Chapter 946

946.87(2)(am) (am) Notwithstanding par. (a), property described in par. (a) is subject to forfeiture if the person who violated s. 946.83 or 946.85 has not been convicted, but he or she is a defendant in a criminal proceeding, is released, pending trial, on bail, as defined in s. 969.001, and fails to appear in court regarding the criminal proceeding. However, before making the final determination of any action under this section, the court must determine that the party bringing the action can prove the person committed the violation of s. 946.83 or 946.85.

946.87(2)(b) (b) Any injured person has a right or claim to forfeited property or the proceeds derived therefrom superior to any right or claim the state has under this section in the same property or proceeds. This paragraph does not grant the person priority over state claims or rights by reason of a tax lien or other basis not covered by ss. 946.80 to 946.88.

946.87(3) (3) The attorney general or any district attorney may institute civil proceedings under this section. Notwithstanding s. 59.42 (2) (b) 4., in counties having a population of 750,000 or more, the district attorney or the corporation counsel may proceed under this section. A corporation counsel in a county having a population of 750,000 or more or a district attorney may institute proceedings under this section only with the prior written approval of the attorney general. In any action brought under this section, the circuit court shall proceed as soon as practicable to the hearing and determination. Pending final determination of any action under this section, the circuit court may at any time enter such injunctions, prohibitions or restraining orders or take such actions, including the acceptance of satisfactory performance bonds, as the court deems proper. At any time pending final determination of a forfeiture action under sub. (2), the circuit court may order the seizure of property subject to forfeiture and may make such orders as it deems necessary to preserve and protect the property.

946.87(4) (4) Any person who is injured by reason of any violation of s. 946.83 or 946.85 has a cause of action for 2 times the actual damages sustained and, when appropriate, punitive damages. The person shall also recover attorney fees and costs of the investigation and litigation reasonably incurred. The defendant or any injured person may demand a trial by jury in any civil action brought under this section.

946.87(5) (5) The burden of proof under this section is that of satisfying or convincing to a reasonable certainty by a greater weight of the credible evidence that the property is subject to forfeiture under this section.

946.87(6) (6) A final judgment or decree rendered in favor of the state in any criminal proceeding under ss. 946.80 to 946.88 shall stop the defendant from denying the essential allegations of the criminal offense in any subsequent civil action or proceeding.

946.87 History History: 1981 c. 280; 1989 a. 121 ss. 108, 110m; Stats. 1989 s. 946.87; 1993 a. 280; 1995 a. 201; 2017 a. 207 s. 5.

946.87 Annotation State courts have concurrent jurisdiction over federal civil Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act actions. Tafflin v. Levitt, 493 U.S. 455, 110 S. Ct. 792, 107 L. Ed. 2d 887 (1990).

946.87 Annotation A Wisconsin Organized Crime Control Act double damage civil action is penal in nature and does not survive the death of a defendant, but a claim against the deceased defendant’s employee does survive. Schimpf v. Gerald, Inc., 2 F. Supp. 2d 1150 (1998).

946.87 Annotation Reaching a Deep Pocket Under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Poker. 72 MLR 511 (1989).

946.88 946.88 Enforcement and jurisdiction.

946.88(1) (1) A criminal or civil action or proceeding under ss. 946.80 to 946.88 may be commenced at any time within 6 years after a violation under ss. 946.80 to 946.88 terminates or the cause of action accrues. If a criminal action or proceeding under ss. 946.80 to 946.88 is brought, or intervened in, to punish, prevent or restrain any such violation, the running of the period of limitations with respect to any civil action or proceeding, including an action or proceeding under s. 946.87, which is based in whole or in part upon any matter complained of in the criminal action or proceeding shall be suspended for 2 years following the termination of the criminal action or proceeding.

946.88(2) (2) The application of one civil or criminal remedy under ss. 946.80 to 946.88 does not preclude the application of any other remedy, civil or criminal, under ss. 946.80 to 946.88 or any other provision of law. Civil remedies under ss. 946.80 to 946.88 are supplemental, and not mutually exclusive, except the state may not proceed under both ss. 946.84 (2) and 946.87 (4).

946.88(3) (3) The attorney general and the district attorneys of this state have concurrent authority to institute criminal proceedings under ss. 946.80 to 946.88, except a district attorney may institute proceedings only with the prior written approval of the attorney general.

946.88 History History: 1981 c. 280; 1989 a. 121 s. 110; Stats. 1989 s. 946.88.

946.90 946.90 Wisconsin Works fraud.

946.90(1) (1) In this section:

946.90(1)(a) (a) “Provider” means a Wisconsin Works agency, a person that contracts with a Wisconsin Works agency to provide services to a participant in Wisconsin Works, or a person that provides child care for reimbursement under s. 49.155.

946.90(1)(b) (b) “Wisconsin Works” means the assistance program for families with dependent children administered under ss. 49.141 to 49.161.

946.90(1)(c) (c) “Wisconsin Works agency” has the meaning given in s. 49.001 (9).

946.90(2) (2) Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor:

946.90(2)(a) (a) Intentionally makes or causes to be made any false statement or representation of a material fact in any application for or receipt of any Wisconsin Works benefit or payment.

946.90(2)(b) (b) Having knowledge of the occurrence of any event affecting the initial or continued eligibility for a Wisconsin Works benefit or payment under Wisconsin Works, conceals or fails to disclose that event with an intent to fraudulently secure a Wisconsin Works benefit or payment either in a greater amount or quantity than is due or when no such benefit or payment is authorized.

946.90(3) (3) Whoever violates sub. (2) by furnishing items or services for which payment is or may be made under Wisconsin Works is guilty of a Class H felony.

946.90(4) (4) 

946.90(4)(a) (a) Whoever solicits or receives money, goods, services, or any other thing of value, in return for referring an individual to a person for the furnishing or arranging for the furnishing of any item or service for which payment may be made in whole or in part under Wisconsin Works, or in return for purchasing, leasing, ordering, or arranging for or recommending purchasing, leasing, or ordering any good, facility, service, or item for which payment may be made in whole or in part under Wisconsin Works, is guilty of a Class H felony, except that, notwithstanding the maximum fine specified in s. 939.50 (3) (h), the person may be fined not more than $25,000.

946.90(4)(b) (b) Whoever offers or provides money, goods, services, or any other thing of value to any person to induce the person to refer an individual to a person for the furnishing or arranging for the furnishing of any item or service for which payment may be made in whole or in part under Wisconsin Works, or to purchase, lease, order, or arrange for or recommend purchasing, leasing, or ordering any good, facility, service or item for which payment may be made in whole or in part under any provision of Wisconsin Works, is guilty of a Class H felony, except that, notwithstanding the maximum fine specified in s. 939.50 (3) (h), the person may be fined not more than $25,000.

946.90(4)(c) (c) This subsection does not apply to any of the following:

946.90(4)(c)1. 1. A discount or other reduction in price obtained by a provider of services or other entity under chs. 46 to 51 and 58 if the reduction in price is properly disclosed and appropriately reflected in the costs claimed or charges made by the provider or entity under Wisconsin Works.

946.90(4)(c)2. 2. An amount paid by an employer to an employee who has a bona fide employment relationship with the employer for employment in the provision of covered items or services.

946.90(5) (5) A provider who knowingly imposes upon a participant in Wisconsin Works charges in addition to payments received by the provider for services under Wisconsin Works or knowingly imposes direct charges upon a participant in Wisconsin Works in lieu of obtaining payment under Wisconsin Works is guilty of a Class H felony, except that, notwithstanding the maximum fine specified in s. 939.50 (3) (h), the person may be fined not more than $25,000. This subsection does not apply if benefits or services are not provided under Wisconsin Works and the Wisconsin Works participant is advised of this fact prior to receiving the service.

946.90 History History: 2013 a. 226 ss. 2, 7, 9, 51, 52, 53; Stats. 2013 s. 946.90.

946.91 946.91 Medical Assistance fraud.

946.91(1) (1) In this section:

946.91(1)(a) (a) “Facility” means a nursing home or a community-based residential facility that is licensed under s. 50.03 and that is certified by the department of health services as a provider of aid under Medical Assistance.

946.91(1)(b) (b) “Medical Assistance” means the program providing aid under subch. IV of ch. 49, except ss. 49.468 and 49.471.

946.91(1)(c) (c) “Provider” means a person, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, incorporated business, or professional association, and any agent or employee thereof, who provides services under Medical Assistance.

946.91(2) (2) Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a Class H felony, except that, notwithstanding the maximum fine specified in s. 939.50 (3) (h), the person may be fined not more than $25,000:

946.91(2)(a) (a) Intentionally makes or causes to be made any false statement or representation of a material fact in any application for any Medical Assistance benefit or payment.

946.91(2)(b) (b) Intentionally makes or causes to be made any false statement or representation of a material fact for use in determining eligibility for any Medical Assistance benefit or payment.

946.91(2)(c) (c) Having knowledge of the occurrence of any event affecting the initial or continued eligibility for any Medical Assistance benefit or payment or the initial or continued eligibility for any such benefit or payment of any other individual in whose behalf he or she has applied for or is receiving such benefit or payment, conceals or fails to disclose such event with an intent to fraudulently secure such benefit or payment either in a greater amount or quantity than is due or when no such benefit or payment is authorized.

946.91(2)(d) (d) Having applied to receive any Medical Assistance benefit or payment for the use and benefit of another and having received it, knowingly and willfully converts the benefit or payment or any part thereof to a use that is not for the benefit of such other person.

946.91(3) (3) 

946.91(3)(a) (a) Whoever solicits or receives, directly, indirectly, overtly, or covertly, money, goods, services, or any other thing of value in return for referring an individual to a person for the furnishing or arranging for the furnishing of any item or service for which payment may be made in whole or in part under Medical Assistance, or in return for purchasing, leasing, ordering, or arranging for or recommending purchasing, leasing, or ordering any good, facility, service, or item for which payment may be made in whole or in part under Medical Assistance, is guilty of a Class H felony, except that, notwithstanding the maximum fine specified in s. 939.50 (3) (h), the person may be fined not more than $25,000.

946.91(3)(b) (b) Whoever offers or provides, directly, indirectly, overtly, or covertly, money, goods, services, or any other thing of value to any person to induce such person to refer an individual to a person for the furnishing or arranging for the furnishing of any item or service for which payment may be made in whole or in part under Medical Assistance, or to purchase, lease, order, or arrange for or recommend purchasing, leasing, or ordering any good, facility, service or item for which payment may be made in whole or in part under Medical Assistance, is guilty of a Class H felony, except that, notwithstanding the maximum fine specified in s. 939.50 (3) (h), the person may be fined not more than $25,000.

946.91(3)(c) (c) This subsection does not apply to any of the following:

946.91(3)(c)1. 1. A discount or other reduction in price obtained by a provider of services or other entity under chs. 46 to 51 and 58 if the reduction in price is properly disclosed and appropriately reflected in the costs claimed or charges made by the provider or entity under Medical Assistance.

946.91(3)(c)2. 2. An amount paid by an employer to an employee who has a bona fide employment relationship with such employer for employment in the provision of covered items or services.

946.91(3)(c)3. 3. Any payment made for sharing of cost savings under s. 49.45 (26g).

946.91(4) (4) Whoever knowingly and willfully makes or causes to be made, or induces or seeks to induce the making of, any false statement or representation of a material fact with respect to the conditions or operation of any institution or facility in order that such institution or facility may qualify either upon initial certification or upon recertification as a hospital, skilled nursing facility, intermediate care facility, or home health agency is guilty of a Class H felony, except that, notwithstanding the maximum fine specified in s. 939.50 (3) (h), the person may be fined not more than $25,000.

946.91(5) (5) Whoever knowingly imposes upon a Medical Assistance recipient charges in addition to payments received for services under ss. 49.45 to 49.471 or knowingly imposes direct charges upon a recipient in lieu of obtaining payment under ss. 49.45 to 49.471 is guilty of a Class H felony, except that, notwithstanding the maximum fine specified in s. 939.50 (3) (h), the person may be fined not more than $25,000. This subsection does not apply under any of the following circumstances:

946.91(5)(a) (a) Benefits or services are not provided under s. 49.46 (2) or 49.471 (11) and the Medical Assistance recipient is advised of this fact prior to receiving the service.

946.91(5)(b) (b) An applicant is determined to be eligible retroactively under s. 49.46 (1) (b), 49.47 (4) (d), or 49.471, a provider bills the applicant directly for services and benefits rendered during the retroactive period, the provider, upon notification of the applicant’s retroactive eligibility, submits a claim for payment under s. 49.45 for covered services or benefits rendered to the recipient during the retroactive period, and the provider reimburses the recipient or other person who has made prior payment to the provider for services provided to the recipient during the retroactive eligibility period, by the amount of the prior payment made upon receipt of payment under s. 49.45.

946.91(5)(c) (c) Benefits or services are provided for which recipient copayment, coinsurance, or deductible is required under s. 49.45 (18), not to exceed maximum amounts allowable under 42 CFR 447.53 to 447.58, or for which recipient copayment or coinsurance is required under s. 49.471 (11).

946.91(6) (6) Whoever, in connection with Medical Assistance when the cost of the services provided to the patient is paid for in whole or in part by the state, intentionally charges, solicits, accepts, or receives, in addition to any amount otherwise required to be paid under Medical Assistance, any gift, money, donation, or other consideration, other than a charitable, religious, or philanthropic contribution from an organization or from a person unrelated to the patient, as a precondition of admitting a patient to a hospital, skilled nursing facility, or intermediate care facility, or as a requirement for the patient’s continued stay in such a facility is guilty of a Class H felony, except that, notwithstanding the maximum fine specified in s. 939.50 (3) (h), the person may be fined not more than $25,000.

946.91 History History: 2013 a. 226 ss. 13, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 29, 54; Stats. 2013 s. 946.91; 2015 a. 195; 2017 a. 279.

946.92 946.92 Food stamp offenses.

946.92(1) (1) In this section:

946.92(1)(a) (a) “Eligible person” means a member of a household certified as eligible for the food stamp program or a person authorized to represent a certified household under 7 USC 2020 (e) (7).

946.92(1)(b) (b) “Food” means items that may be purchased using food stamp program benefits under 7 USC 2016 (b).

946.92(1)(c) (c) “Food stamp program” means the federal food stamp program under 7 USC 2011 to 2036a.

946.92(1)(d) (d) “Supplier” means a retail grocery store or other person authorized by the federal department of agriculture to accept food stamp program benefits in exchange for food under the food stamp program.

946.92(1)(dm) (dm) “Traffic food stamp program benefits” means to do any of the following:

946.92(1)(dm)1. 1. Buy, sell, steal, or otherwise accomplish the exchange of, directly, indirectly, in collusion with others, or individually, food stamp program benefits issued and accessed through the electronic benefit transfer program under s. 49.797, or by manual voucher and signature, for cash or other consideration that is not food.

946.92(1)(dm)2. 2. Exchange firearms, ammunition, explosives, or controlled substances, as defined in 21 USC 802, for food stamp program benefits.

946.92(1)(dm)3. 3. Use food stamp program benefits to purchase food that includes a container deposit for the sole purpose of discarding the container contents and returning the container for a cash refund of the deposit.

946.92(1)(dm)4. 4. Resell food purchased with food stamp program benefits for the purpose of obtaining cash or other consideration that is not food.

946.92(1)(dm)5. 5. Purchase, for cash or other consideration that is not food, food that was previously purchased from a supplier using food stamp program benefits.

946.92(1)(dm)6. 6. Any other action that is trafficking under 7 USC 2011 to 2036a.

946.92(1)(e) (e) “Unauthorized person” means a person who is not one of the following:

946.92(1)(e)1. 1. An employee or officer of the federal government, the state, a county, a multicounty consortium, or a federally recognized American Indian tribe acting in the course of official duties in connection with the food stamp program.

946.92(1)(e)2. 2. A person acting in the course of duties under a contract with the federal government, the state, a county, a multicounty consortium, or a federally recognized American Indian tribe in connection with the food stamp program.

946.92(1)(e)3. 3. An eligible person.

946.92(1)(e)4. 4. A supplier.

946.92(1)(e)5. 5. A person authorized to redeem food coupons under 7 USC 2019.

946.92(2) (2) 

946.92(2)(a) (a) No person may misstate or conceal facts in a food stamp program application or report of income, assets or household circumstances with intent to secure or continue to receive food stamp program benefits.

946.92(2)(b) (b) No person may knowingly fail to report changes in income, assets or other facts as required under 7 USC 2015 (c) (1) or regulations issued under that provision.

946.92(2)(c) (c) No person may knowingly issue food stamp program benefits to a person who is not an eligible person or knowingly issue food stamp program benefits to an eligible person in excess of the amount for which the person’s household is eligible.

946.92(2)(d) (d) No eligible person may knowingly transfer food stamp program benefits except to purchase food from a supplier or knowingly obtain or use food stamp program benefits for which the person’s household is not eligible.

946.92(2)(e) (e) No supplier may knowingly obtain food stamp program benefits except as payment for food or knowingly obtain food stamp program benefits from a person who is not an eligible person.

946.92(2)(f) (f) No unauthorized person may knowingly obtain, possess, transfer, or use food stamp program benefits.

946.92(2)(g) (g) No person may knowingly traffic food stamp program benefits.

946.92(3) (3) 

946.92(3)(a) (a) Whoever violates sub. (2) is subject to the following penalties:

946.92(3)(a)1. 1. If the value of the food stamp program benefits does not exceed $100, a Class B misdemeanor.

946.92(3)(a)2. 2. Except as provided in subd. 3., if the value of the food stamp program benefits exceeds $100, but is less than $5,000, a Class I felony.

946.92(3)(a)3. 3. If the value of the food stamp program benefits exceeds $100, but is less than $5,000, and the person has a prior conviction under this section, a Class H felony.

946.92(3)(a)4. 4. If the value of the food stamp program benefits is $5,000 or more, a Class G felony.