48.651 Certification of child care providers.

(1) Except as provided in s. 49.155 (4) (c), no person, other than a child care center licensed under s. 48.65 or established or contracted for under s. 120.13 (14), may receive payment for providing child care services for an individual who is determined eligible for a child care subsidy under s. 49.155 unless the person is certified, according to the standards adopted by the department under sub. (1d), by the department in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, a county department, or an agency with which the department contracts under sub. (2). To be certified under this section, a person must meet the minimum requirements for certification established by the department under sub. (1d), meet the requirements specified in s. 48.686, and pay the fee specified in sub. (2). The department in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, a county department, or an agency contracted with under sub. (2) shall certify the following categories of child care providers:

(a) Level I certified family child care providers, as established by the department under sub. (1d).

(b) Level II certified family child care providers, as established by the department under sub. (1d).

(1d)

(a) The department shall promulgate rules establishing standards for the certification of child care providers under sub. (1). The department shall consult with the child abuse and neglect prevention board before promulgating those rules. In establishing the requirements under this paragraph for certification of a child care provider, the department shall include a requirement that all providers and all employees and volunteers of a provider who provide care and supervision for children receive the minimum health and safety training required under par. (b).

(b)

1. A level I certified family child care provider shall successfully complete department-approved preservice health and safety training in the topics specified in subd. 1. a. to j. by no later than the date of certification. A level II certified family child care provider or an employee or volunteer of a level I or level II certified family child care provider who is not the primary provider of care and supervision for children shall successfully complete department-approved preservice health and safety training in the topics specified in subd. 1. a. to j. by no later than the end of the orientation period available under 42 USC 9858c (c) (2) (I) (i) (XI). The health and safety training required under this subdivision shall include training in all of the following topics:

a. The prevention and control of infectious diseases, including by means of immunizations.

b. The prevention of sudden infant death syndrome and use of safe sleeping practices.

c. The administration of medication, consistent with parental consent.

d. The prevention of and response to emergencies due to allergic reactions to food or other allergens.

e. Building and physical premises safety, including identification of and protection from electrical hazards, bodies of water, vehicular traffic, and other hazards that can cause bodily injury.

f. The prevention of shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma.

g. Emergency preparedness and response planning for emergencies resulting from natural disaster or human-caused events.

h. The handling and storage of hazardous materials and the appropriate disposal of biocontaminants.

i. If applicable, appropriate precautions in transporting children.

j. First aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

2. A child care provider or employee or volunteer of a child care provider shall also complete ongoing in-service training on an annual basis including training on the topics listed under subd. 1. a. to j.

(2) The department in a county having a population of 750,000 or more or a county department shall certify child care providers under sub. (1) or the department may contract with a Wisconsin Works agency, as defined in s. 49.001 (9), child care resource and referral agency, Indian tribe, or other agency to certify child care providers under sub. (1) in a particular geographic area or for a particular Indian tribal unit. The department in a county having a population of 750,000 or more or a county department that certifies child care providers under sub. (1) may charge a fee to cover the costs of certifying those providers. An agency or Indian tribe contracted with under this subsection may charge a fee specified by the department to supplement the amount provided by the department under the contract for certifying child care providers.

(2c) From the allocation under s. 49.175 (1) (p), the department shall do all of the following:

(a) Reimburse a county having a population of 750,000 or more for all approved, allowable certification costs, as provided in s. 49.826 (2) (c).

(b) For contracts with agencies entered into under sub. (2), allocate available funds, as determined by the department, in proportion to the number of certified providers, applications for certification, previously experienced certification costs, estimated certification costs, or such other measures as the department determines.

(3)

(a) If a person subject to a background check under s. 48.686 (2) who operates, works at, or resides at a child care provider certified under sub. (1) is convicted or adjudicated delinquent for committing a serious crime, as defined in s. 48.686 (1) (c), or if the department provides written notice of a decision under s. 48.686 (4p) that the person is ineligible to operate, work at, or reside at the child care provider, the department in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, a county department, or an agency contracted with under sub. (2) shall revoke the certification of the child care provider immediately upon providing written notice of revocation and the grounds for revocation and an explanation of the process for appealing the revocation.

(b) If a person subject to a background check under s. 48.686 (2) who operates, works at, or resides at a child care provider certified under sub. (1) is the subject of a pending criminal charge or delinquency petition alleging that the person has committed a serious crime, the department in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, a county department, or an agency contracted with under sub. (2) shall immediately suspend the certification of the child care provider until the department, county department, or agency obtains information regarding the final disposition of the charge or delinquency petition indicating that the person is not ineligible to operate, work at, or reside at the child care provider.

History: 1983 a. 193; 1985 a. 176; 1995 a. 289, 404; 1997 a. 27, 35, 252; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16; 2007 a. 20 ss. 1332 to 1335, 9121 (6) (a); 2009 a. 28, 76, 185; 2011 a. 258; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 172; 2017 a. 59 ss. 777 to 784, 850; 2019 a. 9.