51.91 Supplemental aid.

(1) Declaration of policy. The legislature recognizes that mental health is a matter of statewide and county concern and that the protection and improvement of health are governmental functions. It is the intent of the legislature, therefore, to encourage and assist counties in the construction of community mental health facilities, and public medical institutions as defined by rule of the department.

(2) Eligibility.

(a) Any county which qualifies for additional state aid under s. 51.26, 1971 stats., and has obtained approval for the construction of mental health facilities pursuant to s. 46.17 may apply for the financial assistance authorized by this section if such county has, at the time of application for assistance, an existing obligation to pay interest on loans for the construction of mental health facilities approved pursuant to s. 46.17.

(b) Any county may apply for the financial assistance authorized by this section if such county has, at the time of application for assistance, an existing obligation to pay interest on loans for the construction of public medical institutions as defined by rule of the department.

(c) Any county may apply for the financial assistance authorized by this section if such county has, at the time of application for assistance, an existing obligation to pay interest on loans for the construction of mental health facilities as defined by rule of the department.

(d) No county may claim aid under this section on any single obligation for more than 20 years.

(e) Termination of eligibility for aid under s. 51.26, 1971 stats., shall terminate eligibility for aid for the construction of mental health facilities, and failure to meet the requirements established for public medical institutions by rule of the department shall terminate eligibility for aid for the construction of public medical institutions. Failure to meet the requirements for mental health facilities established by rule of the department shall terminate eligibility for aid for the construction of mental health facilities.

(f) Mental health facilities shall include services required for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of the mentally ill, as established by rule of the department.

(3) Limitation of aid.

(a) Aid under this section shall be paid only on interest accruing after January 1, 1967, or after the date construction begins, whichever is later.

(b) Until June 30, 1970, such aid shall be at the rate of 60 percent of the interest obligations eligible under this section or that amount of such obligation as is equal to the percentage rate of participation of the state set forth in s. 49.52 (2), 1971 stats., whichever is higher. The contribution of the state for such interest accruing in each fiscal year shall be controlled by the percentage rate of participation under s. 49.52 (2), 1971 stats., on January 1 of that fiscal year. Beginning July 1, 1970, such aid shall be at the rate of 100 percent.

(c) This section applies only to construction projects approved for state interest aid by the department of health services prior to June 30, 1973.

(4) Application for aid. Application for aid under this section shall be filed with the department as prescribed by it. Such application shall include evidence of the existence of the indebtedness on which the county is obligated to pay interest. The department may by audit or investigation satisfy itself as to the amount and validity of the claim and, if satisfied, shall grant the aid provided by this section. Payment of aid shall be made to the county treasurer.

History: 1971 c. 125, 164, 211, 215; 1975 c. 430 s. 23; Stats. 1975 s. 51.91; 1993 a. 213; 1995 a. 27 s. 9126 (19); 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a).