Chapter 949

949.20(8) (8) “Sexually transmitted disease” has the meaning given in s. 252.11 (1).

949.20(9) (9) “Victim” means a person against whom a sex offense has been committed.

949.20 History History: 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 180.

949.22 949.22 Administration. The department shall administer this subchapter. The department shall appoint a program director to assist in administering this subchapter. The department shall promulgate rules for the implementation and operation of this subchapter. The rules shall include procedures to ensure that any limitation of an award is calculated in a fair and equitable manner.

949.22 History History: 2007 a. 20.

949.24 949.24 Application for award.

949.24(1) (1) Eligibility. Any health care provider who conducts an examination to gather evidence regarding a sex offense may apply for an award under this subchapter.

949.24(2) (2) Forms. The department shall prescribe application forms for awards under this subchapter and shall furnish health care providers with the forms.

949.24(3) (3) Medical records. An applicant shall submit to the department reports from any physician, physician’s assistant, or nurse who treated or examined the victim to gather evidence regarding a sex offense, performed any procedure during that treatment or examination that tests for or prevents a sexually transmitted disease, or provided or prescribed any medication to prevent or treat a sexually transmitted disease. The applicant may not submit to the department any other records than those pertaining to the examination, treatment, procedure, or medication for which the applicant is seeking an award.

949.24 History History: 2007 a. 20.

949.26 949.26 Computation of awards.

949.26(1) (1) Except as provided in sub. (1m), the department shall make an award under this section to a health care provider who conducts an examination to gather evidence regarding a sex offense to reimburse the health care provider only for the examination costs, as follows:

949.26(1)(a) (a) If, under sub. (2) (b), the health care provider is not authorized to seek payment from insurance or another available source of payment, the award shall be the examination costs, regardless of whether the victim, or any guardian of the victim, cooperates with a law enforcement agency regarding the sex offense.

949.26(1)(b) (b) If, under sub. (2) (b), the health care provider is authorized to seek payment from insurance or another available source of payment and the victim, or any guardian of the victim, does not cooperate with a law enforcement agency regarding the sex offense, the award shall be the examination costs, reduced by any payment to be received as a result of the authorization under sub. (2) (b).

949.26(1m) (1m) The department may not make an award under this section if, under sub. (2) (b), the health care provider is authorized to seek payment and the victim, or any guardian of the victim, cooperates with a law enforcement agency.

949.26(2) (2) 

949.26(2)(a) (a) A health care provider seeking an award under this section may not seek payment for any examination costs from the victim or any guardian of the victim.

949.26(2)(b) (b) A health care provider seeking an award under this section may not seek payment for any examination costs from insurance or another available source of payment unless the victim or any guardian of the victim authorizes the health care provider to seek payment.

949.26(3) (3) The department may not refuse to make an award under this section because the victim or the guardian of the victim does not cooperate with a law enforcement agency regarding the sex offense, or due to lack of an investigation or prosecution of the sex offense.

949.26 History History: 2007 a. 20.

949.28 949.28 Limitations on awards.

949.28(1) (1) No order for the payment of an award under this subchapter may be made unless the application was made within one year after the date of the examination. The department may waive the one-year requirement under this subsection in the interest of justice.

949.28(2) (2) The department may not make an award under this subchapter that exceeds the examination costs of the victim.

949.28(3) (3) The department may not make an award under this subchapter for any part of the examination costs of the victim for which the health care provider seeking the award has received compensation from any other source.

949.28 History History: 2007 a. 20.

949.31 949.31 Hearings.

949.31(1) (1) The procedure of ch. 227 for contested cases applies to hearings under this subchapter except as otherwise provided in this section and s. 949.32.

949.31(2) (2) The division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration shall appoint hearing examiners to make findings and orders under s. 227.46 and this subchapter.

949.31(3) (3) All hearings shall be open to the public unless in a particular case the examiner determines that the hearing, or a portion of the hearing, shall be held in private having regard to the fact that the offender has not been convicted or to the interest of the victim.

949.31 History History: 2007 a. 20.

949.315 949.315 Subpoenas. The department or any of its authorized agents may issue subpoenas for persons or records for any investigation or hearing conducted under this subchapter and may enforce compliance with such subpoenas as provided in s. 885.12.

949.315 History History: 2007 a. 20.

949.32 949.32 Condition of victim. There is no privilege, except privileges arising from the attorney-client relationship, as to communications or records relevant to an issue of the physical condition of the victim in a proceeding under this subchapter in which that condition is an element.

949.32 History History: 2007 a. 20.

949.33 949.33 Agency cooperation. Upon request by the department, any state or local agency, including a district attorney or law enforcement agency, shall make available all reports, files, and other appropriate information which the department requests in order to make a determination that a health care provider is eligible for an award under this subchapter.

949.33 History History: 2007 a. 20.

949.36 949.36 Confidentiality. If a health care provider seeks an award under this subchapter, any personally identifiable information, as defined in s. 19.62 (5), of the victim who received the examination shall remain confidential unless written consent for the release of any personally identifiable information is provided by one of the following:

949.36(1) (1) Except as provided under sub. (2), the victim.

949.36(2) (2) If there is a guardian of the victim, the guardian of the victim.

949.36 History History: 2007 a. 20.

949.37 949.37 Offenses.

949.37(1) (1) Prohibition. In connection with an award under this subchapter, no person may do any of the following:

949.37(1)(a) (a) Submit a fraudulent application or claim for an award.

949.37(1)(b) (b) Intentionally make or cause to be made any false statement or representation of a material fact.

949.37(1)(c) (c) Intentionally conceal or fail to disclose information affecting the amount of or the initial or continued right to any such award when reasonably requested to provide such information by the department.

949.37(2) (2) Penalties. Any person who violates this section shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both. The person shall forfeit any benefit received and shall reimburse the state for payments received.

949.37(3) (3) Damages. The state has a civil cause of action for relief against any person who violates this section for the amount of damages that the state sustained by reason of the violation and, in addition, for punitive damages not more than double the amount of damages that the state may have sustained, together with interest, and the cost of the suit.

949.37(4) (4) Action. The attorney general may bring any action and has such powers as may be necessary to enforce this section.

949.37 History History: 2007 a. 20.

949.38 949.38 Report by the department. The department’s biennial report under s. 15.04 (1) (d) shall include a report of its activities under this subchapter including all of the following:

949.38(1) (1) An explanation of the procedures for filing and processing claims under this subchapter.

949.38(2) (2) A description of the programs and policies instituted to promote awareness about the awards under this subchapter.

949.38(3) (3) An analysis of future needs and suggested program improvements.

949.38(4) (4) A copy of the forms used under this subchapter.

949.38(5) (5) A complete statistical analysis of the cases handled under this subchapter, including all of the following:

949.38(5)(a) (a) The number of claims filed.

949.38(5)(b) (b) The number of claims approved and the amount of each award.

949.38(5)(c) (c) The number of claims denied and the reasons for rejection.

949.38(5)(d) (d) A breakdown of claims by geographic area and month.

949.38 History History: 2007 a. 20.