Chapter 49 — PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES

49.001 Definitions. In this chapter: (1) “Child care provider” means a child care provider that is licensed under s. 48.65 (1), certified under s. 48.651 or established or contracted for under s. 120.13 (14). (1m) “Essential person” means any person defined as an essential person…

49.01 Definitions. As used in this subchapter: 49.853 49.854 49.855 49.856 49.857 49.858 49.86 49.89 49.90 49.96 Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats. 2 Financial record matching program. Liens against property for delinquent support payments. Certification of delinquent payments. Notificati…

49.015 Relief eligibility. (1) GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. Except as provided in subs. (1m) to (2m), an individual is eligible for relief if the individual meets all of the following conditions: (a) Except as provided in sub. (3) (a), the individual resides on tax-free land…

49.02 Relief block grant administration. (1) ELIGIBILITY FOR RELIEF BLOCK GRANTS. A tribal governing body is eligible to receive a relief block grant if all of the following conditions are met: (a) The tribal governing body adopts a resolution applying for a relief block grant. (…

49.029 Block grants to tribal governing bodies; medical relief. (1) APPLICABILITY. This section applies only to tribal governing bodies. (2) AMOUNT AND DISTRIBUTION OF RELIEF BLOCK GRANT. From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (4) (kb), the department shall distribute a relief bl…

49.08 Recovery of relief and other assistance. If any person is the owner of property at the time of receiving general relief under ch. 49, 1993 stats., relief funded by a relief block grant or other assistance as an inmate of any county or municipal institution in which the stat…

49.11 Definitions. In this subchapter: (1c) “Community-based juvenile delinquency-related ser- Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats. 4 vices” means juvenile delinquency-related services provided under ch. 938 other than services provided for a juvenile who is under the supervision of the dep…

49.114 Contract powers of the department. (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…

49.131 Electronic transfer of benefits. (1) The department shall request any necessary authorization from the appropriate federal agency to deliver benefits that are administered by the department to recipients of benefits by an electronic benefit transfer system. (2) Subject to …

49.132 Community-based option for elementary school readiness. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Child care provider” means a provider licensed under s. 48.65 or certified under s. 48.651. (b) “Elementary school readiness program” means an instructional program that provides…

49.1335 Child care access program. (1) In this section, “rural area” means a city, town, or village with a population of less than 10,000 or a county with a population of less than 50,000. (2) (a) The department shall award to Wonderschool, Inc., a grant of $1,000,000 from the al…

49.134 Child care resource and referral service grants. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Indian tribe” means a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state. (b) “Local agency” means a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation or an Indian tribe that provides or …

49.136 Child care start-up and expansion. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (ad) “Child care center” means a facility operated by a child care provider that provides care and supervision for 4 or more children under 7 years of age for less than 24 hours a day. (am) “Child care pr…

49.137 Child care quality improvement. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (ab) “Child care center” has the meaning given in s. 49.136 (1) (ad). (am) “Child care provider” means a provider licensed under s. 48.65, certified under s. 48.651 or established or contracted for under s. …

49.1375 Early childhood excellence initiative. (1) The department shall establish a grant program to develop at least 5 early childhood centers for children under the age of 5 who are eligible to receive temporary assistance to needy families under 42 USC 601 et seq. Centers awar…

49.138 Emergency assistance for families with needy children. (1d) In this section: (a) “Administering agency” means the department or, if the department has contracted with a Wisconsin works agency under sub. (3), the Wisconsin works agency. (b) “Needy person” has the meaning sp…

49.1385 Grants for services for homeless and runaway youth. The department may award not more than $400,000 in each fiscal year in grants to support programs that provide services for homeless and runaway youth. History: 2017 a. 59; 2019 a. 9. May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTE…

49.139 Emergency shelter funding. From the appropriation account under s. 20.437 (2) (f), the department shall provide $50,000 annually, beginning on October 1, 2009, to the Emergency Shelter of the Fox Valley to provide services to homeless individuals and families. History: 200…

49.141 to 49.161. If no contract is awarded under s. 49.143, “Wisconsin Works agency” means the department of children and families. History: 1995 a. 27 ss. 2639, 2644, 2654 to 2666, 3083; 1995 a. 289; 1997 a. 3; 2005 a. 264, 387; 2007 a. 20, 45; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 202. SUBCHAPT…

49.143 Wisconsin works; agency contracts. (1) AWARDING CONTRACTS. (a) Except as provided in par. (ar), the department may do any of the following: 1. Award a contract, on the basis of a competitive process approved by the secretary of administration, to any person to administer W…

49.145 Wisconsin works; eligibility for employment positions. (1) GENERAL ELIGIBILITY. In order to be eligible for Wisconsin works employment positions and job access loans for any month, an individual shall meet the eligibility require- Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats. 12 ments under s…

49.1452 Payment of support arrears. If an individual who formerly participated in, but is no longer participating in, Wisconsin Works assigned to the state under s. 49.145 (2) (s) his or her right or the right of any dependent child of the individual to support or maintenance fro…

49.1455 Child support demonstration project. The department may conduct a demonstration project, pursuant to the terms and conditions of a federal waiver, under which the department may pay to an individual whom the department has selected to be part of a control group a portion …

49.146 Employer criteria. The department shall establish by rule criteria that an employer providing a Wisconsin works employment position must meet in order to employ a participant under s. 49.147 (3) to (5). An employer that does not meet the criteria established under this sec…

49.147 (6). (f) “Migrant worker” has the meaning given in s. 103.90 (5). (g) “Minimum wage” means the state minimum hourly wage under s. 104.035 (1) or the federal minimum hourly wage under 29 USC 206 (a) (1), whichever is applicable. (h) “Noncustodial parent” means, with respect…

49.1473 Wisconsin works; domestic abuse screening and training. (1) (a) The department shall promulgate rules for screening victims of domestic abuse and for the training of Wisconsin works agency employees in domestic abuse issues. The rules shall allow an individual to voluntar…

49.1475 Follow-up services. Following any follow-up period required by the contract entered into under s. 49.143, a Wisconsin works agency may provide case management services for an individual who moves from a Wisconsin works employment position to unsubsidized employment to hel…

49.148 Wisconsin works; wages and benefits. (1) BENEFIT AND WAGE LEVELS FOR PARTICIPANTS IN EMPLOYMENT POSITIONS. A participant in a Wisconsin Works employment position shall receive the following wages or benefits: (a) Trial employment match program jobs. For a participant in a …

49.149 Wisconsin works; education and training. A Wisconsin works agency shall do all of the following: (1) Establish a referral relationship with other employment and training programs for participants to make use of varied education and training opportunities available through …

49.15 Wisconsin works; 2-parent families. (1) DEFINITION. In this section, “other parent” means a parent who is not a participant in a Wisconsin works employment position. (2) REQUIREMENTS FOR NONPARTICIPANT PARENT. (a) If a participant in a Wisconsin works employment position re…

49.151 Wisconsin works; sanctions. (1c) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Employer” means a subsidized or unsubsidized employer or a work experience provider. (b) “Employment” means subsidized or unsubsidized employment or an assigned work experience activity. (1m) REFUSAL TO PA…

49.1515 Determining nonparticipation. (1) GUIDELINES BY RULE. The department shall by rule specify guidelines for determining when a participant, or individual in the participant’s Wisconsin Works group, who engages in a behavior specified in s. 49.151 (1m) (a), (b), (c), (d), (e…

49.152 or, if the denial is based upon a violation of s. 49.155, may request a contested case hearing under ch. 227 by filing a request for a hearing with the department within 30 days after the date of the denial. History: 1995 a. 289; 1997 a. 27; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 32, 202; 20…

49.155 Wisconsin Shares; child care subsidy. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section, except as otherwise provided: (ag) “Child care provider” means a provider licensed under s. 48.65, certified under s. 48.651 or established or contracted for under s. 120.13 (14). (ah) “County departme…

49.157 Wisconsin works; transportation assistance. A Wisconsin works agency may provide transportation assistance in the manner prescribed by the department. The Wisconsin works agency shall limit any financial assistance granted under this subsection to financial assistance for …

49.159 Wisconsin works; noncustodial and minor and other custodial parents. (1) NONCUSTODIAL PARENTS. (a) An individual who would be eligible under s. 49.145 except that the individual is the noncustodial parent of a dependent child is eligible for services and benefits under par…

49.161 or any rule promulgated under those sections, the Wisconsin Works agency, the county department or agency under contract under s. 49.155 (1m), or the department shall deny benefits under s. 49.138 or ss. 49.141 to 49.161 to the individual as follows: 1. For a first intenti…

49.162 Substance abuse screening and testing for certain work experience programs. (1) In this section: (a) “Administering agency” means the department or an agency with which the department contracts to administer a program. (b) “Controlled substance” has the meaning given in s.…

49.163 Transform Milwaukee Jobs program and Transitional Jobs program. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (am) “Program” means the Transform Milwaukee Jobs program, or the Transitional Jobs program, under this section. (aw) “Wisconsin Works” has the meaning given in s. 49.141 (1) …

49.1635 Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation. (1) To the extent permitted under federal law and subject to sub. (2), from the appropriation under s. 20.437 (2) (md) the department may distribute funds to the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation in an amount up to the amount received …

49.165 Domestic abuse grants. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Domestic abuse” means physical abuse, including a violation of s. 940.225 (1), (2) or (3), or any threat of physical abuse between adult family or adult household members, by a minor family or minor household me…

49.167 Alcohol and other drug abuse treatment grant program. (1) The department may award grants to counties, tribal governing bodies, and private entities to provide community-based alcohol and other drug abuse treatment programs that are targeted at individuals who have a famil…

49.168 National reading program grants. (1) In this section, “national reading program” means a national program that has been in existence since at least 2003 and that mails ageappropriate books to children from birth to age 5 at no cost and regardless of their family income. (2…

49.169 Literacy grants. (2) The department may award grants to qualified applicants for the provision of literacy training to individuals who are eligible for temporary assistance for needy families under 42 USC 601 et seq. (4) The department, in consultation with the technical c…

49.175 Public assistance and local assistance allocations. (1) ALLOCATION OF FUNDS. Except as provided in sub. (2), within the limits of the appropriations under s. 20.437 (2) (a), (cm), (dz), (k), (kx), (L), (mc), (md), (me), (mh), and (s) and (3) May 22, 2026, are designated by…

49.19 Aid to families with dependent children. (1) (a) In this section, “dependent child” means a child under the age of 18 or, if the child is a full-time student at a secondary school or its vocational or technical equivalent and is reasonably expected to complete the program b…

49.195 (3m) and 49.85. Nothing in this paragraph or par. (b) precludes the department from recovering emergency assistance overpayments through any other legal means. History: 1995 a. 289 ss. 83e, 103d; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 45; 2015 a…

49.197 Fraud investigation and reduction and error reduction. (1m) FRAUD INVESTIGATION. From the appropriations under s. 20.437 (2) (dz), (kx), (L), (mc), (md), (me), and (nL), the department shall establish a program to investigate suspected fraudulent activity on the part of re…

49.22 Child and spousal support; establishment of paternity; medical liability. (1) There is created a child and spousal support and establishment of paternity and medical support liability program in the department. The purpose of this program is to establish paternity when poss…