DCF 150.035(1)(ar)1.1. ‘General.’ A parent’s court-ordered period of placement may include periods when the parent is caring for the child that is not overnight, but is determined by the court to require the parent to assume basic support costs that are substantially equivalent to what the parent would spend to care for the child overnight, subject to subd. 2.

DCF 150.035 NoteNote: For example, a parent working 3rd shift who is generally unable to provide overnight care may be eligible to receive credit for equivalent care provided during the day.

DCF 150.035(1)(ar)2.2. ‘No duplicate credit.’ A parent may not receive credit for equivalent care of the child during a period that is within 24 hours of a period for which the parent receives credit for overnight care of the child, unless the other parent is providing overnight care the night before and night after the period when the equivalent care is provided.

DCF 150.035 NoteNote: The exception clarifies that Parent A may be eligible for equivalent care credit for care provided on Monday morning after providing overnight care on Saturday night if Parent B is providing overnight care on Sunday and Monday nights.

DCF 150.035(1)(ar)3.3. ‘Calculation of equivalent care.’ A block of time during which the parent cares for the child for at least 6 hours may be considered the equivalent of a half-day if the parent provides a meal during this period. Two half-day blocks are an equivalent of one overnight for purposes of the calculation.

DCF 150.035(1)(b)1.1. Determine each parent’s monthly income available for child support under s. DCF 150.03 (1). In determining whether to impute income based on earning capacity for an unemployed parent or a parent employed less than full time under s. DCF 150.03 (3), the court shall consider benefits to the child of having a parent remain in the home during periods of placement and the additional variable day care costs that would be incurred if the parent worked more. If a parent has one or more previous child support obligations, determine the parent’s monthly income available for child support adjusted for the previous obligations as provided in s. DCF 150.04 (1).

DCF 150.035(1)(b)2.2. Multiply each parent’s monthly income available for child support by the designated percentage.

DCF 150.035(1)(b)3.3. Multiply each amount determined under subd. 2. by 150%.

DCF 150.035 NoteNote: The 150% accounts for household maintenance expenditures duplicated by both parents, such as a bedroom, clothes, and personal items.

DCF 150.035(1)(b)4.4. Multiply the amount determined for each parent under subd. 3. by the proportion of the time that the child spends with the other parent to determine each parent’s child support obligation.

DCF 150.035(1)(b)5.5. Offset resulting amounts under subd. 4. against each other. The parent with a greater child support obligation is the shared-placement payer. The shared-placement payer shall pay the lesser of the amount determined under this subdivision or the amount determined using the designated percentage. If the shared-placement payer is also a low-income or high-income payer, the court may combine the provisions of either s. DCF 150.04 (4) or (5) with the provisions of this section.

DCF 150.035(1)(b)6.6. In addition to the child support obligation determined under subd. 5., the court shall assign responsibility for payment of the child’s variable costs in proportion to each parent’s share of physical placement, and based upon a detailed list of the variable costs provided by the parties. Due consideration shall be given to a disparity in the parents’ income and the transportation costs associated with each parent’s respective periods of physical placement. The court shall direct the manner of payment of a variable cost order to be either between the parents or from a parent to a third-party service provider. The court shall not direct payment of variable costs to be made to the department or the department’s designee.

DCF 150.035(1)(b)7.7. A change in the child’s variable costs shall not in and of itself be considered a substantial change in circumstances sufficient to justify a revision of a judgment or order under s. 767.59, Stats.