Wisconsin Code § 49.162

Substance abuse screening and testing for certain work experience programs
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(1) In this section:
(a) “Administering agency” means the department or an
agency with which the department contracts to administer a
program.
(b) “Controlled substance” has the meaning given in s. 961.01
(4).
(bg) “Controlled substance abuse screening” means a questionnaire, a criminal background check, or any other controlled
substance abuse screening mechanism identified by the department by rule.
(bm) “Dependent child” has the meaning given in s. 49.141
(1) (c).
(br) “Group member” means an adult member of an individual’s Wisconsin Works group whose income or assets are included in determining the individual’s eligibility for a program.
(c) “Program” means any of the following:
1. Services and benefits under s. 49.159 (1) (b).
2. The Transform Milwaukee Jobs program or the Transitional Jobs program under s. 49.163.
3. A work experience and job training program under s.
49.36.
4. A Wisconsin Works employment position.
4m. The Hire Heroes program under s. 106.38.
(e) “Wisconsin Works” has the meaning given in s. 49.141 (1)
(p).
(f) “Wisconsin Works employment position” has the meaning
given in s. 49.141 (1) (r).
(g) “Wisconsin Works group” has the meaning given in s.
49.141 (1) (s).
(2) (a) Except as provided in sub. (2m), in order to participate
in a program, an individual who applies to participate in a program or who registers for a program under sub. (1) (c) 3. and,
with respect to an individual applying for a program under sub.
(1) (c) 4. , all of the individual’s group members shall complete
controlled substance abuse screening. If, on the basis of the
screening results, the administering agency determines that there
is a reasonable suspicion that an individual who is otherwise eligible for a program or any of the individual’s group members is
abusing a controlled substance, the administering agency shall require the individual or group member to undergo a test for the use
of a controlled substance.
(b) Except as provided in sub. (4m), if the individual or group
member refuses to submit to a test under par. (a), the individual is
not eligible to participate in a program until the individual or
group member complies with the requirement to undergo a test
for the use of a controlled substance.
(2m) (a) The screening and testing requirements under sub.
(2) do not apply to an individual if the individual is any of the
following:
1. A custodial parent of a child who is 8 weeks old or less.
2. A woman who is in a pregnancy that is medically verified
and that is shown by medical documentation to be at risk.
3. A participant in a Wisconsin Works employment position
who moves to an unsubsidized employment position and receives
case management services under s. 49.1475.
4. A dependent child.

(b) The screening and testing requirements under sub. (2) do
not apply to a group member if the group member is any of the
following:
1. A custodial parent of a child who is 8 weeks old or less.
2. A woman who is in a pregnancy that is medically verified
and that is shown by medical documentation to be at risk.
3. Specified as exempt from the screening and testing requirements by department rule.
(3) If an individual or group member who undergoes a test
under sub. (2) tests negative for the use of a controlled substance,
or tests positive for the use of a controlled substance but presents
evidence satisfactory to the administering agency that the individual or group member possesses a valid prescription for each controlled substance for which the individual or group member tests
positive, the individual or group member will have satisfactorily
completed the substance abuse testing requirements under this
section.
(4) (a) If an individual or group member who undergoes a
test under sub. (2) tests positive for the use of a controlled substance without presenting evidence of a valid prescription as described in sub. (3), the administering agency shall require the individual or group member to participate in substance abuse treatment to remain eligible to participate in a program. If the individual or group member refuses to participate in substance abuse
treatment, the individual is not eligible to participate in a program
until the individual or group member complies with the requirement to participate in substance abuse treatment.
(b) During the time that an individual or group member is receiving substance abuse treatment under par. (a), the administering agency shall require the individual or group member to undergo random testing for the use of a controlled substance. Except as provided in sub. (4m), for the individual to remain eligible
for a program, the individual or his or her group member must cooperate with the testing and the results of the tests must be negative or, if any results are positive, the individual or group member
must present evidence of a valid prescription as described in sub.
(3). If the results of any test during treatment are positive for the
use of a controlled substance and the individual or group member
does not present evidence of a valid prescription for the controlled substance, the individual or group member shall have the
opportunity to begin the treatment again one time, as determined
by the administering agency. Except as provided in sub. (4m), if
the individual or group member begins the substance abuse treatment again, the individual remains eligible for a program as long
as the results of all tests for the use of a controlled substance during the subsequent treatment are negative for the use of a controlled substance or, if any results are positive, the individual or
group member presents evidence of a valid prescription for the
controlled substance.
(c) If an individual or group member receiving treatment under par. (b) completes treatment and, at the conclusion of the
treatment, tests negative for the use of a controlled substance or
presents evidence of a valid prescription for any controlled substance for which the individual or group member tests positive,
the individual or group member will have satisfactorily completed the substance abuse testing requirements under this
section.
(4m) (a) If an individual applying for a community service
job under s. 49.147 (4) or a transitional placement under s.
49.147 (5) or his or her group member undergoes a test under sub.
(2), tests positive for the use of a controlled substance without
presenting evidence of a valid prescription as described in sub.
(3), and refuses to participate in substance abuse treatment under
sub. (4) (a) or if the individual or his or her group member fails to
cooperate with the testing or treatment requirements under sub.
(4) (b), the individual remains eligible only for the monthly grant
portion of the community service job or transitional placement
under s. 49.148 (1) (b) or (c) and only to the extent described in
par. (b).
(b) 1. In determining the monthly grant for which an individual is eligible under par. (a), the department shall reduce the
amount that would otherwise have been established under s.
49.148 (1) (b) or (c) by an amount that reflects the fact that the
monthly grant is to be used exclusively for the benefit of the dependent children in the individual’s Wisconsin Works group and
not for the benefit of the individual.
2. If an individual is eligible for a monthly grant under the
circumstances described in par. (a), the department shall pay the
monthly grant through a protective payee structure, under which
the monthly grant is paid to a protective payee who is not the individual and who holds the money and uses it exclusively for the
benefit of the dependent children in the individual’s Wisconsin
Works group.
3. An individual’s partial eligibility under par. (a) ends on
the earlier of the following dates:
a. The date on which the individual again becomes eligible
for full participation in a Wisconsin Works employment position.
b. Twelve months after the date on which the individual or
his or her group member meets the circumstances described under par. (a), as determined by the department.
(5) The department shall manage the costs and reinvest the
savings under this section, and shall work with the administering
agency, if different from the department, to manage the costs and
reinvest the savings.
(6) From the appropriation under s. 20.437 (2) (em), the department shall pay substance abuse treatment costs under this
section that are not otherwise covered by medical assistance under subch. IV, private insurance, or another type of coverage. If
treatment costs payable by the department exceed the moneys
available under s. 20.437 (2) (em), the department shall request
the joint committee on finance to take action under s. 13.101.
The requirement of a finding of emergency under s. 13.101 (3)
(a) 1. does not apply to such a request.
(7) The department shall promulgate rules to implement the
substance abuse screening, testing, and treatment requirements
under this section and the monthly grant eligibility and protective
payee structure under sub. (4m).

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