Section 94.43. State level review of county administrative decision.

 

(1)   Request for review.

(a) For a program operated by or under contract with a county department, if the program manager, the client or the grievant, if other than the client, disagrees with the decision of the county director under s. DHS 94.42 (5) , that person may seek a review of the decision by the office or unit designated by the secretary under s. DHS 94.42 (1) (b) 2.

(b) If a grievant wishes to seek a state review of the county director's decision, he or she shall make the request to the program manager. The program manager shall forward the request and supporting materials to the office or unit designated under s. DHS 94.42 (1) (b) 2. in the same manner as provided in s. DHS 94.42 (2) (c) , with a copy sent by first class mail to the county director. All other parties shall make their request to the office or unit designated under s. DHS 94.42 (1) (b) 2. , with copies of the request given personally or sent by first class mail to the other parties.

(2)   Procedures and time limits. State review of a decision of a county director shall be conducted in the same manner and under the same time limits as an administrative review of a program operating independently of a county department under s. DHS 94.42 .

(3)   Distribution of decision. Copies of the decision by the state grievance examiner shall be given personally or sent by first class mail to the program manager, the client, the grievant, if other than the client, the county director, the client rights specialist and the client's parent or guardian if that person's consent is required for treatment.

(4)   Notice of right to final state review. The decision shall include a notice which explains how and where and under what time limits a party who disagrees with the decision of the state grievance examiner may seek final state review of the grievance under s. DHS 94.44 .

(5)   Protection of client confidentiality. The state grievance examiner shall purge the names or other client identifying information of any client involved in the grievance, including the client directly involved, when providing copies of the decision to persons other than the client, or a person acting on behalf of the client, the parent or guardian of the client, the staff directly involved, or the program manager or other staff who have a need to know the information.

Cr. Register, June, 1996, No. 486 , eff. 7-1-96.