Chapter 46 — SOCIAL SERVICES

46.001 Purposes of chapter. The purposes of this chapter are to conserve human resources in Wisconsin; to prevent depen- dency, mental illness, developmental disability, mental infirmity, and other forms of social maladjustment by a continuous attack May 22, 2026, are designated …

46.011 Definitions. In chs. 46, 50, 51, 54, 55, and 58: (1c) “Community-based juvenile delinquency-related services” means juvenile delinquency-related services provided under ch. 938 other than juvenile correctional services. (1e) “Department” means the department of health serv…

46.014 Secretary, powers and duties. (1) INVENTORIES. On or before July 1 in each year, the secretary shall cause full and complete inventories and appraisals to be made of all the property of each institution administered by the department, which shall be recorded and so classif…

46.016 Cooperation with federal government. The department may cooperate with the federal government in carrying out federal acts concerning public assistance, social security, Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats. 2 mental hygiene, services for the blind, and in other matters of mutual conc…

46.017 Legal actions. sued. The department may sue and be

46.018 Disbursement of funds and facsimile signatures. Withdrawal or disbursement of moneys deposited in a public depository, as defined in s. 34.01 (5), to the credit of the department or any of its divisions or agencies shall be by check, share draft or other draft signed by th…

46.02 Agency powers and duties. Any institution that is subject to chs. 46, 49 to 51, 55, and 58 and to regulation under ch. 150 shall, in cases of conflict between chs. 46, 49 to 51, 55, and 58 and ch. 150, be governed by ch. 150. The department shall promulgate rules and establ…

46.027 Contract powers. (1) RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS; LEGISLATIVE PURPOSE. The purpose of this section is to allow the department to contract with, or award grants to, religious organizations, under any program administered by the department, on the same basis as any other nongove…

46.028 Electronic benefit transfer. The department may deliver benefits that are administered by the department to recipients of the benefits by an electronic benefit transfer system if all of the following conditions are satisfied: (1) The department obtains any authorization fr…

46.03 Department, powers and duties. The department shall: (1) INSTITUTIONS GOVERNED. Maintain and govern the Mendota and the Winnebago mental health institutes; the secure mental health facility established under s. 46.055; and the centers for the developmentally disabled. (2) S…

46.031 County social service and mental hygiene budget and contract. (1) BUDGET. (a) Each county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, 46.23, 51.42 or 51.437 shall submit to the department by December 31 annually its final budget for services directly provided or purchased. Updated …

46.034 Authority to establish services integration and coordination pilot programs. (1) The department, in order to discharge more effectively its responsibilities under this chapter and chs. 51, 250, and 251 and other relevant provisions of the statutes, may establish community …

46.035 Department, additional powers to provide structures, facilities and permanent improvements.

46.036 Purchase of care and services. 46.04 Anchorage program.

46.04 Anchorage program. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Adolescent” means an individual who is at least 12 years of age and under 18 years of age. (b) “Drug dependent” has the meaning specified under s. 51.01 (8b). (c) “Mental illness” has the meaning given in s. 51.01 (1…

46.041 Children’s consultation service; establishment; purposes.

46.042 Treatment program for emotionally disturbed children.

46.043 Additional services of mental health institutes.

46.044 State psychiatric institute.

46.047 State-operated residential facilities and support services.

46.048 Central Wisconsin Center for the Developmentally Disabled.

46.055 Secure mental health facility for sexually violent persons.

46.056 Wisconsin Resource Center.

46.057 Mendota juvenile treatment center.

46.058 Bonds of employees; police powers; investigation of complaints. 46.06 Lands; condemnation, easements, leases, sales, purchases.

46.06 Lands; condemnation, easements, leases, sales, purchases. Subject to s. 16.848: (1) CONDEMNATION. When the department is authorized and desires to acquire land and is unable to agree with the owner upon the terms of purchase, or when such agreement cannot be had without unr…

46.064 Client wages, allowances and release payments.

46.066 Freedom of worship; religious ministration. 46.07 Property of patients or residents. 46.09 Purchases, bills, audits, payments. 46.10 Cost of care and maintenance, liability; collection and deportation counsel; collections; court actions; recovery. 46.13 Wassermann tests. 4…

46.07 Property of patients or residents. All money including wages and other property delivered to an officer or employee of any institution for the benefit of a patient or resident shall immediately be delivered to the steward, who shall enter the money upon the steward’s books …

46.09 Purchases, bills, audits, payments. Subject to s. 16.848: (1) STEWARD AS BUSINESS MANAGER. The steward of each institution under the control of the department is the local business manager and requisitioning officer, subject to the direction and rules of the department, and…

46.10 Cost of care and maintenance, liability; collection and deportation counsel; collections; court actions; recovery. (1) Liability and the collection and enforce- May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 13 Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats. ment of such liability fo…

46.13 Wassermann tests. The department may arrange with the laboratory of hygiene to secure the Wassermann test for any person confined in any state or county institution.

46.14 Reports of state institutions. (1) MONTHLY. The officer in charge of each state institution under the control of the department shall report monthly to the department, an itemized statement of all receipts and disbursements, and of the daily num- May 22, 2026, are designate…

46.15 Institutions subject to chapter 150. Nursing homes or hospitals under ss. 46.16, 46.17, 46.175, 46.20 and 46.205 are subject to ch. 150. History: 1977 c. 29; 1983 a. 27.

46.16 General supervision and inspection by department. (1) GENERALLY. The department shall investigate and supervise all the charitable and curative institutions, including county infirmaries, of every county and municipality, except tuberculosis sanatoriums, and all hospitals, …

46.17 relates to construction and maintenance of buildings and provides no additional authority to the department under this section. 63 Atty. Gen. 267. 46.17 County buildings; establishment, approval, inspection. (1) The department shall fix reasonable standards and regulations …

46.175 County institutions: minimum standards. 46.18 Trustees of county institutions. 46.19 Officers and employees of county institutions. 46.20 Joint county institutions.

46.18 Trustees of county institutions. (1) TRUSTEES. Every county home, infirmary, hospital, or similar institution, shall, subject to regulations approved by the county board except in Milwaukee County for county homes, infirmaries, hospitals, or institutions providing mental he…

46.19 Officers and employees of county institutions. (1) The trustees shall appoint a superintendent of each institution and may remove the superintendent for cause, as defined in s. 17.001, on due notice in writing and hearing of the charges against the superintendent. (2) The t…

46.20 Joint county institutions. (1) Any 2 or more counties may jointly, by majority vote of all the members of each county board, provide for a county home, infirmary, hospital, or similar institution, or juvenile detention home, which shall be established, maintained and operat…

46.205 County home in adjoining county.

46.206 Welfare services; supervisory functions of state department.

46.208 Relief block grants; functions of state department. 46.21 Institutions and department of human services in populous counties.

46.21 Institutions and department of human services in populous counties. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Administrator” means the administrator of the county hospital who is appointed under sub. (1m) (am). (am) “County board of supervisors” means the county board of super…

46.215 County department of social services in populous counties. 46.22 County social services.

46.225 Indigency determinations. 46.23 County department of human services.

46.23 shall provide the department all necessary information in the manner prescribed by the department. (d) The department shall disburse from state or federal funds or both the entire amount and charge the county for its share under s. 46.495. (22) COMMUNITY LIVING ARRANGEMENTS…

46.234 Recovery residences; registration.

46.238 Infants and unborn children whose mothers abuse controlled substances, controlled substance analogs, or alcohol.