50.032 Certification of certain adult family homes.

(1g) Definition. In this section, “adult family home" has the meaning given in s. 50.01 (1) (a).

(1m) Certification.

(a) No person may operate an adult family home unless the adult family home is certified under this section.

(b) A county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, 46.23, 51.42 or 51.437 may certify an adult family home that is located in the county. The department shall certify an adult family home in a county that elects not to certify adult family homes.

(2) Regulation. Except as provided in sub. (2d), standards for operation of certified adult family homes and procedures for application for certification, monitoring, inspection, decertification and appeal of decertification under this section shall be under rules promulgated by the department under s. 50.02 (2) (am) 1. An adult family home certification is valid until decertified under this section. Certification is not transferable.

(2d) Accompaniment or visitation. If an adult family home has a policy on who may accompany or visit a patient, the adult family home shall extend the same right of accompaniment or visitation to a patient's domestic partner under ch.770 as is accorded the spouse of a patient under the policy.

(2m) Exception. Notwithstanding s. 50.01 (1g) (b), if an individual served in an adult family home attains 18 years of age and leaves the adult family home on a permanent basis, as defined in rules promulgated by the department, he or she may be replaced for receipt of service by an individual who has a developmental disability, as defined in s. 51.01 (5).

(2r) Reporting. Every 12 months, on a schedule determined by the department, a certified adult family home shall submit an annual report in the form and containing the information that the department requires, including payment of a fee, if any is required under rules promulgated under s. 50.02 (2) (am) 1. If a complete annual report is not timely filed, the department shall issue a warning to the operator of the certified adult family home. The department may decertify a certified adult family home for failure to timely and completely report within 60 days after the report date established under the schedule determined by the department.

(3) Investigation of alleged violations. If the department or a certifying county department under sub. (1m) (b) is advised or has reason to believe that any person is violating this section or the rules promulgated under s. 50.02 (2) (am) 1., the department or the certifying county department shall make an investigation to determine the facts. For the purposes of this investigation, the department or the certifying county department may inspect the premises where the violation is alleged to occur. If the department or the certifying county department finds that the requirements of this section and of rules under s. 50.02 (2) (am) 1. are met, the department or the certifying county department may certify the premises under this section. If the department or the certifying county department finds that a person is violating this section or the rules under s. 50.02 (2) (am) 1., the department or the certifying county department may institute an action under sub. (5) or (6).

(4) Decertification. A certified adult family home may be decertified because of the substantial and intentional violation of this section or of rules promulgated by the department under s. 50.02 (2) (am) 1. or because of failure to meet the minimum requirements for certification. The operator of the certified adult family home shall be given written notice of any decertification and the grounds for the decertification. Any adult family home certification applicant or operator of a certified adult family home may, if aggrieved by the failure to issue the certification or by decertification, appeal under the procedures specified by the department by rule under s. 50.02 (2) (am) 1.

(5) Injunction. The department or a certifying county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, 46.23, 51.42 or 51.437 may commence an action in circuit court to enjoin the operation of an adult family home that is not certified under sub. (1m) or that is certified and has repeatedly used methods of operation in substantial violation of the rules promulgated under s. 50.02 (2) (am) 1. or that endanger the health, safety or welfare of any disabled adult receiving care and maintenance in an adult family home.

(6) Penalties. Any person who violates this section or rules promulgated under s. 50.02 (2) (am) 1. may be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned for not more than one year in the county jail or both.

History: 1987 a. 161, 403; 1993 a. 327; 1997 a. 27; 2009 a. 28.