House Bill 5543

Complete to 5-19-00

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5543 AS INTRODUCED 3-23-00

The bill would amend the juvenile code to require the Family Independence Agency to establish a service with a toll-free telephone number that would provide to a caller from anywhere in the state the address of the "emergency service provider" (a fire department, hospital, or police station) that is nearest to the caller. (Senate Bill 1052 would amend the juvenile code to require that an emergency service provider take possession of a child voluntarily delivered to it by the child's parent and notify the FIA, which would have to take care, control and custody of the child. A court could then terminate the parent's parental rights.)

Further, the bill would require the FIA to publish and distribute on a regular basis a pamphlet that provides information to the public concerning the affirmative defense from prosecution for child abandonment that would be available to a person (under the provisions of Senate Bill 1053) who delivers an infant to an emergency service provider. The pamphlet would have to prominently display the toll-free telephone number.

MCL 712A.19e

Analyst: D. Martens

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.