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 costs.

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 related to Medical Assistance reimbursement, ensuring that counties can receive funding for transporting minors under emergency detention. It also includes provisions for DHS to seek federal approval necessary for these reimbursements. 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 the determination that no federal approval is required.

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