Wisconsin Code § 49.791

Substance abuse screening, testing, and treatment for employment and training programs
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(1)
DEFINITIONS. In this section:
(a) “Able-bodied adult” has the meaning given in s. 49.79 (1)
(am).
(b) “Administering agency” means an administrative agency
within the executive branch under ch. 15 or an entity that contracts with the state such as a single county consortia under s.
49.78 (1r), a multicounty consortia under s. 49.78 (1) (br) , or a
tribal governing body under s. 49.78 (1) (cr).

(c) “Confirmation test” means an analytical procedure used to
quantify a specific controlled substance or its metabolite in a
specimen through a test that is different in scientific principle
from that of the initial test procedure and capable of providing the
requisite specificity, sensitivity, and quantitative accuracy to positively confirm use of a controlled substance.
(d) “Controlled substance” has the meaning given in s. 49.79
(1) (b).
(e) “Employment and training program” means the food
stamp employment and training program under s. 49.79 (9).
(f) “Food stamp program” has the meaning given in s. 49.79
(1) (c).
(g) “Medical review officer” means a licensed medical
provider who is employed by or providing services under a contract to a qualified drug testing vendor, has knowledge of substance abuse disorders and laboratory testing procedures, and has
the necessary training and experience to interpret and evaluate an
individual’s positive test result in relation to the individual’s medical history and valid prescriptions.
(h) “Metabolite” means a chemical present in the body when
a controlled substance is being broken down through natural
metabolic processes that can be detected or measured as a positive indicator that a controlled substance associated with the metabolite has been used.
(i) “Prescription” means a current order for a controlled substance that indicates the specific regimen and duration of the order and that is transmitted electronically or in writing by an individual authorized in this state to order the controlled substance.
(j) “Qualified drug testing vendor” means a laboratory certified by the federal centers for medical and medicaid services under the federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of
1988 to collect a specimen, carry out laboratory analysis of the
specimen, store the specimen for a confirmation test if required,
complete a confirmation test, and provide review by a medical review officer.
(k) “Screening” means completing a questionnaire specified
by the department regarding an individual’s current and prior use
of any controlled substance.
(L) “Specimen” means tissue, fluid, or any other product of
the human body required to be submitted by an individual for
testing under this section.
(m) “Trauma-informed” means operating under the understanding of the science of adverse childhood experiences, toxic
stress, trauma, and resilience, incorporating that understanding
into organizational culture, policies, programs, and practices, and
adhering to trauma-informed principles such as safety, trustworthiness and transparency, peer support, collaboration and mutuality, empowerment, and cultural, historical, and gender issue
recognition.
(n) “Treatment” means any service that is conducted under
clinical supervision to assist an individual through the process of
recovery from controlled substance abuse, including screening,
application of approved placement criteria, intake, orientation,
assessment, individualized treatment planning, intervention, individual or group and family counseling, referral, discharge planning, after care or continuing care, record keeping, consultation
with other professionals regarding treatment services, recovery
and case management, crisis intervention, education, employment, and problem resolution in life skills functioning.
(o) “Treatment program” means a program certified by the
department to provide treatment for controlled substance abuse
as a medically managed inpatient service, a medically monitored
treatment service, a day treatment service, an outpatient treatment service, a transitional residential treatment service, or a narcotic treatment service for opiate addiction or, as approved by the
department, psychosocial rehabilitation services.
(p) “Treatment provider” means a provider of treatment for
controlled substance abuse certified by the department, a
provider certified under s. 440.88, or a licensed professional who
meets criteria established by the department of safety and professional services.
(2) NOTICE OF REQUIREMENT. An administering agency shall
provide information in a format approved by the department to
any individual who expresses interest in or is referred to participate in an employment and training program to explain the requirement for participants in certain employment and training
programs to undergo screening, testing, and treatment for abuse
of controlled substances.
(3) ADMINISTERING AND EVALUATING A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE ABUSE SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRE. (a) At the time of
application and at annual redetermination for eligibility in the
food stamp program, an administering agency shall administer to
any able-bodied adult who is subject to the work requirement under s. 49.79 (10) (a) and intends on meeting the work requirement
through participation in the employment and training program a
controlled substance abuse screening questionnaire approved by
the department, which may include questions related to controlled substance abuse-related criminal background and controlled substance abuse. The administering agency shall determine whether answers to the controlled substance abuse screening questionnaire indicate possible use of a controlled substance
without a valid prescription by the able-bodied adult.
(b) 1. An able-bodied adult who is administered a controlled
substance abuse screening questionnaire under par. (a) shall answer all questions on the screening questionnaire, sign and date
the questionnaire, and submit the questionnaire to the administering agency.
2. If the able-bodied adult indicates on the screening questionnaire submitted under subd. 1. the prescribed use of a controlled substance, the able-bodied adult shall provide evidence of
the valid prescription to the administering agency.
(c) An able-bodied adult who is administered a controlled
substance abuse screening questionnaire under par. (a) and who
fails to comply with the requirements under par. (b) is not eligible
to participate in the employment and training program, and the
administering agency may not refer the individual to participate
in the employment and training program. An able-bodied adult
who is denied eligibility for participation in the employment and
training program for failure to complete the requirements under
par. (b) may complete the requirements under par. (b) at any time
while eligible for the food stamp program.
(d) An able-bodied adult who completes a controlled substance abuse screening questionnaire under this subsection and
whose answers to the screening questionnaire do not indicate
possible abuse of a controlled substance has satisfied the requirements of this section and may participate in an employment and
training program subject to this section.
(4) TESTING FOR USE OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE REQUIRED. (a) Individuals required to undergo testing; exception.
1. Except as provided in subd. 2., an administering agency shall
require an able-bodied adult whose answers on the controlled
substance abuse screening questionnaire submitted under sub. (3)
indicate possible use of a controlled substance without a prescription to undergo a test for the use of a controlled substance.
2. An administering agency may not require an able-bodied
adult whose answers on the controlled substance abuse screening
questionnaire submitted under sub. (3) indicate possible use of a
controlled substance and who also indicates readiness to enter

treatment for controlled substance abuse to undergo a test for the
use of a controlled substance.
(b) Nature of testing required. A test for use of a controlled
substance under this subsection consists of laboratory analysis of
a specimen collected from an able-bodied adult described in par.
(a) in a manner specified by the department that is consistent with
guidelines from the federal department of health and human services by a qualified drug testing vendor or a provider approved by
the department. The qualified drug testing vendor or other
provider shall analyze the specimen for the presence of controlled
substances specified by the department.
(c) Contracts for testing services. 1. The administering
agency, subject to the department’s approval, may contract with a
trauma-informed qualified drug testing vendor to collect a specimen, carry out laboratory analysis of the specimen, store the
specimen for confirmatory testing if required, complete confirmatory testing, provide review by a medical review officer, and
document and report test results to the administering agency.
2. The department may require administering agencies to use
a specific drug testing service procured through state contracting
if the department determines that volume discounts or other preferential pricing terms may be achieved through a statewide
contract.
(d) Effects of refusal to submit to drug test. 1. An able-bodied adult who is required to undergo a test for the use of a controlled substance under par. (a) but who refuses to submit to a
drug test by doing any of the following is ineligible to participate
in the employment and training program until the individual
agrees to be tested for use of a controlled substance and test results have been reported:
a. Failing or refusing to appear for a scheduled drug test
without good cause.
b. Failing or refusing to complete a form or release of information required for testing, including any form or release required by the qualified drug testing vendor to permit the vendor
to report test results to the administering agency or department.
c. Failing or refusing to provide a valid specimen for testing.
d. Failing or refusing to provide verification of identity to the
testing vendor.
2. The administering agency may direct an able-bodied adult
who initially refused to submit to a drug test under subd. 1. and
subsequently agrees to submit to a test to undergo drug testing on
a random basis at any time within 10 business days after the ablebodied adult agrees to submit to a test.
(e) Confirmation test required. If an able-bodied adult tests
positive for the use of a controlled substance, the qualified drug
testing vendor shall perform a confirmation test using the same
specimen obtained for the initial drug test. The vendor’s medical
review officer who is responsible for determining the presence of
a controlled substance under par. (b) shall interpret all drug test
results that are not negative.
(f) Accepting test results from other programs. For purposes
of this section, an administering agency may use results of a drug
test performed by the administering agency for the purpose of eligibility for another state program, including a work experience
program under s. 49.162, 49.36, or 108.133, performed at the request of the department of corrections, or performed by other
drug testing providers as approved by the department to determine whether to refer an able-bodied adult to treatment if all of
the following apply:
1. The test results are provided directly to the administering
agency.
2. The test results include tests for all controlled substances
required by the department to be tested under this section.
3. The test occurred within 90 days before the results are provided to the administering agency.
(g) Effect of a negative test. An able-bodied adult who undergoes a test for use of a controlled substance under this subsection
and tests negative for use of a controlled substance or who tests
positive for use of a controlled substance but provides to the administering agency a prescription for each controlled substance
for which the adult tests positive is not prohibited from participating in an employment and training program.
(h) Effect of a positive test. An able-bodied adult who undergoes a test for use of a controlled substance under this subsection,
whose test results are positive, and who does not provide evidence of a prescription for the controlled substance, as determined by the qualified drug testing vendor’s medical review officer, is required to participate in treatment under sub. (5) to participate in an employment and training program.
(5) PARTICIPATION IN TREATMENT REQUIRED. (a) Individuals required to participate in treatment. An able-bodied adult
who is described under sub. (4) (a) or (h) is required to participate
in trauma-informed treatment to be eligible to participate in an
employment and training program.
(b) Referral for treatment; monitoring. The applicable administering agency shall provide to every able-bodied adult who
is required to participate in treatment under par. (a) information
about treatment programs and county-specific assessment and
enrollment activities required for entry into treatment. The applicable administering agency shall monitor the able-bodied adult’s
progress in entering and completing treatment and the results of
random testing for the use of a controlled substance carried out
during and at the conclusion of treatment.
(c) Evaluation and assessment. A treatment provider shall
conduct a trauma-informed substance abuse evaluation and assessment of each able-bodied adult and take any of the following
actions, as appropriate, based on the evaluation and assessment:
1. If the treatment provider determines the able-bodied adult
does not need treatment, notify the administering agency that the
able-bodied adult does not need treatment.
2. If the treatment provider determines the able-bodied adult
is in need of treatment, refer the individual to an appropriate
treatment program to begin treatment and notify the administering agency of the referral and the expected start date and duration
of treatment.
3. If a treatment provider determines the able-bodied adult is
in need of treatment but is unable to refer the adult because there
is a waiting list for enrollment, enter the able-bodied adult on the
waiting list and notify the administering agency of the date the
adult is expected to be enrolled.
(d) Eligibility when treatment not needed or on waiting list.
1. An able-bodied adult described in par. (c) 1. is determined to
have satisfied the requirements of this section and is eligible under this section to participate in an employment and training
program.
2. An able-bodied adult who is on a waiting list for enrollment in an appropriate treatment program under par. (c) 3. shall
continue to take all necessary steps to continue seeking enrollment in the appropriate treatment program. The able-bodied
adult is eligible under this section to participate in an employment and training program while on the waiting list if the adult is
not eligible for immediate enrollment in another appropriate
treatment program.
(e) Satisfying treatment requirement through another program. An administering agency shall accept as satisfying the requirements of this subsection participation in any treatment program. The able-bodied adult satisfying the requirements of this
subsection by participating in another treatment program shall

execute a release of information to allow the administering
agency to obtain verification of successful participation in that
treatment program.
(f) Effects of refusal to submit to treatment. An able-bodied
adult who is required to participate in treatment under par. (a) but
who refuses to participate in treatment by doing any of the following is ineligible to participate in the employment and training
program until the individual agrees to participate in treatment
while still eligible for the food stamp program:
1. Failing or refusing to complete a form or release required
for treatment program administration, including a form or release
required by the treatment provider in order to share information
with the administering agency about the able-bodied adult’s participation in treatment.
2. Failing or refusing to participate in a controlled substance
test required by the treatment provider or the administering
agency during the course of required treatment, including any
random controlled substance testing directed by the treatment
provider or administering agency.
3. Failing or refusing to meet attendance or participation requirements established by the treatment provider.
4. Failing or refusing to complete a substance abuse
assessment.
(g) Completion of required treatment. An able-bodied adult
required under par. (a) to participate in treatment is considered to
have successfully completed treatment if all applicable components identified under par. (c) are satisfied.
(h) Work requirements while in treatment. An able-bodied
adult who is participating in an employment and training program is exempt from complying with requirements to work a
specified number of hours under s. 49.79 (9) or (10) while participating in treatment under this subsection.
(6) EFFECT OF COMPLETION, WITHDRAWAL, OR TERMINATION
FROM EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAM. An able-bodied
adult who satisfies any of the following is no longer subject to s.
49.79 (9) (d) or this section:
(a) The able-bodied adult has completed or voluntarily withdrawn from participation in an employment and training
program.
(b) The able-bodied adult is terminated from an employment
and training program for reasons unrelated to this section.
(c) The able-bodied adult is no longer subject to the requirements of s. 49.79 (10).
(7) CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS. Completed screening
questionnaires, prescriptions, testing results, and treatment
records relating to this section may not be disclosed except for
purposes connected with the administration of an employment
and training program or except when disclosure is otherwise authorized by law or by written consent from the individual who is
the subject of the record. The department may establish administrative, physical, and technical safeguard procedures administering agencies must follow to assure compliance with state and federal laws related to public assistance program records, drug testing and treatment records, and medical records.
(8) APPEALS. An adverse decision under this section may be
appealed under 7 CFR 273.15 and procedures established in rules
promulgated by the division of hearings and appeals.
(9) PAYMENT OF COSTS FOR SCREENING, TESTING, AND
TREATMENT. (a) The department shall pay for all costs related to
screening able-bodied adults under sub. (3), including the costs of
producing, administering, and reviewing screening
questionnaires.
(b) The department shall pay for all costs related to testing
able-bodied adults under sub. (4), including any costs related to
contracting with qualified drug testing vendors under sub. (4) (c).
(c) The department shall pay costs for treatment under sub.
(5) that are not covered by the Medical Assistance program under
subch. IV of ch. 49 or other private insurance. Payments by the
department under this paragraph shall be at rates no higher than
the rates paid for comparable services under the Medical Assistance program.

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