256.18 Denial, nonrenewal, and revocation of license, certification, or permit based on delinquent taxes or unemployment insurance contributions. (1) Except as provided in sub. (1m), the department shall require each applicant to provide the department with his or her social security number, if the applicant is an individual, or the applicant’s federal employer identification number, if the applicant is not an individual, as a condition of issuing or renewing any of the following: (a) A license under s. 256.15 (5) (a) or (7). (b) A training permit under s. 256.15 (5) (b). (c) A certificate under s. 256.15 (6g) (a) or (8) (a) or (f). (1m) If an individual who applies for or to renew a license, training permit or certificate under sub. (1) does not have a social security number, the individual, as a condition of obtaining the license, training permit or certificate, shall submit a statement made or subscribed under oath or affirmation to the department that the applicant does not have a social security number. The form of the statement shall be prescribed by the department of children and families. A license, training permit or certificate issued or renewed in reliance upon a false statement submitted under this subsection is invalid. (2) The department may not disclose any information received under sub. (1) to any person except to the department of revenue for the sole purpose of requesting certifications under s. 73.0301 and to the department of workforce development for the sole purpose of requesting certifications under s. 108.227.
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(3) Except as provided in sub. (1m), the department shall deny an application for the issuance or renewal of a license, certificate or permit specified in sub. (1) if the applicant does not provide the information specified in sub. (1). (4) The department shall deny an application for the issuance or renewal of a license, certificate or permit specified in sub. (1) or shall revoke a license, certificate or permit specified in sub. (1), if the department of revenue certifies under s. 73.0301 that the applicant for or holder of the license, certificate or permit is liable for delinquent taxes. (4m) The department shall deny an application for the issuance or renewal of a license, certificate, or permit specified in sub. (1) or shall revoke a license, certificate, or permit specified in sub. (1), if the department of workforce development certifies under s. 108.227 that the applicant for or holder of the license, certificate, or permit is liable for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions. (5) An action taken under sub. (3), (4), or (4m) is subject to review only as provided under s. 73.0301 (2) (b) and (5) or 108.227 (5) and (6), whichever is applicable. History: 1997 a. 237; 1999 a. 9; 2007 a. 20; 2007 a. 130 ss. 111 to 116; Stats. 2007 s. 256.18; 2013 a. 36. Cross-reference: See also chs. DHS 110, Wis. adm. code.
256.205 Community paramedics. (1) DEFINITION. In this section, “community paramedic” means an individual who has obtained an approval issued under sub. (2). (2) DEPARTMENTAL APPROVAL. No person may use the title “community paramedic” unless he or she obtains an approval from the department issued under this section to provide services as a community paramedic. To be eligible for an approval by the department as a community paramedic, an individual shall meet all of the following criteria: (a) The individual is licensed as a paramedic, that license is not suspended or revoked, and the individual is not the subject of an action under s. 256.15 (11). (b) The individual has the equivalent of 2 years of service as a paramedic. (c) The individual successfully completes a training program that has been approved by the department under sub. (3). (d) The individual submits an application for the approval on a form specified by the department. (e) The individual satisfies any other requirements established by the department. (3) TRAINING PROGRAM. The department shall, after consulting the board, approve training programs for community paramedics that include clinical experience, that provide flexibility in addressing local service needs, and that meet any other criteria established by the department. (4) AFFILIATION. A community paramedic may provide services under sub. (6) only if he or she is a volunteer for or an employee of a community emergency medical services provider, as defined in s. 256.215 (1) (a), or if he or she is an employee of or under contract with a hospital, clinic, or physician. (5) REQUIREMENTS. (a) A community paramedic shall follow any protocols and supervisory standards established by the department or by a medical director. (b) A community paramedic is subject to certification, disciplinary, complaint, and other regulatory requirements that apply to emergency medical services practitioners under s. 256.15. (6) SERVICES PROVIDED. Notwithstanding the actions authorized for emergency services under s. 256.15 (6n), a community paramedic may provide services for which he or she is trained under a training program approved by the department under sub. (3), that are not duplicative of services already being provided to
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a patient, and that are approved by the hospital, clinic, or physician for which the community paramedic is an employee or contractor or are incorporated in the patient care protocols under s. 256.215 (2) (b). History: 2017 a. 66.
256.21 Community emergency medical services practitioners. (1) DEFINITION. In this section, “community emergency medical services practitioner” means an individual who has obtained an approval issued under sub. (2). (2) DEPARTMENTAL APPROVAL. No person may use the title “community emergency medical services practitioner” unless he or she obtains an approval from the department issued under this section to provide services as a community emergency medical services practitioner. To be eligible for an approval by the department as a community emergency medical services practitioner, an individual shall meet all of the following criteria: (a) The individual is licensed as an emergency medical services practitioner of any level, that license is not suspended or revoked, and the individual is not the subject of an action under s. 256.15 (11). (b) The individual has the equivalent of 2 years of service as an emergency medical services practitioner at any level. (c) The individual successfully completes a training program that has been approved by the department under sub. (3). (d) The individual submits an application for the approval on a form specified by the department. (e) The individual satisfies any other requirements established by the department. (3) TRAINING PROGRAM. The department shall, after consulting the board, approve training programs for community emergency medical services practitioners that include clinical experience, that provide flexibility in addressing local service needs, and that meet any other criteria established by the department. (4) AFFILIATION. A community emergency medical services practitioner may provide services under sub. (6) only if he or she is a volunteer for or an employee of a community emergency medical services provider, as defined in s. 256.215 (1) (a), or if he or she is an employee of or under contract with a hospital, clinic, or physician. (5) REQUIREMENTS. (a) A community emergency medical services practitioner shall follow any protocols and supervisory standards established by the department or by a medical director. (b) A community emergency medical services practitioner is subject to certification, disciplinary, complaint, and other regulatory requirements that apply to emergency medical services practitioners under s. 256.15. (6) SERVICES PROVIDED. Notwithstanding the actions authorized for emergency services under s. 256.15 (6n), a community emergency medical services practitioner may provide services for which he or she is trained under a training program approved by the department under sub. (3), that are not duplicative of services already being provided to a patient, and that are approved by the hospital, clinic, or physician for which the community emergency medical services practitioner is an employee or contractor or are incorporated in the patient care protocols under s. 256.215 (2) (b). History: 2017 a. 66.
256.215 Providers of community emergency medical services. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Community emergency medical services provider” means an emergency medical services provider that has approval from the department for its personnel to provide community emergency medical services under sub. (2).
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(b) “Community emergency medical services practitioner” has the meaning given under s. 256.21 (1). (c) “Community paramedic” has the meaning given under s. 256.205 (1). (d) “Emergency medical services provider” means an emergency medical services program under s. 256.12 that provides services as a nontransporting emergency medical services practitioner provider or an ambulance service provider licensed under s. 256.15 (5). (2) APPROVAL. No emergency medical services provider may advertise as providing community emergency medical services or may advertise having community paramedics or community emergency medical services practitioners unless the emergency medical services provider has approval from the department under this subsection. To be eligible for approval to provide community emergency medical services, an emergency medical services provider shall satisfy all of the following criteria: (a) The emergency medical services provider is licensed by the department at any emergency medical services level. (b) The emergency medical services provider establishes, submits to the department, and maintains patient care protocols corresponding to the appropriate service level to be used by a community paramedic or a community emergency medical services practitioner. The emergency medical services provider may include in a patient care protocol only those services that do not require a license, certificate, or other credential under subch. II, III, IV, or VII of ch. 448 or subch. I of ch. 457 or ch. 441, 446, 447, 449, 450, 451, 455, or 459 to provide. (c) The emergency medical services provider agrees to provide to the department a list identifying each community paramedic and community emergency medical services practitioner providing community emergency medical services as a volunteer or employee of that emergency medical services provider. If the emergency medical services provider is approved under this subsection as a community emergency medical services provider, the emergency medical services provider shall provide and update its list of community paramedics and community emergency medical services practitioners. (d) The emergency medical services provider meets other requirements as specified by the department. History: 2017 a. 66; 2023 a. 55.
256.23 Ambulance service provider fee. (1) In this section: (a) “Eligible ambulance service provider” means any privately owned ambulance service provider. “Eligible ambulance service provider” does not include any ambulance service provider that is owned by any municipality or group of municipalities regardless of whether or not the ambulance service provider is organized as a nonprofit corporation. (b) “Emergency ambulance transport” means all of the following: 1. Each ground emergency ambulance transport that requires the delivery of life support services, including basic life support or advanced life support, by an emergency medical responder or emergency medical services practitioner at any practice level. 2. Any other ambulance transport that is designated by the department to be subject to the fee under sub. (2). (2) For the privilege of doing business in this state, there is imposed on each eligible ambulance service provider a fee that is equal to a uniform percentage, as determined under sub. (3), of the eligible ambulance service provider’s net patient revenues from emergency ambulance transports. Except as provided in sub. (4), each eligible ambulance service provider shall pay the fee under this subsection in a manner determined by the depart-
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ment acting in collaboration with the Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin, or its successor organization, no more frequently than quarterly. An eligible ambulance service provider cannot increase rates it charges for its services because of the imposition of the fee under this subsection. (3) The department shall establish the uniform percentage of the eligible ambulance service provider’s net patient revenues so that the total amount of fees collected from an eligible ambulance service provider under sub. (2) in a state fiscal year is an amount not less than one quarter of 1 percent lower than the maximum limit for a provider fee under 42 CFR 433.68 (f) but does not exceed the maximum limit. (4) The department may allow an eligible ambulance service provider that is unable to make a payment of the fee by the date specified under sub. (2) to make a delayed payment. (5) In accordance with s. 20.940, the department shall submit to the federal department of health and human services a request for any state plan amendment, waiver or other approval that is required to implement this section and s. 49.45 (3) (em). If federal approval is required, the department may not implement the collection of the fee under sub. (2) until it receives approval from the federal government to obtain federal matching funds. (6) In each fiscal year, the secretary of administration shall transfer from the ambulance service provider trust fund under s. 25.776 to the appropriation under s. 20.435 (4) (jw) an amount equal to the annual costs of administering the ambulance assessment as specified under this section and making supplemental reimbursements to ambulance service providers under s. 49.45 (3) (em). History: 2021 a. 228; 2023 a. 30.
256.25 Statewide trauma care system. (1g) In this section, “performance improvement” means a method of evaluating and improving processes of trauma patient care that emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving. (1r) The department shall develop and implement a statewide trauma care system. The department shall seek the advice of the statewide trauma advisory council under s. 15.197 (25) in developing and implementing the system, and, as part of the system, shall develop regional trauma advisory councils. (2) The department shall promulgate rules to develop and implement the system. The rules shall include a method by which to classify all hospitals as to their respective emergency care capabilities. The classification rule shall be based on standards developed by the American College of Surgeons. Within 180 days after promulgation of the classification rule, and every 3 years thereafter, each hospital shall certify to the department the classification level of trauma care services that is provided by the hospital, based on the rule. The department may require a hospital to document the basis for its certification. The department may not direct a hospital to establish a certain level of certification. Confidential injury data that is collected under this subsection shall be used for confidential review relating to performance improvements in the trauma care system, and may be used for no other purpose. (3) Except as provided in sub. (4), all information and documents provided by a hospital under sub. (2) and all information and documents procured by or furnished to the department, the statewide trauma advisory council, or regional trauma advisory councils with respect to performance improvement activities, certifications by hospitals under sub. (2), and documentation of the bases for hospitals’ certifications under sub. (2) are immune from discovery under ch. 804, confidential, and privileged and may not be used or admitted into evidence in a civil action. With respect to a communication made by a staff member of the department or by an individual serving on the statewide trauma advisory council
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or a regional trauma advisory council, and to a finding or recommendation made under this section by the department, the statewide trauma advisory council, or a regional trauma advisory council, all of the following apply: (a) The staff member or individual may not be examined in an action for civil damages with respect to the communication, finding, or recommendation. (b) The staff member or individual has immunity from civil liability, with respect to the communication, finding, or recommendation, for any of the following: 1. An action taken or omitted by the staff member or individual in an official capacity. 2. A statement made in good faith by the staff member or individual in an official capacity. (4) Subsection (3) does not apply to the release of information and documents specified in sub. (3) created apart from a performance improvement activity or apart from a certification by a hospital under sub. (2) that are maintained by or for a hospital, the department, the statewide trauma advisory council, or a regional trauma advisory council for the particular purpose of diagnosing, treating, or documenting care provided to a particular patient or for another purpose, upon a showing by clear and convincing evidence that the information or documents are otherwise unavailable. (5) This section does not apply to s. 146.38. History: 1997 a. 154; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16, 109; 2005 a. 315; 2007 a. 130 s. 150; Stats. 2007 s. 256.25. Cross-reference: See also ch. DHS 118, Wis. adm. code.
256.30 Refusal or delay of emergency service. (1) In this section “hospital providing emergency services” means a hospital which the department has identified as providing some category of emergency service. (2) No hospital providing emergency services may refuse emergency treatment to any sick or injured person. (3) No hospital providing emergency services may delay emergency treatment to a sick or injured person until credit checks, financial information forms or promissory notes have been initiated, completed or signed if, in the opinion of one of the following, who is an employee, agent or staff member of the hospital, the delay is likely to cause increased medical complications, permanent disability or death: (a) A physician, registered nurse, or paramedic. (b) A licensed practical nurse under the specific direction of a physician or registered nurse. (c) A physician assistant or any other person under the specific direction of a physician. (3m) Hospitals shall establish written procedures to be followed by emergency services personnel in carrying out sub. (3). (4) No hospital may be expected to provide emergency services beyond its capabilities as identified by the department. (5) Each hospital providing emergency services shall create a plan for referrals of emergency patients when the hospital cannot provide treatment for such patients. (6) The department shall identify the emergency services capabilities of all hospitals in this state and shall prepare a list of such services. The list shall be updated annually. (7) A hospital which violates this section may be fined not more than $1,000 for each offense. History: 1977 c. 361; 1983 a. 273 s. 8; 1989 a. 102; 1993 a. 105; 2007 a. 130 s. 43; Stats. 2007 s. 256.30; 2017 a. 12.
256.35 Statewide emergency services number. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Automatic location identification” means a system which
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has the ability to automatically identify the address of the telephone being used by the caller and to provide a display at the central location of a sophisticated system. (b) “Automatic number identification” means a system which has the ability to automatically identify the caller’s telephone number and to provide a display at the central location of a sophisticated system. (c) “Basic system” means a telecommunications system which automatically connects a person dialing the digits “911” to a public safety answering point. (cm) “Commercial mobile radio service provider” has the meaning given in s. 196.01 (2g). (d) “Department” means the department of military affairs. (e) “Direct dispatch method” means a telecommunications system providing for the dispatch of an appropriate emergency service vehicle upon receipt of a telephone request for such service. (em) “Emergency number system” means any basic system, sophisticated system, or Next Generation 911, as defined in sub. (3s) (a) 3., regardless of technology platform. (es) “Originating service provider” means an entity that provides a service that may be used to generate a request for emergency assistance and that may connect to an emergency number system. (f) “Public agency” means any municipality as defined in s. 345.05 (1) (c) or any state agency which provides or is authorized by statute to provide fire fighting, law enforcement, ambulance, medical or other emergency services. (g) “Public safety agency” means a functional division of a public agency which provides fire fighting, law enforcement, medical or other emergency services. (gm) “Public safety answering point” means a facility to which a call on an emergency number system is initially routed for response, and on which a public agency directly dispatches the appropriate emergency service provider, relays a message to the appropriate emergency service provider or transfers the call to the appropriate emergency services provider. (h) “Relay method” means a telecommunications system whereby a request for emergency services is received and relayed to a provider of emergency services by telephone. (i) “Sophisticated system” means a basic system with automatic location identification and automatic number identification. (k) “Transfer method” means a telecommunications system which receives telephone requests for emergency services and transfers such requests directly to an appropriate public safety agency or other provider of emergency services. (2) EMERGENCY PHONE SYSTEM. (a) Every public agency may establish and maintain within its respective jurisdiction a basic or sophisticated system under this section. Such a system shall be in a central location. (b) Every basic or sophisticated system established under this section shall be capable of transmitting requests for law enforcement, fire fighting and emergency medical and ambulance services to the public safety agencies providing such services. Such system may provide for transmittal of requests for poison control to the appropriate regional poison control center under s. 255.35, suicide prevention and civil defense services and may be capable of transmitting requests to ambulance services provided by private corporations. If any agency of the state which provides law enforcement, fire fighting, emergency medical or ambulance services is located within the boundaries of a basic or sophisticated system established under this section, such system shall be capa-
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ble of transmitting requests for the services of such agency to the agency. (c) The digits “911” shall be the primary emergency telephone number within every basic or sophisticated system established under this section. A public agency or public safety agency located within the boundaries of a basic or sophisticated system established under this section shall maintain a separate 7digit phone number for nonemergency telephone calls. Every such agency may maintain separate secondary 7-digit back-up numbers. (d) Public agencies, including agencies with different territorial boundaries, may combine to establish a basic or sophisticated system established under this section. (e) If a public agency or group of public agencies combined to establish an emergency phone system under par. (d) has a population of 250,000 or more, such agency or group of agencies shall establish a sophisticated system. (f) Every basic or sophisticated system established under this section shall utilize the direct dispatch method, the relay method or the transfer method. (g) Every telecommunications utility providing coin-operated telephones for public use within the boundaries of a basic or sophisticated system established under this section shall convert, by December 31, 1987, all such telephones to telephones which enable a user to reach “911” without inserting a coin. Any coin-operated telephone installed by a telecommunications utility after December 31, 1987, in an agency which has established an emergency phone system under this section shall enable a user to reach “911” without inserting a coin. (h) A commercial mobile radio service provider shall permit a user of the provider to access a basic or sophisticated system if the provider operates within the boundaries of a system. (i) If a user reaches a basic or sophisticated system through a commercial mobile radio service provider and the service requested is to be provided outside of the jurisdiction served by the system, the public agency operating the system shall transfer the request for services to the appropriate jurisdiction. (2m) DISPATCHER ASSISTED BYSTANDER CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION. (a) In this subsection, “department” means the department of health services. (b) Beginning on May 1, 2021, every public safety answering point shall, in appropriate circumstances, provide telephonic assistance on administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation by doing any of the following: 1. Providing each dispatcher with training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation that includes all of the following: a. Certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. b. Use of an evidence-based protocol or script for providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation instruction recommended by an academic institution or a nationally recognized organization specializing in medical dispatch. c. Appropriate continuing education, as determined by the department. 2. Transferring callers to a dedicated telephone line, a telephone center, or another public safety answering point to provide the caller with assistance on administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation. If a public safety answering point transfers callers under this subdivision, the transferring public service answering point shall do all of the following: a. Use an evidence-based protocol for the identification of a person in need of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. b. Provide appropriate training and continuing education, as determined by the department, on the protocol for identification of a person in need of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
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c. Ensure that any dedicated telephone line, a telephone center, or public safety answering point to which calls are transferred under this subdivision uses dispatchers that meet the training requirements under subd. 1. to provide assistance on administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation. (c) Beginning on May 1, 2021, every public safety answering point shall conduct ongoing quality assurance of its dispatcher assisted bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation program. (d) 1. From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (1) (cj), the department shall distribute moneys for dispatcher training on telephonic assistance on administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation, as required under par. (b). 1m. The department may distribute moneys under this subsection through grants, by establishing an application process for persons to submit proposals and establishing a contract with the department to provide training as described under par. (b), or through a combination of these methods. 2. A public safety answering point is eligible to receive a grant under this paragraph if it employs one or more dispatchers that have not completed training as described under par. (b). 2m. A recipient of moneys received under this paragraph shall use the moneys to provide dispatchers with training in accordance with the standards under par. (b). 3. Subject to subd. 2., the department shall establish criteria for approving and distributing moneys under subd. 1. (3) FUNDING FOR COUNTYWIDE SYSTEMS. (a) Definitions. In this subsection: 1. “Commission” means the public service commission. 2. “Costs” means the costs incurred by a service supplier after August 1, 1987, in installing and maintaining the trunking and central office equipment used only to operate a basic or sophisticated system and the database used only to operate a sophisticated system. 3. “Service supplier” means a telecommunications utility which provides exchange telephone service within a county. 4. “Service user” means any person who is provided telephone service by a service supplier which includes access to a basic or sophisticated system. (b) Charge authorized. A county by ordinance may levy a charge on all service users in the county to finance the costs related to the establishment of a basic or sophisticated system in that county under sub. (2) if: 1. The county has adopted by ordinance a plan for that system. 2. Every service user in that county has access to a system. 3. The county has entered into a contract with each service supplier in the county for the establishment of that system to the extent that each service supplier is capable of providing that system on a reasonable economic basis on the effective date of the contract and that contract includes all of the following: a. The amount of nonrecurring charges service users in the county will pay for all nonrecurring services related to providing the trunking and central office equipment used only to operate a basic or sophisticated system established in that county and the database used only to operate that sophisticated system. b. The amount of recurring charges service users in the county will pay for all recurring services related to the maintenance and operation of a basic or sophisticated system established in that county. c. Every provision of any applicable schedule which the service supplier has filed with the commission under s. 196.19 or 196.20, which is in effect on the date the county signs the contract and which is related to the provision of service for a basic or sophisticated system.
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4. The charge is calculated, under a schedule filed under s. 196.19 or 196.20, by dividing the costs related to establishing a basic or sophisticated system in that county by the total number of exchange access lines, or their equivalents, which are in the county and which are capable of accessing that system. 5. The charge is billed to service users in the county in a service supplier’s regular billing to those service users. 6. Every public safety answering point in the system is in constant operation. 7. Every public safety agency in the county maintains a telephone number in addition to “911”. 8. The sum of the charges under subd. 3. a. and b. does not exceed any of the following: a. Twenty-five cents each month for each exchange access line or its equivalent in the county if the county has a population of 750,000 or more. b. One dollar each month for each exchange access line or its equivalent if the county has a population of less than 750,000 and the county is recovering charges under subd. 3. a. c. Forty cents each month for each exchange access line or its equivalent if the county has a population of less than 750,000 and the county is not recovering charges under subd. 3. a. (c) If 2 or more counties combine under sub. (2) (b) to establish a basic or sophisticated system, they may levy a charge under par. (b) if every one of those counties adopts the same ordinance, as required under par. (b). (d) Charges under par. (b) 3. a. may be recovered in rates assessed over a period not to exceed 36 months. (e) If a county has more than one service supplier, the service suppliers in that county jointly shall determine the method by which each service supplier will be compensated for its costs in that county. (f) 1. Except as provided under subd. 2., a service supplier which has signed a contract with a county under par. (b) 3. may apply to the commission for authority to impose a surcharge on its service users who reside outside of that county and who have access to the basic or sophisticated system established by that county. 2. A service supplier may not impose a surcharge under subd. 1. on any service user who resides in any governmental unit which has levied a property tax or other charge for a basic or sophisticated system, except that if the service user has access to a basic or sophisticated system provided by the service supplier, the service supplier may impose a surcharge under subd. 1. for the recurring services related to the maintenance and operation of that system. 3. The surcharge under subd. 1. shall be equal to the charge levied under par. (b) by that county on service users in that county. A contract under par. (b) 3. may be conditioned upon the commission’s approval of such a surcharge. The commission’s approval under this paragraph may be granted without a hearing. (g) No service supplier may bill any service user for a charge levied by a county under par. (b) unless the service supplier is actually participating in the countywide operation of a basic or sophisticated system in that county. (h) Every service user subject to and billed for a charge under this subsection is liable for that charge until the service user pays the charge to the service supplier. (i) Any rate schedule filed under s. 196.19 or 196.20 under which a service supplier collects a charge under this subsection shall include the condition that the contract which established the charge under par. (b) 3. is compensatory and shall include any other condition and procedure required by the commission in the public interest. Within 20 days after that contract or an amend-
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ment to that contract has been executed, the service supplier which is a party to the contract shall submit the contract to the commission. The commission may disapprove the contract or an amendment to the contract if the commission determines within 60 days after the contract is received that the contract is not compensatory, is excessive or does not comply with that rate schedule. The commission shall give notice to any person, upon request, that such a contract has been received by the commission. The notice shall identify the service supplier and the county that have entered into the contract. (j) A service supplier providing telephone service in a county, upon request of that county, shall provide the county information on its capability and an estimate of its costs to install and maintain trunking and central office equipment to operate a basic or sophisticated system in that county and the database required to operate a sophisticated system. (3s) NEXT GENERATION 911. (a) Definitions. In this subsection: 2. “Emergency services IP network” means a managed Internet protocol network that is used for emergency services and can be shared by all public safety answering points. 3. “Next Generation 911” means a statewide emergency number system regardless of technology platform that does all of the following: a. Provides standardized interfaces from requests for emergency assistance. b. Processes all types of requests for emergency assistance, including calls and nonvoice and multimedia messages. c. Acquires and integrates data useful to the delivery or routing and handling of requests for emergency assistance. d. Delivers requests for emergency assistance and data to appropriate public safety answering points and emergency responders. e. Supports data and communications needs for coordinated incident response and management. f. Provides a secure environment for emergency communications. 4. “Operational date,” with respect to a county, means the date determined by the department on which Next Generation 911 begins to be fully operational in the county. 5. “Service supplier” has the meaning given in sub. (3) (a) 3. 6. “Service user” has the meaning given in sub. (3) (a) 4. (b) Emergency services IP network contracts. The department shall invite bids to be submitted under s. 16.75 and, from the appropriation under s. 20.465 (3) (qm), contract for the creation, operation, and maintenance of an emergency services IP network that to the greatest extent feasible relies on industry standards and existing infrastructure to provide all public safety answering points with the network necessary to implement Next Generation 911. (bm) Competitive grant program for public safety answering points. 1. The department shall award grants to public safety answering points for the purposes identified under subd. 2. using the criteria in subd. 3. 2. The department shall promulgate rules that identify appropriate purposes for grants under subd. 1. based on the recommendations of the 911 subcommittee under par. (d) 4. Grant purposes may include advanced training of telecommunicators, equipment or software expenses, and incentives to consolidate some or all of the functions of 2 or more public safety answering points. Grant purposes may not include general public safety answering point overhead or staffing costs or costs for providing emergency services or emergency services equipment. 3. The department shall promulgate rules that contain eligi-
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bility criteria for grants under subd. 1. based on the recommendations of the 911 subcommittee under par. (d) 4. 4. The department may not award a grant under subd. 1. to more than one public safety answering point per county. 5. Public safety answering points are eligible to receive a grant under subd. 1. without regard as to whether the public safety answering point is located in a county that is participating in an emergency services IP network contract described under par. (b). (br) Competitive grant program for geographic information systems. 1. The department shall award grants to county land information offices for the purposes identified under subd. 2. using the criteria in subd. 3. 2. Grants under subd. 1. shall be issued based on the purposes recommended by the 911 subcommittee under par. (d) 4m. Grant purposes may include data preparation, data gathering, data creation, geographic information system staffing, data preparation and collection contracts, and training, if these purposes enable Next Generation 911. Grant purposes may not include general county overhead or costs for providing emergency services or emergency services equipment. 3. The department shall develop a policy setting forth eligibility criteria for grants under subd. 1. based on the recommendations of the 911 subcommittee under par. (d) 4m. 4. The department may not award more than one grant under subd. 1. per county per fiscal year. (bx) Grant program for incumbent local exchange carriers. 1. In this paragraph, “incumbent local exchange carrier” has the meaning given in 47 USC 251 (h). 2. From the appropriation under s. 20.465 (3) (qs), the department shall award grants to incumbent local exchange carriers operating as originating service providers for the reimbursement of the incumbent local exchange carriers’ costs associated with the IP-based transport of Next Generation 911, the database used to operate Next Generation 911, and the purchase, installation, and maintenance of Next Generation 911 equipment. An incumbent local exchange carrier is not eligible for a grant under this subdivision unless it is acting as an incumbent local exchange carrier in this state on March 29, 2024. 3. The department shall develop a policy that establishes eligibility criteria for grants under subd. 2. The department may seek recommendations from the 911 subcommittee on the awarding of grants under subd. 2., including advice on appropriate grant purposes and eligibility criteria for grants. 4. The department may not award more than one grant under subd. 2. per incumbent local exchange carrier per fiscal year. (c) Existing contracts and charges. 1. The department shall determine the operational date for each county. If a contract under sub. (3) (b) 3. between a service supplier and a county is in effect immediately before the operational date determined for the county, the contract shall expire on the operational date and, except as provided in subd. 2., beginning on the operational date, the service supplier may not bill any service user for a charge levied by the county under sub. (3) (b) or impose a surcharge approved under sub. (3) (f). At least 30 days before a contract expires under this subdivision, the department shall provide written notice of the expiration to the county and service supplier. 2. If a contract terminates under subd. 1. before a service supplier has been fully compensated for nonrecurring services described in sub. (3) (b) 3. a., the service supplier may continue to bill service users for the charge levied by the county under sub. (3) (b) or impose a surcharge approved under sub. (3) (f) until the service supplier is fully compensated for those nonrecurring services.
May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26)
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Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats.
(d) 911 subcommittee duties. The 911 subcommittee shall do all of the following: 1. Advise the department on the contracts required under par. (b). 2. Advise the department on the statewide efforts, leveraging of existing infrastructure, and industry standards that are necessary to transition to Next Generation 911. 3. Make recommendations to the department regarding federal sources of funding and the sustainable funding streams that are required to enable public safety answering points to purchase and maintain equipment necessary for Next Generation 911. 4. Advise the department or other state agency on awarding Next Generation 911 grants under par. (bm) 1., including advising on appropriate grant purposes and eligibility criteria for the grants. The criteria shall include basic training and service standards that grant applicants must satisfy. 4m. Advise the department or any other state agency on awarding geographic information system grants under par. (br), including advising on appropriate grant purposes and eligibility criteria for the grants. 5. Conduct a statewide 911 telecommunications system assessment. 6. Develop recommendations for service standards for public safety answering points. 7. Promote, facilitate, and coordinate interoperability across all public safety answering points with respect to telecommunications services and data systems, including geographic information systems. 8. Promote, facilitate, and coordinate consolidation of public safety answering point functions where consolidation would provide improved service, increased efficiency, or cost savings. 9. Undertake all of its duties in a manner that is competitively and technologically neutral. (4) DEPARTMENTAL DUTIES. The department shall do all of the following: (a) Collect data from and distribute data to public safety answering points and other entities authorized by the department regarding the status and operation of the components of a statewide emergency number system. (b) Participate in activities to implement and operate interconnecting statewide emergency number systems with public safety answering points, other states, and the federal government. (c) Ensure the statewide emergency number system is compliant with any applicable legal requirements. (d) Develop, coordinate, and communicate technical and operational standards or requirements that, to the greatest extent feasible, rely on industry standards and best practices for establishing a statewide emergency number system, pertaining to all of the following: 1. Delivery and routing of requests for emergency assistance. 2. Procedures for the interconnection of the statewide emergency number system with originating service providers as required under 47 USC 251 and 47 USC 252 and for statewide emergency number system implementation and maintenance. 3. Establishing and implementing statewide emergency number system performance and security testing protocols, in coordination with the division of enterprise technology in the department of administration. 4. Public safety answering point basic training guidelines. 5. Interoperability across all public safety answering points with respect to telecommunications services and data systems, including geographic information systems. 6. Consolidation of public safety answering point functions
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
256.35
when consolidation would provide improved service, increased efficiency, or cost savings. (e) Develop and implement a statewide plan for the implementation, operation, and maintenance of a statewide emergency number system based on recommendations from the 911 subcommittee under sub. (3s) (d) 2. (f) Complete the duties under this subsection in a manner that is competitively and technologically neutral. (g) No later than November 1 of each even-numbered year and in consultation with the 911 subcommittee under sub. (3s) (d) 1., submit a report to the governor and to the legislature in the manner provided under s. 13.172 (2) on the status of Next Generation 911 implementation, operation, and maintenance. (6) TELECOMMUNICATIONS UTILITY REQUIREMENTS. A telecommunications utility serving a public agency or group of public agencies which have established a sophisticated system under sub. (2) (e) shall provide by December 31, 1985, or upon establishing a system, whichever is later, such public agency or group of public agencies access to the telephone numbers of subscribers and the addresses associated with the numbers as needed to implement automatic number identification and automatic location identification in a sophisticated system, but such information shall at all times remain under the direct control of the telecommunications utility and a telecommunications utility may not be required to release a number and associated address to a public agency or group of public agencies unless a call to the telephone number “911” has been made from such number. The costs of such access shall be paid by the public agency or group of public agencies. (7) LIABILITY EXEMPTIONS. (a) All of the following shall not be liable to any person who uses an emergency number system created under this section or makes an emergency telephone call initially routed to a wireless public safety answering point, as defined in sub. (3m) (a) 7., 2015 stats.: 1. A telecommunications utility. 2. A wireless provider, as defined in s. 256.35 (3m) (a) 6., 2015 stats. 3. A local government, as defined in s. 256.35 (3m) (a) 4., 2015 stats. 4. A person that supplies any service, product, equipment, or database, including any related emergency notification service or process, that is used for or in conjunction with the installation, implementation, operation, or maintenance of the emergency number system and that is used by a public safety answering point. (bm) Any public safety answering point or dispatcher who provides telephonic assistance on administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation is immune from civil liability for any outcomes resulting from the administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation or failure to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation if all of the following conditions exist: 1. The dispatcher who provides telephonic assistance on administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation has been trained in accordance with the standards under sub. (2m) (b). 2. The dispatcher provides telephonic assistance on administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation by doing any of the following: a. Using an evidence-based protocol or script as described under sub. (2m) (b) 1. b. Transferring the caller to a dedicated telephone line, a telephone center, or another public safety answering point as described under sub. (2m) (b) 2. 3. The injury claimed is not the result of an act or omission
May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26)
256.35
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
that constitutes gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct by the dispatcher or public safety answering point. (c) 1. In this paragraph, “national crisis hotline” means the telephone or text access number “988,” or its successor, that is maintained under the federally administered program under 42 USC 290bb-36c. 2. Any public safety answering point or dispatcher that transfers a caller to the national crisis hotline is immune from civil liability for any outcomes resulting from the transfer. 3. Subdivision 2. does not apply if the injury claimed to have resulted from the transfer is the result of an act or omission that constitutes gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct by the dispatcher or public safety answering point. (9) JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT. (a) In implementing a basic or sophisticated system under this section, public agencies combined under sub. (2) (d) shall annually enter into a joint powers agreement. The agreement shall be applicable on a daily basis and shall provide that if an emergency services vehicle is dispatched in response to a request through the basic or sophisticated system established under this section, such vehicle shall render its services to the persons needing the services regardless of whether the vehicle is operating outside the vehicle’s normal jurisdictional boundaries. (b) Public agencies and public safety agencies which have contiguous or overlapping boundaries and which have established separate basic or sophisticated systems under this section shall annually enter into the agreement required under par. (a). (c) Each public agency or public safety agency shall cause a copy of the annual agreement required by pars. (a) and (b) to be filed with the department of justice. If a public agency or public safety agency fails to enter into such agreement or to file copies thereof, the department of justice shall commence judicial proceedings to enforce compliance with this subsection. (10) PENALTIES. (a) Any person who intentionally dials the telephone number “911” to report an emergency, knowing that the fact situation which he or she reports does not exist, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $600 or imprisoned not more than 90 days or both for the first offense and is guilty of a Class H felony for any other offense committed within 4 years after the first offense. (b) Any person who discloses or uses, for any purpose not related to the operation of a basic or sophisticated system, any information contained in the database of that system shall be fined not more than $10,000 for each occurrence. (11) PLANS. Every public agency establishing a basic or sophisticated system under this section shall submit tentative plans for the establishment of the system as required under this section to every local exchange telecommunications utility providing service within the respective boundaries of such public agency. The public agency shall submit final plans for the establishment of the system to the telecommunications utility and shall provide for the implementation of the plans. History: 1977 c. 392; 1979 c. 34, 361; 1981 c. 20 s. 2202 (1) (b); 1981 c. 383; 1983 a. 27; 1983 a. 53 s. 114; 1983 a. 189 s. 329 (31); 1985 a. 29, 120; 1985 a. 297 ss. 12, 76; 1985 a. 332; 1987 a. 27, 403; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39, 267; 1993 a. 16, 388, 496; 1997 a. 218, 283; 1999 a. 185; 2001 a. 109; 2003 a. 48, 320; 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 130 ss. 160 to 165; Stats. 2007 s. 256.35; 2009 a. 28; 2009 a. 180 s. 126; 2011 a. 32, 275; 2017 a. 59; 2017 a. 207 s. 5; 2017 a. 296; 2019 a. 26; 2021 a. 238 ss. 25, 45; 2021 a. 261; 2023 a. 12, 222; 2025 a. 41. Cross-reference: See also ch. PSC 173, Wis. adm. code.
256.40 Opioid antagonists. (1) In this section: (a) “Fire fighter” means any person employed by the state or any political subdivision as a member or officer of a fire department or a member of a volunteer fire department, including the state fire marshal and deputies. (b) “Law enforcement agency” means an agency of a federally
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recognized Indian tribe or band or a state or political subdivision of a state, whose purpose is the detection and prevention of crime and enforcement of laws or ordinances. (c) “Law enforcement officer” means any person employed by a law enforcement agency who is authorized to make arrests for violations of the laws or ordinances that the person is employed to enforce. (d) “Opioid-related drug overdose” means a condition including extreme physical illness, decreased level of consciousness, respiratory depression, coma, or the ceasing of respiratory or circulatory function resulting from the consumption or use of an opioid, or another substance with which an opioid was combined. (2) (a) Subject to par. (b), the department shall permit all emergency medical services practitioners to administer naloxone or another opioid antagonist to individuals who are undergoing or who are believed to be undergoing an opioid-related drug overdose. (b) The department shall require emergency medical services practitioners to undergo any training necessary to safely and properly administer naloxone or another opioid antagonist as specified under par. (a). (c) Every ambulance service provider shall do all of the following: 1. Ensure that every emergency medical services practitioner under the ambulance service provider’s supervision who has obtained the training necessary to safely and properly administer naloxone or another opioid antagonist has a supply of naloxone or the other opioid antagonist available for administration when he or she is performing his or her duties as an emergency medical services practitioner, to the extent that naloxone or the other opioid antagonist is available to the ambulance service provider. 2. Require each certified emergency medical responder and emergency medical services practitioner under the supervision of the ambulance service provider to, in the manner prescribed by the department, keep a record of each instance in which the certified emergency medical responder or emergency medical services practitioner administers naloxone or another opioid antagonist to an individual who is undergoing or who is believed to be undergoing an opioid-related drug overdose. 3. Submit records under subd. 2. to the department in the manner prescribed by the department. (3) (a) A law enforcement agency, county jail, or fire department may enter into a written agreement to affiliate with an ambulance service provider or a physician for all of the following purposes: 1. Obtaining a supply of naloxone or another opioid antagonist. 2. Allowing law enforcement officers, jailers or keepers of a jail or persons designated with custodial authority by the jailer or keeper, and fire fighters to obtain the training necessary to safely and properly administer naloxone or another opioid antagonist to individuals who are undergoing or who are believed to be undergoing an opioid-related drug overdose. (b) A law enforcement officer, jailer or keeper of a jail or person designated with custodial authority by the jailer or keeper, or fire fighter who, reasonably believing another person to be undergoing an opioid-related drug overdose, administers naloxone or another opioid antagonist to that person shall be immune from civil or criminal liability for any outcomes resulting from the administration of the opioid antagonist to that person, if the law enforcement officer, jailer or keeper of a jail or person designated with custodial authority by the jailer or keeper, or fire fighter is acting pursuant to an agreement and any training obtained under par. (a). History: 2013 a. 200; 2017 a. 12; 2019 a. 119.
May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26)