Chapter 51

51.01(2g)(b) (b) “Brain injury” does not include alcoholism, Alzheimer’s disease as specified under s. 46.87 (1) (a), or degenerative brain disorder, as defined in s. 55.01 (1v).

51.01(3) (3) “Center for the developmentally disabled” means any facility which is operated by the department and which provides services including, but not limited to, 24-hour treatment, consultation, training and education for developmentally disabled persons.

51.01(3n) (3n) “Community mental health program” means a program to provide community-based outpatient mental health services that is operated by or under contract with a county department of community programs or that requests payment for the services under the medical assistance program or under benefits required under s. 632.89 (2).

51.01(3s) (3s) “Community support program” means a coordinated care and treatment system that provides a network of services through an identified treatment program and staff to ensure ongoing therapeutic involvement and individualized treatment in the community for individuals with serious and persistent mental illness.

51.01(4) (4) “Conditional transfer” means a transfer of a patient or resident to a less restrictive environment for treatment which is made subject to conditions imposed for the benefit of the patient or resident.

51.01(4g) (4g) “County of residence” means the county that is determined under s. 51.40 to be the county of residence.

51.01(4r) (4r) “Degenerative brain disorder” means the loss or dysfunction of brain cells to the extent that the individual is substantially impaired in his or her ability to provide adequately for his or her own care or custody or to manage adequately his or her property or financial affairs.

51.01(5) (5) 

51.01(5)(a) (a) “Developmental disability” means a disability attributable to brain injury, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, Prader-Willi syndrome, intellectual disability, or another neurological condition closely related to an intellectual disability or requiring treatment similar to that required for individuals with an intellectual disability, which has continued or can be expected to continue indefinitely and constitutes a substantial handicap to the afflicted individual. “Developmental disability” does not include dementia that is primarily caused by degenerative brain disorder.

51.01(5)(b) (b) “Developmental disability”, for purposes of involuntary commitment, does not include cerebral palsy or epilepsy.

51.01(6) (6) “Director” means the person in charge of a state treatment facility, state or local treatment center, or approved private facility.

51.01(7) (7) “Discharge” of a patient who is under involuntary commitment orders means a termination of custody and treatment obligations of the patient to the authority to which the patient was committed by court action. The “discharge” of a patient who is voluntarily admitted to a treatment program or facility means a termination of treatment obligations between the patient and the treatment program or facility.

51.01(8) (8) “Drug dependence” means a disease that is characterized by a person’s use of one or more drugs that is beyond the person’s ability to control to the extent that the person’s physical health is substantially impaired or his or her social or economic functioning is substantially disrupted.

51.01(8b) (8b) “Drug dependent” means suffering from drug dependence.

51.01(8m) (8m) “Health care professional” means any of the following:

51.01(8m)(a) (a) A registered nurse who is licensed under s. 441.06, who is permitted under s. 441.08, or who holds a multistate license, as defined in s. 441.51 (2) (h), issued in a party state, as defined in s. 441.51 (2) (k).

51.01(8m)(b) (b) A licensed practical nurse who is licensed or has a temporary permit under s. 441.10 or who holds a multistate license, as defined in s. 441.51 (2) (h), issued in a party state, as defined in s. 441.51 (2) (k).

51.01(8m)(c) (c) A physician who is licensed to practice medicine and surgery under s. 448.02.

51.01(8m)(d) (d) A physician assistant who is licensed under s. 448.974.

51.01(8m)(e) (e) A psychologist who is licensed to practice psychology under subch. I of ch. 455.

51.01(8m)(f) (f) A person providing psychological services under s. 455.02 (2m) (o).

51.01(9) (9) “Hospital” has the meaning given under s. 50.33.

51.01(10) (10) “Inpatient facility” means a public or private hospital or unit of a hospital which has as its primary purpose the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of mental illness, developmental disability, alcoholism or drug abuse and which provides 24-hour care.

51.01(10m) (10m) “Juvenile correctional facility” has the meaning given in s. 938.02 (10p).

51.01(11) (11) “Law enforcement officer” means any person who by virtue of the person’s office or public employment is vested by law with the duty to maintain public order or to make arrests for crimes while acting within the scope of the person’s authority.

51.01(11m) (11m) “Licensed mental health professional” has the meaning given in s. 632.89 (1) (dm).

51.01(12) (12) “Mental health institute” means any institution operated by the department for specialized psychiatric services, research, education, and which is responsible for consultation with community programs for education and quality of care.

51.01(13) (13) 

51.01(13)(a) (a) “Mental illness” means mental disease to such extent that a person so afflicted requires care and treatment for his or her own welfare, or the welfare of others, or of the community.

51.01(13)(b) (b) “Mental illness”, for purposes of involuntary commitment, means a substantial disorder of thought, mood, perception, orientation, or memory which grossly impairs judgment, behavior, capacity to recognize reality, or ability to meet the ordinary demands of life, but does not include alcoholism.

51.01(14) (14) “Residence” has the meaning given under s. 49.001 (6).

51.01(14k) (14k) “Secured residential care center for children and youth” has the meaning given in s. 938.02 (15g).

51.01(14t) (14t) “Serious and persistent mental illness” means a mental illness that is severe in degree and persistent in duration, that causes a substantially diminished level of functioning in the primary aspects of daily living and an inability to cope with the ordinary demands of life, that may lead to an inability to maintain stable adjustment and independent functioning without long-term treatment and support, and that may be of lifelong duration. “Serious and persistent mental illness” includes schizophrenia as well as a wide spectrum of psychotic and other severely disabling psychiatric diagnostic categories, but does not include degenerative brain disorder or a primary diagnosis of a developmental disability or of alcohol or drug dependence.

51.01(15) (15) “State treatment facility” means any of the institutions operated by the department for the purpose of providing diagnosis, care or treatment for mental or emotional disturbance, developmental disability, alcoholism or drug dependency and includes but is not limited to mental health institutes.

51.01(16) (16) “Transfer” means the movement of a patient or resident between approved treatment facilities or to or from an approved treatment facility and the community.

51.01(17) (17) “Treatment” means those psychological, educational, social, chemical, medical or somatic techniques designed to bring about rehabilitation of a mentally ill, alcoholic, drug dependent or developmentally disabled person.

51.01(18) (18) “Treatment director” means the person who has primary responsibility for the treatment provided by a treatment facility. The term includes the medical director of a facility.

51.01(19) (19) “Treatment facility” means any publicly or privately operated facility or unit thereof providing treatment of alcoholic, drug dependent, mentally ill or developmentally disabled persons, including but not limited to inpatient and outpatient treatment programs, community support programs and rehabilitation programs.

51.01 History History: 1975 c. 430 ss. 11, 81; 1977 c. 26; 1977 c. 203 s. 106; 1977 c. 428; 1981 c. 79 s. 17; 1983 a. 189 s. 329 (19); 1983 a. 441; 1985 a. 29 s. 3202 (23); 1985 a. 265, 307; 1993 a. 445; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 47; 1999 a. 9; 2005 a. 264, 344, 387, 388; 2007 a. 45; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 126; 2013 a. 246; 2017 a. 34; 2023 a. 229.

51.01 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See s. 46.011 for definitions applicable to chs. 46, 48, 50, 51, 54, 55, and 58.

51.01 Annotation “Treatment” does not include habilitation. Milwaukee County Combined Community Services Board v. Athans, 107 Wis. 2d 331, 320 N.W.2d 30 (Ct. App. 1982).

51.01 Annotation Alzheimer’s disease is one type of a degenerative brain disorder. This chapter includes the definition of degenerative brain disorder only to specifically exclude it from the chapter’s authority, whereas the ch. 55 definition is used to include it in the scope of authority granted under ch. 55. Rehabilitation is a necessary element of treatment under this chapter. Because there are no techniques that can be employed to bring about rehabilitation from Alzheimer’s disease, an individual with the disease cannot be rehabilitated. Accordingly, an Alzheimer’s patient is not a proper subject for treatment under this chapter. Fond du Lac County v. Helen E.F., 2011 WI App 72, 333 Wis. 2d 740, 798 N.W.2d 707, 10-2061.

51.01 Annotation Affirmed. 2012 WI 50, 340 Wis. 2d 500, 814 N.W.2d 179, 10-2061.

51.01 Annotation “Rehabilitation,” as used in sub. (17), addresses the control of symptoms. It comprises treatment going beyond custodial care to affect the disease and symptoms. But rehabilitation is not synonymous with cure. A symptom is an expression of the disorder at work within the patient. Rehabilitation refers to improving the patient’s condition through ameliorating endogenous factors such as symptoms and behaviors. If a treatment controls symptoms to such a degree that withdrawing it would subject the patient to a more restrictive treatment alternative, then the treatment controls enough symptoms to establish the patient has rehabilitative potential. Waukesha County v. J.W.J., 2017 WI 57, 375 Wis. 2d 542, 895 N.W.2d 783, 16-0046.

51.02 51.02 Council on mental health.

51.02(1) (1) The council on mental health shall have the following duties:

51.02(1)(a) (a) Advise the department, the legislature and the governor on the use of state and federal resources and on the provision and administration of programs for persons who are mentally ill or who have other mental health problems, for groups who are not adequately served by the mental health system, for the prevention of mental health problems and for other mental health related purposes.

51.02(1)(b) (b) Provide recommendations to the department on the expenditure of federal funds received under the community mental health block grant under 42 USC 300x to 300x-9 and participate in the development of and monitor and evaluate the implementation of, the community mental health block grant plan.

51.02(1)(c) (c) Review all departmental plans for services affecting persons with mental illness and monitor the implementation of the plans.

51.02(1)(d) (d) Serve as an advocate for persons with mental illness.

51.02(1)(f) (f) Consult with the department in the development of a model community mental health plan under s. 51.42 (7) (a) 9., and review and advise the department on community mental health plans submitted by counties under s. 51.42 (3) (ar) 5.

51.02(1)(g) (g) Promote the development and administration of a delivery system for community mental health services that is sensitive to the needs of consumers of the services.

51.02(1)(h) (h) Review and comment on the human services and community programs board member training curriculum developed by the department under s. 51.42 (7) (a) 3m.

51.02(2) (2) The secretary shall submit all departmental plans affecting persons with mental illness to the council for its review. The council shall provide its recommendations to the secretary within such time as the secretary may require.

51.02 History History: 1983 a. 439; 1987 a. 186; 1993 a. 445; 1995 a. 27; 2001 a. 16.

51.025 51.025 Office of children’s mental health.

51.025(1) (1) The office of children’s mental health shall study and recommend ways, and coordinate initiatives, to improve the integration across state agencies of mental health services provided to children and monitor the performance of programs that provide those services.

51.025(2) (2) By January 1, 2015, and by January 1 of each year thereafter, the office of children’s mental health shall submit a report to the joint committee on finance and to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3) that includes all of the following:

51.025(2)(a) (a) A summary of the activities of that office in the previous year, including actions the office has taken to improve the coordination of mental health services provided to children by state agencies.

51.025(2)(b) (b) A summary of data collected by that office that relate to the outcomes of children who receive mental health services provided by state agencies.

51.025(2)(c) (c) A discussion of areas in which the state’s delivery of mental health services for children could be improved.

51.025 History History: 2013 a. 20.

51.03 51.03 Department; powers and duties.

51.03(1g) (1g) In this section:

51.03(1g)(a) (a) “Early intervention” means action to hinder or alter a person’s mental disorder or abuse of alcohol or other drugs in order to reduce the duration of early symptoms or to reduce the duration or severity of mental illness or alcohol or other drug abuse that may result.

51.03(1g)(b) (b) “Individualized service planning” means a process under which a person with mental illness or who abuses alcohol or other drugs and, if a child, his or her family, receives information, education and skills to enable the person to participate mutually and creatively with his or her mental health or alcohol or other drug abuse service provider in identifying his or her personal goals and developing his or her assessment, crisis protocol, treatment and treatment plan. “Individualized service planning” is tailored to the person and is based on his or her strengths, abilities and needs.

51.03(1g)(c) (c) “Prevention” means action to reduce the instance, delay the onset or lessen the severity of mental disorder, before the disorders may progress to mental illness, by reducing risk factors for, enhancing protections against and promptly treating early warning signs of mental disorder.

51.03(1g)(d) (d) “Recovery” means the process of a person’s growth and improvement, despite a history of mental illness or alcohol or other drug abuse, in attitudes, feelings, values, goals, skills and behavior and is measured by a decrease in dysfunctional symptoms and an increase in maintaining the person’s highest level of health, wellness, stability, self-determination and self-sufficiency.

51.03(1g)(e) (e) “Stigma” means disqualification from social acceptance, derogation, marginalization and ostracism encountered by persons with mental illness or persons who abuse alcohol or other drugs as the result of societal negative attitudes, feelings, perceptions, representations and acts of discrimination.

51.03(1r) (1r) The department through its authorized agents may visit or investigate any treatment facility to which persons are admitted or committed under this chapter.

51.03(2) (2) No later than 14 days after the date of a death reported under s. 51.64 (2) (a), the department shall investigate the death.

51.03(3) (3) 

51.03(3)(a) (a) Beginning on September 1, 1996, the department shall collect and analyze information in this state on each of the following:

51.03(3)(a)1. 1. The number of commitments initiated under s. 51.15 or 51.20 (1).

51.03(3)(a)2. 2. The number of commitments ordered under s. 51.20 (13).

51.03(3)(a)3. 3. The number of, cost of and paying sources for days of inpatient mental health treatment that result from the commitments initiated under subd. 1. or ordered under subd. 2.

51.03(3)(a)5. 5. The number of persons who are receiving care and treatment under community support programs voluntarily or under commitments ordered under s. 51.20 (13).

51.03(3)(a)6. 6. The number of individuals authorized to consent to involuntary administration of psychotropic medication under s. 55.14 (8) or for whom guardians were appointed under s. 880.33 (4m), 2003 stats.

51.03(3)(b) (b) By April 1, 1997, and annually by that date for 3 years thereafter, the department shall submit a report to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) on the information collected under par. (a).

51.03(4) (4) Within the limits of available state and federal funds, the department may do all of the following:

51.03(4)(a) (a) Promote the creation of coalitions among the state, counties, providers of mental health and alcohol and other drug abuse services, consumers of the services and their families and advocates for persons with mental illness and for alcoholic and drug dependent persons to develop, coordinate and provide a full range of resources to advance prevention; early intervention; treatment; recovery; safe and affordable housing; opportunities for education, employment and recreation; family and peer support; self-help; and the safety and well-being of communities.

51.03(4)(b) (b) In cooperation with counties, providers of mental health and alcohol and other drug abuse services, consumers of the services, interested community members and advocates for persons with mental illness and for alcoholic and drug dependent persons, develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to reduce stigma of and discrimination against persons with mental illness, alcoholics and drug dependent persons.

51.03(4)(c) (c) Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to involve counties, providers of mental health and alcohol and other drug abuse services, consumers of the services and their families, interested community members and advocates for persons with mental illness and for alcoholic and drug dependent persons as equal participants in service system planning and delivery.

51.03(4)(d) (d) Promote responsible stewardship of human and fiscal resources in the provision of mental health and alcohol and other drug abuse services.

51.03(4)(e) (e) Develop and implement methods to identify and measure outcomes for consumers of mental health and alcohol and other drug abuse services.

51.03(4)(f) (f) Promote access to appropriate mental health and alcohol and other drug abuse services regardless of a person’s geographic location, age, degree of mental illness, alcoholism or drug dependency or availability of personal financial resources.

51.03(4)(g) (g) Promote consumer decision making to enable persons with mental illness and alcohol or drug dependency to be more self-sufficient.

51.03(4)(h) (h) Promote use by providers of mental health and alcohol and other drug abuse services of individualized service planning, under which the providers develop written individualized service plans that promote treatment and recovery, together with service consumers, families of service consumers who are children and advocates chosen by consumers.

51.03(5) (5) The department shall ensure that providers of mental health and alcohol and other drug abuse services who use individualized service plans, as specified in sub. (4) (h), do all of the following in using a plan: