AB43,,2231 48.57 (3m) (am) 1m. The county department or department determines that there is a need for the child to be placed with the kinship care relative provider and that the placement with the kinship care relative provider is in the best interests of the child.

AB43,923 Section 923. 48.57 (3m) (am) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,2233 48.57 (3m) (am) 4. The county department or department conducts a background investigation under sub. (3p) of the kinship care relative provider, any employee and prospective employee of the kinship care relative provider who has or would have regular contact with the child for whom the payments would be made and any other adult resident of the kinship care relative’s provider’s home to determine if the kinship care relative provider, employee, prospective employee or adult resident has any arrests or convictions that could adversely affect the child or the kinship care relative’s provider’s ability to care for the child.

AB43,924 Section 924. 48.57 (3m) (am) 4m. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,2235 48.57 (3m) (am) 4m. Subject to sub. (3p) (fm) 1. and 2., the kinship care relative provider states that he or she does not have any arrests or convictions that could adversely affect the child or the kinship care relative’s provider’s ability to care for the child and that no adult resident, as defined in sub. (3p) (a), and no employee or prospective employee of the kinship care relative provider who would have regular contact with the child has any arrests or convictions that could adversely affect the child or the kinship care relative’s provider’s ability to care for the child.

AB43,925 Section 925. 48.57 (3m) (am) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,2237 48.57 (3m) (am) 5. The kinship care relative provider cooperates with the county department or department in the application process, including applying for other forms of assistance for which the child may be eligible.

AB43,926 Section 926. 48.57 (3m) (am) 5m. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,2239 48.57 (3m) (am) 5m. The kinship care relative provider is not receiving payments under sub. (3n) with respect to the child.

AB43,927 Section 927. 48.57 (3m) (am) 6. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,2241 48.57 (3m) (am) 6. The child for whom the kinship care relative provider is providing care and maintenance is not receiving supplemental security income under 42 USC 1381 to 1383c or state supplemental payments under s. 49.77.

AB43,928 Section 928. 48.57 (3m) (an) of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,2243 48.57 (3m) (an) In addition to the monthly payments for kinship care under par. (am), the department or, with the department’s approval, the county department may make payments for exceptional circumstances to enable siblings or a minor parent and minor children to reside together and for initial clothing allowances to a kinship care provider who is providing care and maintenance for a child residing in the home of the kinship care provider who is receiving a monthly rate under par. (am), commensurate with the needs of the child, according to the rules promulgated by the department under par. (i) 3.

****Note: This is reconciled s. 48.57 (3m) (an). This Section has been affected by drafts with the following LRB numbers: -0878/P4 and -0866/P4.

AB43,929 Section 929. 48.57 (3m) (ap) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,2245 48.57 (3m) (ap) 1. Subject to subds. 2. and 3., the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department may make payments under par. (am) to a kinship care relative provider who is providing care and maintenance for a child who is placed in the home of the kinship care relative provider under a court order for no more than 60 days after the date on which the county department or department received under par. (am) 1. the completed application of the kinship care relative provider for a license to operate a foster home or, if the application is approved or denied or the kinship care relative provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure within those 60 days, until the date on which the application is approved or denied or the kinship care relative provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure.

AB43,930 Section 930. 48.57 (3m) (ap) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,2247 48.57 (3m) (ap) 2. If the application specified in subd. 1. is not approved or denied or the kinship care relative provider is not otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure within 60 days after the date on which the county department or department received the completed application for any reason other than an act or omission of the kinship care relative provider, the county department or department may make payments under par. (am) for 4 months after the date on which the county department or department received the completed application or, if the application is approved or denied or the kinship care relative provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure within those 4 months, until the date on which the application is approved or denied or the kinship care relative provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure.

AB43,931 Section 931. 48.57 (3m) (ap) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,2249 48.57 (3m) (ap) 3. Notwithstanding that an application of a kinship care relative provider specified in subd. 1. is denied or the kinship care relative provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure, the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department may make payments under par. (am) to the kinship care relative provider for as long as the conditions specified in par. (am) 1. to 6. continue to apply if the county department or department submits to the court information relating to the background investigation specified in par. (am) 4., an assessment of the safety of the kinship care relative’s provider’s home and the ability of the kinship care relative provider to care for the child, and a recommendation that the child remain in the home of the kinship care relative provider and the court, after considering that information, assessment, and recommendation, orders the child to remain in the kinship care relative’s provider’s home. If the court does not order the child to remain in the kinship care relative’s provider’s home, the court shall order the county department or department to request a change in placement under s. 48.357 (1) (am) or 938.357 (1) (am). Any person specified in s. 48.357 (2m) (a) or 938.357 (2m) (a) may also request a change in placement.

AB43,932 Section 932. 48.57 (3m) (ar) and (at) of the statutes are created to read:

AB43,,2251 48.57 (3m) (ar) In addition to the monthly payments for kinship care under par. (ap), the department or, with the department’s approval, the county department may make emergency payments for kinship care to a kinship care provider who is providing care and maintenance for a child residing in the home of the kinship care provider under a court order if any of the following conditions are met:

AB43,,2252 1. The governor has declared a state of emergency pursuant to s. 323.10, or the federal government has declared a major disaster under 42 USC 68, that covers the locality of the home of the kinship care provider.

AB43,,2253 2. This state has received federal funding to be used for child welfare purposes due to an emergency or disaster declared for the locality of the home of the kinship care provider.

AB43,,2254 3. The department has determined that conditions in this state or in the locality of the home of the kinship care provider have resulted in a temporary increase in the costs borne by kinship care providers. Those conditions may include any of the following:

AB43,,2255 a. A pandemic or other public health threat.

AB43,,2256 b. A natural disaster.

AB43,,2257 c. Unplanned school closures of 5 consecutive days or more.

AB43,,2258 (at) The department shall determine the amount of emergency payments under par. (ar) based on available funding.