SENATE BILL No. 684

October 2, 2001, Introduced by Senator HAMMERSTROM and referred to the Committee on Families, Mental Health and Human Services.

A bill to amend 1970 PA 91, entitled

"Child custody act of 1970,"

by amending section 2 (MCL 722.22), as amended by 1999 PA 156.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

1 Sec. 2. As used in this act:

2 (a) "Agency" means a legally authorized public or private

3 organization, or governmental unit or official, whether of this

4 state or of another state or country, concerned in the welfare of

5 minor children, including a licensed child placement agency.

6 (b) "Attorney" means, if appointed to represent a child

7 under this act, an attorney serving as the child's legal advocate

8 in a traditional attorney-client relationship with the child, as

9 governed by the Michigan rules of professional conduct. An

10 attorney defined under this subdivision owes the same duties of

11 undivided loyalty, confidentiality, and zealous representation of

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1 the child's expressed wishes as the attorney would to an adult

2 client.

3 (c) "Child" means minor child and children. Subject to sec-

4 tion 4a 5B OF THE SUPPORT AND PARENTING TIME ENFORCEMENT ACT,

5 1982 PA 295, MCL 552.605B, for purposes of providing support,

6 child includes a child and children who have reached 18 years of

7 age.

8 (d) "Guardian ad litem" means an individual whom the court

9 appoints to assist the court in determining the child's best

10 interests. A guardian ad litem does not need to be an attorney.

11 (e) "Lawyer-guardian ad litem" means an attorney appointed

12 under section 4. A lawyer-guardian ad litem represents the

13 child, and has the powers and duties, as set forth in section 4.

14 (f) "State disbursement unit" or "SDU" means the entity

15 established in section 6 of the office of child support act, 1971

16 PA 174, MCL 400.236.

17 (g) "Third person" means any AN individual other than a

18 parent.

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