SB70-SSA2,254 Section 254. 48.526 (7) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-SSA2,298,18 48.526 (7) Allocations of funds. (intro.) Within the limits of the availability of the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (cj) and , (o), and (q), the department shall allocate funds for community youth and family aids for the period beginning on July 1, 2021, and ending on June 30, 2023, as provided in this subsection to county departments under ss. 46.215, 46.22, and 46.23 as follows:

SB70-SSA2,255 Section 255. 48.563 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-SSA2,298,24 48.563 (2) County allocation. For children and family services under s. 48.569 (1) (d), the department shall distribute not more than $101,154,200 in fiscal year 2021-22 and $101,162,800 in fiscal year 2022-23. In the following fiscal year, the department shall distribute $101,551,400. In the fiscal year after that, the department shall distribute $101,939,600.

SB70-SSA2,256 Section 256. 48.57 (3m) (am) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-SSA2,299,8 48.57 (3m) (am) (intro.) From the appropriations under s. 20.437 (2) (dz), (md), (me), and (s), the department shall reimburse counties having populations of less than 750,000 for payments made under this subsection and shall make payments under this subsection in a county having a population of 750,000 or more. Subject to par. (ap), a county department and, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department shall make payments in the amount of $300 $375 per month beginning on January 1, 2022 2024, to a kinship care relative who is providing care and maintenance for a child if all of the following conditions are met:

SB70-SSA2,257 Section 257. 48.57 (3n) (am) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-SSA2,299,18 48.57 (3n) (am) (intro.) From the appropriations under s. 20.437 (2) (dz), (md), (me), and (s), the department shall reimburse counties having populations of less than 750,000 for payments made under this subsection and shall make payments under this subsection in a county having a population of 750,000 or more. Subject to par. (ap), a county department and, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department shall make monthly payments for each child in the amount of $300 $375 per month beginning on January 1, 2022 2024, to a long-term kinship care relative who is providing care and maintenance for that child if all of the following conditions are met:

SB70-SSA2,258 Section 258. 48.62 (4) of the statutes is renumbered 48.62 (4) (a) (intro.) and amended to read:

SB70-SSA2,300,2 48.62 (4) (a) (intro.) Monthly payments in foster care shall be provided according to the rates specified in this subsection. Beginning on January 1, 2022 2024, the rates are $300 for care and maintenance provided for a child of any age by a foster home that is certified to provide level one care, as defined in the rules promulgated under sub. (8) (a), are $375 and, for care and maintenance provided by a foster home that is certified to provide care at a level of care that is higher than level one care, $420 for the rates are all of the following:

SB70-SSA2,300,3 1. For a child under 5 years of age; $460 for, $441.

SB70-SSA2,300,4 2. For a child 5 to 11 years of age; $522 for, $483.

SB70-SSA2,300,5 3. For a child 12 to 14 years of age; and $545 for, $548.

SB70-SSA2,300,6 4. For a child 15 years of age or over, $572.

SB70-SSA2,300,13 (b) In addition to these the grants under par. (a) for basic maintenance, the department, county department, or licensed child welfare agency shall make supplemental payments for foster care to a foster home that is receiving an age-related rate under this subsection that are commensurate with the level of care that the foster home is certified to provide and the needs of the child who is placed in the foster home according to the rules promulgated by the department under sub. (8) (c).

SB70-SSA2,259 Section 259 . 48.623 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-SSA2,301,3 48.623 (1) Eligibility. (intro.) A county department or, as provided in sub. (3) (a), an Indian tribe or the department shall provide monthly subsidized guardianship payments in the amount specified in sub. (3) (b) to a guardian of a child under s. 48.977 (2) or under a substantially similar tribal law if the county department, Indian tribe, or department determines that the conditions specified in pars. (a) to (d) have been met. A county department or, as provided in sub. (3) (a), a tribe or the department shall also provide those payments for the care of a sibling of such a child, regardless of whether the sibling meets the conditions specified in par. (a), if the county department, Indian tribe, or department and the guardian agree on the appropriateness of placing the sibling in the home of the guardian. A guardian of a child under s. 48.977 (2) or under a substantially similar tribal law is eligible for monthly subsidized guardianship payments under this subsection if the county department, Indian tribe, or the department, whichever will be providing those payments, determines that all of the following apply:

SB70-SSA2,260 Section 260 . 48.623 (1) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-SSA2,301,11 48.623 (1) (b) 3. The guardian is licensed as the child's foster parent and the guardian and all adults residing in the guardian's home meet the requirements specified in s. 48.685 or, for a guardianship of a child ordered by a tribal court in which the background investigation is conducted by the Indian tribe, all adults residing in the guardian's home meet either the requirements specified in s. 48.685 or the background check requirements for foster parent licensing under 42 USC 671 (a) (20).

SB70-SSA2,261 Section 261 . 48.623 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-SSA2,301,18 48.623 (1) (c) An order under s. 48.345, 48.357, 48.363, 48.365, 938.345, 938.357, 938.363, or 938.365 or a tribal court under a substantially similar tribal law placing the child, or continuing the placement of the child, outside of the child's home has been terminated, or any proceeding in which the child has been adjudged to be in need of protection or services specified in s. 48.977 (2) (a) has been dismissed, as provided in s. 48.977 (3r) (a).

SB70-SSA2,262 Section 262 . 48.623 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-SSA2,302,10 48.623 (2) Subsidized guardianship agreement. (intro.) Before a county department, an Indian tribe, or the department may approve the provision of subsidized guardianship payments under sub. (1) to a proposed guardian, the county department, Indian tribe, or department shall negotiate and enter into a written, binding subsidized guardianship agreement with the proposed guardian and provide the proposed guardian with a copy of the agreement. A subsidized guardianship agreement or an amended subsidized guardianship agreement may also name a prospective successor guardian of the child to assume the duty and authority of guardianship on the death or incapacity of the guardian. A successor guardian is eligible for monthly subsidized guardianship payments under this section only if the successor guardian is named as a prospective successor guardian of the child in a subsidized guardianship agreement or amended subsidized guardianship agreement that was entered into before the death or incapacity of the guardian, the conditions specified in sub. (6) (bm) are met, and the court appoints the successor guardian to assume the duty and authority of guardianship as provided in s. 48.977 (5m). A subsidized guardianship agreement shall specify all of the following:

SB70-SSA2,263 Section 263 . 48.623 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-SSA2,302,14 48.623 (2) (c) That the county department, Indian tribe, or department will pay the total cost of the nonrecurring expenses that are associated with obtaining guardianship of the child, not to exceed $2,000.

SB70-SSA2,264 Section 264 . 48.623 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-SSA2,303,7 48.623 (3) (a) Except as provided in this paragraph, the county department shall provide the monthly payments under sub. (1) or (6). An Indian tribe that has entered into an agreement with the department under sub. (8) shall provide the monthly payments under sub. (1) or (6) for guardianships of children ordered by the tribal court, or a county department may provide the monthly payments under sub. (1) or (6) for guardianships of children ordered by the tribal court if the county department has entered into an agreement with the governing body of an Indian tribe to provide those payments. The county department or Indian tribe shall provide those payments from moneys received under s. 48.48 (8r). The department shall reimburse county departments and Indian tribes for the cost of subsidized guardianship payments, including payments made by county departments for guardianships of Indian children ordered by tribal courts, from the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (dd), (kL), and (pd). In a county having a population of 750,000 or more or in the circumstances specified in s. 48.43 (7) (a) or 48.485 (1), the department shall provide the monthly payments under sub. (1) or (6). The department shall provide those payments from the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (cx) and (mx).

SB70-SSA2,265 Section 265 . 48.623 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-SSA2,303,17 48.623 (3) (b) The county department or, as provided in par. (a), an Indian tribe or the department shall determine the initial amount of a monthly payment under sub. (1) or (6) for the care of a child based on the circumstances of the guardian and the needs of the child. That amount may not exceed the amount received under s. 48.62 (4) or a substantially similar tribal law by the guardian of the child for the month immediately preceding the month in which the guardianship order was granted. A guardian or an interim caretaker who receives a monthly payment under sub. (1) or (6) for the care of a child is not eligible to receive a payment under s. 48.57 (3m) or (3n) or 48.62 (4) for the care of that child.