Children and Families

• About the issue
• Why does this matter to people with disabilities?
• Are there any proposals that would make a change in this issue?
• Who can I contact with my questions?
• Background Information For This Issue

About the issue: (Top of page)

Families with children with disabilities receive support through many programs. These programs provide the services and supports families need to keep their children at home. Some of the services that families receive are ramps, respite care, special medical equipment, personal care, and therapies to bring the child up to age level.

There are four major programs that help families. They are the Family Support program, the children’s Medicaid waiver program, the Katie Beckett program, and the Birth to Three program. The Birth to Three and the Katie Beckett programs are entitlements for those meeting eligibility criteria. Both the children’s waiver and the Family Support programs are limited in terms of availability and resources. Families can’t always receive what they need. And both have waiting lists to get on the program.

Wisconsin is working on changing the way these programs are run. The intent is to make them easier for families to get the help they need. Right now families have to know about each of these programs in order to access them. They also have to apply to each in order to get them. Eligibility criteria are different for each. It is a complicated and confusing arrangement.

Why does this matter to people with disabilities? (Top of page)

These programs are often the only resource families have that allow their children to remain at home. If families are not able to get these services, there is a higher risk their child will be placed in an institution. The financial and emotional cost to place a child away from family is huge. Families have a stake in how a new system will be constructed. Will it be flexible? Will it be accessible? Will it be adequately funded?

Are there any proposals that would make a change in this issue? (Top of page)

• Assembly Bill 15 - Autism Insurance
  This is a companion autism insurance bill to SB-3. This bill requires health insurance policies to cover the cost of treatment for someone diagnosed with autism, Asperger's syndrome, or a pervasive developmental disorder if the treatment is provided by a [More on Assembly Bill 15 ]
  Outcome: Insurance coverage for children with autism was included in the 2009-2011 state budget, AB-75, which was passed into law on June 29, 2009 as Act 28.
• Assembly Bill 16 - Hearing Aids
  This bill requires health insurance coverage of hearing aids and cochlear implants for persons under 18 years of age. [More on Assembly Bill 16 ]
  Outcome: The Senate version of this bill, SB-27, passed both houses of the legislature on April 23, 2009. It was signed into law as Act 14 by Gov. Doyle on may 21, 2009.
• Assembly Bill 75 - State Budget
  This bill is Gov. Doyle's proposed 2009-2011 State Budget. It covers all of the state's expenese and revenues for the next two years starting 7-1-09. It affects most of the services and programs used by people with disabilities. [More on Assembly Bill 75 ]
  Outcome: This bill was passed by the legislature and signed by Gov. Doyle on June 29, 2009. It became Act 28.
• Assembly Bill 116 - School Conferences
  This bill would allow a parent to take up to 16 hours of leave per 12 month period to attend a school conference or school activities that cannot be scheduled during non-school hours. School is broadly defined to include most settings where children are [More on Assembly Bill 116 ]
  Outcome: This bill had a public hearing and was amended. The amended bill passed the Assembly but did not pass the Senate befote the session ended. This matter will have to be addressed by the next legislature.
• Assembly Bill 141 - Autism Services (Alternative)
  This bill offers an alternative approach to AB-15 and SB-3 for providing services to people with autism. It requires services be provided to all eligible persons under the MA autism benefit and prohibits the use of waiting lists for these services. [More on Assembly Bill 141 ]
  Outcome: This bill was referred to the Joint Finance Committee and never passed out of that committee before the session ended. This matter will have to be addressed by the next legislature.
• Assembly Bill 296 - Coordinated Services to Children
  This bill makes several changes in state law, 46.56, otherwise known as the Wraparound Program in the way services are coordinated to children with severe disabilities. It also adds funding to expand the program to other counties. [More on Assembly Bill 296 ]
  Outcome: This bill passed both houses of the legislature. It was signed into law by Gov. Doyle on May 13, 2010. It became Act 334.
• Assembly Bill 405 - BPA Free Kids Act
  This bill prohibits the sale of bottles and cups for children that contain BPA, a chemical that can cause ADHD in children, obesity, and diabetes. [More on Assembly Bill 405 ]
  Outcome: The companion bill in the Senate (SB 271) was passed by the Senate and Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Doyle on March 3, 2010. It became Act 145.
• Assembly Bill 488 - Newborn Hearing Screening
  This bill would require a hearing screen for all babies born outside of a hospital for possible hearing impairments. Current law requires screening for babies born in hospitals. [More on Assembly Bill 488 ]
  Outcome: The Senate version of this bill passed both houses of the legislature. It was signed into law by Gov. Doyle on May 11, 2010. It became Act 279.
• Assembly Bill 789 - Autism Insurance Coverage
  This bill would require insurance coverage for the services of behavior analysts for the treatment of autism. [More on Assembly Bill 789 ]
  Outcome: The Senate version of this bill passed both houses of the legislature. It was signed into law by Gov. Doyle on May 11, 2010. It became Act 282.
• Joint Senate Bill 65 - Lead Study
  This Joint Resolution requests a study of the extent that lead poisoning still exisits in the state and give guidance to the legislature on how address the issue. [More on Joint Senate Bill 65 ]
  
• Senate Bill 3 - Autism Insurance
  This bill requires health insurance policies to cover the cost of treatment for someone diagnosed with autism, Asperger's syndrome, or a pervasive developmental disorder if the treatment is provided by a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a social worker or a [More on Senate Bill 3 ]
  Outcome: Insurance coverage for children with autism was included in the 2009-2011 state budget, AB-75, which was passed into law on June 29, 2009 as Act 28.
• Senate Bill 27 - Hearing Aids
  This is a companion bill to AB-16. This bill requires health insurance coverage of hearing aids and cochlear implants for persons under 18. [More on Senate Bill 27 ]
  Outcome: This bill was passed by both the Senate and Assembly on April 23, 2009. It was signed into law as Act 14 by Gov. Doyle on May 21, 2009.
• Senate Bill 86 - School Conferences
  This bill would allow a parent to take up to 16 hours of leave per 12 month period to attend a school conference or school activities that cannot be scheduled during non-school hours. School is broadly defined to include most settings where children are [More on Senate Bill 86 ]
  Outcome: This bill had a public hearing but failed to pass the Assembly before the session ended. This matter will have to be addressed by the next legislature.
• Senate Bill 154 - School Safety and Bullying
  This bill requires schools to develop plans for addressing school safety and bullying as well as record keeping. [More on Senate Bill 154 ]
  Outcome: This bill passed both houses of the legislature. This was signed into law by Gov. Doyle on May 12, 2010. It became Act 309.
• Senate Bill 202 - Bullying in Schools
  This bill directs the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to develop a model school policy on bullying by pupils. The bill also directs DPI to develop a model education and awareness program on bullying. The bill directs each school board to adopt a po [More on Senate Bill 202 ]
  Outcome: This bill did not pass out of committee before the end of the session. This matter will have to be addressed by the next legislature.
• Senate Bill 210 - Coordinated Services to Children
  This bill makes several changes in state law, 46.56, oterwise known as the Wraparound Program in the way services are coordinated to children with severe disabilities. It also adds funding to expand the program to other counties. [More on Senate Bill 210 ]
  Outcome: The Assembly version of this bill passed both houses of the legislature. It was signed into law on May 13, 2010 by Gov. Doyle. It became Act 334.
• Senate Bill 271 - BPA Free Kids Act
  This bill prohibits the sale of bottles and cups for children that contain BPA, a chemical that can cause ADHD in children, obesity, and diabetes. [More on Senate Bill 271 ]
  Outcome: This bill was passed by the Senate and Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Doyle on March 3, 2010. It became Act 145.
• Senate Bill 323 - Newborn Hearing Screening
  This bill would require a hearing screen for all babies born outside of a hospital for possible hearing impairments. Current law requires screening for babies born in hospitals. [More on Senate Bill 323 ]
  Outcome: This bill passed both houses of the legislature. It was signed into law by Gov. Doyle on May 11, 2010. It became Act 279.
• Senate Bill 667 - Autism Treatment and Behavior Analysts
  This bill relates to the licensure and regulation of behavior analysts and insurance coverage of the services of behavior analysts for autism treatment. It similar to AB-789 but goes further by regulating and licensing behavior analysts. [More on Senate Bill 667 ]
  Outcome: This bill passed both houses of the legislature. It was signed into law by Gov. Doyle on May 11, 2010. It became Act 282.

Who can I contact with my questions? (Top of page)

John Shaw
Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities
201 W. Washington Avenue
Madison WI 53703-2796
Phone: Voice (608) 266-7707; TDD (608) 266-6660
Email: John1.Shaw@wisconsin.gov
Fax: (608) 267-3906

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Background Information For This Issue (Top of page)

• Family Voices of Wisconsin