his or her sick leave accrued with the state computed by treating the employee’s unused balance of sick leave accrued with the county as sick leave accrued in state service, but not to exceed the amount of sick leave the employee would have accrued in state service for the same period, if the employee is able to provide adequate documentation in accounting for sick leave used during the accrual period with the county. Sick leave that transfers under this paragraph is not subject to a right of conversion, under s. 40.05 (4) or otherwise, upon death or termination of creditable service for payment of health insurance benefits on behalf of the employee or the employee’s dependents.

49.826 History History: 2009 a. 28, 185; 2011 a. 10; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 172.

49.83 49.83 Limitation on giving information. Except as provided under ss. 49.25 and 49.32 (6m), (9), (10), and (10m), no person may use or disclose information concerning applicants and recipients of relief funded by a relief block grant, aid to families with dependent children, Wisconsin Works under ss. 49.141 to 49.161, social services, child and spousal support and establishment of paternity and medical support liability services under s. 49.22, or supplemental payments under s. 49.77 for any purpose not connected with the administration of the programs, except that the departments of children and families and health services may disclose, including by transmitting or granting access to electronic data, such information, including social security numbers, to the department of revenue for the sole purposes of administering state taxes, including verifying refundable individual income tax credits, and collecting debts owed to the department of revenue. Any person violating this section may be fined not less than $25 nor more than $500 or imprisoned in the county jail not less than 10 days nor more than one year or both.

49.83 History History: 1995 a. 27 ss. 3142, 3144; Stats. 1995 s. 49.83; 1995 a. 289, 361, 404; 1997 a. 35; 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 28; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 55.

49.835 49.835 Statements in applications. A person who makes a statement in a written application for any aid or benefit provided under this chapter is considered to have made an admission as to the existence, correctness, or validity of any fact stated. Such a statement is prima facie evidence against the person who made it in any complaint, information, or indictment, or in any action brought for enforcement of any provision of this chapter.

49.835 History History: 2013 a. 226.

49.84 49.84 Verification of public assistance applications.