State Senate passes bill lifting Family Care cap

MADISON (AP) -- The state Senate has passed a plan to lift an enrollment cap on the Family Care program.

The program is designed to keep elderly people in their homes and out of nursing homes. Republican Gov. Scott Walker placed a cap on the program last year to save money, then announced in December he was lifting it in response to a federal order.

The reversal requires legislative approval.

The Senate passed a bill in February that would allow Family Care to add new participants. The Assembly passed the bill early Wednesday but tweaked it to require the Legislature's budget committee to approve enrollment expansions.

The Senate concurred with the change on a voice vote with no debate later Wednesday morning. The plan now goes to Walker for his signature.