Powers and duties of department and county departments providing child welfare services
Wis. Stat. § 48.57
in effect(1) Each county department shall administer and expend such amounts as may be necessary out of any moneys which may be appropriated for child welfare purposes by the county board of supervisors or by the legislature, which may be donated by individuals or private organizations or which may be otherwise provided. The department shall have the authority specified in s. 48.48 (17). A county department shall have the authority:
(a) To investigate the conditions surrounding nonmarital children, children in need of protection or services, including developmentally disabled children, and unborn children in need of protection or services within the county and to take every reasonable action within its power to secure for them the full benefit of all laws enacted for their benefit. Unless provided by another agency, the county department shall offer social services to the caretaker of any child, and to the expectant mother of any unborn child, who is referred to it under the conditions specified in this paragraph. This duty shall be discharged in cooperation with the court and with the public officers or boards legally responsible for the administration and enforcement of those laws.
(b) To accept legal custody of children transferred to it by the court under s. 48.355, to accept supervision over expectant mothers of unborn children who are placed under its supervision under s. 48.355 and to provide special treatment or care for children and expectant mothers if ordered by the court. A court may not order a county department to administer psychotropic medications to children and expectant mothers who receive special treatment or care under this paragraph.
(c) To provide appropriate protection and services for children and the expectant mothers of unborn children in its care, including providing services for those children and their families and for those expectant mothers in their own homes, placing those children in licensed foster homes or group homes in this state or similar facilities regulated in another state within a reasonable proximity to the agency with legal custody, placing those children in the homes of guardians under s. 48.977 (2), placing those children in a qualifying residential family-based treatment facility, or in a similar facility regulated in another state, or contracting for services for those children by licensed child welfare agencies in this state or a child welfare agency regulated in another state, except that the county department may not purchase the educational component of private day treatment programs unless the county department, the school board, as defined in s. 115.001 (7), and the state superintendent of public instruction all determine that an appropriate public education program is not available. Disputes between the county department and the school district shall be resolved by the state superintendent of public instruction.
(d) To provide for the moral and religious training of children in its care according to the religious belief of the child or of his or her parents.
(e) If a county department in a county with a population of 750,000 or more and if contracted to do so by the department, to place children in a county children’s home in the county under policies adopted by the county board of supervisors, to accept guardianship of children when appointed by the court and to place children under its guardianship for adoption.
(f) To provide services to the court under s. 48.06.
(g) Upon request of the department or the department of corrections, to provide service for any child or expectant mother of an unborn child in the care of those departments.
(h) To contract with any parent or guardian or other person for the care and maintenance of any child.
(hm) If a county department in a county with a population of less than 750,000, to accept guardianship, when appointed by the court, of a child whom the county department has placed in a foster home under a court order or voluntary agreement under s. 48.63 and to place that child under its guardianship for adoption by the foster parent.
(i) To license foster homes in accordance with s. 48.75.
(j) To use in the media a picture or description of a child in its guardianship for the purpose of finding adoptive parents for that child.
(2) In performing the functions specified in sub. (1) the county department may avail itself of the cooperation of any individual or private agency or organization interested in the social welfare of children and unborn children in the county.
(2m) A county department, as soon as practicable after learning that a person who is receiving child welfare services under sub. (1) from the county department has changed his or her county of residence, shall provide notice of that change to the county department of the person’s new county of residence or, if that new county of residence is a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department. The notice shall include a brief, written description of the services offered or provided to the person by the county department and the name, telephone number, and address of a person to contact for more information.
(3)
(a) From the reimbursement received under s. 46.495 (1) (d), counties may provide funding for the maintenance of any child who:
1. Is 18 years of age or older;
2. Is enrolled in and regularly attending a secondary education classroom program leading to a high school diploma;
3. Received funding under s. 48.569 (1) (d) or under s. 46.495 (1) (d), 2005 stats., immediately prior to his or her 18th birthday; and
4. Is living in a foster home, group home, residential care center for children and youth, subsidized guardianship home, qualifying residential family-based treatment facility, or a similar facility regulated in another state or in a supervised independent living arrangement.
(b) The funding provided for the maintenance of a child under par. (a) shall be in an amount equal to that which the child would receive under s. 48.569 (1) (d) if the child were 17 years of age.
(3m)
(a) In this subsection:
1. “Child” means a person under 18 years of age. “Child” also includes a person 18 years of age or over, if any of the following applies:
a. The person is under 19 years of age, is a full-time student in good academic standing at a secondary school or its vocational or technical equivalent, and is reasonably expected to complete his or her program of study and be granted a high school or high school equivalency diploma.
b. The person is under 21 years of age, the person is a full-time student in good academic standing at a secondary school or its vocational or technical equivalent, an individualized education program under s. 115.787 is in effect for the person, and the person is placed in the home of the kinship care provider under an order under s. 48.355, 48.357, 48.365, 938.355, 938.357, or 938.365 that terminates under s. 48.355 (4) (b) or 938.355 (4) (am) after the person attains 18 years of age or under a voluntary transition-to-independent-living agreement under s. 48.366 (3) or 938.366 (3).
2. “Kinship care provider” means a relative other than a parent, an extended family member, as defined in s. 48.028 (2) (am), or like-kin.
(am) 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 $384 per month beginning on January 1, 2026, to a kinship care provider who is providing care and maintenance for a child if all of the following conditions are met:
1. The kinship care provider applies to the county department or department for payments under this subsection and, if the child is placed in the home of the kinship care provider under a court order, other than a court order under s. 48.9795 or ch. 54, 2017 stats., for a license to operate a foster home.
1m. The county department or department determines that there is a need for the child to be placed with the kinship care provider and that the placement with the kinship care provider is in the best interests of the child.
2. The county department or department determines that the child meets one or more of the criteria specified in s. 48.13 or 938.13, that the child would be at risk of meeting one or more of those criteria if the child were to remain in his or her home or, if the child is 18 years of age or over, that the child would meet or be at risk of meeting one or more of those criteria as specified in this subdivision if the child were under 18 years of age.
4. The county department or department conducts a background investigation under sub. (3p) of the kinship care provider, any employee and prospective employee of the kinship care 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 provider’s home to determine if the kinship care provider, employee, prospective employee or adult resident has any arrests or convictions that could adversely affect the child or the kinship care provider’s ability to care for the child.
4m. Subject to sub. (3p) (fm) 1. and 2., the kinship care provider states that he or she does not have any arrests or convictions that could adversely affect the child or the kinship care 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 provider who would have regular contact with the child has any arrests or convictions that could adversely affect the child or the kinship care provider’s ability to care for the child.
5. The kinship care 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.
5m. The kinship care provider is not receiving payments under sub. (3n) with respect to the child.
6. The child for whom the kinship care 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.
(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 provider who is providing care and maintenance for a child who is placed in the home of the kinship care 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 provider for a license to operate a foster home or, if the application is approved or denied or the kinship care 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 provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure.
2. If the application specified in subd. 1. is not approved or denied or the kinship care 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 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 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 provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure.
3. Notwithstanding that an application of a kinship care provider specified in subd. 1. is denied or the kinship care 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 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 provider’s home and the ability of the kinship care provider to care for the child, and a recommendation that the child remain in the home of the kinship care provider and the court, after considering that information, assessment, and recommendation, orders the child to remain in the kinship care provider’s home. If the court does not order the child to remain in the kinship care 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.
(b)
1. The county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department shall refer to the attorney responsible for support enforcement under s. 59.53 (6) (a) the name of the parent or parents of a child for whom a payment is made under par. (am). This subdivision does not apply to a child 18 years of age or over for whom a payment is made under par. (am).
2. When any kinship care provider of a child applies for or receives payments under this subsection, any right of the child or the child’s parent to support or maintenance from any other person accruing during the time that payments are made under this subsection is assigned to the state. If a child who is the beneficiary of a payment under this subsection is also the beneficiary of support under a judgment or order that includes support for one or more children who are not the beneficiaries of payments under this subsection, any support payment made under the judgment or order is assigned to the state in the amount that is the proportionate share of the child who is the beneficiary of the payment made under this subsection, except as otherwise ordered by the court on the motion of a party.
(c) The county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department shall require the parent or parents of a child for whom a payment is made under par. (am) to initiate or continue health care insurance coverage for the child.
(cm) A kinship care provider who receives a payment under par. (am) for providing care and maintenance for a child is not eligible to receive a payment under sub. (3n) or s. 48.62 (4) or 48.623 (1) or (6) for that child.
(d) A county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department shall review a placement of a child for which the county department or department makes payments under par. (am) not less than every 12 months after the county department or department begins making those payments to determine whether the conditions specified in par. (am) continue to exist. If those conditions do not continue to exist, the county department or department shall discontinue making those payments.
(e) The department shall determine whether the child is eligible for medical assistance under ss. 49.43 to 49.471.
(f) Any person whose application for payments under par. (am) is not acted on promptly, is denied on the grounds that a condition specified in par. (am) 1., 1m., 2., 5., 5m., or 6. has not been met, or is denied following a review under sub. (3p) (h) on the grounds that a condition specified in par. (am) 4. or 4m. has not been met, and any person whose payments under par. (am) are discontinued under par. (d), may petition the department under par. (g) for a review of that action or failure to act. Review is unavailable if the action or failure to act arose more than 45 days before submission of the petition for review.
(g)
1. Upon receipt of a timely petition under par. (f) the department shall give the applicant or recipient reasonable notice and an opportunity for a fair hearing. The department may make such additional investigation as it considers necessary. Notice of the hearing shall be given to the applicant or recipient and to the county department or subunit of the department whose action or failure to act is the subject of the petition. That county department or subunit of the department may be represented at the hearing. The department shall render its decision as soon as possible after the hearing and shall send a certified copy of its decision to the applicant or recipient and to the county department or subunit of the department whose action or failure to act is the subject of the petition. The decision of the department shall have the same effect as an order of the county department or subunit of the department whose action or failure to act is the subject of the petition. The decision shall be final, but may be reviewed under ss. 227.52 to 227.58 or revoked or modified as altered conditions may require. The department shall deny a petition for review or shall refuse to grant relief if any of the following applies:
a. The petitioner withdraws the petition in writing.
b. The sole issue in the petition concerns an automatic payment adjustment or change that affects an entire class of recipients and is the result of a change in state law.
c. The petitioner abandons the petition. Abandonment occurs if the petitioner fails to appear in person or by a representative at a scheduled hearing without good cause, as determined by the department.
2. If a recipient requests a hearing within 10 days after the date of notice that his or her payments under par. (am) are being discontinued, those payments may not be discontinued until a decision is rendered after the hearing but payments made pending the hearing decision may be recovered by the department if the contested action or failure to act is upheld. The department shall promptly notify the county department of the county in which the recipient resides or, if the recipient resides in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the subunit of the department administering of the kinship care program in that county that the recipient has requested a hearing. Payments under par. (am) shall be discontinued if any of the following applies:
a. The recipient is contesting a state law or a change in state law and not the determination of the payment made on the recipient’s behalf.
b. The recipient is notified of a change in his or her payments under par. (am) while the hearing decision is pending but the recipient fails to request a hearing on the change.
3. The recipient shall be promptly informed in writing if his or her payments under par. (am) are to be discontinued pending the hearing decision.
(h) A county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department may recover an overpayment made under par. (am) from a kinship care provider who continues to receive payments under par. (am) by reducing the amount of the kinship care provider’s monthly payment. The department may by rule specify other methods for recovering overpayments made under par. (am). A county department that recovers an overpayment under this paragraph due to the efforts of its officers and employees may retain a portion of the amount recovered, as provided by the department by rule.
(i) The department shall promulgate rules to implement this subsection. Those rules shall include all of the following:
1. Rules to provide assessment criteria for determining whether a kinship care provider who is providing care and maintenance for a child is eligible to receive payments under par. (am). The rules shall also provide that any criteria established under the rules shall first apply to applications for payments under par. (am) received, and to reviews under par. (d) conducted, on the effective date of those rules.
2. Rules governing the provision of kinship care payments for the care and maintenance of a child after the child attains 18 years of age.
(3n)
(a) In this subsection:
1. “Child” means a person under 18 years of age. “Child” also includes a person 18 years of age or over, if any of the following applies:
a. The person is under 19 years of age, is a full-time student in good academic standing at a secondary school or its vocational or technical equivalent, and is reasonably expected to complete his or her program of study and be granted a high school or high school equivalency diploma.
b. The person is under 21 years of age, the person is a full-time student in good academic standing at a secondary school or its vocational or technical equivalent, an individualized education program under s. 115.787 is in effect for the person, and the person is placed in the home of the long-term kinship care provider under an order under s. 48.355, 48.357, 48.365, 938.355, 938.357, or 938.365 that terminates under s. 48.355 (4) (b) or 938.355 (4) (am) after the person attains 18 years of age or under a voluntary transition-to-independent-living agreement under s. 48.366 (3) or 938.366 (3).
2. “Long-term kinship care provider” means a relative other than a parent, an extended family member, as defined in s. 48.028 (2) (am), or like-kin.
(am) 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 $384 per month beginning on January 1, 2026, to a long-term kinship care provider who is providing care and maintenance for that child if all of the following conditions are met:
1. The long-term kinship care provider applies to the county department or department for payments under this subsection, provides proof that he or she has been appointed as the guardian of the child, and, if the child is placed in the home of the long-term kinship care provider under a court order, other than a court order under s. 48.9795 or ch. 54, 2017 stats., applies to the county department or department for a license to operate a foster home.
2. The county department or department inspects the long-term kinship care provider’s home, interviews the long-term kinship care provider and determines that long-term placement with the long-term kinship care provider is in the best interests of the child.
4. The county department or department conducts a background investigation under sub. (3p) of the long-term kinship care provider, the employees and prospective employees of the long-term kinship care provider who have or would have regular contact with the child for whom the payments would be made and any other adult resident, as defined in sub. (3p) (a), of the long-term kinship care provider’s home to determine if the long-term kinship care provider, employee, prospective employee or adult resident has any arrests or convictions that are likely to adversely affect the child or the long-term kinship care provider’s ability to care for the child.
4m. Subject to sub. (3p) (fm) 1m. and 2m., the long-term kinship care provider states that he or she does not have any arrests or convictions that could adversely affect the child or the long-term kinship care provider’s ability to care for the child and that, to the best of the long-term kinship care provider’s knowledge, no adult resident, as defined in sub. (3p) (a), and no employee or prospective employee of the long-term kinship care provider who would have regular contact with the child has any arrests or convictions that could adversely affect the child or the long-term kinship care provider’s ability to care for the child.
5. The long-term kinship care 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.
5m. The long-term kinship care provider is not receiving payments under sub. (3m) with respect to the child.
5r. The child for whom the long-term kinship care 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.
6. The long-term kinship care provider and the county department or department enter into a written agreement under which the long-term kinship care provider agrees to provide care and maintenance for the child and the county department or department agrees, subject to sub. (3p) (hm), to make monthly payments to the long-term kinship care provider at the rate specified in sub. (3m) (am) (intro.) until the earliest of the following:
a. The date on which the child attains the age of 18 years; or, if on that date the child is a full-time student in good academic standing at a secondary school or its vocational or technical equivalent and is reasonably expected to complete his or her program of study and be granted a high school or high school equivalency diploma, the date on which the child is granted a high school or high school equivalency diploma or the date on which the child attains the age of 19 years, whichever occurs first; or, if on that date the child is a full-time student in good academic standing at a secondary school or its vocational or technical equivalent and an individualized education program under s. 115.787 is in effect for the child, the date on which the child is granted a high school or high school equivalency diploma or the date on which the child attains the age of 21 years, whichever occurs first.
b. The date on which the child dies.
c. The date on which the child is placed outside the long-term kinship care provider’s home under a court order or under a voluntary agreement under s. 48.63 (1) (a) or (b) or (5) (b).
d. The date on which the child ceases to reside with the long-term kinship care provider.
e. The date on which the long-term kinship care provider’s guardianship under s. 48.977 terminates.
f. The date on which the child moves out of the state.
(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 long-term kinship care provider who is providing care and maintenance for a child who is placed in the home of the long-term kinship care provider 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 long-term kinship care provider for a license to operate a foster home or, if the application is approved or denied or the long-term kinship care 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 long-term kinship care provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure.
2. If the application specified in subd. 1. is not approved or denied or the long-term kinship care 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 long-term kinship care 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 long-term kinship care 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 long-term kinship care provider is otherwise determined to be ineligible for licensure.
3. Notwithstanding that an application of a long-term kinship care provider specified in subd. 1. is denied or the long-term kinship care 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 long-term kinship care provider until an event specified in par. (am) 6. a. to f. occurs 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 long-term kinship care provider’s home and the ability of the long-term kinship care provider to care for the child, and a recommendation that the child remain in the home of the long-term kinship care provider and the court, after considering that information, assessment, and recommendation, orders the child to remain in the long-term kinship care provider’s home. If the court does not order the child to remain in the kinship care 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) or to request a termination of the guardianship order under s. 48.977 (7). Any person specified in s. 48.357 (2m) (a) or 938.357 (2m) (a) may also request a change in placement and any person who is authorized to file a petition for the appointment of a guardian for the child may also request a termination of the guardianship order.
(ar) Subject to sub. (3p) (fm) 1m. and (hm), a county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department shall enter into an agreement under par. (am) 6. if all of the following conditions are met:
1. All of the conditions in par. (am) 1. to 5r. are met.
2. The applicant has expressed a willingness to enter into the agreement.
(b)
1. The county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department shall refer to the attorney responsible for support enforcement under s. 59.53 (6) (a) the name of the parent or parents of a child for whom a payment is made under par. (am). This subdivision does not apply to a child 18 years of age or over for whom a payment is made under par. (am).
2. When any long-term kinship care provider of a child applies for or receives payments under this subsection, any right of the child or the child’s parent to support or maintenance from any other person accruing during the time that payments are made under this subsection is assigned to the state. If a child is the beneficiary of support under a judgment or order that includes support for one or more children who are not the beneficiaries of payments under this subsection, any support payment made under the judgment or order is assigned to the state in the amount that is the proportionate share of the child who is the beneficiary of the payment made under this subsection, except as otherwise ordered by the court on the motion of a party.
(c) The county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department shall require the parent or parents of a child for whom a payment is made under par. (am) to initiate or continue health care insurance coverage for the child.
(cm) A long-term kinship care provider who receives a payment under par. (am) for providing care and maintenance for a child is not eligible to receive a payment under sub. (3m) or s. 48.62 (4) or 48.623 (1) or (6) for that child.
(d) The county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department shall, at least once every 12 months after the county department or department begins making payments under this subsection, determine whether any of the events specified in par. (am) 6. a. to f. have occurred. If any such events have occurred, the county department or department shall discontinue making those payments.
(e) The department shall determine whether the child is eligible for medical assistance under ss. 49.43 to 49.471.
(f) Any person whose application for payments under par. (am) is not acted on promptly, is denied on the grounds that a condition specified in par. (am) 1., 2., 5., 5m., or 5r. has not been met, or is denied following a review under sub. (3p) (hm) on the grounds that a condition specified in par. (am) 4. or 4m. has not been met, and any person whose payments under par. (am) are discontinued under par. (d), may petition the department under par. (g) for a review of that action or failure to act. Review is unavailable if the action or failure to act arose more than 45 days before submission of the petition for review.
(g)
1. Upon receipt of a timely petition under par. (f) the department shall give the applicant or recipient reasonable notice and an opportunity for a fair hearing. The department may make such additional investigation as it considers necessary. Notice of the hearing shall be given to the applicant or recipient and to the county department or subunit of the department whose action or failure to act is the subject of the petition. That county department or subunit of the department may be represented at the hearing. The department shall render its decision as soon as possible after the hearing and shall send a certified copy of its decision to the applicant or recipient and to the county department or subunit of the department whose action or failure to act is the subject of the petition. The decision of the department shall have the same effect as an order of the county department or subunit of the department whose action or failure to act is the subject of the petition. The decision shall be final, but may be reviewed under ss. 227.52 to 227.58 or revoked or modified as altered conditions may require. The department shall deny a petition for review or shall refuse to grant relief if any of the following applies:
a. The petitioner withdraws the petition in writing.
b. The sole issue in the petition concerns an automatic payment adjustment or change that affects an entire class of recipients and is the result of a change in state law.
c. The petitioner abandons the petition. Abandonment occurs if the petitioner fails to appear in person or by a representative at a scheduled hearing without good cause, as determined by the department.
2. If a recipient requests a hearing within 10 days after the date of notice that his or her payments under par. (am) are being discontinued, those payments may not be discontinued until a decision is rendered after the hearing but payments made pending the hearing decision may be recovered by the department if the contested action or failure to act is upheld. The department shall promptly notify the county department of the county in which the recipient resides or, if the recipient resides in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the subunit of the department administering of the long-term kinship care program in that county that the recipient has requested a hearing. Payments under par. (am) shall be discontinued if any of the following applies:
a. The recipient is contesting a state law or a change in state law and not the determination of the payment made on the recipient’s behalf.
b. The recipient is notified of a change in his or her payments under par. (am) while the hearing decision is pending but the recipient fails to request a hearing on the change.
3. The recipient shall be promptly informed in writing if his or her payments under par. (am) are to be discontinued pending the hearing decision.
(h) A county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department may recover an overpayment made under par. (am) from a long-term kinship care provider who continues to receive payments under par. (am) by reducing the amount of the long-term kinship care provider’s monthly payment. The department may by rule specify other methods for recovering overpayments made under par. (am). A county department that recovers an overpayment under this paragraph due to the efforts of its officers and employees may retain a portion of the amount recovered, as provided by the department by rule.
(i) The department shall promulgate rules to implement this subsection. Those rules shall include rules governing the provision of long-term kinship care payments for the care and maintenance of a child after the child attains 18 years of age.
(3p)
(a) In this subsection, “adult resident” means a person 18 years of age or over who lives at the home of a person who has applied for or is receiving payments under sub. (3m) or (3n) with the intent of making that home his or her home or who lives for more than 30 days cumulative in any 6-month period at the home of a person who has applied for or is receiving payments under sub. (3m) or (3n).
(b)
1. After receipt of an application for payments under sub. (3m) or (3n), the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department, with the assistance of the department of justice, shall conduct a background investigation of the applicant.
2. The county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department, with the assistance of the department of justice, may conduct a background investigation of any person who is receiving payments under sub. (3m) at the time of review under sub. (3m) (d) or at any other time that the county department or department considers to be appropriate.
3. The county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department, with the assistance of the department of justice, may conduct a background investigation of any person who is receiving payments under sub. (3n) at any time that the county department or department considers to be appropriate.
(c)
1. After receipt of an application for payments under sub. (3m) or (3n), the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department, with the assistance of the department of justice, shall, in addition to the investigation under par. (b) 1., conduct a background investigation of all employees and prospective employees of the applicant who have or would have regular contact with the child for whom those payments are being made and of each adult resident.
2. The county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department, with the assistance of the department of justice, may conduct a background investigation of any of the employees or prospective employees of any person who is receiving payments under sub. (3m) who have or would have regular contact with the child for whom those payments are being made and of each adult resident at the time of review under sub. (3m) (d) or at any other time that the county department or department considers to be appropriate.
2m. The county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department, with the assistance of the department of justice, may conduct a background investigation of any of the employees or prospective employees of any person who is receiving payments under sub. (3n) who have or would have regular contact with the child for whom payments are being made and of each adult resident at any time that the county department or department considers to be appropriate.
3. Before a person who is receiving payments under sub. (3m) or (3n) may employ any person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom those payments are being made or permit any person to be an adult resident, the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department, with the assistance of the department of justice, shall conduct a background investigation of the prospective employee or prospective adult resident unless that person has already been investigated under subd. 1., 2. or 2m.
(d) If the person being investigated under par. (b) or (c) is a nonresident, or at any time within the 5 years preceding the date of the application has been a nonresident, or if the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department determines that the person’s employment, licensing or state court records provide a reasonable basis for further investigation, the county department or department shall require the person to be fingerprinted on 2 fingerprint cards, each bearing a complete set of the person’s fingerprints, or by other technologies approved by law enforcement agencies. The department of justice may provide for the submission of the fingerprint cards or fingerprints by other technologies to the federal bureau of investigation for the purposes of verifying the identity of the person fingerprinted and obtaining records of his or her criminal arrest and conviction.
(e) Upon request, a person being investigated under par. (b) or (c) shall provide the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department with all of the following information:
1. The person’s name.
2. The person’s social security number.
3. Other identifying information, including the person’s birthdate, gender, race and any identifying physical characteristics.
4. Information regarding the conviction record of the person under the law of this state or any other state or under federal law. This information shall be provided on a notarized background verification form that the department shall provide by rule.
(fm)
1. The county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department may provisionally approve the making of payments under sub. (3m) based on the applicant’s statement under sub. (3m) (am) 4m. The county department or department may not finally approve the making of payments under sub. (3m) unless the county department or department receives information from the department of justice indicating that the conviction record of the applicant under the law of this state is satisfactory according to the criteria specified in par. (g) 1. to 3. or payment is approved under par. (h) 4. The county department or department may make payments under sub. (3m) conditioned on the receipt of information from the federal bureau of investigation indicating that the person’s conviction record under the law of any other state or under federal law is satisfactory according to the criteria specified in par. (g) 1. to 3.
1m. The county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department may not enter into the agreement under sub. (3n) (am) 6. unless the county department or department receives information from the department of justice relating to the conviction record of the applicant under the law of this state and that record indicates either that the applicant has not been arrested or convicted or that the applicant has been arrested or convicted but the director of the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the person designated by the secretary to review conviction records under this subdivision determines that the conviction record is satisfactory because it does not include any arrest or conviction that the director or person designated by the secretary determines is likely to adversely affect the child or the applicant’s ability to care for the child. The county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department may make payments under sub. (3n) conditioned on the receipt of information from the federal bureau of investigation indicating that the person’s conviction record under the law of any other state or under federal law is satisfactory because the conviction record does not include any arrest or conviction that the director of the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the person designated by the secretary to review conviction records under this subdivision determines is likely to adversely affect the child or the applicant’s ability to care for the child.
2. A person receiving payments under sub. (3m) may provisionally employ a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom those payments are being made or provisionally permit a person to be an adult resident if the person receiving those payments states to the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department that the employee or adult resident does not have any arrests or convictions that could adversely affect the child or the ability of the person receiving payments to care for the child. A person receiving payments under sub. (3m) may not finally employ a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom those payments are being made or finally permit a person to be an adult resident until the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department receives information from the department of justice indicating that the person’s conviction record under the law of this state is satisfactory according to the criteria specified in par. (g) 1. to 3. and the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department so advises the person receiving payments under sub. (3m) or until a decision is made under par. (h) 4. to permit a person who is receiving payments under sub. (3m) to employ a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom payments are being made or to permit a person to be an adult resident and the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department so advises the person receiving payments under sub. (3m). A person receiving payments under sub. (3m) may finally employ a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom those payments are being made or finally permit a person to be an adult resident conditioned on the receipt of information from the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department that the federal bureau of investigation indicates that the person’s conviction record under the law of any other state or under federal law is satisfactory according to the criteria specified in par. (g) 1. to 3.
2m. A person receiving payments under sub. (3n) may provisionally employ a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom those payments are being made or provisionally permit a person to be an adult resident if the person receiving those payments states to the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department that, to the best of his or her knowledge, the employee or adult resident does not have any arrests or convictions that could adversely affect the child or the ability of the person receiving payments to care for the child. A person receiving payment under sub. (3n) may not finally employ a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom those payments are being made or finally permit a person to be an adult resident until the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department receives information from the department of justice relating to the person’s conviction record under the law of this state and that record indicates either that the person has not been arrested or convicted or that the person has been arrested or convicted but the director of the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the person designated by the secretary to review conviction records under this subdivision determines that the conviction record is satisfactory because it does not include any arrest or conviction that is likely to adversely affect the child or the ability of the person receiving payments to care for the child and the county department or department so advises the person receiving payments under sub. (3n). A person receiving payments under sub. (3n) may finally employ a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom those payments are being made or finally permit a person to be an adult resident conditioned on the receipt of information from the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department that the federal bureau of investigation indicates that the person’s conviction record under the law of any other state or under federal law is satisfactory because the conviction record does not include any arrest or conviction that the director of the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the person designated by the secretary to review conviction records under this subdivision determines is likely to adversely affect the child or the ability of the person receiving payments to care for the child.
(g) Except as provided in par. (h), the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department may not make payments to a person applying for payments under sub. (3m) and a person receiving payments under sub. (3m) may not employ a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom those payments are being made or permit a person to be an adult resident if any of the following applies:
1. The person has been convicted of a violation of ch. 961 that is punishable as a felony or of a violation of the law of any other state or federal law that would be a violation of ch. 961 that is punishable as a felony if committed in this state.
2. The person has had imposed on him or her a penalty specified in s. 939.64, 1999 stats., or s. 939.641, 1999 stats., or s. 939.6195, 939.62, 939.621, 939.623, 939.63 or 939.645 or has been convicted of a violation of the law of any other state or federal law under circumstances under which the person would be subject to a penalty specified in any of those sections if convicted in this state.
3. The person has been convicted of a violation of ch. 940, 944, or 948, other than a violation of s. 940.291, 940.34, 944.36, 948.45, 948.63, or 948.70, or of a violation of the law of any other state or federal law that would be a violation of ch. 940, 944, or 948, other than a violation of s. 940.291, 940.34, 944.36, 948.45, 948.63, or 948.70, if committed in this state, except that a county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department may make payments to a person applying for payments under sub. (3m) and a person receiving payments under sub. (3m) may employ in a position in which the person would have regular contact with the child for whom those payments are being made or permit to be an adult resident a person who has been convicted of a violation of s. 944.30 (1m), 944.31, or 944.33 or of a violation of the law of any other state or federal law that would be a violation of s. 944.30 (1m), 944.31, or 944.33 if committed in this state, if that violation occurred 20 years or more before the date of the investigation.
(h)
1. A person who is denied payments under sub. (3m) for a reason specified in par. (g) 1., 2. or 3. or a person who is prohibited from employing a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom payments under sub. (3m) are being made from permitting a person to be an adult resident for a reason specified in par. (g) 1., 2. or 3. may request that the denial of payments or the prohibition on employment or being an adult resident be reviewed.
2. The request for review shall be filed with the director of the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, with the person designated by the secretary to receive requests for review filed under this subdivision. If the governing body of an Indian tribe has entered into an agreement under sub. (3t) to administer the program under this subsection and sub. (3m), the request for review shall be filed with the person designated by that governing body to receive requests for review filed under this subdivision.
3. The director of the county department, the person designated by the governing body of an Indian tribe or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the person designated by the secretary shall review the denial of payments or the prohibition on employment or being an adult resident to determine if the conviction record on which the denial or prohibition is based includes any arrests, convictions, or penalties that are likely to adversely affect the child or the ability of the kinship care provider to care for the child. In reviewing the denial or prohibition, the director of the county department, the person designated by the governing body of the Indian tribe or the person designated by the secretary shall consider all of the following factors:
a. The length of time between the date of the arrest, conviction or of the imposition of the penalty and the date of the review.
b. The nature of the violation or penalty and how that violation or penalty affects the ability of the kinship care provider to care for the child.
c. Whether making an exception to the denial or prohibition would be in the best interests of the child.
4. If the director of the county department, the person designated by the governing body of the Indian tribe or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the person designated by the secretary determines that the conviction record on which the denial of payments or the prohibition on employment or being an adult resident is based does not include any arrests, convictions, or penalties that are likely to adversely affect the child or the ability of the kinship care provider to care for the child, the director of the county department, the person designated by the governing body of the Indian tribe, or the person designated by the secretary may approve the making of payments under sub. (3m) or may permit a person receiving payments under sub. (3m) to employ a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom payments are being made or permit a person to be an adult resident.
5. A person who is aggrieved by a decision under this paragraph may obtain a hearing on that decision under sub. (3m) (g) as provided in sub. (3m) (f).
(hm) A county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department may not make payments to a person under sub. (3n) and a person receiving payments under sub. (3n) may not employ a person in a position in which that person would have regular contact with the child for whom payments are being made or permit a person to be an adult resident if the director of the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the person designated by the secretary to review conviction records under this paragraph determines that the person has any arrest or conviction that is likely to adversely affect the child or the person’s ability to care for the child. A person who is aggrieved by a decision under this paragraph may obtain a hearing on that decision under sub. (3n) (g) as provided in sub. (3n) (f).
(i) A county department and, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department shall keep confidential all information received under this subsection from the department of justice or the federal bureau of investigation. Such information is not subject to inspection or copying under s. 19.35.
(j) A county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department may charge a fee for conducting a background investigation under this subsection. The fee may not exceed the reasonable cost of conducting the investigation.
(3t) Notwithstanding subs. (3m), (3n), and (3p), the department may enter into an agreement with the governing body of an Indian tribe to allow that governing body to administer the program under subs. (3m), (3n), and (3p) within the boundaries of the reservation of the Indian tribe. Any agreement under this subsection relating to the administration of the program under sub. (3m) shall specify the person with whom a request for review under sub. (3p) (h) 2. may be filed and the person who has been designated by the governing body to conduct the review under sub. (3p) (h) 3. and make the determination under sub. (3p) (h) 4. Any agreement under this subsection relating to the administration of the program under sub. (3n) shall specify who is to make any determination as to whether a conviction record is satisfactory.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/48.57Fetched: 10/7/2026