WEEK OF DECEMBER 4, 2017
SPEAKER'S TASK FORCE ON FOSTER CARE RELEASES REPORT

Last Tuesday, the members of the Speaker's Task Force on Foster Care released its interim report. The Task Force focused its recommendations on three key areas: 
  • Efforts to support families, to reduce contact with the child welfare system, and to prevent the removal of children from their homes.
     
  • Improvements to the child welfare system, broadly, including support for child welfare agencies, caseworkers, and foster parents.
     
  • Provision of services and resources to children who are placed in out-of-home care, both during placement and, for those children who age out of the system, after placement.
The Task Force recommends 13 pieces of legislation, collectively referred to as "Foster Forward." A number of the proposals included in the package were requested by county human and social services departments at the Task Force's six public hearings held across the state, including:  
  • LRB-4925/2: Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Grants - The bill directs the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to administer a child abuse and neglect prevention services grant program. Specifically, DCF must award grants to counties, nonprofit organizations, and tribes for the purpose of encouraging innovative practices aimed at reducing the contact that families have with the child welfare system and preventing the removal of children from their homes. Grant recipients must provide matching funds equal to 9.89% of the grant amount awarded. The bill draft appropriates $500,000 TANF for the grant program each fiscal year.
  • LRB-4767/1: Committee to Study Child Welfare Worker Caseloads - The bill establishes a committee, called the Wisconsin Task Force to Create Effective Child Welfare Caseloads, that would be responsible for making recommendations regarding: (1) the maximum number of cases that a caseworker may be reasonably expected to effectively manage; (2) the maximum ratio of supervisors to caseworkers at which a supervisor may be reasonably expected to provide effective guidance and direction; and (3) the amount of funding that would be necessary to implement those standards. The committee must be comprised of a total of 16 individuals, including representatives from the Wisconsin County Human Service Association (WCHSA), DCF, and the tribes. The committee's written report must be completed by April 1, 2019.

The full report of the Task Force, including a summary of all of the bill drafts, can be accessed here.

The bills, to be introduced by the members of the Task Force, are currently out for co-sponsorship. Counties are encouraged to review the full report of the Task Force and ask their legislators to co-sponsor the bills, especially the two bills listed above.

Contact information for legislators can be found here:
 

STATE OF WISCONSIN INVESTMENT BOARD APPOINTS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

On Thursday, the State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB) appointed Rick Smirl as executive director of SWIB. Smirl is currently a partner and chief operating officer at William Blair Investment Management.

SWIB manages the trust funds of the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) and several other smaller trust funds.

See the full press release here.
COMMITTEE HEARINGS FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 4, 2017

Note: The Committee hearings and bills listed below reflect action on legislation impacting county government.  See a complete listing of weekly hearings here.

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Senate Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs, 10:00 a.m.
Assembly Bill 442/ Senate Bill 437 - all-terrain vehicle route signage. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Bill 496 - outdoor advertising signs that do not conform to local ordinances and that are affected by certain transportation-related projects. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Committee on Transportation, 9:00 a.m.
Assembly Bill 594 - outdoor advertising signs that do not conform to local ordinances and that are affected by certain transportation-related projects. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Senate Committee on Government Operations, Technology and Consumer Protection, 9:00 a.m.
Senate Bill 488 - using a tribal identification card for various purposes. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Bill 579 - increasing a political subdivision's levy limit upon the subtraction of territory from a tax incremental district. WCA supports this bill.

UPCOMING WCA MEETINGS/EVENTS
  • December 15 - WCA Board of Directors
HOW CAN YOU FOLLOW THE SESSION WITH US?  

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As a member-benefit, the Wisconsin Counties Association offers access to The Wheeler Report, WisPolitics, and WisconsinEye.

If you would like to subscribe to any one of these news services, please contact Amy Dias, Office Manager at dias@wicounties.org or at 866.404.2700.
QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions about any legislative items, please feel free to contact any member of WCA's Government Affairs Team.

Kyle Christianson, Director of Government Affairs
608.663.7188
christianson@wicounties.org

Sarah Diedrick-Kasdorf, Deputy Director of Government Affairs
608.663.7188
diedrick@wicounties.org

Dan Bahr, Government Affairs Associate
608.663.7188
bahr@wicounties.org

Marcie Rainbolt, Government Affairs Associate
608.663.7188
rainbolt@wicounties.org

Chelsea Fibert, Government Affairs Assistant
608.663.7188