summary
Introduced
05/21/2025
05/21/2025
In Committee
05/21/2025
05/21/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill grants functional eligibility for Family Care—a program that provides community-based long-term care services—to people who are deaf-blind. Under current law, a person must meet certain criteria in order to be eligible for Family Care, including that the person is at least 18 years of age; the person has a physical or developmental disability or is a frail elder; and the person is both functionally and financially eligible based on the standards described in the statute. The bill adds an express provision that a person is functionally eligible for the Family Care program if the person is deaf-blind, as defined in the bill. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
AI Summary
This bill modifies the functional eligibility criteria for the Family Care program, which provides community-based long-term care services, by explicitly adding individuals who are deaf-blind as automatically eligible for the program. Specifically, the bill amends the existing statute to include people who are deaf-blind as defined in 29 USC 1905 (a federal law defining deaf-blindness) as automatically meeting the functional eligibility requirements, alongside the existing criteria that consider a person's level of care needs. Previously, individuals who are deaf-blind would have needed to qualify through the existing care need assessment process, but this bill creates a direct pathway to eligibility for this specific population. The change aims to ensure that people who are deaf-blind can more easily access long-term care services through the Family Care program, recognizing the unique challenges and support needs of individuals with this dual sensory disability.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services
Sponsors (32)
Tim Carpenter (D)*,
Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (D)*,
Dora Drake (D)*,
Dianne Hesselbein (D)*,
Sarah Keyeski (D)*,
Chris Larson (D)*,
Melissa Ratcliff (D)*,
Kelda Roys (D)*,
Mark Spreitzer (D)*,
Bob Wirch (D)*,
Clint Anderson (D),
Margaret Arney (D),
Mike Bare (D),
Jill Billings (D),
Brienne Brown (D),
Angelina Cruz (D),
Karen DeSanto (D),
Ben DeSmidt (D),
Barbara Dittrich (R),
Jodene Emerson (D),
Alex Joers (D),
Darrin Madison (D),
Vincent Miresse (D),
Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D),
Lori Palmeri (D),
Amaad Rivera-Wagner (D),
Ann Roe (D),
Lee Snodgrass (D),
Shelia Stubbs (D),
Lisa Subeck (D),
Angelito Tenorio (D),
Randy Udell (D),
Last Action
Fiscal estimate received (on 06/10/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/reg/sen/bill/sb272 |
| Fiscal Note - SB272: Fiscal Estimate From DHS | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/fe/sb272/sb272_dhs.pdf |
| BillText | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/SB272.pdf |
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