AB150,968,135 48.60 (1) No person may receive children, with or without transfer of legal
6custody, to provide care and maintenance for 75 days in any consecutive 12 months'
7period for 4 or more such children at any one time unless that person obtains a license
8to operate a child welfare agency from the department. To obtain a license under this
9subsection to operate a child welfare agency, a person must meet the minimum
10requirements for a license established by the department under s. 48.67, conduct the
11background investigations specified in sub. (1m)
and pay the applicable license fee
12under s. 48.615 (1) (a) or (b). A license issued under this subsection is valid for 2 years
13after the date of issuance, unless sooner revoked or suspended.
AB150, s. 2581 14Section 2581. 48.60 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB150,968,1715 48.60 (1m) (a) Before applying for initial licensure or license renewal, the
16applicant, with the assistance of the department of justice, shall conduct a
17background investigation of each employe or prospective employe of the applicant.
AB150,969,218 (b) If the person being investigated under par. (a) is a nonresident, or if at any
19time within the 5 years preceding the date of the investigation that person has been
20a nonresident, or if the applicant determines that the person's employment, licensing
21or state court records provide a reasonable basis for further investigation, the
22applicant shall require the person to be photographed and fingerprinted on 2
23fingerprint cards, each bearing a complete set of the person's fingerprints. The
24department of justice may provide for the submission of the fingerprint cards to the

1federal bureau of investigation for the purposes of verifying the identity of the person
2fingerprinted and obtaining records of his or her criminal arrest and conviction.
AB150,969,43 (c) Upon request, a person being investigated under par. (a) shall provide the
4applicant with all of the following information:
AB150,969,55 1. The person's name.
AB150,969,66 2. The person's social security number.
AB150,969,87 3. Other identifying information, including the person's birthdate, sex, race
8and any identifying physical characteristics.
AB150,969,179 (d) An applicant may employ a person conditioned on the receipt of a
10satisfactory background investigation. An applicant may not employ any person who
11has been convicted of a violation of ch. 161 that is punishable as a felony, who has had
12imposed on him or her a penalty specified in s. 939.62, 939.621, 939.63, 939.632,
13939.64, 939.641 or 939.645 or who has been convicted of a violation ch. 940, 944 or
14948, other than a violation of s. 940.291, 940.34, 944.36, 948.45, 948.63 or 948.70,
15except that an applicant may employ a person who has been convicted of a violation
16of s. 944.30, 944.31 or 944.33 if that violation occurred 20 years or more before the
17date of the investigation.
AB150,969,1918 (e) An applicant shall keep confidential all information received under this
19subsection from the department of justice or the federal bureau of investigation.
****Note: This is reconciled s. 48.60 (1m). This Section has been affected by drafts with the
following LRB numbers: 2160/3 and 2556/2.
AB150, s. 2582 20Section 2582. 48.60 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB150,970,521 48.60 (3) Before issuing any license to a child welfare agency under this section,
22the department of health and social services shall review the need for the additional
23placement resources that would be made available by the licensing or relicensing of

1any child welfare agency after August 5, 1973, providing care authorized under s.
248.61 (3). The department may not Neither the department of health and social
3services nor the department of corrections may
make any placements to any child
4welfare agency where the departmental review required under this subsection has
5failed to indicate the need for the additional placement resources.
AB150, s. 2583 6Section 2583. 48.615 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB150,970,117 48.615 (1) (a) Before the department may issue a license under s. 48.60 (1) to
8a child welfare agency that regularly provides care and maintenance for children
9within the confines of its building, the child welfare agency must pay to the
10department a biennial fee of $75 $180, plus a biennial fee of $10 $24 per child, based
11on the number of children that the child welfare agency is licensed to serve.
AB150, s. 2584 12Section 2584. 48.615 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB150,970,1613 48.615 (1) (b) Before the department may issue a license under s. 48.60 (1) to
14a child welfare agency that places children in licensed foster homes, licensed
15treatment foster homes and licensed group homes, the child welfare agency must pay
16to the department a biennial fee of $200 $220.
AB150, s. 2585 17Section 2585. 48.625 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB150,970,2518 48.625 (1) Any person who receives, with or without transfer of legal custody,
195 to 8 children, to provide care and maintenance for those children shall obtain a
20license to operate a group home from the department. To obtain a license under this
21subsection to operate a group home, a person must meet the minimum requirements
22for a license established by the department under s. 48.67, conduct the background
23investigations specified in sub. (1m)
and pay the license fee under sub. (2). A license
24issued under this subsection is valid for 2 years after the date of issuance, unless
25sooner revoked or suspended.
AB150, s. 2586
1Section 2586. 48.625 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB150,971,42 48.625 (1m) (a) Before applying for initial licensure or license renewal, the
3applicant, with the assistance of the department of justice, shall conduct a
4background investigation of each employe or prospective employe of the applicant.
AB150,971,135 (b) If the person being investigated under par. (a) is a nonresident, or if at any
6time within the 5 years preceding the date of the investigation that person has been
7a nonresident, or if the applicant determines that the person's employment, licensing
8or state court records provide a reasonable basis for further investigation, the
9applicant shall require the person to be photographed and fingerprinted on 2
10fingerprint cards, each bearing a complete set of the person's fingerprints. The
11department of justice may provide for the submission of the fingerprint cards to the
12federal bureau of investigation for the purposes of verifying the identity of the person
13fingerprinted and obtaining records of his or her criminal arrest and conviction.
AB150,971,1514 (c) Upon request, a person being investigated under par. (a) shall provide the
15applicant with all of the following information:
AB150,971,1616 1. The person's name.
AB150,971,1717 2. The person's social security number.
AB150,971,1918 3. Other identifying information, including the person's birthdate, sex, race
19and any identifying physical characteristics.
AB150,972,320 (d) An applicant may employ a person conditioned on the receipt of a
21satisfactory background investigation. An applicant may not employ any person who
22has been convicted of a violation of ch. 161 that is punishable as a felony, who has had
23imposed on him or her a penalty specified in s. 939.62, 939.621, 939.63, 939.632,
24939.64, 939.641 or 939.645 or who has been convicted of a violation of ch. 940, 944
25or 948, other than a violation of s. 940.291, 940.34, 944.36, 948.45, 948.63 or 948.70,

1except that an applicant may employ a person who has been convicted of a violation
2of s. 944.30, 944.31 or 944.33 if that violation occurred 20 years or more before the
3date of the investigation.
AB150,972,54 (e) An applicant shall keep confidential all information received under this
5subsection from the department of justice or the federal bureau of investigation.
****Note: This is reconciled s. 48.625 (1m). This Section has been affected by drafts with the
following LRB numbers: 2160/3 and 2556/2.
AB150, s. 2587 6Section 2587. 48.625 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB150,972,137 48.625 (2) (a) Before the department may issue a license under sub. (1) to a
8group home, the group home must pay to the department a biennial fee of $75 $180,
9plus a biennial fee of $10 $24 per child, based on the number of children that the
10group home is licensed to serve. A group home that wishes to renew a license issued
11under sub. (1) shall pay the fee under this paragraph by the renewal date of the
12license. A new group home shall pay the fee under this paragraph no later than 30
13days before the opening of the group home.
AB150, s. 2588 14Section 2588. 48.627 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB150,972,2015 48.627 (2) (c) The department shall conduct a study to determine the
16cost-effectiveness of purchasing insurance to provide standard homeowner's or
17renter's liability insurance coverage for applicants who are granted a waiver under
18par. (b). If the department determines that it would be cost-effective to purchase
19such insurance, it may purchase the insurance from the appropriations under s.
2020.435 (6) (3) (cf) and (7) (pd).
AB150, s. 2589 21Section 2589. 48.627 (2c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB150,973,722 48.627 (2c) The department shall determine the cost-effectiveness of
23purchasing private insurance that would provide coverage to foster, treatment foster

1and family-operated group home parents for acts or omissions by or affecting a child
2who is placed in a foster home, a treatment foster home or a family-operated group
3home. If this private insurance is cost-effective and available, the department shall
4purchase the insurance from the appropriations under s. 20.435 (6) (3) (cf) and (7)
5(pd). If the insurance is unavailable, payment of claims for acts or omissions by or
6affecting a child who is placed in a foster home, a treatment foster home or a
7family-operated group home shall be in accordance with subs. (2m) to (3).
AB150, s. 2590 8Section 2590. 48.627 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB150,973,159 48.627 (2m) Within the limits of the appropriations under s. 20.435 (6) (3) (cf)
10and (7) (pd), the department shall pay claims to the extent not covered by any other
11insurance and subject to the limitations specified in sub. (3), for bodily injury or
12property damage sustained by a licensed foster, treatment foster or family-operated
13group home parent or a member of the foster, treatment foster or family-operated
14group home parent's family as a result of the act of a child in the foster, treatment
15foster or family-operated group home parent's care.
AB150, s. 2591 16Section 2591. 48.627 (2s) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB150,973,2017 48.627 (2s) (intro.)  Within the limits of the appropriations under s. 20.435 (6)
18(3) (cf) and (7) (pd), the department may pay claims to the extent not covered by any
19other insurance and subject to the limitations specified in sub. (3), for all of the
20following:
AB150, s. 2592 21Section 2592. 48.627 (3) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB150,974,722 48.627 (3) (f) If the total amount of the claims approved during any calendar
23quarter exceeds 25% of the total funds available during the fiscal year for purposes
24of this subsection plus any unencumbered funds remaining from the previous
25quarter, the department shall prorate the available funds among the claimants with

1approved claims. The department shall also prorate any unencumbered funds
2remaining in the appropriation under s. 20.435 (6) (3) (cf) at the end of each fiscal
3year among the claimants whose claims were prorated during the fiscal year.
4Payment of a prorated amount from unencumbered funds remaining at the end of
5the fiscal year constitutes a complete payment of the claim for purposes of this
6program, but does not prohibit a foster parent or treatment foster parent from
7submitting a claim under s. 16.007 for the unpaid portion.
AB150, s. 2593 8Section 2593. 48.627 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB150,974,149 48.627 (4) Except as provided in s. 895.485, the department is not liable for any
10act or omission by or affecting a child who is placed in a foster home, treatment foster
11home or family-operated group home, but shall, as provided in this section, pay
12claims described under sub. (2m) and may pay claims described under sub. (2s) or
13may purchase insurance to cover such claims as provided for under sub. (2c), within
14the limits of the appropriations under s. 20.435 (6) (3) (cf) and (7) (pd).
AB150, s. 2594 15Section 2594. 48.63 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB150,975,516 48.63 (1) Acting pursuant to court order or voluntary agreement, the child's
17parent or guardian or the department of health and social services, the department
18of corrections
, a county department or a child welfare agency licensed to place
19children in foster homes or treatment foster homes may place a child or negotiate or
20act as intermediary for the placement of a child in a foster home, treatment foster
21home or group home. Voluntary agreements under this subsection may not be used
22for placements in facilities other than foster, treatment foster or group homes and
23may not be extended. A foster home or treatment foster home placement under a
24voluntary agreement may not exceed 6 months. A group home placement under a
25voluntary agreement may not exceed 15 days. These time limitations do not apply

1to placements made under ss. 48.34 and 48.345. Voluntary agreements may be made
2only under this subsection and shall be in writing and shall specifically state that the
3agreement may be terminated at any time by the parent or by the child if the child's
4consent to the agreement is required. The child's consent to the agreement is
5required whenever the child is 12 years of age or older.
AB150, s. 2595 6Section 2595. 48.64 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB150,975,107 48.64 (1) Definition. In this section, "agency" means the department of health
8and social services, the department of corrections
, a county department or a licensed
9child welfare agency authorized to place children in foster homes or treatment foster
10homes.
AB150, s. 2596 11Section 2596. 48.65 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB150,975,1912 48.65 (1) No person may for compensation provide care and supervision for 4
13or more children under the age of 7 for less than 24 hours a day unless that person
14obtains a license to operate a day care center from the department. To obtain a
15license under this subsection to operate a day care center, a person must meet the
16minimum requirements for a license established by the department under s. 48.67,
17conduct the background investigations specified in sub. (1m), if applicable,
and pay
18the license fee under sub. (3). A license issued under this subsection is valid for 2
19years after the date of issuance, unless sooner revoked or suspended.
AB150, s. 2597 20Section 2597. 48.65 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB150,975,2421 48.65 (1m) (a) Before applying for initial licensure or license renewal, an
22applicant for a license to provide care and supervision for 9 or more children, with
23the assistance of the department of justice, shall conduct a background investigation
24of each employe or prospective employe of the applicant.
AB150,976,9
1(b) If the person being investigated under par. (a) is a nonresident, or if at any
2time within the 5 years preceding the date of the investigation that person has been
3a nonresident, or if the applicant determines that the person's employment, licensing
4or state court records provide a reasonable basis for further investigation, the
5applicant shall require the person to be photographed and fingerprinted on 2
6fingerprint cards, each bearing a complete set of the person's fingerprints. The
7department of justice may provide for the submission of the fingerprint cards to the
8federal bureau of investigation for the purposes of verifying the identity of the person
9fingerprinted and obtaining records of his or her criminal arrest and conviction.
AB150,976,1110 (c) Upon request, a person being investigated under par. (a) shall provide the
11applicant with all of the following information:
AB150,976,1212 1. The person's name.
AB150,976,1313 2. The person's social security number.
AB150,976,1514 3. Other identifying information, including the person's birthdate, sex, race
15and any identifying physical characteristics.
AB150,976,2416 (d) An applicant may employ a person conditioned on the receipt of a
17satisfactory background investigation. An applicant may not employ any person who
18has been convicted of a violation of ch. 161 that is punishable as a felony, who has had
19imposed on him or her a penalty specified in s. 939.62, 939.621, 939.63, 939.632,
20939.64, 939.641 or 939.645 or who has been convicted of a violation of ch. 940, 944
21or 948, other than a violation of s. 940.291, 940.34, 944.36, 948.45, 948.63 or 948.70,
22except that an applicant may employ a person who has been convicted of a violation
23of s. 944.30, 944.31 or 944.33 if that violation occurred 20 years or more before the
24date of the investigation.
AB150,977,2
1(e) An applicant shall keep confidential all information received under this
2subsection from the department of justice or the federal bureau of investigation.
****Note: This is reconciled s. 48.65 (1m). This Section has been affected by drafts with the
following LRB numbers: 2160/3 and 2556/2.
AB150, s. 2598 3Section 2598. 48.65 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB150,977,134 48.65 (3) (a) Before the department may issue a license under sub. (1) to a day
5care center that provides care and supervision for 4 to 8 children, the day care center
6must pay to the department a biennial fee of $50. Before the department may issue
7a license under sub. (1) to a day care center that provides care and supervision for
89 or more children, the day care center must pay to the department a biennial fee of
9$25, plus a biennial fee of $5 $10 per child, based on the number of children that the
10day care center is licensed to serve. A day care center that wishes to renew a license
11issued under sub. (1) shall pay the applicable fee under this paragraph by the
12renewal date of the license. A new day care center shall pay the applicable fee under
13this paragraph no later than 30 days before the opening of the day care center.
AB150, s. 2599 14Section 2599. 48.67 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB150,978,2 1548.67 Rules governing child welfare agencies, day care centers, foster
16homes, treatment foster homes, group homes, shelter care facilities and
17county departments.
The department shall promulgate rules establishing
18minimum requirements for the issuance of licenses to, and establishing standards
19for the operation of, child welfare agencies, day care centers, foster homes, treatment
20foster homes, group homes, shelter care facilities and county departments. These
21rules shall be designed to protect and promote the health, safety and welfare of the
22children in the care of all licensees. The department shall consult with the

1department of industry, labor and human relations development and the department
2of public instruction before promulgating these rules.
AB150, s. 2600 3Section 2600. 48.677 (title) of the statutes is renumbered 46.48 (16) (title).
AB150, s. 2601 4Section 2601. 48.677 of the statutes is renumbered 46.48 (16) (a) and amended
5to read:
AB150,978,186 46.48 (16) (a) A private, nonprofit organization may apply to the department
7for a grant from the appropriations under s. 20.435 (7) (de) and (pm)
The department
8shall distribute not more than $37,500 in each fiscal year as grants to private,
9nonprofit organizations
to recruit African American foster parents, including
10African American prospective adoptive parents, in communities that have a high
11percentage of African American children and a high percentage of children in
12out-of-home placements. The department shall review the applications submitted
13under this section paragraph and determine the number of grants that will be
14awarded, which of the applicants will receive grants and the amount of each grant.
15A private, nonprofit organization receiving a grant under this section paragraph
16shall cooperate and coordinate its activities under the grant with the county
17department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23 serving the area from which the private,
18nonprofit organization recruits African American foster parents.
AB150, s. 2602 19Section 2602. 48.68 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB150,979,920 48.68 (1) After receipt of an application for a license, the department shall
21investigate to determine if the applicant meets the minimum requirements for a
22license adopted by the department under s. 48.67. The investigation shall include
23a background investigation as provided in sub. (1m).
In determining whether to
24issue a license, the department may consider any action by the applicant, or by an
25employe of the applicant, that constitutes a substantial failure by the applicant or

1employe to protect and promote the health, safety and welfare of a child. Upon
2satisfactory completion of this investigation and payment of the fee required under
3s. 48.22 (7) (b), 48.615 (1) (a) or (b), 48.625 (2) (a) or 48.65 (3) (a), the department shall
4issue a license under s. 48.66 (1) or, if applicable, a probationary license under s.
548.69. At the time of initial licensure and license renewal, the department shall
6provide a foster home licensee with written information relating to the age-related
7monthly foster care rates and supplemental payments specified in s. 49.19 (12) 48.62
8(4)
, including payment amounts, eligibility requirements for supplemental
9payments and the procedures for applying for supplemental payments.
****Note: This is reconciled s. 48.68 (1) . This Section has been affected by drafts with the
following LRB numbers: 2160/2 and 2487/1.
AB150, s. 2603 10Section 2603. 48.68 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB150,979,1811 48.68 (1m) (a) After receipt of an application for a license, the department, with
12the assistance of the department of justice, shall conduct a background investigation
13of the applicant. If the applicant is applying for a license to operate a day care center
14that provides care and supervision for 4 to 8 children, the department shall also
15conduct a background investigation of each employe and prospective employe of the
16applicant. If the applicant is applying for a license to operate a foster home or a
17treatment foster home, the department shall also conduct a background
18investigation of each adult who resides with the applicant.
AB150,980,419 (b) If the person being investigated under par. (a) is a nonresident, or if at any
20time within the 5 years preceding the date of the investigation that person has been
21a nonresident, or if the department determines that the person's employment,
22licensing or state court records provide a reasonable basis for further investigation,
23the department shall require the person to be photographed and fingerprinted on 2

1fingerprint cards, each bearing a complete set of the person's fingerprints. The
2department of justice may provide for the submission of the fingerprint cards to the
3federal bureau of investigation for the purposes of verifying the identity of the person
4fingerprinted and obtaining records of his or her criminal arrest and conviction.
AB150,980,65 (c) Upon request, a person being investigated under par. (a) shall provide the
6department with all of the following information:
AB150,980,77 1. The person's name.
AB150,980,88 2. The person's social security number.
AB150,980,109 3. Other identifying information, including the person's birthdate, sex, race
10and any identifying physical characteristics.
AB150,980,2011 (d) The department may issue or renew a license conditioned on the receipt of
12a satisfactory background investigation. The department may not issue a license to
13or renew the license of any person who has been convicted of a violation of ch. 161
14that is punishable as a felony, who has had imposed on him or her a penalty specified
15in s. 939.62, 939.621, 939.63, 939.632, 939.64, 939.641 or 939.645 or who has been
16convicted of a violation of ch. 940, 944 or 948, other than a violation of s. 940.291,
17940.34, 944.36, 948.45, 948.63 or 948.70, except that the department may issue a
18license to or renew the license of a person who has been convicted of a violation of s.
19944.30, 944.31 or 944.33 if the violation occurred 20 years or more before the date of
20the investigation.
AB150,981,221 (e) The department shall keep confidential all information received under this
22subsection from the department of justice or the federal bureau of investigation,
23except that the department may disclose any information obtained under this
24subsection to a person who is conducting a background investigation under s. 48.22

1(7m), 48.60 (1m), 48.625 (1m), 48.65 (1m), 48.75 (1m) or 118.19 (10). Such
2information is not subject to inspection or copying under s. 19.35.
AB150,981,53 (f) The department may charge a fee for conducting a background investigation
4under this subsection. The fee may not exceed the reasonable cost of conducting the
5investigation.
****Note: This is reconciled s. 48.68 (1m). This Section has been affected by drafts with the
following LRB numbers: 2160/3 and 2556/2.
AB150, s. 2604 6Section 2604. 48.715 (2) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:
AB150,981,137 48.715 (2) (bm) That a person who employs a person who has been convicted
8of a violation of ch. 161 that is punishable as a felony, who has had imposed on him
9or her a penalty specified in s. 939.62, 939.621, 939.63, 939.632, 939.64, 939.641 or
10939.645 or who has been convicted of a violation of ch. 940, 944 or 948, other than s.
11940.291, 940.34, 944.36, 948.45, 948.63 or 948.70, terminate the employment of that
12person immediately on receipt of the order. This paragraph includes employment of
13a person in any capacity, whether as an officer, director, agent or employe.
****Note: This is reconciled s. 48.715 (2) (bm). This Section has been affected by drafts with
the following LRB numbers: 2160/3 and 2556/2.
AB150, s. 2605 14Section 2605. 48.715 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB150,981,2115 48.715 (3) (intro.)  If the department provides written notice of the grounds for
16a penalty, an explanation of the types of penalties that may be imposed under this
17subsection and an explanation of the process for appealing a penalty imposed under
18this subsection, the department may impose any of the following penalties against
19a licensee or any other person who violates a provision of licensure under s. 48.70 (1)
20or rule promulgated by the department under s. 48.67 or who
fails to comply with an
21order issued under sub. (2) by the time specified in the order:
AB150, s. 2606 22Section 2606. 48.715 (3) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB150,982,3
148.715 (3) (a) (intro.) A daily forfeiture amount per violation of not less than
2$10 nor more than $50 $1,000. All of the following apply to a forfeiture under this
3paragraph:
AB150, s. 2607 4Section 2607. 48.715 (3) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB150,982,105 48.715 (3) (a) 1. Within the limits specified in this paragraph, the department
6may, by rule, set daily forfeiture amounts and payment deadlines based on the size
7and type of facility or agency and the seriousness of the violation. As part of the order,
8the
The department may set daily forfeiture amounts that increase periodically
9within the statutory limits if there is continued failure to comply with an order issued
10under sub. (2).
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