Chapter DCF 13

DCF 13.07(1)(d) (d) The person has been convicted of any crime.

DCF 13.07(1)(e) (e) A final substantiated finding has been made that the person abused or neglected a child.

DCF 13.07(1)(f) (f) A finding that is comparable to a final substantiated finding has been made in any other jurisdiction.

DCF 13.07(1)(g) (g) A unit of government or a state agency as defined in s. 16.61 (2) (d), Stats., made a finding that the person has abused or neglected a client or misappropriated the property of a client.

DCF 13.07(1)(h) (h) If a position requires a person to hold a credential, as defined in s. 440.01 (2) (a), Stats., the person has been denied a credential or had a credential restricted or otherwise limited.

DCF 13.07(2) (2) Other child care program reporting.

DCF 13.07(2)(a) (a) A child care program shall report to the agency that granted regulatory approval as soon as possible, but no later than the agency’s next business day, if any of the following occurs:

DCF 13.07(2)(a)1. 1. A person who is age 10 or over and is not a client begins residing at, or is expected to reside at, a child care program.

DCF 13.07 Note Note: See the definitions in s. DCF 13.02 (15) and (18).

DCF 13.07(2)(a)2. 2. A household member turns 10 years of age.

DCF 13.07(2)(a)3. 3. A household member turns 18 years of age.

DCF 13.07(2)(a)4. 4. A corporation or limited liability company designates a new person to be subject to the background check.

DCF 13.07(2)(a)5. 5. A caregiver, noncaregiver employee, or household member at the child care program changes his or her name.

DCF 13.07(2)(a)6. 6. A person’s role at the child care program has changed or will be changing and a new eligibility determination may be required for the child care background check.

DCF 13.07(2)(a)7. 7. A new caregiver or noncaregiver employee begins work, or a prospective caregiver or noncaregiver employee intends to begin work, at the child care program.

DCF 13.07(2)(a)8. 8. A caregiver or noncaregiver employee is no longer working in the child care program or intends to no longer work in the child care program, including the last date of employment.

DCF 13.07(2)(a)9. 9. A prospective caregiver or noncaregiver employee was not hired.

DCF 13.07(2)(a)10. 10. A former household member is no longer residing at the child care program or a household member intends to no longer reside at the child care program, including the last date of residence.

DCF 13.07(2)(b) (b) When a change specified under par. (a) 1. to 7. occurs regarding a child care program, the program shall submit a completed background check request form no later than the agency’s next business day for the new person subject to the child care background check and ensure persons comply with the fingerprint requirements within the timeframe specified by the department.

DCF 13.07(3) (3) Child care program policy. A child care program shall include in its personnel or operating policies a provision that requires a person who is a caregiver specified in s. DCF 13.02 (4) (a) and (b) or a noncaregiver employee to notify the child care program as soon as possible, but no later than the child care program’s next working day, if any of the circumstances under sub. (1) (a) to (h) apply to the person.

DCF 13.07 History History: EmR1918: emerg. cr., eff. 1-30-19; CR 19-089: cr. Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20; CR 20-003: cr. (1) (intro.), (2) (a) 2., 3., 5., 7. to 10., (3) Register July 2020 No. 775, eff. 8-1-20.

DCF 13.08 DCF 13.08 Sanctions.

DCF 13.08(1) (1) Child care program.

DCF 13.08(1)(a) (a) A child care program that does any of the following may be subject to one or more of the sanctions specified in par. (b) by the department or the agency that granted the regulatory approval:

DCF 13.08(1)(a)1. 1. Allows a person who has not received preliminary determination of eligibility to begin work or reside at the child care program in violation of s. DCF 13.06 (1).

DCF 13.08(1)(a)2. 2. Allows a person who has not received a final determination of eligibility to work or reside at a child care program without direct supervision in violation of s. DCF 13.06 (2).

DCF 13.08(1)(a)3. 3. Hires, employs, or contracts with a person that the department determined was ineligible to be a caregiver or noncaregiver employee in the child care program.

DCF 13.08(1)(a)3m. 3m. Permits a person that the department determined was ineligible to be a household member in the child care program.

DCF 13.08(1)(a)4. 4. Fails to submit a background check request as required under s. 48.686 (2) (ab), Stats., and s. DCF 13.03.

DCF 13.08(1)(a)5. 5. Knows, or should know, that a caregiver, noncaregiver employee, or household member at the child care program committed an act barred under s. 48.686 (4m) (a) 6., 7., or 8., Stats., including knowingly giving false information on or knowingly omitting material information relating to the child care background check.

DCF 13.08(1)(a)6. 6. Fails to comply with applicable reporting requirements under s. DCF 13.07 (1) or (2).

DCF 13.08(1)(a)7. 7. Fails to have a policy on reporting changes as required in s. DCF 13.07 (3).

DCF 13.08(1)(a)8. 8. Violates any provision in s. 48.686, Stats., or this chapter regarding caregivers, noncaregiver employees, or household members.

DCF 13.08(1)(b) (b) Any of the following sanctions may be imposed on a child care program that commits any of the acts described in par. (a):

DCF 13.08(1)(b)1. 1. Suspension, nonrenewal, denial, or revocation of regulatory approval.

DCF 13.08(1)(b)2. 2. Specific conditions or limitations placed on the regulatory approval.

DCF 13.08(1)(b)3. 3. A forfeiture of not more than $1,000.

DCF 13.08(1)(b)4. 4. A requirement that the child care program develop a written plan that specifies corrections that will be made to personnel screening practices, obtain agency approval of the correction plan, and implement the correction plan.

DCF 13.08(2) (2) Applicant. An applicant for regulatory approval who does any of the following is subject to denial of an application for regulatory approval:

DCF 13.08(2)(a) (a) Fails to complete and submit the background check request required under s. DCF 13.03.

DCF 13.08(2)(b) (b) Knowingly provides false information on or knowingly omits information from the background check request form.

DCF 13.08 History History: EmR1918: emerg. cr., eff. 1-30-19; CR 19-089: cr. Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20; CR 20-003: am. (1) (a) 3., cr. (1) (a) 3m., am. (1) (a) 5., 8. Register July 2020 No. 775, eff. 8-1-20.

DCF 13.09 DCF 13.09 Appeal of background check determinations.

DCF 13.09(1) (1) Appeal rights.

DCF 13.09(1)(a) (a) The department shall include a statement of appeal rights with a notification of ineligibility under s. DCF 13.06 (3) to the subject of background check.

DCF 13.09(1)(b) (b) The subject of a department determination under s. DCF 13.06 (3) may appeal the determination under s. 48.686 (4s), Stats. Only the subject of the background check may file the appeal.

DCF 13.09(2) (2) Submission of an appeal.

DCF 13.09(2)(a) (a) To submit an appeal of an ineligibility determination under s. DCF 13.06 (3), the subject of a background check shall submit a completed petition for appeal form prescribed by the department to the department’s postal address, email address, or fax number that is identified in the statement of appeal rights.

DCF 13.09(2)(b) (b) An appeal under sub. (1) may be submitted no later than 10 days after the date of the department’s ineligibility determination, unless the subject requests, and the department grants for good cause shown, an extension for a specific period of time prior to the expiration of the 10-day appeal period.

DCF 13.09(2)(c) (c) If an appeal is not received under sub. (1) within 10 days after the department’s ineligibility determination and an extension has not been approved before the expiration of the 10-day appeal period, the department’s ineligibility determination made under s. DCF 13.06 (3) is final.

DCF 13.09 Note Note: Form DCF-F-5331-E, Petition for Appeal of Ineligibility Determination, is available in the forms section of the department website, http://dcf.wisconsin.gov. Send the appeal request to the Department of Children and Families, Child Care Background Unit, P.O. Box 8916, Madison, WI 53708-8916; email [e-mail]; or fax [phone].

DCF 13.09(3) (3) Department review of appeals.

DCF 13.09(3)(a) (a) The department shall notify the subject of the background check that his or her appeal request under sub. (2) has been received within 7 business days after receipt.

DCF 13.09(3)(b) (b) The department shall review each timely appeal request under sub. (2) and issue a written appeal decision within 30 days after receiving the appeal request. The decision notice shall include information on the right to another appeal by requesting a reconsideration under sub. (4).

DCF 13.09 Note Note: Send the reconsideration request to the Department of Children and Families, Assistant Secretary, P.O. Box 8916, Madison, WI 53708-8916; email [e-mail]; or fax [phone].

DCF 13.09(4) (4) Reconsideration of an appeal.

DCF 13.09(4)(a) (a) The subject of the background check may request a reconsideration of the department’s appeal decision under sub. (3). A request for reconsideration shall be sent to the postal address, email address, or fax number identified in the appeal decision within 30 days after the date on the decision.

DCF 13.09(4)(b) (b) The department secretary or the secretary’s designee shall review a reconsideration request under par. (a) and issue a written decision. The reconsideration decision shall include information on the right to another appeal by requesting a contested case hearing under sub. (5).

DCF 13.09(5) (5) Contested case hearing. The subject of the background check who receives an adverse decision from the department secretary or the secretary’s designee under sub. (4) may request a contested case hearing under ch. 227, Stats., and ch. HA 1 within 10 days after the date of the department’s reconsideration decision.

DCF 13.09 Note Note: Send a request for a contested case hearing to the Division of Hearings and Appeals, 4822 Madison Yards Way, PO Box 7875, Madison, Wisconsin, 53707-7875. The fax number of the division is [phone].

DCF 13.09 History History: EmR1918: emerg. cr., eff. 1-30-19; CR 19-089: cr. Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20; CR 20-003: am. (2) (b), (c) Register July 2020 No. 775, eff. 8-1-20.

DCF 13.10 DCF 13.10 Rehabilitation reviews by agency. An agency may conduct a rehabilitation review for a person who requests a rehabilitation review if the person is eligible under s. 48.686 (5) (a), Stats., and s. DCF 13.11 and is any of the following:

DCF 13.10(1) (1) A person who has, or is seeking, regulatory approval from the agency as a caregiver specified in s. DCF 13.02 (4) (c).

DCF 13.10(2) (2) A person who is, or is expected to be, a caregiver specified in s. DCF 13.02 (4) (a) or (b) for a child care program that is regulated by the agency.

DCF 13.10(3) (3) A person who is, or is expected to be, a household member at a child care program that is regulated by the agency.

DCF 13.10(4) (4) A person who is, or is expected to be, a noncaregiver employee for a child care program that is regulated by the agency.

DCF 13.10 History History: EmR1918: emerg. cr., eff. 1-30-19; CR 19-089: cr. Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20; CR 20-003: am. (3), cr. (4) Register July 2020 No. 775, eff. 8-1-20.

DCF 13.11 DCF 13.11 Eligibility for rehabilitation review.

DCF 13.11(1) (1) Except as provided under sub. (2), a person may have the opportunity to demonstrate his or her rehabilitation if any of the following apply:

DCF 13.11(1)(a) (a) Section 48.686 (4m) (a) 2., 3., or 4. applies to the person.

DCF 13.11(1)(b) (b) The person has been convicted or adjudicated delinquent of a serious crime as specified under s. 48.686 (1) (c) 9., Stats., or for a violation of the law of any other state or United States jurisdiction that would be a violation listed in s. 48.686 (1) (c) 9., Stats., if committed in this state, and the person completed his or her sentence, including any probation, parole, or extended supervision, or was discharged by the department of corrections, more than 5 years before the date of the investigation under s. 48.686 (2) (am), Stats.

DCF 13.11 Note Note: A table listing child care serious crimes and availability of rehabilitation review for each offense can be accessed at https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/files/publications/pdf/5206.pdf.

DCF 13.11(2) (2) A person may not have the opportunity to demonstrate his or her rehabilitation if within the preceding 12 months an agency denied the person’s request for rehabilitation approval, and the new request is for the same type of regulatory approval, job function, or status as a household member with the same level of direct contact with clients or unsupervised access to clients.

DCF 13.11 History History: EmR1918: emerg. cr., eff. 1-30-19; CR 19-089: cr. Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20; CR 20-003: am. (1) (intro.), (2) Register July 2020 No. 775, eff. 8-1-20.

DCF 13.12 DCF 13.12 Applying for rehabilitation review. To apply for rehabilitation review, a person who is eligible to request rehabilitation review under s. DCF 13.11 shall do all of the following:

DCF 13.12(1) (1) Obtain a rehabilitation review application on a form prescribed by the department and submit the completed application to the agency.

DCF 13.12 Note Note: Form DCF-F-419, Rehabilitation Review Application Instructions, is available in the forms section of the department website, http://dcf.wisconsin.gov.

DCF 13.12(2) (2) Submit any supporting documents and information required by the rehabilitation review application to the agency.

DCF 13.12 History History: EmR1918: emerg. cr., eff. 1-30-19; CR 19-089: cr. Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20.

DCF 13.13 DCF 13.13 Agency rehabilitation review process.

DCF 13.13(1) (1) Time frame. If an application for a rehabilitation review is not complete or any supporting documents or information required in the application are not submitted within 90 days after the date the application was first received by the agency, the request for a rehabilitation review shall be denied, unless the person requesting the rehabilitation review provides a good cause explanation.

DCF 13.13(2) (2) Rehabilitation review panel. If a person who is eligible for rehabilitation review under s. DCF 13.11 submits an application that is complete under s. DCF 13.12 no later than the deadline in sub. (1), the applicable agency shall appoint a review panel of at least 2 persons to review the information submitted. The panel may request additional information from the person requesting the review or from other agencies or persons familiar with the person.

DCF 13.13(3) (3) Requestor appearance. A person for whom a rehabilitation review is conducted under sub. (2) shall be given an opportunity to appear before the review panel to present information and answer any questions the panel members may have. The person’s appearance before the review panel may be in person, by telephone, or other technology approved by the agency.

DCF 13.13(4) (4) Rehabilitation review panel. After reviewing the information obtained, a review panel appointed under sub. (2) shall decide whether the person who is the subject of the rehabilitation review has demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence that he or she is rehabilitated for purposes of receiving regulatory approval, employment as a caregiver or noncaregiver employee, contracting with a child care program to be a caregiver or noncaregiver employee, or residing at a child care program. The panel shall consider at least the following factors, as applicable:

DCF 13.13(4)(a) (a) Personal references and comments from employers, persons, and agencies familiar with the applicant and statements from therapists, counselors, and other professionals.

DCF 13.13(4)(b) (b) Evidence of successful adjustment to, compliance with, or proof of successful completion of parole, extended supervision, probation, incarceration, or work release privileges.

DCF 13.13(4)(c) (c) Any investigations or enforcement actions by a regulatory agency for substantial noncompliance with applicable laws.

DCF 13.13(4)(d) (d) Any subsequent contacts with law enforcement agencies, including arrests, charges, convictions, pending criminal or civil arrest warrants, civil judgments, or other legal enforcement actions or injunctions against the person.

DCF 13.13(4)(e) (e) Any aggravating or mitigating circumstances surrounding the barring crime, act, or offense.