State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Wisconsin > 49 > 49.78

49.78

49.78 Income maintenance administration.

49.78(1)

(1) Definitions. In this section:

49.78(1)(b)

(b) "Income maintenance program" means the Medical Assistance program under subch. IV of ch. 49, the Badger Care health care program under s. 49.665, the food stamp program under 7 USC 2011 to 2036, or the cemetery, funeral, and burial expenses program under s. 49.785.

49.78(1)(cr)

(cr) "Tribal governing body" means an elected governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe.

49.78(2)

(2) Contracts. Annually, for the income maintenance program functions, if any, that the department delegates to a county or tribal governing body, the department and county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23 shall enter into a contract, and the department and tribal governing body may enter into a contract, for reimbursement of the county department or tribal governing body for the reasonable cost of administering income maintenance programs.

49.78(3)

(3) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules establishing standards of competency, including training requirements, for income maintenance workers.

49.78(4)

(4) Rules; merit system. The department of children and families shall promulgate rules for the efficient administration of aid to families with dependent children in agreement with the requirement for federal aid, including the establishment and maintenance of personnel standards on a merit basis. The provisions of this section relating to personnel standards on a merit basis supersede any inconsistent provisions of any law relating to county personnel. This subsection shall not be construed to invalidate the provisions of s. 46.22 (1) (d).

49.78(5)

(5) Personnel examinations. Statewide examinations to ascertain qualifications of applicants in any county department administering aid to families with dependent children shall be given by the administrator of the division of merit recruitment and selection in the office of state employment relations. The office of state employment relations shall be reimbursed for actual expenditures incurred in the performance of its functions under this section from the appropriations available to the department of children and families for administrative expenditures.

49.78(6)

(6) Personnel lists. All persons who are qualified as a result of examinations shall be certified to the counties in which they reside at the time of examination; if there are no resident qualified persons for any class of positions on the list certified to the county, appointments shall be made from available lists without regard to residence within the county.

49.78(7)

(7) County personnel systems. Pursuant to rules promulgated under sub. (4), the department of children and families where requested by the county shall delegate to that county, without restriction because of enumeration, any or all of the authority of the department of children and families under sub. (4) to establish and maintain personnel standards including salary levels.

49.78(8)

(8) Reimbursement for income maintenance administration.

49.78(8)(a)

(a) From the appropriation accounts under s. 20.435 (4) (bn) and (nn) and subject to par. (b), the department shall reimburse each county and tribal governing body that contracts with the department under sub. (2) for reasonable costs of administering the income maintenance programs, including conducting fraud prevention activities. The amount of each reimbursement paid under this paragraph shall be calculated using a formula based on workload within the limits of available state and federal funds under s. 20.435 (4) (bn) and (nn) by contract under sub. (2). The amount of reimbursement calculated under this paragraph and par. (b) is in addition to any reimbursement provided to a county or tribal governing body for fraud and error reduction under s. 49.197 or 49.845.

49.78(8)(b)

(b) The department may adjust the amounts determined under par. (a) for workload changes and computer network activities performed by a county or tribal governing body and may reduce the amount of any reimbursement if federal reimbursement is withheld due to audits, quality control samples, or program reviews.

49.78(8)(c)

(c) From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (4) (np), the department shall provide supplemental funding to tribal governing bodies and counties for administration of the food stamp program.

49.78 - ANNOT.

NOTE: Par. (c) is repealed eff. 7-1-11 by 2009 Wis. Act 28.

49.78(10)

(10) County certification.

49.78(10)(a)

(a) Each county treasurer and director of a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23 that contracts with the department under sub. (2) and each tribal governing body that contracts with the department under sub. (2) shall certify monthly under oath to the department in such manner as the department prescribes the claim of the county or tribal governing body for state reimbursement under sub. (8) (a). The department shall review each claim of reimbursement and, if the department approves the claim, the department shall certify to the department of administration for reimbursement to the county or tribal governing body for amounts due under sub. (8) (a) and payment claimed to be made to the counties or tribal governing bodies monthly. The department may make advance payments prior to the beginning of each month equal to one-twelfth of the contracted amount.

49.78(10)(b)

(b) To facilitate prompt reimbursement the certificate of the department may be based on the certified statements of the county officers or tribal governing body executives filed under par. (a). Funds recovered from audit adjustments from a prior fiscal year may be included in subsequent certifications only to pay counties owed funds as a result of any audit adjustment. By September 30 annually, the department shall submit a report to the appropriate standing committees under s. 13.172 (3) on funds recovered and paid out during the previous calendar year as a result of audit adjustments.

49.78(11)

(11) Requirement to provide information.

49.78(11)(a)

(a)

49.78(11)(a)1.

1. The department, a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23, or a tribal governing body may request from any person in this state information it determines appropriate and necessary for determining or verifying eligibility or benefits for a recipient under any income maintenance program. Unless access to the information is prohibited or restricted by law, or unless the person has good cause, as determined by the department in accordance with federal law and regulations, for refusing to cooperate, the person shall make a good faith effort to provide the information within 7 days after receiving a request under this paragraph. The department, county department, or tribal governing body, or employees of any of them, may not disclose information obtained under this subdivision for any purpose not connected with the administration of the income maintenance program for which the information was requested.

49.78(11)(a)2.

2. In conjunction with any request for information under subd. 1., including a request made by subpoena under par. (b), the department, county department, or tribal governing body shall advise the person of the time by which the information must be provided.

49.78(11)(b)

(b) The department, a county department, or a tribal governing body may issue a subpoena, in substantially the form authorized under s. 885.02, to compel the production of financial information or other documentary evidence for determining or verifying eligibility or benefits for a recipient under any income maintenance program.

49.78(11)(c)

(c) A person is not liable to any person for any of the following:

49.78(11)(c)1.

1. Allowing access to financial or other records by the department, a county department, or a tribal governing body in response to a request under par. (a) or a subpoena described in par. (b).

49.78(11)(c)2.

2. Disclosing information from financial or other records to the department, a county department, or a tribal governing body in response to a request under par. (a) or a subpoena described in par. (b).

49.78(11)(c)3.

3. Any other action taken in good faith to comply with this subsection or a subpoena described in par. (b) or to comply with a request for information or access to records from the department, a county department, or a tribal governing body for determining or verifying eligibility or benefits for a recipient under any income maintenance program.

49.78 - ANNOT.

History: 1995 a. 27 ss. 2041 to 2049, 2933 to 2936, 3084 to 3087, 3130; 1995 a. 289, 417; 1997 a. 27; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33 ss. 1308, 1448, 9160; Stats. 2003 s. 49.78; 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 15, 28.

49.78 - ANNOT.

Cross Reference: See also ch. DHS 254, Wis. adm. code.