Act No. 162

Public Acts of 1997

Approved by the Governor

December 29, 1997

Filed with the Secretary of State

December 29, 1997

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 1998

STATE OF MICHIGAN

89TH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 1997

Introduced by Reps. Brater, Schauer, Anthony, DeHart, LaForge, Cherry, Varga, Mans, Parks, Thomas and Scranton

Reps. Birkholz, Bodem, Bogardus, Cassis, Frank, Gagliardi, Gilmer, Hanley, Johnson, Kelly, Law, Middaugh, Oxender, Prusi, Schermesser, Schroer, Scott, Vaughn, Voorhees and Wetters named co-sponsors

ENROLLED HOUSE BILL No. 4811

AN ACT to amend 1939 PA 280, entitled "An act to protect the welfare of the people of this state; to provide general assistance, hospitalization, infirmary and medical care to poor or unfortunate persons; to provide for compliance by this state with the social security act; to provide protection, welfare and services to aged persons, dependent children, the blind, and the permanently and totally disabled; to administer programs and services for the prevention and treatment of delinquency, dependency and neglect of children; to create a state department of social services; to prescribe the powers and duties of the department; to provide for the interstate and intercounty transfer of dependents; to create county and district departments of social services; to create within certain county departments, bureaus of social aid and certain divisions and offices thereunder; to prescribe the powers and duties of the departments, bureaus and officers; to provide for appeals in certain cases; to prescribe the powers and duties of the state department with respect to county and district departments; to prescribe certain duties of certain other state departments, officers, and agencies; to make an appropriation; to prescribe penalties for the violation of the provisions of this act; and to repeal certain parts of this act on specific dates," (MCL 400.1 to 400.119b) by adding section 56i.

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

Sec. 56i. (1) The family independence agency shall establish and enforce standards and procedures to do all of the following:

(a) Screen and identify individuals who are receiving assistance under section 57b who have a history of domestic violence, while maintaining the confidentiality of that information.

(b) Refer those individuals identified under subdivision (a) to counseling and supportive services.

(c) In accordance with a determination of good cause, waive certain program requirements of the family independence program established in section 57a in cases where compliance with those requirements would make it more difficult for individuals receiving assistance to escape domestic violence or would unfairly penalize individuals who are or have been victimized by domestic violence or individuals who are at risk of further domestic violence.

(2) The family independence agency shall include in the state plan required for federal temporary assistance for needy families block grants a certification by the governor that the state has established and is enforcing the standards and procedures described in subsection (1).

(3) The family independence agency shall collect and compile data regarding administration of the waiver authorized under subsection (1)(c), including information regarding individuals screened and identified under subsection (1)(a) and information regarding individuals actually granted a waiver. The family independence agency shall annually report to the legislature on the information collected and compiled under this subsection.

Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect October 1, 1998.

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Secretary of the Senate.

Approved

Governor.