Section 101.03. Definitions.

  Unless otherwise provided, in this chapter:

(1)  "AFDC" means aid to families with dependent children, a public assistance program under Title IV-A of the Social Security Act of 1935, as amended, and s. 49.19 , Stats.

(2)  "Assessment" means the process under which the Wisconsin works agency evaluates each Wisconsin works participant's skills, prior work experience and employability.

(3)  "CARES" means the department's automated client assistance for re-employment and economic support.

(4)  "Case management" means the family-centered and goal-oriented process for assessing the needs of a Wisconsin works group member and his or her family for employment, training and supportive services and assisting the Wisconsin works group member in obtaining services to achieve self-sufficiency.

(5)  "Community rehabilitation program" means a program that provides directly or facilitates the provision of vocational rehabilitation to individuals with disabilities and that enables an individual with a disability to maximize opportunities for employment.

(6)  "Community service job" or "CSJ" means a work component of Wisconsin works administered under s. 49.147 (4) , Stats.

(7)  "Component of Wisconsin works" means a trial job, community service job, transitional placement or unsubsidized employment.

(8)  "Custodial parent" means, with respect to a dependent child, a parent who resides with that child and, if there has been a determination of legal custody with respect to the dependent child, has legal custody of that child. For the purposes of this subsection, "legal custody" has the meaning given in s. 767.001 (2) (a) , Stats.

(9)  "Department" means the Wisconsin department of children and families.

(10)  "Dependent child" means a person who resides with a parent and who is under the age of 18 or, if the person is a full-time student at a secondary school or a vocational or technical equivalent and is reasonably expected to complete the program before attaining the age of 19, is under the age of 19.

(11)  "Domestic abuse" has the meaning given in s. 968.075 (1) or 813.12 (1) (am) , Stats.

(12)  "Employability plan" means a written agreement developed by a FEP in consultation with a participant that details a logical, sequential series of actions to move the participant from dependency to self-sufficiency. The "employability plan" includes the participant's goal, precise tasks required of both the W-2 agency and the participant, and supportive services needed by the participant.

(13)  "Financial and employment planner" or "FEP" means a case manager employed by a Wisconsin works agency who determines eligibility, assists in the process of determining eligibility, or performs case management functions.

(14)  "Food stamp program" means the assistance program under 7 USC 2011 to 2029 .

(14m)  "Formal assessment" means the process of making a determination that a condition exists, establishing the extent and severity of a condition, and, if appropriate, what alternative services or accommodations in jobs or work assignments might permit the recipient to engage in work, either immediately or after some other intervention. A "formal assessment" shall be completed by a qualified assessing agency or business.

(15)  "Incapacitated" means having a medically-determined physical or mental impairment which has been verified by the department's division of vocational rehabilitation or other similar agency or business and which prevents the person from temporarily or permanently holding full-time unsubsidized employment or participating in a trial job or CSJ.

(16)  "Job access loan" means a loan under s. 49.147 (6) , Stats., to address an immediate and discrete financial crisis in order to obtain or continue employment.

(17)  "Job center" means a site for employers to meet workforce needs and job seekers to obtain career planning, job placement and training.

(18)  "Jobnet" means the department of workforce development's computerized listing of jobs available by region and throughout Wisconsin which includes the employer requirements necessary for applicants to obtain these jobs.

(19)  "JOBS" means the job opportunities and basic skills training program established under 42 USC 682 and s. 49.193 , 1997 Stats., for the purpose of assisting AFDC recipients to develop marketable skills and obtain gainful employment.

(20)  "Learnfare" means the program established under s. 49.26 , Stats., which requires that all preteens living in a pilot county designated by the department and teenagers attend school.

(21)  "Medical assistance" means the assistance program operated by the department of health services under ss. 49.43 to 49.497 , Stats., and chs. DHS 101 to 108 .

(22)  "Migrant worker" has the meaning given in s. 103.90 (5) , Stats.

(23)  "Minor parent" means an individual who is under age 18 and is a custodial parent.

(24)  "Minimum wage" means the state minimum hourly wage under ch. 104 , Stats. , or the federal minimum hourly wage under 29 USC 206 (a) (1), whichever is applicable.

(25)  "Noncustodial parent" means, with respect to a dependent child, a parent who is not the custodial parent.

(26)  "Nonmarital coparent" means, with respect to an individual and a dependent child, a parent who is not married to the individual, resides with the dependent child and is either an adjudicated parent or a parent who has signed and filed with the state registrar under s. 69.15 (3) (b) 3. , Stats., a statement acknowledging paternity.

(27)  "Parent" means either a biological parent, a person who has consented to the artificial insemination of his wife under s. 891.40 , Stats., or a parent by adoption.

(28)  "Participant" means an individual who participates in any component of the Wisconsin works program.

(29)  "Poverty line" has the meaning prescribed under s. 49.001 (5) , Stats.

(30)  "Protective payment" means a money payment to a payee designated by the agency as the receiver of a participant's total or partial W-2 benefit.

(31)  "Reasonable promptness" means as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days after the date the agency receives a signed application completed to the best of the applicant's ability.

(31h)  "Screening" means a process of determining if an individual is at risk of a certain condition or barrier. A "screening" is intended to determine the likelihood that a person requires additional assessment to uncover a particular barrier. A "screening" does not result in a specific diagnosis.

(31m)  "Second parent" has the same meaning given "other parent" in s. 49.15 (1) , Stats.

(32)  "Strike" has the meaning provided in 29 USC 142 (2).

(32m)  "TANF" or "temporary assistance for needy families" means a federal block grant under 42 USC 601-619 .

(33)  "Transitional placement" means a work component of Wisconsin works administered under s. 49.147 (5) , Stats.

(34)  "Trial job" means a work component of Wisconsin works administered under s. 49.147 (3) , Stats.

(35)  "Unsubsidized employment" means employment for which the Wisconsin works agency provides no wage subsidy to the employer including self-employment and entrepreneurial activities.

(36)  "Vendor payment" means a money payment made on behalf of a participant directly to a provider of goods or services.

(37)  "Wisconsin works" or "W-2" means the assistance program for families with dependent children, administered under ss. 49.141 to 49.161 , Stats.

(38)  "Wisconsin works agency" or "W-2 agency" means a person, county agency, tribal governing body, or a private agency contracted under s. 49.143 , Stats., by the department to administer the Wisconsin works program under ss. 49.141 to 49.161 , Stats., and this chapter. If no contract is awarded under s. 49.143 , Stats., "Wisconsin works agency" means the department.

(39)  "Wisconsin works employment position" means a trial job, community service job or transitional placement.

(40)  "Wisconsin works group" means an individual who is a custodial parent, all dependent children with respect to whom the individual is a custodial parent and all dependent children with respect to whom the individual's dependent child is a custodial parent. "Wisconsin works group" includes any nonmarital coparent or any spouse of the individual who resides in the same household as the individual and any dependent children with respect to whom the spouse or nonmarital coparent is a custodial parent. "Wisconsin works group" does not include any person who is receiving relief block grant benefits under s. 49.027 (3) (b) , Stats.

Cr. Register, October, 1997, No. 502 , eff. 11-1-97; cr. (31m), Register, July, 2000, No. 535 , eff. 8-1-00; correction in (1) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, January, 2001, No. 541 ; CR 02-050 : am. (intro.), (11) and (19), r. and recr. (12) and (13), cr. (14m), (31h) and (32m) Register January 2003 No. 565 , eff. 2-1-03; correction in (11) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register January 2003 No. 565 ; corrections in (9), (18) and (21) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6. and 7., Stats., Register November 2008 No. 635 .

Note

The CARES system, using data provided by applicants, electronically determines eligibility for Wisconsin works, calculates community service jobs and transitional placement benefit amounts and electronically retains data in historical files. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Sec. 49.15 (1), Stats. defines "other parent" as "a parent who is not a participant in a Wisconsin works employment position." Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Section 49.027 (3) (b), Stats., was repealed effective 7-1-11. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1