Chapter 51

51.42(5a)(a)2. 2. Recommend program priorities, identify unmet service needs and prepare short-term and long-term plans and budgets for meeting such priorities and needs.

51.42(5a)(a)3. 3. Prepare, with the assistance of the county community programs director appointed under sub. (6m), a proposed budget for submission to the county executive or county administrator and a final budget for submission to the department of health services in accordance with s. 46.031 (1) for authorized services.

51.42(5a)(a)4. 4. Advise the county community programs director appointed under sub. (6m) regarding purchasing and providing services and the selection of purchase of service vendors, and make recommendations to the county executive or county administrator regarding modifications in such purchasing, providing and selection.

51.42(5a)(a)5. 5. Develop county community programs board operating procedures.

51.42(5a)(a)6. 6. Comply with state requirements.

51.42(5a)(a)7. 7. Assist in arranging cooperative working agreements with persons providing health, education, vocational or welfare services related to services provided under this section.

51.42(5a)(a)8. 8. Advise the county community programs director regarding coordination of local services and continuity of care.

51.42(5a)(b) (b) The county community programs director, subject only to the supervision of the county executive or county administrator, may do all of the following:

51.42(5a)(b)1. 1. Organize, establish and participate in the governance and operation of an entity to operate, wholly or in part, any mental health-related service.

51.42(5a)(b)2. 2. Participate in the financing of the entity under subd. 1.

51.42(5a)(b)3. 3. Provide administrative and financial services or resources for operation of the entity under subd. 1. on terms prescribed by the county executive or county administrator.

51.42(6) (6) Powers and duties of county community programs director in certain counties. A county community programs director appointed under sub. (5) (a) 4. shall have all of the administrative and executive powers and duties of managing, operating, maintaining, and improving the programs of the county department of community programs, subject to such delegation of authority as is not inconsistent with this section and the rules of the department of health services promulgated under this section. In consultation and agreement with the county community programs board, the county community programs director appointed under sub. (5) (a) 4. shall do all of the following:

51.42(6)(a) (a) Prepare an annual comprehensive plan and budget of all funds necessary for the program and services authorized by this section in which priorities and objectives for the year are established as well as any modifications of long-range objectives.

51.42(6)(b) (b) Prepare intermediate-range plans.

51.42(6)(c) (c) Prepare an annual report of the operation of the program.

51.42(6)(d) (d) Prepare other reports as are required by the secretary and the county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county department of community programs or the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty department of community programs.

51.42(6)(e) (e) Make recommendations to the county community programs board under sub. (5) for all of the following:

51.42(6)(e)1. 1. Personnel and the salaries of employees.

51.42(6)(e)2. 2. Changes in program services.

51.42(6)(f) (f) After consultation with the county community programs board, administer the duties of the county department of community programs under sub. (3) (aw) 2.

51.42(6)(g) (g) Comply with state requirements.

51.42(6m) (6m) County community programs director in certain counties with a county executive or county administrator. In any county with a county executive or county administrator in which the county board of supervisors or the Milwaukee County mental health board has established a single-county department of community programs, the county executive or county administrator shall appoint and supervise the county community programs director. In any county with a population of 750,000 or more, the county executive or county administrator shall appoint the director of the county department of human services under s. 46.21 as the county community programs director. The appointment of a county community programs director under this subsection shall be on the basis of recognized and demonstrated interest in and knowledge of the problems of mental health, intellectual disability, alcoholism and drug addiction, with due regard to training, experience, executive and administrative ability, and general qualification and fitness for the performance of the duties of the director. The appointment of a county community programs director under this subsection is subject to confirmation by the county board of supervisors, except in Milwaukee County, unless the county board of supervisors, by ordinance, elects to waive confirmation or unless the appointment is made under a civil service system competitive examination procedure established under s. 59.52 (8) or ch. 63. The county community programs director, subject only to the supervision of the county executive or county administrator, shall:

51.42(6m)(a) (a) Supervise and administer any program established under this section, subject to such delegation of authority as is not inconsistent with this section and the rules of the department of health services promulgated under this section.

51.42(6m)(b) (b) Determine administrative and program procedures.

51.42(6m)(c) (c) Determine, subject to the approval of the county board of supervisors or the Milwaukee County mental health board, as applicable, and with the advice of the county community programs board, whether services are to be provided directly by the county department of community programs or contracted for with other providers and make such contracts. The county board of supervisors, except in Milwaukee County, or the Milwaukee County mental health board in Milwaukee County may elect to require the approval of any such contract by the county board of supervisors or the Milwaukee County mental health board.

51.42(6m)(e) (e) Assist the county community programs board under sub. (5a) in the preparation of the budgets required under sub. (5a) (a) 3.

51.42(6m)(f) (f) Make recommendations to the county executive or county administrator regarding modifications to the proposed budget prepared by the county community programs board under sub. (5a) (a) 3.

51.42(6m)(g) (g) Evaluate service delivery.

51.42(6m)(h) (h) After consultation with the county community programs board under sub. (5a), administer the duties of the county department of community programs under sub. (3) (aw) 2.

51.42(6m)(i) (i) Establish salaries and personnel policies of the programs of the county department of community programs subject to approval of the county executive or county administrator and county board of supervisors, except in Milwaukee County, or the Milwaukee County mental health board in Milwaukee County unless the county board of supervisors or the Milwaukee County mental health board elects not to review the salaries and personnel policies.

51.42(6m)(j) (j) Perform other functions necessary to manage, operate, maintain and improve programs.

51.42(6m)(k) (k) Comply with state requirements.

51.42(6m)(L) (L) Utilize available community resources and develop new resources necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

51.42(6m)(m) (m) In consultation with the county community programs board under sub. (5a), prepare:

51.42(6m)(m)1. 1. Intermediate-range plans and budget.

51.42(6m)(m)2. 2. An annual report of the operation of the county department of community programs.

51.42(6m)(m)3. 3. Such other reports as are required by the secretary and the county board of supervisors or, as applicable, the Milwaukee County mental health board.

51.42(6m)(n) (n) Provide for coordination of local services and continuity of care.

51.42(7) (7) Duties of the department of health services.

51.42(7)(a) (a) The department of health services shall:

51.42(7)(a)1. 1. Review requests and certify county departments of community programs and community mental health programs to assure that those county departments and those programs are in compliance with this section.

51.42(7)(a)2. 2. Periodically review and evaluate county departments of community programs to assure compliance with this section. The review shall include a periodic assessment of need which shall separately identify elements of service required under this section. The periodic review of community mental health programs shall be made at least once every 36 months, except that all of the following apply:

51.42(7)(a)2.a. a. The secretary may require annual review of a community mental health program that, in the immediately preceding 36 months, substantially failed to comply with the requirements for certification or was the subject of grievances or an investigation.

51.42(7)(a)2.b. b. The department may review and evaluate a community mental health program at any time.

51.42(7)(a)2m. 2m. Review and evaluate at random at least 5 community mental health programs each year. Review and evaluation under this subdivision may be coincident with or in addition to that made under subd. 2. and may be conducted with or without notice to a community mental health program.

51.42(7)(a)3. 3. Provide consultative staff services to communities to assist in ascertaining local needs and in planning, establishing and operating programs.

51.42(7)(a)3m. 3m. Develop a training curriculum for use in training members of county community programs boards and county human services boards. The training curriculum shall delineate the board members’ roles and responsibilities and shall provide information on client groups served and programs provided by the county department of community programs or human services. In developing the training curriculum, the department shall consult with representatives of county interests, consumer and advocacy groups and community mental health program providers. The department shall submit the training curriculum to the council on mental health under s. 51.02 (1) (h) for the council’s review and comment.

51.42(7)(a)3r. 3r. Establish a training schedule that ensures that county community programs boards and county human services boards in all geographical areas of the state are provided access to training under the training curriculum under subd. 3m. once every 2 years.

51.42(7)(a)4. 4. Develop and implement a uniform cost reporting system according to s. 46.18 (8) to (10).

51.42(7)(a)5. 5. Ensure that county departments of community programs that elect to provide special education programs to children aged 3 years and under comply with requirements established by the department of public instruction.

51.42(7)(a)6. 6. Provide, as available after provision of services under s. 51.05 (6), the following:

51.42(7)(a)6.a. a. Mental health outpatient and follow-up services appropriate for hearing-impaired mentally ill individuals, including advocacy training relating to the rights of mentally ill individuals.

51.42(7)(a)6.b. b. Technical assistance to a county department of community programs concerning provision of services to hearing-impaired mentally ill individuals.

51.42(7)(a)7. 7. Develop a program in consultation with the department of safety and professional services to use voluntary, uncompensated services of licensed or certified professionals to assist the department of health services in evaluating community mental health programs in exchange for continuing education credits for the professionals under ss. 448.40 (2) (e) and 455.065 (5).

51.42(7)(a)8. 8. Enter into an agreement with an institution of higher education or a private, nonprofit organization to develop a community mental health client survey prototype. The department shall attempt to secure a grant to fund the development of the survey prototype.

51.42(7)(a)9. 9. Develop a model community mental health plan available for use by counties and to assist them in developing their community plans as required under sub. (3) (ar) 5. In the process of developing the model community mental health plan, the department shall select 6 counties, both urban and rural, to submit plans to the department for review. The department shall revise the model plan, if necessary, considering the comments of the 6 counties selected. The department shall also consult with the council on mental health and with groups that represent counties, consumers of mental health services and family members of the consumers in developing the model community mental health plan. The department shall establish a schedule that requires each county in this state to submit a plan under sub. (3) (ar) 5. once every 3 years, in accordance with deadlines established by the subunit of the department with jurisdiction over community mental health. The department, in conjunction with the council on mental health, shall review the plans submitted by counties.

51.42(7)(b) (b) The department shall promulgate rules which do all of the following:

51.42(7)(b)1. 1. Govern the administrative structure deemed necessary to administer community mental health, developmental disabilities, alcoholism and drug abuse services.

51.42(7)(b)2. 2. Establish uniform cost record-keeping requirements.

51.42(7)(b)3. 3. Prescribe standards for qualifications and salaries of personnel.

51.42(7)(b)4. 4. Prescribe standards for quality of professional services.

51.42(7)(b)5. 5. Prescribe requirements for in-service and educational leave programs for personnel.

51.42(7)(b)6. 6. Prescribe standards for establishing patient fee schedules.

51.42(7)(b)7. 7. Govern eligibility of patients to the end that no person is denied service on the basis of age, race, color, creed, location or inability to pay.

51.42(7)(b)7m. 7m. Define “first priority for services” under and otherwise implement sub. (3) (ar) 4m.

51.42(7)(b)8. 8. Prescribe such other standards and requirements as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

51.42(7)(b)9. 9. Promulgate rules establishing medication procedures to be used in the delivery of mental health services.

51.42(7)(b)10. 10. Establish criteria for the level of scrutiny for evaluation of community mental health programs.

51.42(7)(b)11. 11. Prescribe requirements for certification of community mental health programs, except as provided in s. 51.032, including all of the following:

51.42(7)(b)11.a. a. A requirement that, as part of the certification process, community mental health programs must demonstrate that their staff have knowledge of laws, regulations and standards of practice which apply to the program and its clients.

51.42(7)(b)11.b. b. A requirement that, when conducting certifications, certification staff must use a random selection process in reviewing client records.

51.42(7)(b)11.c. c. A requirement that certification staff conduct client interviews as part of the certification process.

51.42(7)(b)11.d. d. A requirement that certification staff provide certification results to the community mental health program reviewed, to subunits within the department responsible for community mental health program monitoring and to the county department under this section in which the community mental health program is located upon completion of certification.

51.42 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. DHS 35, Wis. adm. code.

51.42(7)(c) (c) The secretary shall designate the subunit of the department that is responsible for supervising the grievance process for clients of mental health services.

51.42(7)(d) (d) By January 1, 2015, and by January 1 of each odd-numbered year thereafter, the department shall submit to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) a report that describes mental health services and programs provided by counties and regions comprised of multiple counties.

51.42(8) (8) Construction.

51.42(8)(a) (a) Any reference in any law to a county department of community programs applies to a county department under s. 46.23 in its administration of the powers and duties of the county department of community programs under s. 46.23 (3) (b) or applies to a county department under s. 46.21 (2m) in its administration of the powers and duties of the county department of community programs under s. 46.21 (2m) (b) 1. a.

51.42(8)(b) (b)

51.42(8)(b)1. 1. Any reference in any law to a county community programs director appointed under sub. (5) (a) 4. applies to the director of a county department appointed under s. 46.23 (5) (f) in his or her administration of the powers and duties of that county community programs director.

51.42(8)(b)2. 2. Any reference in any law to a county community programs director appointed under sub. (6m) (intro.) applies to the director of a county department appointed under s. 46.23 (6m) (intro.) or appointed under s. 46.21 (1m) (a) in his or her administration of the powers and duties of that county community programs director.

51.42(8)(c) (c)

51.42(8)(c)1. 1. Any reference in any law to a county community programs board appointed under sub. (4) (a) 1. applies to the board of a county department appointed under s. 46.23 (4) (b) 1. in its administration of the powers and duties of that county community programs board.

51.42(8)(c)2. 2.

51.42(8)(c)2.a. a. Except as provided in subd. 2. b., reference in any law to a county community programs board appointed under sub. (4) (a) 2. applies to the board of a county department appointed under s. 46.23 (4) (b) 2. in its administration of the powers and duties of that county community programs board.

51.42(8)(c)2.b. b. Any reference in any law to a county community programs board appointed under sub. (4) (a) 2. is limited, with respect to the county department of human services under s. 46.21 (2m), to the powers and duties of the county community programs board as specified in sub. (5a).

51.42 History History: 1971 c. 125; 1973 c. 90, 198, 333, 336; 1975 c. 39, 198, 199, 224, 422; 1975 c. 428 s. 16; 1975 c. 430 ss. 24 to 31, 80; 1977 c. 26 ss. 37, 38, 75; 1977 c. 29 ss. 612 to 623p, 1656 (18); 1977 c. 193; 1977 c. 203 s. 106; 1977 c. 272; 1977 c. 354 s. 101; 1977 c. 418, 428, 447; 1979 c. 34, 117, 177, 221, 330, 355; 1981 c. 20 ss. 923 to 942, 2202 (20) (d), (n), (q); 1981 c. 93 ss. 105 to 122, 186; 1981 c. 329; 1983 a. 27 ss. 1106 to 1112, 2202 (20); 1983 a. 189 ss. 44, 329 (5); 1983 a. 192, 239, 365, 375, 524; 1985 a. 29, 120, 176; 1987 a. 3, 27, 199, 339, 366; 1989 a. 31, 122; 1991 a. 39, 274, 315; 1993 a. 16, 437, 445; 1995 a. 27 ss. 3260 to 3262, 9126 (19), 9145 (1); 1995 a. 64, 77, 92, 201, 224, 276, 352, 417; 1997 a. 27, 164, 237, 268; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 10, 16, 38; 2003 a. 320; 2005 a. 264, 388, 431, 434; 2007 a. 20 ss. 1819m to 1821, 9121 (6) (a); 2007 a. 45, 97; 2009 a. 28, 180, 276, 334; 2011 a. 32, 126; 2013 a. 203, 251; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 34, 150; 2019 a. 9; 2021 a. 240 s. 30.

51.42 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. DHS 34, 40, 61, 63, and 75, Wis. adm. code.

51.42 Annotation Costs could not be assessed under sub. (1) (b) against the subject of an emergency protective placement proceeding that was outside of the statutory guidelines under s. 55.06 (11) [now s. 55.135]. Ethelyn I.C. v. Waukesha County, 221 Wis. 2d 109, 584 N.W.2d 211 (Ct. App. 1998), 97-2236.