SB161,29,2 a. Whether the needs of the child can be met through placement in a foster home.

SB161,29,6 b. Whether placement of the child in a residential care center for children and youth, group home, or shelter care facility certified under s. 48.675 provides the most effective and appropriate level of care for the child in the least restrictive environment.

SB161,29,8 c. Whether the placement is consistent with the short-term and long-term goals for the child, as specified in the permanency plan.

SB161,29,9 d. Whether the court approves or disapproves the placement.

SB161,29,15 2. If the results of the standardized assessment and recommendation of the qualified individual who conducted the standardized assessment are not available at the time of the order, the court shall defer making the findings under that subd. 1. as provided in this paragraph. No later than 60 days after the date on which the placement was made, the court shall issue an order making the findings under subd. 1.

SB161,50 Section 50. 48.48 (20) of the statutes is created to read:

SB161,29,19 48.48 (20) To certify a residential care center for children and youth, group home, or shelter care facility to operate a qualified residential treatment program as provided under s. 48.675 and monitor compliance with certification requirements.

SB161,51 Section 51 . 48.675 of the statutes is created to read:

SB161,30,3 48.675 Qualified residential treatment programs. (1) The department may certify a residential care center for children and youth, group home, or shelter care facility to operate a qualified residential treatment program if it determines that the program meets the requirements of 42 USC 672 (k) (4) and any other requirements established by the department under this section. A residential care center for children and youth, group home, or shelter care facility certified under this section shall comply with all other requirements applicable to the residential care center for children and youth, group home, or shelter care facility.

SB161,30,6 (2) The department may promulgate rules for the establishment, certification, operation, and monitoring of, and the placement of a child in, a qualified residential treatment program under sub. (1).

SB161,52 Section 52. 48.715 (8) of the statutes is created to read:

SB161,30,10 48.715 (8) The department may deny, suspend, restrict, refuse to renew, or otherwise withhold a certification under s. 48.675 based on a failure to comply with certification requirements established by administrative rule under that section.

SB161,53 Section 53. 48.73 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB161,30,20 48.73 Inspection of licensees and school district child care programs. The department may visit and inspect each child welfare agency, foster home, group home, and child care center licensed by the department and each entity certified by the department under s. 48.675, and for that purpose shall be given unrestricted access to the premises described in the license or certification. The department may visit and inspect each child care program established or contracted for under s. 120.13 (14) that receives payment under s. 49.155 for the child care provided, and for that purpose shall be given unrestricted access to the premises used for the child care program.

SB161,54 Section 54. 938.02 (14m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB161,30,23 938.02 (14m) “Qualified individual” has the meaning given under 42 USC 675a (c) (1) (D).

SB161,55 Section 55. 938.02 (17t) of the statutes is created to read:

SB161,31,4 938.02 (17t) “Standardized assessment” means an assessment, using a tool determined by the department, of the strengths and needs of a juvenile to determine appropriateness of a placement in a residential care center for children and youth, group home, or shelter care facility certified under s. 48.675.

SB161,56 Section 56. 938.21 (1) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

SB161,31,14 938.21 (1) (c) If the juvenile is held in custody in a residential care center for children and youth, group home, or shelter care facility certified under s. 48.675, the qualified individual shall conduct a standardized assessment and the agency primarily responsible for providing services under the custody order shall submit it and the recommendation of the qualified individual who conducted the standardized assessment, including all of the following, to the court and all persons who are required to receive a copy of the petition or request under par. (b) no later than the hearing or, if not available by that time, no later than 30 days after the date on which the placement is made:

SB161,31,16 1. Whether the proposed placement will provide the juvenile with the most effective and appropriate level of care in the least restrictive environment.

SB161,31,18 2. How the placement is consistent with the short-term and long-term goals for the juvenile, as specified in the permanency plan.

SB161,31,21 3. The reasons why the juvenile's needs can or cannot be met by the juvenile's family or in a foster home. A shortage or lack of foster homes is not an acceptable reason for determining that the juvenile's needs cannot be met in a foster home.

SB161,31,24 4. The placement preference of the family permanency team under s. 938.38 (3m) and, if that preference is not the placement recommended by the qualified individual, why that recommended placement is not preferred.

SB161,57 Section 57. 938.21 (5) (b) 2g. of the statutes is created to read:

SB161,32,6 938.21 (5) (b) 2g. Except as provided in par. (cm), if the juvenile is held in custody in a residential care center for children and youth, group home, or shelter care facility certified under s. 48.675, a finding as to each of the following, the answers to which do not affect whether the placement may be made, after considering the standardized assessment and the recommendation submitted by the qualified individual who conducted the standardized assessment under sub. (1) (c):

SB161,32,8 a. Whether the needs of the juvenile can be met through placement in a foster home.

SB161,32,12 b. Whether placement of the juvenile in a residential care center for children and youth, group home, or shelter care facility certified under s. 48.675 provides the most effective and appropriate level of care for the juvenile in the least restrictive environment.

SB161,32,14 c. Whether the placement is consistent with the short-term and long-term goals for the juvenile, as identified in the permanency planning.