Chapter 50

50.065(2m)(a) (a) Any entity that places a caregiver in a client’s residence to provide personal care services shall, before the caregiver provides services to the client, do all of the following:

50.065(2m)(a)1. 1. Except as provided in par. (b), disclose to the client or the client’s guardian in writing all information obtained under sub. (2) (b) 1. or (bb) regarding any conviction of the caregiver for a crime that is specified by rule under par. (d), and, if the caregiver has demonstrated that he or she has been rehabilitated under sub. (5), notice of that fact.

50.065(2m)(a)2. 2. Except as provided in par. (b), disclose to the client or the client’s guardian in writing all information obtained under sub. (2) (b) 2., 4., or 5. regarding the caregiver.

50.065(2m)(a)3. 3. Notify the client or the client’s guardian that, for a fee, the department of justice performs for any person a criminal history record search on an individual.

50.065(2m)(a)4. 4. Notify the client or the client’s guardian in writing that if the regularly assigned caregiver is unavailable and the entity assigns a substitute caregiver to provide personal care services to the client, the entity is not required to provide the disclosures under subd. 1. or 2. for the substitute caregiver.

50.065(2m)(b) (b) If a caregiver whom an entity has placed in a client’s residence to provide personal care services is not available to provide the services and the entity assigns a substitute caregiver to provide personal care services to the client, the entity is not required to make the disclosures under par. (a) 1. and 2. for the substitute caregiver.

50.065(2m)(c) (c) Each time that an entity requests information under sub. (3) (b) regarding a caregiver who provides personal care services, the entity shall provide the disclosures required under par. (a) 1. and 2. to each client for whom the caregiver provides personal care services or to the client’s guardian.

50.065(2m)(d) (d) The department shall promulgate rules to specify crimes for which an entity must disclose a conviction to a client or the client’s guardian under par. (a) 1., and to specify who is a substitute caregiver for purposes of pars. (a) 4. and (b).

50.065 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. DHS 12.115, Wis. adm. code.

50.065(3) (3) 

50.065(3)(a) (a) Every 4 years or at any time within that period that the department considers appropriate, the department shall request the information specified in sub. (2) (am) 1. to 5. for all persons who are licensed to operate an entity and for all persons who are nonclient residents of an entity.

50.065(3)(b) (b) Every 4 years or at any other time within that period that an entity considers appropriate, the entity shall request the information specified in sub. (2) (b) 1. to 5. for all caregivers of the entity.

50.065(3m) (3m) Notwithstanding subs. (2) (b) and (3) (b), if the department obtains the information required under sub. (2) (am) or (3) (a) with respect to a person who is a caregiver specified under sub. (1) (ag) 1. b. and that person is also an employee, contractor or nonclient resident of the entity, the entity is not required to obtain the information specified in sub. (2) (b) or (3) (b) with respect to that person.

50.065(4) (4) An entity that violates sub. (2), (3) or (4m) (b) may be required to forfeit not more than $1,000 and may be subject to other sanctions specified by the department by rule.

50.065(4m) (4m) 

50.065(4m)(a) (a) Notwithstanding s. 111.335, and except as provided in sub. (5), the department may not license, certify, issue a certificate of approval to or register a person to operate an entity or continue the license, certification, certificate of approval or registration of a person to operate an entity if the department knows or should have known any of the following:

50.065(4m)(a)1. 1. That the person has been convicted of a serious crime.

50.065(4m)(a)3. 3. That a unit of government or a state agency, as defined in s. 16.61 (2) (d), has made a finding that the person has abused or neglected any client or misappropriated the property of any client.

50.065(4m)(a)4. 4. That a final determination has been made under s. 48.981 (3) (c) 5m. or, if a contested case hearing is held on such a determination, a final decision has been made under s. 48.981 (3) (c) 5p. that the person has abused or neglected a child.

50.065(4m)(a)5. 5. That, in the case of a position for which the person must be credentialed by the department of safety and professional services, the person’s credential is not current or is limited so as to restrict the person from providing adequate care to a client.

50.065(4m)(b) (b) Notwithstanding s. 111.335, and except as provided in sub. (5), an entity may not employ or contract with a caregiver or permit to reside at the entity a nonclient resident, if the entity knows or should have known any of the following:

50.065(4m)(b)1. 1. That the person has been convicted of a serious crime.

50.065(4m)(b)3. 3. That a unit of government or a state agency, as defined in s. 16.61 (2) (d), has made a finding that the person has abused or neglected any client or misappropriated the property of any client.

50.065(4m)(b)4. 4. That a final determination has been made under s. 48.981 (3) (c) 5m. or, if a contested case hearing is held on such a determination, a final decision has been made under s. 48.981 (3) (c) 5p. that the person has abused or neglected a child.

50.065(4m)(b)5. 5. That, in the case of a position for which the person must be credentialed by the department of safety and professional services, the person’s credential is not current or is limited so as to restrict the person from providing adequate care to a client.

50.065(4m)(c) (c) If the background information form completed by a person under sub. (6) (am), or a person’s response or lack of response to a disclosure policy described under sub. (6) (am), indicates that the person is not ineligible to be employed or contracted with for a reason specified in par. (b) 1. to 5., an entity may employ or contract with the person for not more than 60 days pending the receipt of the information sought under sub. (2) (b). If the background information form completed by a person under sub. (6) (am), or a person’s response or lack of response to a disclosure policy described under sub. (6) (am), indicates that the person is not ineligible to be permitted to reside at an entity for a reason specified in par. (b) 1. to 5. and if an entity otherwise has no reason to believe that the person is ineligible to be permitted to reside at an entity for any of those reasons, the entity may permit the person to reside at the entity for not more than 60 days pending receipt of the information sought under sub. (2) (am). An entity shall provide supervision for a person who is employed or contracted with or permitted to reside as permitted under this paragraph.

50.065(5) (5) The department may license, certify, issue a certificate of approval to or register to operate an entity a person who otherwise may not be licensed, certified, issued a certificate of approval or registered for a reason specified in sub. (4m) (a) 1. to 5., and an entity may employ, contract with or permit to reside at the entity a person who otherwise may not be employed, contracted with or permitted to reside at the entity for a reason specified in sub. (4m) (b) 1. to 5., if the person demonstrates to the department, or, in the case of an entity that is located within the boundaries of a reservation, to the person or body designated by the tribe under sub. (5d) (a) 3., by clear and convincing evidence and in accordance with procedures established by the department by rule, or by the tribe, that he or she has been rehabilitated. The department shall permit any person who has been convicted of a crime specified by rule under sub. (2m) (d) and who wishes to provide personal care services to demonstrate to the department or, if the person wishes to provide personal care services only within the boundaries of a reservation and the department has approved a plan for the tribe to conduct rehabilitation reviews under sub. (5d), to the tribe that he or she has been rehabilitated.

50.065(5c) (5c) Any person who is permitted but fails under sub. (5) to demonstrate to the department that he or she has been rehabilitated may appeal to the secretary of health services or his or her designee. Any person who is adversely affected by a decision of the secretary or his or her designee under this subsection has a right to a contested case hearing under ch. 227.

50.065(5d) (5d) 

50.065(5d)(a) (a) Any tribe that chooses to conduct rehabilitation reviews under sub. (5) shall submit to the department a rehabilitation review plan that includes all of the following:

50.065(5d)(a)1. 1. The criteria to be used to determine if a person has been rehabilitated.

50.065(5d)(a)2. 2. The title of the person or body designated by the tribe to whom a request for review must be made.

50.065(5d)(a)3. 3. The title of the person or body designated by the tribe to determine whether a person has been rehabilitated.

50.065(5d)(a)3m. 3m. The title of the person or body designated by the tribe to whom a person may appeal an adverse decision made by the person specified under subd. 3. and whether the tribe provides any further rights of appeal.

50.065(5d)(a)4. 4. The manner in which the tribe will submit information relating to a rehabilitation review to the department so that the department may include that information in its report to the legislature required under sub. (5g).

50.065(5d)(a)5. 5. A copy of the form to be used to request a review and a copy of the form on which a written decision is to be made regarding whether a person has demonstrated rehabilitation.

50.065(5d)(b) (b) If, within 90 days after receiving the plan, the department does not disapprove the plan, the plan shall be considered approved. If, within 90 days after receiving the plan, the department disapproves the plan, the department shall provide notice of that disapproval to the tribe in writing, together with the reasons for the disapproval. The department may not disapprove a plan unless the department finds that the plan is not rationally related to the protection of clients. If the department disapproves the plan, the tribe may, within 30 days after receiving notice of the disapproval, request that the secretary review the department’s decision. A final decision under this paragraph is not subject to further review under ch. 227.

50.065(5g) (5g) Beginning on January 1, 1999, and annually thereafter, the department shall submit a report to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) that specifies the number of persons in the previous year who have requested to demonstrate to the department that they have been rehabilitated under sub. (5), the number of persons who successfully demonstrated that they have been rehabilitated under sub. (5) and the reasons for the success or failure of a person who has attempted to demonstrate that he or she has been rehabilitated.

50.065(5m) (5m) Notwithstanding s. 111.335, the department may refuse to license, certify or register, or issue a certificate of approval to, a caregiver and an entity may refuse to employ or contract with a caregiver or to permit a nonclient resident to reside at the entity, if the caregiver or nonclient resident has been convicted of an offense that is not a serious crime, but that is, in the estimation of the department or entity, substantially related to the care of a client.

50.065(6) (6) 

50.065(6)(a) (a) The department shall require any person who applies for issuance or continuation of a license, certification, certificate of approval or registration to operate an entity to complete a background information form that is provided by the department.

50.065(6)(am) (am) Every 4 years an entity shall require its caregivers and nonclient residents to complete a background information form that is provided to the entity by the department, except that an entity need not require those caregivers to whom par. (b) does not apply to complete the form if the entity requires the caregivers to disclose to the entity, in writing, all information requested on the form and notifies the caregivers annually of the disclosure requirement.

50.065(6)(b) (b) For caregivers who are licensed, issued a certificate of approval or certified by, or registered with, the department, for nonclient residents, and for other persons specified by the department by rule, the entity shall send the background information form to the department.

50.065(6)(c) (c) A person who provides false information on a background information form required under this subsection or a caregiver who fails to report information as required under a disclosure policy described under par. (am) may be required to forfeit not more than $1,000 and may be subject to other sanctions specified by the department by rule.

50.065(7) (7) The department shall do all of the following:

50.065(7)(c) (c) Conduct throughout the state periodic training sessions that cover criminal background investigations; reporting and investigating misappropriation of property or abuse or neglect of a client; and any other material that will better enable entities to comply with the requirements of this section.

50.065(7)(d) (d) Provide a background information form that requires the person completing the form to include his or her date of birth on the form.

50.065(8) (8) The department may charge a fee for obtaining the information required under sub. (2) (am) or (3) (a) or for providing information to an entity to enable the entity to comply with sub. (2) (b) or (3) (b). No fee may be charged to a nurse aide, as defined in s. 146.40 (1) (d), for obtaining or maintaining the information if to do so would be inconsistent with federal law.

50.065 History History: 1997 a. 27, 105, 237; 1999 a. 9, 32, 56, 185, 186; 2001 a. 109; 2005 a. 25, 184, 277, 351; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a); 2007 a. 97, 116, 130, 153, 172; 2009 a. 276; 2011 a. 32, 35; 2013 a. 20; 2013 a. 173 s. 33; 2015 a. 366; 2017 a. 12, 283; 2021 a. 76, 209; 2021 a. 240 s. 30; 2023 a. 224.

50.065 Annotation When a collective bargaining agreement required just cause for termination and provided the right to grieve any termination decision, a county did not have sole discretion under sub. (5m) to decide whether to terminate an employee for the commission of a non-serious crime substantially related to the care of a client. As the county had the authority under sub. (5m) to retain the employee despite a conviction, nothing prevented it from agreeing to do so in a manner consistent with the collective bargaining agreement. Brown County v. WERC, 2007 WI App 247, 306 Wis. 2d 213, 742 N.W.2d 916, 07-0135.

50.07 50.07 Prohibited acts.

50.07(1) (1) No person may:

50.07(1)(a) (a) Intentionally fail to correct or interfere with the correction of a class “A” or class “B” violation within the time specified on the notice of violation or approved plan of correction under s. 50.04 as the maximum period given for correction, unless an extension is granted and the corrections are made before expiration of extension.

50.07(1)(b) (b) Intentionally prevent, interfere with, or attempt to impede in any way the work of any duly authorized representative of the department in the investigation and enforcement of any provision of this subchapter.

50.07(1)(c) (c) Intentionally prevent or attempt to prevent any such representative from examining any relevant books or records in the conduct of official duties under this subchapter.

50.07(1)(d) (d) Intentionally prevent or interfere with any such representative in the preserving of evidence of any violation of any of the provisions of this subchapter or the rules promulgated under this subchapter.

50.07(1)(e) (e) Intentionally retaliate or discriminate against any resident or employee for contacting or providing information to any state official, including any representative of the office of the long-term care ombudsman under s. 16.009 (4), or for initiating, participating in, or testifying in an action for any remedy authorized under this subchapter.

50.07(1)(em) (em) Intentionally retaliate or discriminate against any resident or employee on whose behalf another person contacted or provided information to any state official, including any representative of the office of the long-term care ombudsman under s. 16.009 (4), or initiated, participated in or testified in an action for any remedy authorized under this subchapter.

50.07(1)(f) (f) Intentionally destroy, change or otherwise modify an inspector’s original report.

50.07(2) (2) Violators of this section may be imprisoned up to 6 months or fined not more than $1,000 or both for each violation.

50.07(3) (3) 

50.07(3)(b) (b) Any employee who is discharged or otherwise retaliated or discriminated against in violation of sub. (1) (e) or (em) may file a complaint with the department of workforce development under s. 106.54 (5).

50.07(3)(c) (c) Any person not described in par. (b) who is retaliated or discriminated against in violation of sub. (1) (e) or (em) may commence an action in circuit court for damages incurred as a result of the violation.

50.07 History History: 1977 c. 170; 1997 a. 131; 1999 a. 82; 2003 a. 33.

50.07 Annotation Sub. (1) (e) does not provide a remedy to a terminated employee and does not prevent a private action for wrongful termination to an employee who reports abuse. There is a public policy exception to the employment-at-will doctrine in this case. Hausman v. St. Croix Care Center, Inc., 214 Wis. 2d 655, 571 N.W.2d 393 (1997), 96-0866.

50.07 Annotation This section is similar to a patient’s bill of rights. Sub. (1) (e) protects both patients and employees. An insurance policy providing coverage to a nursing home for personal injuries interfering with rights provided by a patient’s bill of rights was applicable to a wrongful discharge claim alleging interference with the plaintiff’s rights under sub. (1) (e). St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Co. v. Hausman, 231 Wis. 2d 25, 604 N.W.2d 908 (Ct. App. 1999), 99-1125.

50.08 50.08 Informed consent for psychotropic medications.

50.08(1) (1) In this section:

50.08(1)(a) (a) “Degenerative brain disorder” has the meaning given in s. 55.01 (1v).

50.08(1)(b) (b) “Incapacitated” has the meaning given in s. 50.06 (1).

50.08(1)(c) (c) “Person acting on behalf of the resident” means a guardian of the person, as defined in s. 54.01 (12), or a health care agent, as defined in s. 155.01 (4).

50.08(1)(d) (d) “Psychotropic medication” means an antipsychotic, an antidepressant, lithium carbonate, or a tranquilizer.

50.08(2) (2) A physician, an advanced practice nurse prescriber certified under s. 441.16 (2), or a physician assistant who prescribes a psychotropic medication to a nursing home resident who has degenerative brain disorder shall notify the nursing home if the prescribed medication has a boxed warning under 21 CFR 201.57.

50.08(3) (3) 

50.08(3)(a) (a) Except as provided in sub. (3m) or (4), before administering a psychotropic medication that has a boxed warning under 21 CFR 201.57 to a resident who has degenerative brain disorder, a nursing home shall obtain written informed consent from the resident or, if the resident is incapacitated, a person acting on behalf of the resident, on a form provided by the department under par. (b) or on a form that contains the same information as the form under par. (b).

50.08(3)(b) (b) The department shall make available on its website or by mail multiple, drug-specific forms for obtaining informed consent under par. (a) for the administration of psychotropic medication that contain all of the following:

50.08(3)(b)1. 1. A space for a description of the benefits of the proposed treatment and the way the medication will be administered.

50.08(3)(b)2. 2. A description, using the most recently issued information from the federal food and drug administration, of the side effects or risks of side effects of the medication and any warnings about the medication.

50.08(3)(b)3. 3. A space for a description of any alternative treatment modes or medications.

50.08(3)(b)4. 4. A space for a description of the probable consequences of not receiving the medication.

50.08(3)(b)5. 5. A space for indicating the period for which the informed consent is effective, which shall be no longer than 15 months from the time the consent is given.

50.08(3)(b)6. 6. A statement that the resident or a person acting on behalf of the resident may withdraw informed consent, in writing, at any time.

50.08(3)(b)7. 7. A declaration that the resident or the person acting on behalf of the resident has been provided with specific, complete, and accurate information, and time to study the information or to seek additional information concerning the medication.

50.08(3)(b)8. 8. A space for the signature of the resident or the person acting on behalf of the resident.

50.08(3)(c) (c) Written informed consent provided by a guardian is subject to s. 54.25 (2) (d) 2. ab. and ac.

50.08(3)(cm) (cm) If a health care agent is acting on behalf of a resident, the health care agent shall give informed consent in accordance with the desires of the resident as expressed in the power of attorney for health care instrument under ch. 155 or, if the resident’s desires are unknown, in accordance with s. 155.20 (5).

50.08(3)(d) (d) Upon request, the nursing home shall give the resident, or a person acting on behalf of the resident, a copy of the completed informed consent form.

50.08(3)(e) (e) Unless consent is withdrawn sooner, written informed consent obtained under this subsection is valid for the period specified on the informed consent form but not for longer than 15 months from the date the resident, or a person acting on behalf of the resident, signed the form.

50.08(3)(f) (f) A resident, or a person acting on behalf of the resident, may withdraw consent, in writing, at any time.