Wisconsin Code § 46.03

Department, powers and duties
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The department
shall:
(1) INSTITUTIONS GOVERNED. Maintain and govern the Mendota and the Winnebago mental health institutes; the secure mental health facility established under s. 46.055; and the centers for
the developmentally disabled.
(2) SUPERVISION OVER PROPERTY. Supervise, manage, preserve and care for the buildings, grounds and other property pertaining to said institutions, and promote the objects for which
they are established.
(2a) GIFTS. Be authorized to accept gifts, grants or donations
of money or of property from private sources to be administered
by the department for the execution of its functions.
(3) TRUSTEE DUTY. Take and hold in trust, whenever it considers acceptance advantageous, all property transferred to the
state to be applied to any specified purpose, use or benefit pertaining to any of the institutions under its control or the inmates
thereof, and apply the same in accordance with the trust; and
when ordered by the court, act as trustee of funds paid for the
support of any child if appointed by the court or a circuit court
commissioner under s. 767.82 (7).
(4) EDUCATION AND PREVENTION. (a) Develop and maintain
education and prevention programs that it considers to be proper.
(b) In order to discharge more effectively its responsibilities
under this chapter and other relevant provisions of the statutes, be
authorized to study causes and methods of prevention and treatment of mental illness, mental deficiency, mental infirmity, and
related social problems, including establishment of demonstration projects to apply and evaluate such methods in actual cases.
The department is directed and authorized to utilize all powers
provided by the statutes, including the authority under sub. (2a),
to accept grants of money or property from federal, state, or private sources, and to enlist the cooperation of other appropriate
agencies and state departments. The department may enter into
agreements with local government subdivisions, departments,
and agencies for the joint conduct of these projects, and it may
purchase services when considered appropriate.
(5) MENTAL HYGIENE. (a) Execute the laws relating to the
custody, care and treatment of mentally ill, mentally infirm and
mentally deficient persons, inebriates and drug addicts. It shall
examine all institutions, public and private, authorized to receive
and care for such persons, and inquire into the method of government and the management of persons therein, and examine into
the condition of buildings, grounds and other property connected
with any such institution and into matters relating to its
management.
(b) Direct the psychiatric field work, aftercare and community
supervision and exercise such powers in relation to prevention as
the department deems appropriate.
(7) CHILDREN AND YOUTH. (a) Promote the enforcement of
laws for the protection of developmentally disabled children; and
to this end cooperate with courts assigned to exercise jurisdiction
under chs. 48 and 938, licensed child welfare agencies, and public
and private institutions and take the initiative in all matters involving the interests of those children when adequate provision
for those interests has not already been made, including the establishment and enforcement of standards for services provided under ss. 48.345 and 48.347.
(bm) Maintain a file containing records of artificial inseminations under s. 891.40 and statements acknowledging paternity under s. 69.15 (3) (b) . The department may release those records
and statements only upon an order of the court except that the department may use nonidentifying information concerning artificial inseminations for the purpose of compiling statistics, and
statements acknowledging paternity shall be released without a
court order to the department of children and families or a county
child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) upon the request of that
department or county child support agency pursuant to the program responsibilities under s. 49.22 or to any other person with a
direct and tangible interest in the statement.
(10) TRAINING STAFF. In its discretion, conduct a training

program of in-service training and staff development; and, in cooperation with educational institutions, provide facilities for
work experience for students, including subsistence.
(13) CHARGES. In compliance with the compensation plan
established under s. 230.12 (3), have authority to make and determine charges for meals, living quarters, laundry and other services furnished to employees of the several institutions and members of the employee’s family maintained as such. All moneys received from each person on account of these services shall be
used for operation of the institutions under s. 20.435 (2) (a) and
(gk). If a chaplain employed in any state institution administered
by the department is not furnished a residence by the state,
$1,800 or 20 percent of the chaplain’s salary, whichever is
greater, is designated as his or her housing allowance.
(14) VENDING STANDS. Establish and maintain a revolving
fund not exceeding $60,000 in any of the state institutions administered by the department, for the education, recreation and convenience of the patients, inmates and employees, to be used for
the operation of vending stands, canteen operations, reading
clubs, musical organizations, religious programs, athletics and
similar projects. The funds are exempt from s. 20.906, but are
subject to audit by the department and the legislative audit bureau
in its discretion.
(15) COMMISSARY. Pursuant to its rules the department may,
with the approval of the governor and the director of personnel,
provide employees in its institutions with laundry, food, housing
and necessary furnishings.
(17) PURCHASE OF CARE AND SERVICES. Be empowered to
contract with public or voluntary agencies or others:
(a) To purchase in full or in part care and services which it is
authorized by any statute to provide as an alternative to providing
such care and services itself.
(b) To purchase or provide in full or in part the care and services which county agencies may provide or purchase under any
statute and to sell to county agencies such portions thereof as the
county agency may desire to purchase.
(d) To sell services, under contract, which the department is
authorized to provide by statute, to any federally recognized
tribal governing body.
(18) UNIFORM FEE SCHEDULE, LIABILITY AND COLLECTIONS.
(a) Except as provided in s. 46.10 (14) (b) and (c), the department shall establish a uniform system of fees for services provided or purchased by the department, or a county department
under s. 46.215, 46.22, 51.42, or 51.437, except for services provided under ch. 48 and subch. III of ch. 49; community-based juvenile delinquency-related services; juvenile correctional services; services provided to courts; and outreach, information, and
referral services; or when, as determined by the department, a fee
is administratively unfeasible or would significantly prevent accomplishing the purpose of the service. A county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, 51.42, or 51.437 shall apply the fees that it
collects under this program to cover the cost of those services.
(am) Paragraph (a) also does not prevent a county department
under s. 51.42 or 51.437 from charging and collecting the cost of
an examination ordered under s. 938.295 (2) (a) as authorized under s. 938.295 (2) (c).
(ar) Subject to s. 46.995, a county may retain fees that it collects under this subsection for services the county provides without state funding under the disabled children’s long-term support
program.
(b) Except as provided in s. 46.10 (14) (b) and (c), any person
receiving services provided or purchased under par. (a) or the
spouse of the person and, in the case of a minor, the parents of the
person, and, in the case of a foreign child described in s. 48.839
(1) who became dependent on public funds for his or her primary
support before an order granting his or her adoption, the resident
of this state appointed guardian of the child by a foreign court
who brought the child into this state for the purpose of adoption,
shall be liable for the services in the amount of the fee established
under par. (a). If a minor receives services without consent of a
parent or guardian under s. 51.138 or 51.47, the department or, if
applicable, the county department shall base the fee solely on the
minor’s ability to pay.
(c) The department shall make collections from the person
who in the opinion of the department is best able to pay, giving
due regard to the present needs of the person or of his or her lawful dependents. The department may bring action in the name of
the department to enforce the liability established under par. (b).
The department may not collect from the parent of a minor receiving treatment for alcohol or drug abuse, except as provided in
s. 51.47. This paragraph does not apply to the recovery of fees for
the care and services specified under s. 46.10.
(d) The department may compromise or waive all or part of
the liability for services received. The sworn statement of the
collection and deportation counsel appointed under s. 46.10 (7)
or the department secretary, shall be evidence of the services provided and the fees charged for such services.
(e) The department may delegate to county departments under s. 46.215, 46.22, 51.42 or 51.437 and other providers of care
and services the powers and duties vested in the department by
pars. (c) and (d) as it deems necessary to efficiently administer
this subsection, subject to such conditions as the department
deems appropriate.
(f) Notwithstanding par. (a), any person who submits to an assessment or airman or driver safety plan under s. 23.33 (13) (e),
23.335 (23) (i) , 30.80 (6) (d) , 114.09 (2) (bm) , 343.16 (5) (a) ,
343.30 (1q), 343.305 (10) or 350.11 (3) (d) shall pay a reasonable
fee therefor to the appropriate county department under s. 51.42,
approved tribal treatment facility, as defined in s. 51.01 (2c), or
traffic safety school under s. 345.60. A county may allow the
person to pay the assessment fee in 1, 2, 3 or 4 equal installments.
The fee for the airman or driver safety plan may be reduced or
waived if the person is unable to pay the complete fee, but no fee
for assessment or attendance at a traffic safety school under s.
345.60 may be reduced or waived. Nonpayment of the assessment fee is noncompliance with the court order that required
completion of an assessment and airman or driver safety plan.
Upon a finding that the person has the ability to pay, nonpayment
of the airman or driver safety plan fee is noncompliance with the
court order that required completion of an assessment and airman
or driver safety plan.
(fm) Notwithstanding par. (a), any person who submits to an
assessment under s. 961.472 shall pay a fee to the appropriate
county department under s. 51.42. The department of health services shall set fees for each county department under s. 51.42 designed to offset all the costs to the county in providing the assessment program. The department of health services shall provide
for the reduction or waiver of the fee for persons who are unable
to pay the complete fee.
(g) The department shall return to county departments under
s. 46.215, 46.22, 51.42 or 51.437 50 percent of collections made
by the department on and after January 1, 1978, for delinquent
accounts previously delegated under par. (e) and then referred
back to the department for collections.
(19) PROTECTIVE SERVICES. Administer the statewide program of protective services under ch. 55.
(20) PAYMENT OF BENEFITS. (a) The department may make
payments directly to recipients of public assistance or to persons
authorized to receive those payments in accordance with law and
rules of the department on behalf of the counties. The depart-

ment may charge the counties for the cost of operating public assistance systems that make those payments.
(b) The department may make social service payments directly to recipients, vendors or providers in accordance with law
and rules of the department on behalf of the counties which have
contracts to have such payments made on their behalf.
(c) The county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23
shall provide the department with information which the department shall use to determine each person’s eligibility and amount
of payment. The county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or
46.23 shall provide the department all necessary information in
the manner prescribed by the department.
(d) The department shall disburse from state or federal funds
or both the entire amount and charge the county for its share under s. 46.495.
(22) COMMUNITY LIVING ARRANGEMENTS FOR ADULTS. (a)
In this subsection, “community living arrangement for adults”
means a community-based residential facility, as defined in s.
50.01 (1g).
(b) Community living arrangements for adults shall be subject
to the same building and housing ordinances, codes, and regulations of the municipality or county as similar residences located
in the area in which the facility is located.
(c) The department shall designate a subunit to keep records
and supply information on community living arrangements for
adults under ss. 59.69 (15) (f), 60.63 (7), and 62.23 (7) (i) 6. The
subunit shall be responsible for receiving all complaints regarding community living arrangements for adults and for coordinating all necessary investigatory and disciplinary actions under the
laws of this state and under the rules of the department relating to
the licensing of community living arrangements for adults.
(d) A community living arrangement for adults with a capacity for 8 or fewer persons shall be a permissible use for purposes
of any deed covenant which limits use of property to single-family or 2-family residences. A community living arrangement for
adults with a capacity for 15 or fewer persons shall be a permissible use for purposes of any deed covenant which limits use of
property to more than 2-family residences. Covenants in deeds
which expressly prohibit use of property for community living arrangements for adults are void as against public policy.
(e) If a community living arrangement for adults is required to
obtain special zoning permission, as defined in s. 59.69 (15) (g),
the department shall, at the request of the unit of government responsible for granting the special zoning permission, inspect the
proposed facility and review the program proposed for the facility. After such inspection and review, the department shall transmit to the unit of government responsible for granting the special
zoning permission a statement that the proposed facility and its
proposed program have been examined and are either approved or
disapproved by the department.
(25) UNIFORM REGULATION AND LICENSING. The department shall promulgate rules to establish licensing and program
compliance standards for care and residential facilities, hospitals,
hotels, restaurants and the vending of food and beverages after
due consideration of the relationship of a licensing code to other
related licensing codes, the need for uniform administration, the
need to maximize the use of federal funds and the need to encourage the development and operation of needed facilities statewide.
In establishing licensing standards designed to ensure that the facility qualifies for federal financial participation, the department
shall establish federal regulations as the base requirement. The
department may promulgate such additional health and safety
standards as it determines to be in the public interest.
(26) DATA PROCESSING PROJECTS. Submit a report each December 31 to the joint committee on finance and to the chief clerk
of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the appropriate
standing committees under s. 13.172 (3), regarding the data processing projects under development. The report shall include:
(a) The schedule for implementation;
(b) Estimates of development and operating costs; and
(c) Proposed methods of determining charges for service
where applicable.
(30) PRIMARY PSYCHIATRIC CARE CONTRACTS. (a) To provide for an orderly reduction of state institutional primary psychiatric services the department may approve the institutes entering
into contracts with county departments under s. 51.42 for providing primary psychiatric care. If excess capacity exists at state operated mental health institutes, the department shall, subject to ss.
13.48 (14) (am) and 16.848 (1), explore the possible sale or lease
of such excess facilities to a county department under s. 51.42.
(b) No contract may be approved for a period of time greater
than one year, and no contract shall be approved except under par.
(c).
(c) The counties where the mental health institutes are located
may contract with the institutes for primary psychiatric care on an
ongoing basis, which contracts shall be approved by the department and shall be renewed annually.
(33) RELIEF; AMERICAN INDIANS. The department may negotiate and enter into an agreement with any appropriate agency
of the federal government for provision of relief to needy American Indians.
(34) FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME AND DRUG DANGER INFORMATION. The department shall acquire, without cost if possible,
information that describes the causes and effects of fetal alcohol
syndrome and the dangers to a fetus from the mother’s use of cocaine or other drugs during pregnancy and shall distribute the information free of charge to each county clerk so that each county
clerk may provide information to marriage license applicants under s. 765.12 (1) (a) and domestic partnership applicants under s.
770.07 (2).
(37) FIRST AID INSTRUCTION. In connection with first aid
and cardiopulmonary resuscitation instruction to fitness center
employees required under s. 100.178, do all of the following:
(a) Promulgate rules establishing standards and procedures
under s. 100.178 (5) (a) to (c).
(b) Approve individuals, organizations or institutions of
higher education which teach fitness center employees basic first
aid and basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation under s. 100.178 (2).
(38) AUTOMATIC EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR INSTRUCTION.
Approve individuals, organizations, or institutions of higher education to provide instruction in the use of an automated external
defibrillator, as defined in s. 256.15 (1) (cr), for persons who are
required as a condition of licensure, certification, or registration
to have current proficiency in the use of an automatic external
defibrillator.
(40) GRANTS FOR PILOT PROGRAMS OR DEMONSTRATION
PROJECTS. Comply with all of the following whenever the department provides a grant after August 15, 1991, for a pilot program
or demonstration project:
(a) State on the grant application that the funding for the program or project will be provided by the department once or for a
limited period of time, whichever is applicable.
(b) Require the applicant to provide, as part of the grant application, a plan that describes:
1. How activities funded by the grant will be phased out or
how the program or project will be eliminated; or
2. What other funding sources will be available to support
the program or project when state funding is eliminated.
(41) CONSOLIDATION OF ALLOCATED TRIBAL FUNDS. The

department may consolidate funds appropriated under s. 20.435
that are authorized or required to be allocated to federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands into a single distribution
for each tribe or band in each fiscal year.
(42) ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS AND APPEALS. Any hearing
under s. 227.42 granted by the department may be conducted before the division of hearings and appeals in the department of
administration.
(43) COMPULSIVE GAMBLING AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS. From
the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (5) (kg), award grants
to one or more individuals or organizations in the private sector to
conduct compulsive gambling awareness campaigns.
(44) SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE TREATMENT INFORMATION. Prepare and keep current an information sheet to be distributed to a patient by a physician, a physician assistant, or an advanced practice registered nurse who may issue prescription orders under s. 441.09 (2) providing expedited partner therapy to
that patient under s. 441.092, 448.035, or 448.9725. The information sheet shall include information about sexually transmitted
diseases and their treatment and about the risk of drug allergies.
The information sheet shall also include a statement advising a
person with questions about the information to contact his or her
physician, advanced practice registered nurse, pharmacist, or local health department, as defined in s. 250.01 (4).

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