Senate Bill 192 establishes fatality review teams in Wisconsin, which are multidisciplinary and multiagency groups tasked with reviewing specific types of deaths among children and adults to develop recommendations aimed at preventing similar future deaths. The bill outlines the responsibilities of these teams, including their ability to access certain records, maintain confidentiality, and disclose information under specific conditions. It also mandates the Department of Health Services (DHS) to create a fatality review program that includes local teams formed by municipalities, counties, or health departments, and allows for the establishment of state-level teams. The bill specifies the types of deaths that may be reviewed, such as suicides, overdoses, and maternal deaths, and emphasizes the importance of interagency collaboration in understanding and preventing these fatalities.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions for record access and confidentiality, ensuring that information obtained by the teams is protected and not subject to public records laws. It requires team members to sign confidentiality agreements and prohibits them from testifying in civil or criminal actions regarding information obtained during team meetings. The bill also grants DHS the authority to create administrative rules for standardized forms related to death reviews and provides immunity from civil or criminal liability for individuals participating in the teams. Key legal language changes include the insertion of new sections related to fatality review teams and the amendment of existing statutes to incorporate these teams into the legal framework of Wisconsin.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 48.396(1), 48.396, 48.396(2)(a), 48.78(2)(a), 48.78, 48.981(7)(a)15, 48.981