AB 191

Under current law, the Department of Children and Families (DCF)

administers various work experience programs. The Transform Milwaukee Jobs

program in Milwaukee County and the Transitional Jobs program outside of

Milwaukee County provide work experience for unemployed individuals by

providing a subsidy for wages and other employment expenses to employers that

employ the individuals. Under the Wisconsin Works (W-2) program, DCF may

provide job search assistance, placement in a subsidized job, or a stipend for up to

four months to a noncustodial parent who would be eligible for W-2 except that he

or she is not a custodial parent, if the noncustodial parent is subject to a child support

order and the custodial parent of the noncustodial parent's child is a participant in

W-2. Also under current law, DCF may contract with any county, tribal governing

body, or W-2 agency to administer a work experience and job training program for

noncustodial parents who have failed to pay child support due to unemployment or

underemployment. Such individuals may be ordered by a court to register for a work

experience and job training program.

This bill requires every individual who applies to participate in the Transform

Milwaukee Jobs program or the Transitional Jobs program, who applies for W-2

services and benefits for noncustodial parents, or who applies for or is ordered by a

court to register for a work experience and job training program (all four programs

collectively, a program), to complete a questionnaire that screens for the abuse of a

controlled substance. If, based on the answers to the questionnaire, DCF or the

agency with which DCF has contracted to administer a program determines that

there is a reasonable suspicion that an individual who is otherwise eligible for a

program is abusing a controlled substance, the individual must undergo a test for the

use of a controlled substance. If the test results are positive and the individual does

not present satisfactory evidence that he or she has a valid prescription for the

controlled substance, to remain eligible for a program the individual must

participate in substance abuse treatment, the cost of which is paid by DCF. While

the individual is undergoing treatment, he or she must submit to random testing for

the use of a controlled substance, and the test results must be negative, or positive

with evidence of a valid prescription, for the individual to remain eligible for a

program. If any test results are positive and the individual does not have a valid

prescription, the individual may begin treatment again one time and will remain

eligible for a program as long as all test results are negative, or positive with a valid

prescription. If the individual completes treatment and tests negative, or positive

with a valid prescription, for the use of a controlled substance at the completion of

treatment, he or she will have satisfactorily completed the substance abuse

screening and testing and treatment requirements for the program.

Under current law, the federal food stamp program, now known as the

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and called FoodShare in this