Assembly Bill 116 aims to clarify the responsibilities and reimbursement processes for the transportation of minors approved for emergency detention in Wisconsin. The bill stipulates that the county approving the emergency detention is responsible for the transportation of the minor to the facility, including custody placement and transportation costs. Counties may contract with law enforcement agencies, ambulance services, or third-party vendors for this transportation, but law enforcement can only be used if it is the least restrictive and most appropriate option, contingent upon federal approval for Medical Assistance funding. The bill also allows counties to request reimbursement from the Department of Health Services (DHS) for transportation costs, with DHS establishing standards for allowable expenses.

Key amendments include the creation of new statutes regarding reimbursement for transportation of minors and the modification of existing statutes to reflect these changes. Specifically, the bill amends sections 49.45 and 51.15 to include provisions for reimbursement under the Medical Assistance program for minors in emergency detention. It also introduces a requirement for DHS to seek federal approval for reimbursement processes and outlines the conditions under which counties can obtain reimbursement. The bill is set to take effect on the first day of the seventh month following its publication, with initial applicability tied to the effective date of federal approval or a determination that no federal approval is necessary.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 49.45(29x)(a), 49.45, 51.15(2)(e)(intro.), 51.15