Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

- 2024 LEGISLATURE
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                   2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 557
     October 26, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives SNYDER, ARMSTRONG, BALDEH,
          BEHNKE, BILLINGS, CALLAHAN, CONLEY, CONSIDINE, DITTRICH, DONOVAN, DOYLE,
          GOEBEN, GUSTAFSON, HONG, JOERS, KITCHENS, MURSAU, NOVAK, O'CONNOR,
          OHNSTAD, PALMERI, RATCLIFF, RETTINGER, ROZAR, SAPIK, SNODGRASS, STUBBS,
          SUBECK, PLUMER, SINICKI, CLANCY and JACOBSON, cosponsored by Senators
          BALLWEG, JAMES, CARPENTER, HESSELBEIN, L. JOHNSON, LARSON, ROYS, SMITH,
          SPREITZER and TOMCZYK. Referred to Committee on Children and Families.
 AN ACT to amend 48.02 (15), 48.028 (2) (e), 48.028 (2) (f), 48.207 (1) (b), 48.207
      (1) (f), 48.33 (4) (intro.), 48.335 (3g) (intro.), 48.335 (3j) (intro.), 48.345 (3) (a)
      (intro.), 48.345 (3) (a) 1., 48.345 (3) (a) 2., 48.345 (4) (a), 48.355 (4) (b) (intro.),
      48.366 (1) (a), 48.371 (1) (intro.), 48.371 (1) (a), 48.371 (3) (intro.), 48.371 (3) (d),
      48.371 (5), 48.38 (2) (intro.), 48.38 (3m) (a), 48.38 (4) (f) (intro.), 48.38 (4m) (b),
      48.38 (4m) (d), 48.38 (5) (b), 48.38 (5) (bm) 1., 48.38 (5) (e), 48.38 (5m) (b), 48.38
      (5m) (c) 1., 48.38 (5m) (e), 48.385 (intro.), 48.40 (1m), 48.427 (3m) (a) 5., 48.43
      (5) (b) 1., 48.43 (5) (b) 3., 48.43 (5m), 48.57 (3m) (a) 1. b., 48.57 (3m) (a) 2., 48.57
      (3m) (am) (intro.), 48.57 (3m) (am) 1., 48.57 (3m) (am) 1m., 48.57 (3m) (am) 4.,
      48.57 (3m) (am) 4m., 48.57 (3m) (am) 5., 48.57 (3m) (am) 5m., 48.57 (3m) (am)
      6., 48.57 (3m) (ap) 1., 48.57 (3m) (ap) 2., 48.57 (3m) (ap) 3., 48.57 (3m) (b) 2.,
      48.57 (3m) (cm), 48.57 (3m) (h), 48.57 (3m) (i) 1., 48.57 (3n) (a) 1. b., 48.57 (3n)
      (a) 2., 48.57 (3n) (am) (intro.), 48.57 (3n) (am) 1., 48.57 (3n) (am) 2., 48.57 (3n)
      (am) 4., 48.57 (3n) (am) 4m., 48.57 (3n) (am) 5., 48.57 (3n) (am) 5m., 48.57 (3n)
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     ASSEMBLY BILL 557
      (am) 5r., 48.57 (3n) (am) 6. (intro.), 48.57 (3n) (am) 6. c., 48.57 (3n) (am) 6. d.,
      48.57 (3n) (am) 6. e., 48.57 (3n) (ap) 1., 48.57 (3n) (ap) 2., 48.57 (3n) (ap) 3., 48.57
      (3n) (b) 2., 48.57 (3n) (cm), 48.57 (3n) (h), 48.57 (3p) (h) 3. (intro.), 48.57 (3p) (h)
      3. b., 48.57 (3p) (h) 4., 48.60 (2) (a), 48.62 (2), 48.64 (1), 48.64 (1m), 48.64 (2),
      48.64 (4) (a), 48.64 (4) (c), 48.67 (4) (b), 49.155 (1m) (a) 1m. b., 118.175 (1), 767.57
      (1m) (cm), 767.57 (2), 938.02 (15), 938.028 (2) (c), 938.207 (1) (b), 938.207 (1) (f),
      938.33 (4) (intro.), 938.335 (3g) (intro.), 938.335 (3j) (intro.), 938.34 (3) (a)
      (intro.), 938.34 (3) (a) 1., 938.34 (3) (a) 2., 938.355 (4) (am) (intro.), 938.357 (6)
      (a) (intro.), 938.357 (6) (b), 938.365 (5) (b) (intro.), 938.366 (1) (a), 938.371 (1)
      (intro.), 938.371 (1) (a), 938.371 (3) (intro.), 938.371 (5), 938.38 (2) (intro.),
      938.38 (3m) (a), 938.38 (4) (f) (intro.), 938.38 (4m) (b), 938.38 (4m) (d), 938.38
      (5) (b), 938.38 (5) (bm) 1., 938.38 (5) (e), 938.38 (5m) (b), 938.38 (5m) (c) 1., 938.38
      (5m) (e) and 938.385 (intro.); and to create 48.02 (12c) and 938.02 (12c) of the
      statutes; relating to: inclusion of like-kin as an option for with whom children
      may be placed out of their home under certain circumstances and who may
      receive kinship care payments.
                      Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
           Under current law, a juvenile court may place a child in certain placements that
     provide out-of-home care under the Children's Code and the Juvenile Justice Code.
     Under current law, those placements include specific types of licensed facilities, a
     licensed foster home, or the home of a relative other than a parent. Under current
     law, a relative other than a parent does not typically need to acquire a license in order
     to receive a relative child. This bill allows a juvenile court to similarly place a child
     with unlicensed individuals who qualify as “like-kin” under the Children's Code and
     the Juvenile Justice Code.
           The bill defines “like-kin” for the purposes of such a placement to be an
     individual who has a significant emotional relationship with a child or the child's
     family that is similar to a familial relationship and, for an Indian child, includes an
     individual who is identified by the child's tribe as kin or like-kin according to tribal
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     ASSEMBLY BILL 557
     tradition, custom or resolution, code, or law. Under the bill, “like-kin” does not
     include a current or former foster parent of a child for placement purposes.
            Under current law, a relative other than a parent who is providing care and
     maintenance for a child under a court order may receive monthly kinship care
     payments from the Department of Children and Families or a county department of
     human or social services. The bill includes as those who may receive kinship care
     payments first cousins once removed and like-kin persons and changes the term
     used to refer to these persons from “kinship care relatives” to “kinship care
     providers.”
            Under current law, for the purposes of permanency planning, a family
     permanency team may include like-kin. The current law definition of “like-kin,” for
     the purpose of determining the family permanency team, is similar to the definition
     of “like-kin” for placement purposes in the bill, except that the current law definition
     1) does not exclude a current or former foster parent and 2) does not include
     individuals identified by the child's tribe if the child is an Indian child. Under the
     bill, the definition of “like-kin” for determining a family permanency team does not
     exclude a current or former foster parent but does include individuals identified by
     the child's tribe if the child is an Indian child.
     The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
         enact as follows:
      SECTION 1. 48.02 (12c) of the statutes is created to read:
      48.02 (12c) “Like-kin” means an individual who has a significant emotional
 relationship with a child or the child's family that is similar to a familial relationship
 and who is not and has not previously been the child's licensed foster parent. For an
 Indian child, “like-kin” includes individuals identified by the child's tribe according
 to tribal tradition, custom or resolution, code, or law.
      SECTION 2. 48.02 (15) of the statutes is amended to read:
      48.02 (15) “Relative" means a parent, stepparent, brother, sister, stepbrother,
 stepsister, half brother, half sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, first cousin, first
 cousin once removed, 2nd cousin, nephew, niece, uncle, aunt, stepuncle, stepaunt, or
 any person of a preceding generation as denoted by the prefix of grand, great, or
 great-great, whether by blood, marriage, or legal adoption, or the spouse of any
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     ASSEMBLY BILL 557                                                           SECTION 2
 person named in this subsection, even if the marriage is terminated by death or
 divorce. For purposes of the application of s. 48.028 and the federal Indian Child
 Welfare Act, 25 USC 1901 to 1963, “relative" includes an extended family member,
 as defined in s. 48.028 (2) (am), whether by blood, marriage, or adoption, including
 adoption under tribal law or custom. For purposes of placement of a child, “relative"
 also includes a parent of a sibling of the child who has legal custody of that sibling.
      SECTION 3. 48.028 (2) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
      48.028 (2) (e) “Out-of-home care placement" means the removal of an Indian
 child from the home of his or her parent or Indian custodian for temporary placement
 in a foster home, group home, residential care center for children and youth, or
 shelter care facility, in the home of a relative other than a parent, in the home of
 like-kin, or in the home of a guardian, from which placement the parent or Indian
 custodian cannot have the child returned upon demand.             “Out-of-home care
 placement" does not include an adoptive placement, a preadoptive placement, a
 delegation of powers, as described in par. (d) 5., an emergency change in placement
 under s. 48.357 (2) (b), or holding an Indian child in custody under ss. 48.19 to 48.21.
      SECTION 4. 48.028 (2) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:
      48.028 (2) (f) “Preadoptive placement" means the temporary placement of an
 Indian child in a foster home, group home, or residential care center for children and
 youth, in the home of a relative other than a parent, in the home of like-kin, or in
 the home of a guardian after a termination of parental rights but prior to or in lieu
 of an adoptive placement. “Preadoptive placement" does not include an emergency
 change in placement under s. 48.437 (2).
      SECTION 5. 48.207 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
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     ASSEMBLY BILL 557                                                          SECTION 5
      48.207 (1) (b) The home of a relative or like-kin, except that a child may not
 be held under this paragraph in the home of a relative if the relative person who has
 been convicted under s. 940.01 of the first-degree intentional homicide, or under s.
 940.05 of the 2nd-degree intentional homicide, of a parent of the child, and the
 conviction has not been reversed, set aside or vacated, unless the person making the
 custody decision determines by clear and convincing evidence that the placement
 would be in the best interests of the child. The person making the custody decision
 shall consider the wishes of the child in making that determination.
      SECTION 6. 48.207 (1) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:
      48.207 (1) (f) The home of a person not a relative or like-kin, if the placement
 does not exceed 30 days, though the placement may be extended for an additional 30
 days for cause by the court, and if the person has not had a license under s. 48.62
 refused, revoked, or suspended within the last 2 years.
      SECTION 7. 48.33 (4) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
      48.33 (4) OTHER    OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENTS.     (intro.) A report recommending
 placement of an adult expectant mother outside of her home shall be in writing. A
 report recommending placement of a child in a foster home, group home, or
 residential care center for children and youth, in the home of a relative other than
 a parent, in the home of like-kin, in the home of a guardian under s. 48.977 (2), or
 in a supervised independent living arrangement shall be in writing and shall include
 all of the following:
      SECTION 8. 48.335 (3g) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
      48.335 (3g) (intro.) At hearings under this section, if the agency, as defined in
 s. 48.38 (1) (a), is recommending placement of the child in a foster home, group home,
 or residential care center for children and youth, in the home of a relative other than
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     ASSEMBLY BILL 557                                                             SECTION 8
 a parent, in the home of like-kin, in the home of a guardian under s. 48.977 (2), or
 in a supervised independent living arrangement, the agency shall present as
 evidence specific information showing all of the following:
      SECTION 9. 48.335 (3j) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
      48.335 (3j) (intro.) At hearings under this section involving an Indian child, if
 the agency, as defined in s. 48.38 (1) (a), is recommending removal of the Indian child
 from the home of his or her parent or Indian custodian and placement of the Indian
 child in a foster home, group home, or residential care center for children and youth
 or in the home of a relative other than a parent or in the home of like-kin, the agency
 shall present as evidence specific information showing all of the following:
      SECTION 10. 48.345 (3) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
      48.345 (3) (a) (intro.) The home of a parent or, other relative, or like-kin of the
 child, except that the judge may not designate any of the following as the child's
 placement, unless the judge determines by clear and convincing evidence that the
 placement would be in the best interests of the child or, in the case of an Indian child,
 the best interests of the Indian child as described in s. 48.01 (2):
      SECTION 11. 48.345 (3) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
      48.345 (3) (a) 1. The home of a parent or, other relative, or like-kin if the parent
 or, other relative, or like-kin has been convicted under s. 940.01 of the first-degree
 intentional homicide, or under s. 940.05 of the 2nd-degree intentional homicide, of
 a parent of the child, and the conviction has not been reversed, set aside, or vacated.
 In determining whether a placement under this subdivision would be in the best
 interests of the child, the judge shall consider the wishes of the child.
      SECTION 12. 48.345 (3) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
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     ASSEMBLY BILL 557                                                                SECTION 12
       48.345 (3) (a) 2. The home of a relative other than the parent of a child or the
 home of like-kin if the judge finds that the relative or like-kin has been convicted
 of, has pleaded no contest to, or has had a charge dismissed or amended as a result
 of a plea agreement for a crime under s. 948.02 (1) or (2), 948.025, 948.03 (2) or (5)
 (a) 1., 2., 3., or 4., 948.05, 948.051, 948.055, 948.06, 948.07, 948.08, 948.081, 948.085,
 948.11 (2) (a) or (am), 948.12, 948.13, 948.21, 948.215, 948.30, or 948.53, or a similar
 law of another state.
       SECTION 13. 48.345 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
       48.345 (4) (a) A relative or like-kin of the child.
       SECTION 14. 48.355 (4) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
       48.355 (4) (b) (intro.) Except as provided under s. 48.368, an order under this
 section or s. 48.357 or 48.365 made before the child reaches 18 years of age that places
 or continues the placement of the child in a foster home, group home, or residential
 care center for children and youth, in the home of a relative other than a parent, in
 the home of like-kin, or in a supervised independent living arrangement shall
 terminate on the latest of the following dates, unless the judge specifies a shorter
 period or the judge terminates the order sooner:
       SECTION 15. 48.366 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
       48.366 (1) (a) The person is placed in a foster home, group home, or residential
 care center for children and youth, in the home of a relative other than a parent, in
 the home of like-kin, or in a supervised independent living arrangement under an
 order under s. 48.355, 48.357, or 48.365 that terminates as provided in s. 48.355 (4)
 (b) 1., 2., or 3., 48.357 (6) (a) 1., 2., or 3., or 48.365 (5) (b) 1., 2., or 3. on or after the
 person attains 18 years of age.
       SECTION 16. 48.371 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
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     ASSEMBLY BILL 557                                                          SECTION 16
      48.371 (1) (intro.) If a child is placed in a foster home, group home, or
 residential care center for children and youth or in the home of a relative other than
 a parent or in the home of like-kin, including a placement under s. 48.205 or 48.21,
 the agency, as defined in s. 48.38 (1) (a), that placed the child or arranged for the
 placement of the child shall provide the following information to the foster parent,
 relative, like-kin, or operator of the group home or residential care center for
 children and youth at the time of placement or, if the information has not been
 provided to the agency by that time, as soon as possible after the date on which the
 agency receives that information, but not more than 2 working days after that date:
      SECTION 17. 48.371 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
      48.371 (1) (a) Results of an HIV test, as defined in s. 252.01 (2m), of the child,
 as provided under s. 252.15 (3m) (d) 15., including results included in a court report
 or permanency plan. At the time that the HIV test results are provided, the agency
 shall notify the foster parent, relative, like-kin, or operator of the group home or
 residential care center for children and youth of the confidentiality requirements
 under s. 25