Wisconsin Statutes Social Services (Ch. 46 to 58) § 51.05. Mental health institutes

(1) Designation. The mental health institute located at Mendota is known as the “Mendota Mental Health Institute” and the mental health institute located at Winnebago is known as the “Winnebago Mental Health Institute”. Goodland Hall West, a facility located at Mendota Mental Health Institute, is designated as the “Maximum Security Facility at Mendota Mental Health Institute”. The department shall divide the state by counties into 2 districts, and may change the boundaries of these districts, arranging them with reference to the number of patients residing in them at a given time, the capacity of the institutes and the convenience of access to them.

(2) Admissions authorized by counties. The department may not accept for admission to a mental health institute any resident person, except in an emergency, unless the county department under s. 51.42 in the county where the person has residence authorizes the care under s. 51.42(3)(as). Patients who are committed to the department under s. 975.01, 1977 stats., or s. 975.02, 1977 stats., or s. 971.14, 971.17, 975.06, or 980.06, admitted by the department under s. 975.17, 1977 stats., or are transferred from a juvenile correctional facility or a secured residential care center for children and youth to a state treatment facility under s. 51.35(3) or from a jail or prison to a state treatment facility under s. 51.37(5) are not subject to this subsection.

(3) Admissions authorized by department. Any person who is without a county responsible for his or her care and any person entering this state through the compact established under s. 51.75 may be accepted by the department and temporarily admitted to an institute. Such person shall be transferred to the county department under s. 51.42 for the community where the best interests of the person can best be served, as soon as practicable.

(4) Transfers and discharges. The transfer or discharge of any person who is placed in a mental health institute shall be made subject to s. 51.35.

(5) School activities. If an individual over the age of 2 and under the age of 22 and eligible for special education and related services under subch. V of ch. 115 is committed, admitted or transferred to or is a resident of the Mendota Mental Health Institute or Winnebago Mental Health Institute, the individual shall attend a school program operated by the applicable mental health institute or a school outside the applicable mental health institute which is approved by the department of public instruction. A school program operated by the Mendota Mental Health Institute or Winnebago Mental Health Institute shall be under the supervision of the department of public instruction and shall meet standards prescribed by that agency.

(6) Hearing-impaired individuals. The department shall provide mental health services appropriate for hearing-impaired individuals who are residents of or are committed, admitted or transferred to a mental health institute.