Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 51 - State alcohol, drug abuse, developmental disabilities and mental health act.
51.42 - Community mental health, developmental disabilities, alcoholism and drug abuse services.

51.42 Community mental health, developmental disabilities, alcoholism and drug abuse services.
(1) Program.
(a) Purpose and intent. All of the following are the purposes and intent of this section:
1. To enable and encourage counties to develop a comprehensive range of services offering continuity of care.
2. To utilize and expand existing governmental, voluntary and private community resources for provision of services to prevent or ameliorate mental disabilities, including but not limited to mental illness, developmental disabilities, alcoholism and drug abuse.
3. To provide for the integration of administration of those services and facilities organized under this section through the establishment of a county department of community programs.
4. To authorize state consultative services, reviews and establishment of standards and grants-in-aid for such program of services and facilities.
(b) County liability. The county board of supervisors except in Milwaukee County, has the primary responsibility for the well-being, treatment and care of the mentally ill, developmentally disabled, alcoholic and other drug dependent citizens residing within its county and for ensuring that those individuals in need of such emergency services found within its county receive immediate emergency services. In Milwaukee County, the Milwaukee County mental health board has the primary responsibility for the well-being, treatment and care of the mentally ill, alcoholic, and other drug dependent citizens residing within Milwaukee County and for ensuring that those individuals in need of such emergency services found within Milwaukee County receive immediate emergency services. The county board of supervisors of Milwaukee County has the primary responsibility for the well-being, treatment, and care of the developmentally disabled citizens residing within Milwaukee County, except where the responsibility is delegated explicitly under this section to the Milwaukee County mental health board, and for ensuring that developmentally disabled individuals in need of such emergency services found within Milwaukee County receive immediate emergency services. This primary responsibility is limited to the programs, services and resources that the county board of supervisors, or, as applicable, the Milwaukee County mental health board, is reasonably able to provide within the limits of available state and federal funds and of county funds required to be appropriated to match state funds. County liability for care and services purchased through or provided by a county department of community programs established under this section shall be based upon the client's county of residence except for emergency services for which liability shall be placed with the county in which the individual is found. For the purpose of establishing county liability, “emergency services" includes those services provided under the authority of s. 55.05 (4), 2003 stats., or s. 55.06 (11) (a), 2003 stats., or s. 51.15, 51.45 (11) (a) or (b) or (12), 55.13, or 55.135 for not more than 72 hours. Nothing in this paragraph prevents recovery of liability under s. 46.10 or any other statute creating liability upon the individual receiving a service or any other designated responsible party, or prevents reimbursement by the department of health services for the actual cost of all care and services from the appropriation under s. 20.435 (5) (da), as provided in s. 51.22 (3).
(2) Definition. In this section, “program" means community services and facilities for the prevention or amelioration of mental disabilities, including but not limited to mental illness, developmental disabilities, alcoholism and drug abuse.
(3) County department of community programs.
(a) Creation. Except as provided under s. 46.23 (3) (b), the county board of supervisors of any county except Milwaukee County, the Milwaukee County mental health board, or the county boards of supervisors of 2 or more counties, shall establish a county department of community programs on a single-county or multicounty basis to administer a community mental health, developmental disabilities, alcoholism and drug abuse program, make appropriations to operate the program and authorize the county department of community programs to apply for grants-in-aid under s. 51.423. The county department of community programs shall consist of a county community programs board, a county community programs director and necessary personnel.
(ar) Duties. A county department of community programs shall do all of the following:
1. Enter into contracts to render services to or secure services from other agencies or resources including out-of-state agencies or resources. Notwithstanding ss. 59.42 (1) and (2) (b) and 978.05, any multicounty department of community programs may contract for professional legal services that are necessary to carry out the duties of the multicounty department of community programs if the corporation counsel of each county of the multicounty department of community programs has notified the multicounty department of community programs that he or she is unable to provide those services in a timely manner.
2. Enter into contracts for the use of any facility as an approved public treatment facility under s. 51.45 for the treatment of alcoholics or persons who are drug dependent if the county department of community programs deems it to be an effective and economical course to follow.
3. Plan for and establish a community developmental disabilities program to deliver the services required under s. 51.437 if, under s. 51.437 (4g) (b), the county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county department of community programs or the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty department of community programs transfer the powers and duties of the county department under s. 51.437 to the county department of community programs. The county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county department of community programs and the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty department of community programs may designate the county department of community programs to which these powers and duties have been transferred as the administrative agency of the community integration programs under ss. 46.275, 46.277 and 46.278.
4. Within the limits of available state and federal funds and of county funds required to be appropriated to match state funds, provide for the program needs of persons suffering from mental disabilities, including mental illness, developmental disabilities, alcoholism or drug abuse, by offering the following services:
a. Collaborative and cooperative services with public health and other groups for programs of prevention.
b. Comprehensive diagnostic and evaluation services, including assessment as specified under ss. 114.09 (2) (bm), 343.30 (1q) and 343.305 (10) and assessments under ss. 48.295 (1) and 938.295 (1).
c. Inpatient and outpatient care and treatment, residential facilities, partial hospitalization, emergency care and supportive transitional services.
d. Related research and staff in-service training, including periodic training on emergency detention procedures under s. 51.15, emergency protective services under s. 55.13, and emergency protective placement procedures under s. 55.135, for persons within the jurisdiction of the county department of community programs who are authorized to take individuals into custody under ss. 51.15 and 55.135. In developing in-service training on emergency detention and emergency protective placement procedures, the county department of community programs shall consult the county department of developmental disabilities services under s. 51.437 in counties where these departments are separate.
e. Continuous planning, development and evaluation of programs and services for all population groups.
4m. If state, federal and county funding for alcohol and other drug abuse treatment services provided under subd. 4. are insufficient to meet the needs of all eligible individuals, ensure that first priority for services is given to pregnant women who suffer from alcoholism or alcohol abuse or are drug dependent.
5. Prepare a local plan which includes an inventory of all existing resources, identifies needed new resources and services and contains a plan for meeting the needs of the mentally ill, developmentally disabled, alcoholic, drug abusers and those with other psychiatric disabilities for citizens residing within the jurisdiction of the county department of community programs and for persons in need of emergency services found within the jurisdiction of the county department of community programs. The plan shall also include the establishment of long-range goals and intermediate-range plans, detailing priorities and estimated costs and providing for coordination of local services and continuity of care. The plan shall state how the needs of homeless persons and adults with serious and persistent mental illness, children with serious emotional disturbances and minorities will be met by the county department of community programs. The county department of community programs shall submit the plan to the department for review under sub. (7) (a) 9. and s. 51.02 (1) (f) in accordance with the schedule and deadlines established under sub. (7) (a) 9.
6. Under the supervision of the county community programs director, using qualified personnel with training or experience, or both, in mental health, developmental disabilities, or in alcoholism and drug abuse, be responsible for the planning and implementation of programs relating to mental health, developmental disabilities, alcoholism or drug abuse. A single coordinator may be responsible for alcoholism, drug abuse, mental health and developmental disabilities programs.
7. Acknowledge receipt of the notification received under s. 115.812 (2).
8. By September 30, submit for inclusion as part of the proposed county budget to the Milwaukee County mental health board in Milwaukee County, to the county executive or county administrator, or, in those counties without a county executive or county administrator, directly to the county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county department of community programs or the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty department of community programs a proposed budget for the succeeding calendar year covering services, including active treatment community mental health center services, based on the plan required under subd. 5. The final budget shall be submitted to the department of health services.
9. Develop the cost of all services which it purchases based on the standards and requirements of s. 46.036.
11. Annually report to the department of health services regarding the use of any contract entered into under s. 51.87.
13. Except in an emergency, review and approve or disapprove all admissions to nursing homes of mentally ill persons under age 65 who are residents of the county.
14. If the county board of supervisors or, as applicable, the Milwaukee County mental health board establishes an initiative to provide coordinated services under s. 59.53 (7), participate in and may administer the initiative, including entering into any written interagency agreements or contracts.
15. Submit to the department in a timely fashion, as specified by the department, any reports necessary to comply with the requirements under 42 USC 300x-52.
17. If authorized under s. 46.283 (1) (a) 1., apply to the department of health services to operate a resource center under s. 46.283 and, if the department contracts with the county under s. 46.283 (2), operate the resource center.
18. If authorized under s. 46.284 (1) (a) 1., apply to the department of health services to operate a care management organization under s. 46.284 and, if the department contracts with the county under s. 46.284 (2), operate the care management organization and, if appropriate, place funds in a risk reserve.
(as) Care in other facilities.
1g. In this paragraph, “county department" means a county department of community programs.
1m. A county department shall reimburse a mental health institute at the institute's daily rate for custody of any person who is ordered by a court located in that county to be examined at the mental health institute under s. 971.14 (2) for all days that the person remains in custody at the mental health institute, beginning 48 hours, not including Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after the sheriff and county department receive notice under s. 971.14 (2) (d) that the examination has been completed.
1r. A county department shall authorize all care of any patient in a state, local, or private facility under a contractual agreement between the county department and the facility, unless the county department governs the facility. The need for inpatient care shall be determined by the program director or designee in consultation with and upon the recommendation of a licensed physician trained in psychiatry and employed by the county department or its contract agency. In cases of emergency, a facility under contract with any county department shall charge the county department having jurisdiction in the county where the patient is found. The county department shall reimburse the facility for the actual cost of all authorized care and services less applicable collections under s. 46.036, unless the department of health services determines that a charge is administratively infeasible, or unless the department of health services, after individual review, determines that the charge is not attributable to the cost of basic care and services. Except as provided in subd. 1m., a county department may not reimburse any state institution or receive credit for collections for care received in a state institution by nonresidents of this state, interstate compact clients, transfers under s. 51.35 (3), transfers from Wisconsin state prisons under s. 51.37 (5) (a), commitments under s. 975.01, 1977 stats., or s. 975.02, 1977 stats., or s. 971.14, 971.17 or 975.06 or admissions under s. 975.17, 1977 stats., or children placed in the guardianship of the department of children and families under s. 48.427 or 48.43 or under the supervision of the department of corrections under s. 938.183 or 938.355. The exclusionary provisions of s. 46.03 (18) do not apply to direct and indirect costs that are attributable to care and treatment of the client.
2. If a mental health institute has provided a county department with service, the department of health services shall regularly collect for the cost of care from the county department. If collections for care from the county department and from other sources exceed current billings, the difference shall be remitted to the county department through the appropriation under s. 20.435 (2) (gk). For care provided on and after February 1, 1979, the department of health services shall adjust collections from medical assistance to compensate for differences between specific rate scales for care charged to the county department and the average daily medical assistance reimbursement rate. The department of health services shall deduct the amount due from a county department under this subdivision from any payment due from the department of health services to the county department.
3. Care, services and supplies provided after December 31, 1973, to any person who, on December 31, 1973, was in or under the supervision of a mental health institute, or was receiving mental health services in a facility authorized by s. 51.08 or 51.09, but was not admitted to a mental health institute by the department of health services, shall be charged to the county department which was responsible for such care and services at the place where the patient resided when admitted to the institution. The department of health services may bill county departments for care provided at the mental health institutes at rates which the department of health services sets on a flexible basis, except that this flexible rate structure shall cover the cost of operations of the mental health institutes.
(aw) Powers.
1. Within the limits of state and county appropriations and maximum available funding from other sources, a county department of community programs may provide for the program needs of persons suffering from mental disabilities, including but not limited to mental illness, developmental disability, alcoholism or drug abuse, by offering the following services:
a. Precare, aftercare and rehabilitation and habilitation services.
b. Professional consultation.
c. Public informational and educational services.
d. Provide treatment and services that are specified in a conditional release plan approved by a court for a person who is a county resident and is conditionally released under s. 971.17 (3) or (4) or that are specified in a supervised release plan approved by a court under s. 980.06 (2) (c), 1997 stats., s. 980.08 (5), 2003 stats., or s. 980.08 (4) (g). If the county department provides treatment and services under this subdivision, the department of health services shall, from the appropriation under s. 20.435 (2) (bj), pay the county department for the costs of the treatment and services.
2. A county department of community programs may allocate services among service recipients to reflect the availability of limited resources.
3. A county department of community programs may own, lease or manage real property for the purposes of operating a treatment facility.
(b) Other powers and duties. The county board of supervisors of any county with a single-county department of community programs, the Milwaukee County mental health board, and the county boards of supervisors of counties with a multicounty department of community programs may designate the county department of community programs as the administrator of any other county health care program or institution, but the operation of such program or institution is not reimbursable under s. 51.423.
(bm) Educational services. A county department of community programs may not furnish services and programs provided by the department of public instruction and local educational agencies.
(c) Multicounty contract. No grant-in-aid may be made under s. 51.423 to any multicounty department of community programs until the counties which established the multicounty department of community programs have drawn up a detailed contractual agreement, approved by the secretary, setting forth the plans for joint sponsorship.
(e) Exchange of information. Notwithstanding ss. 46.2895 (9), 48.78 (2) (a), 49.45 (4), 49.83, 51.30, 51.45 (14) (a), 55.22 (3), 146.82, 252.11 (7), 253.07 (3) (c), and 938.78 (2) (a), any subunit of a county department of community programs or tribal agency acting under this section may exchange confidential information about a client, without the informed consent of the client, with any other subunit of the same county department of community programs or tribal agency, with a resource center, a care management organization, or a long-term care district, or with any person providing services to the client under a purchase of services contract with the county department of community programs or tribal agency or with a resource center, care management organization, or long-term care district, if necessary to enable an employee or service provider to perform his or her duties, or to enable the county department of community programs or tribal agency to coordinate the delivery of services to the client. Any agency releasing information under this paragraph shall document that a request was received and what information was provided.
(4) County community programs board.
(a) Appointment.
1. Except as provided under subd. 2., the county board of supervisors of every county with a single-county department of community programs or the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty department of community programs shall, before qualification under this section, appoint a governing and policy-making board to be known as the county community programs board. A county community programs board appointed under this subdivision shall govern the single-county or multicounty department of community programs and shall assume all of the powers and duties of the county department of community programs under sub. (3) (ar) to (bm). A member of a county community programs board appointed under this subdivision may be removed from office under the following circumstances:
a. By a two-thirds vote of each county board of supervisors participating in the appointment, on due notice in writing.
b. If the member when appointed was a member of the county board of supervisors and the member is not reelected to that office, on due notice in writing.
2. In any county with a county executive or county administrator and which has established a single-county department of community programs, the county executive or county administrator shall appoint, subject to confirmation by the Milwaukee County mental health board in Milwaukee County or the county board of supervisors, the county community programs board, which shall be only a policy-making body determining the broad outlines and principles governing the administration of programs under this section. A member of a county community programs board appointed under this subdivision may be removed by the county executive or county administrator on due notice in writing.
(b) Composition.
1. In a single-county department of community programs the county community programs board shall be composed of not less than 9 nor more than 15 persons of recognized ability and demonstrated interest in the problems of the mentally ill, developmentally disabled, alcoholic or drug dependent persons and shall have representation from the interest group of the mentally ill, the interest group of the developmentally disabled, the interest group of the alcoholic and the interest group of the drug dependent. At least one member appointed to a county community programs board shall be an individual who receives or has received services for mental illness, developmental disability, alcoholism or drug dependency or shall be a family member of such an individual. No more than 5 members may be appointed from the county board of supervisors.
2. In a multicounty department of community programs, the county community programs board shall be composed of 11 members with 3 additional members for each county in a multicounty department of community programs in excess of 2. Appointments shall be made by the county boards of supervisors of the counties in a multicounty department of community programs in a manner acceptable to the counties in the multicounty department of community programs and shall have representation from the interest group of the mentally ill, the interest group of the developmentally disabled, the interest group of the alcoholic and the interest group of the drug dependent. At least one member appointed to a county community programs board shall be an individual who receives or has received services for mental illness, developmental disability, alcoholism or drug dependency or shall be a family member of such an individual. Each of the counties in the multicounty department of community programs may appoint to the county community programs board not more than 3 members from its county board of supervisors.
(d) Term. The term of office of any member of a county community programs board shall be 3 years, but of the members first appointed, at least one-third shall be appointed for one year; at least one-third for 2 years; and the remainder for 3 years. Vacancies shall be filled for the residue of the unexpired term in the manner that original appointments are made.
(5) Powers and duties of county community programs board in certain counties.
(a) A county community programs board appointed under sub. (4) (a) 1. shall do all of the following:
1. Establish long-range goals and intermediate-range plans, detail priorities and estimate costs.
2. Develop coordination of local services and continuity of care where indicated.
3. Utilize available community resources and develop new resources necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.
4. Appoint a county community programs director, subject to the approval of each county board of supervisors which participated in the appointment of the county community programs board, on the basis of recognized and demonstrated interest in and knowledge of the problems of mental health, developmental disability, alcoholism and drug addiction, with due regard to training, experience, executive and administrative ability, and general qualification and fitness for the performance of the duties of the county community programs director under sub. (6). The county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county department of community programs or the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty department of community programs may delegate this appointing authority to the county community programs board.
5. Fix the salaries of the employees of the county department of community programs, subject to the approval of each county board of supervisors which participated in the appointment of the county community programs board unless such county board of supervisors elects not to review the salaries.
6. Prepare a proposed budget for submission to the county board and a final budget for submission to the department of health services in accordance with s. 46.031 (1).
7. Appoint committees consisting of residents of the county to advise the county community programs board as it deems necessary.
8. Develop county community programs board operating procedures.
9. Comply with state requirements.
10. Assist in arranging cooperative working agreements with persons providing health, education, vocational or welfare services related to services provided under this section.
11. Evaluate service delivery.
12. Determine, subject to the approval of the county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county department of community programs or the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty department of community programs and with the advice of the county community programs director appointed under subd. 4., whether services are to be provided directly by the county department of community programs or contracted for with other providers and make such contracts. The county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county department of community programs or the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty department of community programs may elect to require the approval of any such contract by the county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county department of community programs or the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty department of community programs.
(b) Subject to the approval of the county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county department of community programs or the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty department of community programs and with the advice of the county community programs director appointed under par. (a) 4., a county community programs board appointed under sub. (4) (a) 1. may, together with a private or public organization or affiliation, do all of the following:
1. Organize, establish and participate in the governance and operation of an entity to operate, wholly or in part, any mental health-related service.
2. Participate in the financing of the entity under subd. 1.
3. Provide administrative and financial services or resources for operation of the entity under subd. 1. on terms prescribed by the county board of supervisors.
(5a) Powers and duties of county community programs board in certain counties with a county executive or county administrator.
(a) A county community programs board appointed under sub. (4) (a) 2. shall do all of the following:
1. Appoint committees consisting of residents of the county to advise the county community programs board as it deems necessary.
2. Recommend program priorities, identify unmet service needs and prepare short-term and long-term plans and budgets for meeting such priorities and needs.
3. Prepare, with the assistance of the county community programs director appointed under sub. (6m), a proposed budget for submission to the county executive or county administrator and a final budget for submission to the department of health services in accordance with s. 46.031 (1) for authorized services.
4. Advise the county community programs director appointed under sub. (6m) regarding purchasing and providing services and the selection of purchase of service vendors, and make recommendations to the county executive or county administrator regarding modifications in such purchasing, providing and selection.
5. Develop county community programs board operating procedures.
6. Comply with state requirements.
7. Assist in arranging cooperative working agreements with persons providing health, education, vocational or welfare services related to services provided under this section.
8. Advise the county community programs director regarding coordination of local services and continuity of care.
(b) The county community programs director, subject only to the supervision of the county executive or county administrator, may do all of the following:
1. Organize, establish and participate in the governance and operation of an entity to operate, wholly or in part, any mental health-related service.
2. Participate in the financing of the entity under subd. 1.
3. Provide administrative and financial services or resources for operation of the entity under subd. 1. on terms prescribed by the county executive or county administrator.
(6) Powers and duties of county community programs director in certain counties. A county community programs director appointed under sub. (5) (a) 4. shall have all of the administrative and executive powers and duties of managing, operating, maintaining, and improving the programs of the county department of community programs, subject to such delegation of authority as is not inconsistent with this section and the rules of the department of health services promulgated under this section. In consultation and agreement with the county community programs board, the county community programs director appointed under sub. (5) (a) 4. shall do all of the following:
(a) Prepare an annual comprehensive plan and budget of all funds necessary for the program and services authorized by this section in which priorities and objectives for the year are established as well as any modifications of long-range objectives.
(b) Prepare intermediate-range plans.
(c) Prepare an annual report of the operation of the program.
(d) Prepare other reports as are required by the secretary and the county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county department of community programs or the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty department of community programs.
(e) Make recommendations to the county community programs board under sub. (5) for all of the following:
1. Personnel and the salaries of employees.
2. Changes in program services.
(f) After consultation with the county community programs board, administer the duties of the county department of community programs under sub. (3) (aw) 2.
(g) Comply with state requirements.
(6m) County community programs director in certain counties with a county executive or county administrator. In any county with a county executive or county administrator in which the county board of supervisors or the Milwaukee County mental health board has established a single-county department of community programs, the county executive or county administrator shall appoint and supervise the county community programs director. In any county with a population of 750,000 or more, the county executive or county administrator shall appoint the director of the county department of human services under s. 46.21 as the county community programs director. The appointment of a county community programs director under this subsection shall be on the basis of recognized and demonstrated interest in and knowledge of the problems of mental health, intellectual disability, alcoholism and drug addiction, with due regard to training, experience, executive and administrative ability, and general qualification and fitness for the performance of the duties of the director. The appointment of a county community programs director under this subsection is subject to confirmation by the county board of supervisors, except in Milwaukee County, unless the county board of supervisors, by ordinance, elects to waive confirmation or unless the appointment is made under a civil service system competitive examination procedure established under s. 59.52 (8) or ch. 63. The county community programs director, subject only to the supervision of the county executive or county administrator, shall:
(a) Supervise and administer any program established under this section, subject to such delegation of authority as is not inconsistent with this section and the rules of the department of health services promulgated under this section.
(b) Determine administrative and program procedures.
(c) Determine, subject to the approval of the county board of supervisors or the Milwaukee County mental health board, as applicable, and with the advice of the county community programs board, whether services are to be provided directly by the county department of community programs or contracted for with other providers and make such contracts. The county board of supervisors, except in Milwaukee County, or the Milwaukee County mental health board in Milwaukee County may elect to require the approval of any such contract by the county board of supervisors or the Milwaukee County mental health board.
(e) Assist the county community programs board under sub. (5a) in the preparation of the budgets required under sub. (5a) (a) 3.
(f) Make recommendations to the county executive or county administrator regarding modifications to the proposed budget prepared by the county community programs board under sub. (5a) (a) 3.
(g) Evaluate service delivery.
(h) After consultation with the county community programs board under sub. (5a), administer the duties of the county department of community programs under sub. (3) (aw) 2.
(i) Establish salaries and personnel policies of the programs of the county department of community programs subject to approval of the county executive or county administrator and county board of supervisors, except in Milwaukee County, or the Milwaukee County mental health board in Milwaukee County unless the county board of supervisors or the Milwaukee County mental health board elects not to review the salaries and personnel policies.
(j) Perform other functions necessary to manage, operate, maintain and improve programs.
(k) Comply with state requirements.
(L) Utilize available community resources and develop new resources necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.
(m) In consultation with the county community programs board under sub. (5a), prepare:
1. Intermediate-range plans and budget.
2. An annual report of the operation of the county department of community programs.
3. Such other reports as are required by the secretary and the county board of supervisors or, as applicable, the Milwaukee County mental health board.
(n) Provide for coordination of local services and continuity of care.
(7) Duties of the department of health services.
(a) The department of health services shall:
1. Review requests and certify county departments of community programs and community mental health programs to assure that those county departments and those programs are in compliance with this section.
2. Periodically review and evaluate county departments of community programs to assure compliance with this section. The review shall include a periodic assessment of need which shall separately identify elements of service required under this section. The periodic review of community mental health programs shall be made at least once every 36 months, except that all of the following apply:
a. The secretary may require annual review of a community mental health program that, in the immediately preceding 36 months, substantially failed to comply with the requirements for certification or was the subject of grievances or an investigation.
b. The department may review and evaluate a community mental health program at any time.
2m. Review and evaluate at random at least 5 community mental health programs each year. Review and evaluation under this subdivision may be coincident with or in addition to that made under subd. 2. and may be conducted with or without notice to a community mental health program.
3. Provide consultative staff services to communities to assist in ascertaining local needs and in planning, establishing and operating programs.
3m. Develop a training curriculum for use in training members of county community programs boards and county human services boards. The training curriculum shall delineate the board members' roles and responsibilities and shall provide information on client groups served and programs provided by the county department of community programs or human services. In developing the training curriculum, the department shall consult with representatives of county interests, consumer and advocacy groups and community mental health program providers. The department shall submit the training curriculum to the council on mental health under s. 51.02 (1) (h) for the council's review and comment.
3r. Establish a training schedule that ensures that county community programs boards and county human services boards in all geographical areas of the state are provided access to training under the training curriculum under subd. 3m. once every 2 years.
4. Develop and implement a uniform cost reporting system according to s. 46.18 (8) to (10).
5. Ensure that county departments of community programs that elect to provide special education programs to children aged 3 years and under comply with requirements established by the department of public instruction.
6. Provide, as available after provision of services under s. 51.05 (6), the following:
a. Mental health outpatient and follow-up services appropriate for hearing-impaired mentally ill individuals, including advocacy training relating to the rights of mentally ill individuals.
b. Technical assistance to a county department of community programs concerning provision of services to hearing-impaired mentally ill individuals.
7. Develop a program in consultation with the department of safety and professional services to use voluntary, uncompensated services of licensed or certified professionals to assist the department of health services in evaluating community mental health programs in exchange for continuing education credits for the professionals under ss. 448.40 (2) (e) and 455.065 (5).
8. Enter into an agreement with an institution of higher education or a private, nonprofit organization to develop a community mental health client survey prototype. The department shall attempt to secure a grant to fund the development of the survey prototype.
9. Develop a model community mental health plan available for use by counties and to assist them in developing their community plans as required under sub. (3) (ar) 5. In the process of developing the model community mental health plan, the department shall select 6 counties, both urban and rural, to submit plans to the department for review. The department shall revise the model plan, if necessary, considering the comments of the 6 counties selected. The department shall also consult with the council on mental health and with groups that represent counties, consumers of mental health services and family members of the consumers in developing the model community mental health plan. The department shall establish a schedule that requires each county in this state to submit a plan under sub. (3) (ar) 5. once every 3 years, in accordance with deadlines established by the subunit of the department with jurisdiction over community mental health. The department, in conjunction with the council on mental health, shall review the plans submitted by counties.
(b) The department shall promulgate rules which do all of the following:
1. Govern the administrative structure deemed necessary to administer community mental health, developmental disabilities, alcoholism and drug abuse services.
2. Establish uniform cost record-keeping requirements.
3. Prescribe standards for qualifications and salaries of personnel.
4. Prescribe standards for quality of professional services.
5. Prescribe requirements for in-service and educational leave programs for personnel.
6. Prescribe standards for establishing patient fee schedules.
7. Govern eligibility of patients to the end that no person is denied service on the basis of age, race, color, creed, location or inability to pay.
7m. Define “first priority for services" under and otherwise implement sub. (3) (ar) 4m.
8. Prescribe such other standards and requirements as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.
9. Promulgate rules establishing medication procedures to be used in the delivery of mental health services.
10. Establish criteria for the level of scrutiny for evaluation of community mental health programs.
11. Prescribe requirements for certification of community mental health programs, except as provided in s. 51.032, including all of the following:
a. A requirement that, as part of the certification process, community mental health programs must demonstrate that their staff have knowledge of laws, regulations and standards of practice which apply to the program and its clients.
b. A requirement that, when conducting certifications, certification staff must use a random selection process in reviewing client records.
c. A requirement that certification staff conduct client interviews as part of the certification process.
d. A requirement that certification staff provide certification results to the community mental health program reviewed, to subunits within the department responsible for community mental health program monitoring and to the county department under this section in which the community mental health program is located upon completion of certification.
(c) The secretary shall designate the subunit of the department that is responsible for supervising the grievance process for clients of mental health services.
(d) By January 1, 2015, and by January 1 of each odd-numbered year thereafter, the department shall submit to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) a report that describes mental health services and programs provided by counties and regions comprised of multiple counties.
(8) Construction.
(a) Any reference in any law to a county department of community programs applies to a county department under s. 46.23 in its administration of the powers and duties of the county department of community programs under s. 46.23 (3) (b) or applies to a county department under s. 46.21 (2m) in its administration of the powers and duties of the county department of community programs under s. 46.21 (2m) (b) 1. a.
(b)
1. Any reference in any law to a county community programs director appointed under sub. (5) (a) 4. applies to the director of a county department appointed under s. 46.23 (5) (f) in his or her administration of the powers and duties of that county community programs director.
2. Any reference in any law to a county community programs director appointed under sub. (6m) (intro.) applies to the director of a county department appointed under s. 46.23 (6m) (intro.) or appointed under s. 46.21 (1m) (a) in his or her administration of the powers and duties of that county community programs director.
(c)
1. Any reference in any law to a county community programs board appointed under sub. (4) (a) 1. applies to the board of a county department appointed under s. 46.23 (4) (b) 1. in its administration of the powers and duties of that county community programs board.
2.
a. Except as provided in subd. 2. b., reference in any law to a county community programs board appointed under sub. (4) (a) 2. applies to the board of a county department appointed under s. 46.23 (4) (b) 2. in its administration of the powers and duties of that county community programs board.
b. Any reference in any law to a county community programs board appointed under sub. (4) (a) 2. is limited, with respect to the county department of human services under s. 46.21 (2m), to the powers and duties of the county community programs board as specified in sub. (5a).
History: 1971 c. 125; 1973 c. 90, 198, 333, 336; 1975 c. 39, 198, 199, 224, 422; 1975 c. 428 s. 16; 1975 c. 430 ss. 24 to 31, 80; 1977 c. 26 ss. 37, 38, 75; 1977 c. 29 ss. 612 to 623p, 1656 (18); 1977 c. 193; 1977 c. 203 s. 106; 1977 c. 272; 1977 c. 354 s. 101; 1977 c. 418, 428, 447; 1979 c. 34, 117, 177, 221, 330, 355; 1981 c. 20 ss. 923 to 942, 2202 (20) (d), (n), (q); 1981 c. 93 ss. 105 to 122, 186; 1981 c. 329; 1983 a. 27 ss. 1106 to 1112, 2202 (20); 1983 a. 189 ss. 44, 329 (5); 1983 a. 192, 239, 365, 375, 524; 1985 a. 29, 120, 176; 1987 a. 3, 27, 199, 339, 366; 1989 a. 31, 122; 1991 a. 39, 274, 315; 1993 a. 16, 437, 445; 1995 a. 27 ss. 3260 to 3262, 9126 (19), 9145 (1); 1995 a. 64, 77, 92, 201, 224, 276, 352, 417; 1997 a. 27, 164, 237, 268; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 10, 16, 38; 2003 a. 320; 2005 a. 264, 388, 431, 434; 2007 a. 20 ss. 1819m to 1821, 9121 (6) (a); 2007 a. 45, 97; 2009 a. 28, 180, 276, 334; 2011 a. 32, 126; 2013 a. 203, 251; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 34, 150; 2019 a. 9; 2021 a. 240 s. 30.
Costs could not be assessed under sub. (1) (b) against the subject of an emergency protective placement proceeding that was outside of the statutory guidelines under s. 55.06 (11) [now s. 55.135]. Ethelyn I.C. v. Waukesha County, 221 Wis. 2d 109, 584 N.W.2d 211 (Ct. App. 1998), 97-2236.
Members of a county board appointed to a unified board, created under sub. (4) (b), serve for the full term for which appointed, without reference to the termination of their office as county board members by election defeat. 63 Atty. Gen. 203.
The corporation counsel should provide legal advice and representation to ss. 51.42 and 51.437 boards as well as to the county board. 63 Atty. Gen. 468.
Discussing liability, reimbursement, and collection for services provided under ss. 51.42 and 51.437 programs. 63 Atty. Gen. 560. See also 65 Atty. Gen. 49.
The county board of supervisors may require its approval of contracts for purchase of services by a community services board if it so specified in its coordinated plan and budget. Otherwise it may not. 69 Atty. Gen. 128.
Menominee Tribe members are eligible to participate in voluntary programs but the state cannot accept tribe members into involuntary programs on the basis of tribal court orders alone. 70 Atty. Gen. 219.
A multicounty ss. 51.42/51.437 board may retain private legal counsel only when the corporation counsel of each county, or the district attorney of each county not having a corporation counsel, notifies the board that he or she is unable to provide specific services in a timely manner. 73 Atty. Gen. 8.
The appointing authority has broad discretion to determine the interests and abilities of persons appointed to a “51.42 board." 78 Atty. Gen. 56.
Counties may enter into joint agreements to collectively furnish and fund nursing home services if the agreements do not violate federal and state Medicaid statutes and regulations prohibiting supplementation. Assessments resulting from such agreements that are computed without reference to and are not attributable to purchase of services contracts involving particular Medicaid patients would not be considered supplementation. Assessments that are computed with reference to or are attributable to purchase of services contracts involving particular Medicaid patients are not permissible. The validity of hybrid assessments that do not fit solely within either one of those two categories must be determined on a case-by-case basis. OAG 4-09.

Structure Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations