Uniform fee schedule, liability and collections.

Except as provided in s. 49.345 (14) (b) and (c), the department shall establish a uniform system of fees for services under this subchapter and ch. 48, and community-based juvenile delinquency-related services under ch. 938, purchased or provided by the department or by a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23, except as provided in s. 49.22 (6) and except when, as determined by the department, a fee is administratively unfeasible or would significantly prevent accomplishing the purpose of the service. A county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23 shall apply the fees that it collects under this program to cover the cost of those services.

(am)#

Paragraph (a) does not prevent the department from charging and collecting the cost of adoptive placement investigations and child care as authorized under s. 48.837 (7).

(ap)#

Paragraph (a) does not prevent a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23 from charging and collecting the cost of an examination ordered under s. 938.295 (2) (a) as authorized under s. 938.295 (2) (c).

(b)#

Except as provided in s. 49.345 (14) (b) and (c), any person receiving services purchased or provided under par. (a) or the spouse of the person and, in the case of a minor, the parents of the person, and, in the case of a foreign child described in s. 48.839 (1) who became dependent on public funds for his or her primary support before an order granting his or her adoption, the resident of this state appointed guardian of the child by a foreign court who brought the child into this state for the purpose of adoption, shall be liable for the services in the amount of the fee established under par. (a).

(c)#

The department shall make collections from the person who in the opinion of the department is best able to pay, giving due regard to the present needs of the person or of his or her lawful dependents. The department may bring an action in the name of the department to enforce the liability established under par. (b). This paragraph does not apply to the recovery of fees for the care and services specified under s. 49.345.

(d)#

The department may compromise or waive all or part of the liability for services received. The sworn statement of the secretary shall be evidence of the services provided and the fees charged for the services.

(e)#

The department may delegate to county departments under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23 and other providers of care and services the powers and duties vested in the department by pars. (c) and (d) as it considers necessary to efficiently administer this subsection, subject to such conditions as the department considers appropriate.

(g)#

The department shall return to county departments under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23 50 percent of collections made by the department for delinquent accounts previously delegated under par. (e) and then referred back to the department for collections.