Act No. 115

Public Acts of 2012

Approved by the Governor

May 1, 2012

Filed with the Secretary of State

May 1, 2012

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 1, 2012

STATE OF MICHIGAN

96TH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2012

Introduced by Senators Emmons, Kowall, Brandenburg, Hansen, Jones, Jansen and Marleau

ENROLLED SENATE BILL No. 1005

AN ACT to amend 1939 PA 288, entitled “An act to revise and consolidate the statutes relating to certain aspects of the family division of circuit court, to the jurisdiction, powers, and duties of the family division of circuit court and its judges and other officers, to the change of name of adults and children, and to the adoption of adults and children; to prescribe certain jurisdiction, powers, and duties of the family division of circuit court and its judges and other officers; to prescribe the manner and time within which certain actions and proceedings may be brought in the family division of the circuit court; to prescribe pleading, evidence, practice, and procedure in certain actions and proceedings in the family division of circuit court; to provide for appeals from certain actions in the family division of circuit court; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state departments, agencies, and officers; to provide for certain immunity from liability; and to provide remedies and penalties,” by amending sections 13a, 17d, 18f, 19a, 19b, and 19c of chapter XIIA (MCL 712A.13a, 712A.17d, 712A.18f, 712A.19a, 712A.19b, and 712A.19c), sections 13a and 17d as amended by 2004 PA 475, section 18f as amended by 1999 PA 25, section 19a as amended by 2008 PA 200, section 19b as amended by 2010 PA 7, and section 19c as amended by 2011 PA 31.

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

CHAPTER XIIA

Sec. 13a. (1) As used in this section and sections 2, 6b, 13b, 17c, 17d, 18f, 19, 19a, 19b, and 19c of this chapter:

(a) “Agency” means a public or private organization, institution, or facility that is performing the functions under part D of title IV of the social security act, 42 USC 651 to 669b, or that is responsible under court order or contractual arrangement for a juvenile’s care and supervision.

(b) “Agency case file” means the current file from the agency providing direct services to the child, that can include the child protective services file if the child has not been removed from the home or the department of human services or contract agency foster care file as defined under 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.111 to 722.128.

(c) “Attorney” means, if appointed to represent a child in a proceeding under section 2(b) or (c) of this chapter, an attorney serving as the child’s legal advocate in a traditional attorney-client relationship with the child, as governed by the Michigan rules of professional conduct. An attorney defined under this subdivision owes the same duties of undivided loyalty, confidentiality, and zealous representation of the child’s expressed wishes as the attorney would to an adult client. For the purpose of a notice required under these sections, attorney includes a child’s lawyer-guardian ad litem.

(d) “Case service plan” means the plan developed by an agency and prepared under section 18f of this chapter that includes services to be provided by and responsibilities and obligations of the agency and activities, responsibilities, and obligations of the parent. The case service plan may be referred to using different names than case service plan including, but not limited to, a parent/agency agreement or a parent/agency treatment plan and service agreement.

(e) “Foster care” means care provided to a juvenile in a foster family home, foster family group home, or child caring institution licensed or approved under 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.111 to 722.128, or care provided to a juvenile in a relative’s home under a court order.

(f) “Guardian ad litem” means an individual whom the court appoints to assist the court in determining the child’s best interests. A guardian ad litem does not need to be an attorney.

(g) “Lawyer-guardian ad litem” means an attorney appointed under section 17c of this chapter. A lawyer-guardian ad litem represents the child, and has the powers and duties, as set forth in section 17d of this chapter. The provisions of section 17d of this chapter also apply to a lawyer-guardian ad litem appointed under each of the following:

(i) Section 5213 or 5219 of the estates and protected individuals code, 1998 PA 386, MCL 700.5213 and 700.5219.

(ii) Section 4 of the child custody act of 1970, 1970 PA 91, MCL 722.24.

(iii) Section 10 of the child protection law, 1975 PA 238, MCL 722.630.

(h) “Nonparent adult” means a person who is 18 years of age or older and who, regardless of the person’s domicile, meets all of the following criteria in relation to a child over whom the court takes jurisdiction under this chapter:

(i) Has substantial and regular contact with the child.

(ii) Has a close personal relationship with the child’s parent or with a person responsible for the child’s health or welfare.

(iii) Is not the child’s parent or a person otherwise related to the child by blood or affinity to the third degree.

(i) “Permanent foster family agreement” means an agreement for a child 14 years old or older to remain with a particular foster family until the child is 18 years old under standards and requirements established by the department of human services, which agreement is among all of the following:

(i) The child.

(ii) If the child is a temporary ward, the child’s family.

(iii) The foster family.

(iv) The child placing agency responsible for the child’s care in foster care.

(j) “Relative” means an individual who is at least 18 years of age and related to the child by blood, marriage, or adoption, as grandparent, great-grandparent, great-great-grandparent, aunt or uncle, great-aunt or great-uncle, great‑great-aunt or great-great-uncle, sibling, stepsibling, nephew or niece, first cousin or first cousin once removed, and the spouse of any of the above, even after the marriage has ended by death or divorce. A child may be placed with the parent of a man whom the court has found probable cause to believe is the putative father if there is no man with legally established rights to the child. A placement with the parent of a putative father under this subdivision is not to be construed as a finding of paternity or to confer legal standing on the putative father.

(k) “Sex offenders registration act” means the sex offenders registration act, 1994 PA 295, MCL 28.721 to 28.736.

(2) If a juvenile is alleged to be within the provisions of section 2(b) of this chapter, the court may authorize a petition to be filed at the conclusion of the preliminary hearing or inquiry. The court may authorize the petition upon a showing of probable cause that 1 or more of the allegations in the petition are true and fall within the provisions of section 2(b) of this chapter. If a petition is before the court because the department of human services is required to submit the petition under section 17 of the child protection law, 1975 PA 238, MCL 722.637, the court shall hold a hearing on the petition within 24 hours or on the next business day after the petition is submitted, at which hearing the court shall consider at least the matters governed by subsections (4) and (5).

(3) Except as provided in subsections (5) and (6), if a petition under subsection (2) is authorized, the court may release the juvenile in the custody of either of the juvenile’s parents or the juvenile’s guardian or custodian under reasonable terms and conditions necessary for either the juvenile’s physical health or mental well-being.

(4) The court may order a parent, guardian, custodian, nonparent adult, or other person residing in a child’s home to leave the home and, except as the court orders, not to subsequently return to the home if all of the following take place:

(a) A petition alleging abuse of the child by the parent, guardian, custodian, nonparent adult, or other person is authorized under subsection (2).

(b) The court after a hearing finds probable cause to believe the parent, guardian, custodian, nonparent adult, or other person committed the abuse.

(c) The court finds on the record that the presence in the home of the person alleged to have committed the abuse presents a substantial risk of harm to the child’s life, physical health, or mental well-being.

(5) If a petition alleges abuse by a person described in subsection (4), regardless of whether the court orders the alleged abuser to leave the child’s home under subsection (4), the court shall not leave the child in or return the child to the child’s home or place the child with a person not licensed under 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.111 to 722.128, unless the court finds that the conditions of custody at the placement and with the individual with whom the child is placed are adequate to safeguard the child from the risk of harm to the child’s life, physical health, or mental well-being.

(6) If a court finds a parent is required by court order to register under the sex offenders registration act, the department of human services may, but is not required to, make reasonable efforts to reunify the child with the parent. The court may order reasonable efforts to be made by the department of human services.

(7) In determining whether to enter an order under subsection (4), the court may consider whether the parent who is to remain in the juvenile’s home is married to the person to be removed or has a legal right to retain possession of the home.

(8) An order entered under subsection (4) may also contain 1 or more of the following terms or conditions:

(a) The court may require the alleged abusive parent to pay appropriate support to maintain a suitable home environment for the juvenile during the duration of the order.

(b) The court may order the alleged abusive person, according to terms the court may set, to surrender to a local law enforcement agency any firearms or other potentially dangerous weapons the alleged abusive person owns, possesses, or uses.

(c) The court may include any reasonable term or condition necessary for the juvenile’s physical or mental well-being or necessary to protect the juvenile.

(9) If the court orders placement of the juvenile outside the juvenile’s home, the court shall inform the parties of the following:

(a) That the agency has the responsibility to prepare an initial services plan within 30 days of the juvenile’s placement.

(b) The general elements of an initial services plan as required by the rules promulgated under 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.111 to 722.128.

(10) Before or within 7 days after a child is placed in a relative’s home, the department of human services shall perform a criminal record check and central registry clearance. If the child is placed in the home of a relative, the court shall order a home study to be performed and a copy of the home study to be submitted to the court not more than 30 days after the placement.

(11) In determining placement of a juvenile pending trial, the court shall order the juvenile placed in the most family-like setting available consistent with the juvenile’s needs.

(12) If a juvenile is removed from his or her home, the court shall permit the juvenile’s parent to have frequent parenting time with the juvenile. If parenting time, even if supervised, may be harmful to the juvenile, the court shall order the child to have a psychological evaluation or counseling, or both, to determine the appropriateness and the conditions of parenting time. The court may suspend parenting time while the psychological evaluation or counseling is conducted.

(13) Upon the motion of any party, the court shall review custody and placement orders and initial services plans pending trial and may modify those orders and plans as the court considers under this section are in the juvenile’s best interests.

(14) The court shall include in an order placing a child in foster care an order directing the release of information concerning the child in accordance with this subsection. If a child is placed in foster care, within 10 days after receipt of a written request, the agency shall provide the person who is providing the foster care with copies of all initial, updated, and revised case service plans and court orders relating to the child and all of the child’s medical, mental health, and education reports, including reports compiled before the child was placed with that person.

(15) In an order placing a child in foster care, the court shall include both of the following:

(a) An order that the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian provide the supervising agency with the name and address of each of the child’s medical providers.

(b) An order that each of the child’s medical providers release the child’s medical records. The order may specify providers by profession or type of institution.

(16) As used in this section, “abuse” means 1 or more of the following:

(a) Harm or threatened harm by a person to a juvenile’s health or welfare that occurs through nonaccidental physical or mental injury.

(b) Engaging in sexual contact or sexual penetration as defined in section 520a of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.520a, with a juvenile.

(c) Sexual exploitation of a juvenile, which includes, but is not limited to, allowing, permitting, or encouraging a juvenile to engage in prostitution or allowing, permitting, encouraging, or engaging in photographing, filming, or depicting a juvenile engaged in a listed sexual act as defined in section 145c of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.145c.

(d) Maltreatment of a juvenile.

Sec. 17d. (1) A lawyer-guardian ad litem’s duty is to the child, and not the court. The lawyer-guardian ad litem’s powers and duties include at least all of the following:

(a) The obligations of the attorney-client privilege.

(b) To serve as the independent representative for the child’s best interests, and be entitled to full and active participation in all aspects of the litigation and access to all relevant information regarding the child.

(c) To determine the facts of the case by conducting an independent investigation including, but not limited to, interviewing the child, social workers, family members, and others as necessary, and reviewing relevant reports and other information. The agency case file shall be reviewed before disposition and before the hearing for termination of parental rights. Updated materials shall be reviewed as provided to the court and parties. The supervising agency shall provide documentation of progress relating to all aspects of the last court ordered treatment plan, including copies of evaluations and therapy reports and verification of parenting time not later than 5 business days before the scheduled hearing.

(d) To meet with or observe the child and assess the child’s needs and wishes with regard to the representation and the issues in the case in the following instances:

(i) Before the pretrial hearing.

(ii) Before the initial disposition, if held more than 91 days after the petition has been authorized.

(iii) Before a dispositional review hearing.

(iv) Before a permanency planning hearing.

(v) Before a post-termination review hearing.

(vi) At least once during the pendency of a supplemental petition.

(vii) At other times as ordered by the court. Adjourned or continued hearings do not require additional visits unless directed by the court.

(e) The court may allow alternative means of contact with the child if good cause is shown on the record.

(f) To explain to the child, taking into account the child’s ability to understand the proceedings, the lawyer-guardian ad litem’s role.

(g) To file all necessary pleadings and papers and independently call witnesses on the child’s behalf.

(h) To attend all hearings and substitute representation for the child only with court approval.

(i) To make a determination regarding the child’s best interests and advocate for those best interests according to the lawyer-guardian ad litem’s understanding of those best interests, regardless of whether the lawyer-guardian ad litem’s determination reflects the child’s wishes. The child’s wishes are relevant to the lawyer-guardian ad litem’s determination of the child’s best interests, and the lawyer-guardian ad litem shall weigh the child’s wishes according to the child’s competence and maturity. Consistent with the law governing attorney-client privilege, the lawyer-guardian ad litem shall inform the court as to the child’s wishes and preferences.

(j) To monitor the implementation of case plans and court orders, and determine whether services the court ordered for the child or the child’s family are being provided in a timely manner and are accomplishing their purpose. The lawyer-guardian ad litem shall inform the court if the services are not being provided in a timely manner, if the family fails to take advantage of the services, or if the services are not accomplishing their intended purpose.

(k) Consistent with the rules of professional responsibility, to identify common interests among the parties and, to the extent possible, promote a cooperative resolution of the matter through consultation with the child’s parent, foster care provider, guardian, and caseworker.

(l) To request authorization by the court to pursue issues on the child’s behalf that do not arise specifically from the court appointment.

(m) To participate in training in early childhood, child, and adolescent development.

(2) If, after discussion between the child and his or her lawyer-guardian ad litem, the lawyer-guardian ad litem determines that the child’s interests as identified by the child are inconsistent with the lawyer-guardian ad litem’s determination of the child’s best interests, the lawyer-guardian ad litem shall communicate the child’s position to the court. If the court considers the appointment appropriate considering the child’s age and maturity and the nature of the inconsistency between the child’s and the lawyer-guardian ad litem’s identification of the child’s interests, the court may appoint an attorney for the child. An attorney appointed under this subsection serves in addition to the child’s lawyer‑guardian ad litem.

(3) The court or another party to the case shall not call a lawyer-guardian ad litem as a witness to testify regarding matters related to the case. The lawyer-guardian ad litem’s file of the case is not discoverable.

Sec. 18f. (1) If, in a proceeding under section 2(b) of this chapter, an agency advises the court against placing a child in the custody of the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian, the agency shall report in writing to the court what efforts were made to prevent the child’s removal from his or her home or the efforts made to rectify the conditions that caused the child’s removal from his or her home. The report shall include all of the following:

(a) If services were provided to the child and his or her parent, guardian, or custodian, the services, including in-home services, that were provided.

(b) If services were not provided to the child and his or her parent, guardian, or custodian, the reasons why services were not provided.

(d) Likely harm to the child if the child were to be returned to his or her parent, guardian, or custodian.

(2) Before the court enters an order of disposition in a proceeding under section 2(b) of this chapter, the agency shall prepare a case service plan that shall be available to the court and all the parties to the proceeding.

(3) The case service plan shall provide for placing the child in the most family-like setting available and in as close proximity to the child’s parents’ home as is consistent with the child’s best interests and special needs. The case service plan shall include, but is not limited to, the following:

(a) The type of home or institution in which the child is to be placed and the reasons for the selected placement.

(b) Efforts to be made by the child’s parent to enable the child to return to his or her home.

(d) Schedule of services to be provided to the parent, child, and if the child is to be placed in foster care, the foster parent, to facilitate the child’s return to his or her home or to facilitate the child’s permanent placement.

(e) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, unless parenting time, even if supervised, would be harmful to the child as determined by the court under section 13a of this chapter or otherwise, a schedule for regular and frequent parenting time between the child and his or her parent, which shall not be less than once every 7 days.

(f) Conditions that would limit or preclude placement or parenting time with a parent who is required by court order to register under the sex offenders registration act.

(4) Before the court enters an order of disposition, the court shall consider the case service plan; any written or oral information offered concerning the child from the child’s parent, guardian, custodian, foster parent, child caring institution, relative with whom the child is placed, lawyer-guardian ad litem, attorney, or guardian ad litem; and any other evidence offered, including the appropriateness of parenting time, which information or evidence bears on the disposition. The order of disposition shall state whether reasonable efforts have been made to prevent the child’s removal from his or her home or to rectify the conditions that caused the child’s removal from his or her home. The court may order compliance with all or any part of the case service plan as the court considers necessary.

(5) If a child continues in placement outside of the child’s home, the case service plan shall be updated and revised at 90-day intervals as required by the rules promulgated under 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.111 to 722.128. The agency shall consult with the foster parents when it updates and revises the case service plan, and shall attach a statement summarizing the information received from the foster parents to the updated and revised case service plan. Updated and revised case service plans shall be available to the court and all the parties to the proceeding. Within 10 days after receipt of a written request, the agency shall provide the person who is providing the foster care with the information itemized in section 13a(14) of this chapter.

(6) To ensure that the case service plan addresses the child’s medical needs in relation to abuse and neglect, the department of human services shall review a child’s case with the child’s attending physician of record during a hospitalization or with the child’s primary care physician, but only if a physician has diagnosed the child’s abuse or neglect as involving 1 or more of the following:

(a) Failure to thrive.

(b) Munchausen syndrome by proxy.

(d) A bone fracture that is diagnosed as being the result of abuse or neglect.

(e) Drug exposure.

(7) If a child is placed outside of his or her home and the department of human services is required to review the child’s case with a physician under subsection (6), then in a judicial proceeding to determine if the child is to be returned to his or her home, the court must allow the child’s attending physician of record during a hospitalization or the child’s primary care physician to testify regarding the case service plan. The court shall notify each physician of the hearing’s time and place.

Sec. 19a. (1) Subject to subsection (2), if a child remains in foster care and parental rights to the child have not been terminated, the court shall conduct a permanency planning hearing within 12 months after the child was removed from his or her home. Subsequent permanency planning hearings shall be held no later than every 12 months after each preceding permanency planning hearing during the continuation of foster care. If proper notice for a permanency planning hearing is provided, a permanency planning hearing may be combined with a review hearing held under section 19(2) to (4) of this chapter, but no later than 12 months from the removal of the child from his or her home, from the preceding permanency planning hearing, or from the number of days required under subsection (2). A permanency planning hearing shall not be canceled or delayed beyond the number of months required by this subsection or days as required under subsection (2), regardless of whether there is a petition for termination of parental rights pending.

(2) The court shall conduct a permanency planning hearing within 30 days after there is a judicial determination that reasonable efforts to reunite the child and family are not required. Reasonable efforts to reunify the child and family must be made in all cases except if any of the following apply:

(a) There is a judicial determination that the parent has subjected the child to aggravated circumstances as provided in section 18(1) and (2) of the child protection law, 1975 PA 238, MCL 722.638.

(b) The parent has been convicted of 1 or more of the following:

(i) Murder of another child of the parent.

(ii) Voluntary manslaughter of another child of the parent.

(iii) Aiding or abetting in the murder of another child of the parent or voluntary manslaughter of another child of the parent, the attempted murder of the child or another child of the parent, or the conspiracy or solicitation to commit the murder of the child or another child of the parent.

(iv) A felony assault that results in serious bodily injury to the child or another child of the parent.

(d) The parent is required by court order to register under the sex offenders registration act.

(3) A permanency planning hearing shall be conducted to review the status of the child and the progress being made toward the child’s return home or to show why the child should not be placed in the permanent custody of the court. The court shall obtain the child’s views regarding the permanency plan in a manner that is appropriate to the child’s age. In the case of a child who will not be returned home, the court shall consider in-state and out-of-state placement options. In the case of a child placed out-of-state, the court shall determine whether the out-of-state placement continues to be appropriate and in the child’s best interests. The court shall ensure that the agency is providing appropriate services to assist a child who will transition from foster care to independent living.

(4) Not less than 14 days before a permanency planning hearing, written notice of the hearing and a statement of the purposes of the hearing, including a notice that the hearing may result in further proceedings to terminate parental rights, shall be served upon all of the following:

(a) The agency. The agency shall advise the child of the hearing if the child is 11 years of age or older.

(b) The foster parent or custodian of the child.

(d) If the child has a guardian, the guardian for the child.

(e) If the child has a guardian ad litem, the guardian ad litem for the child.

(f) If tribal affiliation has been determined, the elected leader of the Indian tribe.

(g) The attorney for the child, the attorneys for each party, and the prosecuting attorney if the prosecuting attorney has appeared in the case.

(h) If the child is 11 years of age or older, the child.

(i) Other persons as the court may direct.

(5) If parental rights to the child have not been terminated and the court determines at a permanency planning hearing that the return of the child to his or her parent would not cause a substantial risk of harm to the child’s life, physical health, or mental well-being, the court shall order the child returned to his or her parent. In determining whether the return of the child would cause a substantial risk of harm to the child, the court shall view the failure of the parent to substantially comply with the terms and conditions of the case service plan prepared under section 18f of this chapter as evidence that return of the child to his or her parent would cause a substantial risk of harm to the child’s life, physical health, or mental well-being. In addition to considering conduct of the parent as evidence of substantial risk of harm, the court shall consider any condition or circumstance of the child that may be evidence that a return to the parent would cause a substantial risk of harm to the child’s life, physical health, or mental well-being.

(6) If the court determines at a permanency planning hearing that a child should not be returned to his or her parent, the court may order the agency to initiate proceedings to terminate parental rights. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, if the child has been in foster care under the responsibility of the state for 15 of the most recent 22 months, the court shall order the agency to initiate proceedings to terminate parental rights. The court is not required to order the agency to initiate proceedings to terminate parental rights if 1 or more of the following apply:

(a) The child is being cared for by relatives.

(b) The case service plan documents a compelling reason for determining that filing a petition to terminate parental rights would not be in the best interest of the child. Compelling reasons for not filing a petition to terminate parental rights include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

(i) Adoption is not the appropriate permanency goal for the child.

(ii) No grounds to file a petition to terminate parental rights exist.

(iii) The child is an unaccompanied refugee minor as defined in 45 CFR 400.11.

(iv) There are international legal obligations or compelling foreign policy reasons that preclude terminating parental rights.

(c) The state has not provided the child’s family, consistent with the time period in the case service plan, with the services the state considers necessary for the child’s safe return to his or her home, if reasonable efforts are required.

(7) If the agency demonstrates under subsection (6) that initiating the termination of parental rights to the child is clearly not in the child’s best interests, or the court does not order the agency to initiate termination of parental rights to the child under subsection (6), then the court shall order 1 or more of the following alternative placement plans:

(a) If the court determines that other permanent placement is not possible, the child’s placement in foster care shall continue for a limited period to be stated by the court.

(b) If the court determines that it is in the child’s best interests based upon compelling reasons, the child’s placement in foster care may continue on a long-term basis.

(c) Subject to subsection (9), if the court determines that it is in the child’s best interests, appoint a guardian for the child, which guardianship may continue until the child is emancipated.

(8) A guardian appointed under subsection (7)(c) has all of the powers and duties set forth under section 15 of the estates and protected individuals code, 1998 PA 386, MCL 700.5215.

(9) If a child is placed in a guardian’s or a proposed guardian’s home under subsection (7)(c), the court shall order the department of human services to perform an investigation and file a written report of the investigation for a review under subsection (10) and the court shall order the department of human services to do all of the following:

(a) Perform a criminal record check within 7 days.

(b) Perform a central registry clearance within 7 days.

(c) Perform a home study and file a copy of the home study with the court within 30 days unless a home study has been performed within the immediately preceding 365 days, under section 13a(10) of this chapter. If a home study has been performed within the immediately preceding 365 days, a copy of that home study shall be submitted to the court.

(10) The court’s jurisdiction over a juvenile under section 2(b) of this chapter shall be terminated after the court appoints a guardian under this section and conducts a review hearing under section 19 of this chapter, unless the juvenile is released sooner by the court.

(11) The court’s jurisdiction over a guardianship created under this section shall continue until released by court order. The court shall review a guardianship created under this section annually and may conduct additional reviews as the court considers necessary. The court may order the department of human services or a court employee to conduct an investigation and file a written report of the investigation.

(12) In making the determinations under this section, the court shall consider any written or oral information concerning the child from the child’s parent, guardian, custodian, foster parent, child caring institution, relative with whom the child is placed, or guardian ad litem in addition to any other evidence, including the appropriateness of parenting time, offered at the hearing.

(13) The court may, on its own motion or upon petition from the department of human services or the child’s lawyer guardian ad litem, hold a hearing to determine whether a guardianship appointed under this section shall be revoked.

(14) A guardian may petition the court for permission to terminate the guardianship. A petition may include a request for appointment of a successor guardian.

(15) After notice and hearing on a petition for revocation or permission to terminate the guardianship, if the court finds by a preponderance of evidence that continuation of the guardianship is not in the child’s best interests, the court shall revoke or terminate the guardianship and appoint a successor guardian or restore temporary legal custody to the department of human services.

Sec. 19b. (1) Except as provided in subsection (4), if a child remains in foster care in the temporary custody of the court following a review hearing under section 19(3) of this chapter or a permanency planning hearing under section 19a of this chapter or if a child remains in the custody of a guardian or limited guardian, upon petition of the prosecuting attorney, whether or not the prosecuting attorney is representing or acting as legal consultant to the agency or any other party, or petition of the child, guardian, custodian, concerned person, agency, or children’s ombudsman as authorized in section 7 of the children’s ombudsman act, 1994 PA 204, MCL 722.927, the court shall hold a hearing to determine if the parental rights to a child should be terminated and, if all parental rights to the child are terminated, the child placed in permanent custody of the court. The court shall state on the record or in writing its findings of fact and conclusions of law with respect to whether or not parental rights should be terminated. The court shall issue an opinion or order regarding a petition for termination of parental rights within 70 days after the commencement of the initial hearing on the petition. The court’s failure to issue an opinion within 70 days does not dismiss the petition.

(2) Not less than 14 days before a hearing to determine if the parental rights to a child should be terminated, written notice of the hearing shall be served upon all of the following:

(a) The agency. The agency shall advise the child of the hearing if the child is 11 years of age or older.

(b) The child’s foster parent or custodian.

(d) If the child has a guardian, the child’s guardian.

(e) If the child has a guardian ad litem, the child’s guardian ad litem.

(f) If tribal affiliation has been determined, the Indian tribe’s elected leader.

(g) The child’s attorney and each party’s attorney.

(h) If the child is 11 years of age or older, the child.

(i) The prosecutor.

(3) The court may terminate a parent’s parental rights to a child if the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, 1 or more of the following:

(a) The child has been deserted under any of the following circumstances:

(i) The child’s parent is unidentifiable, has deserted the child for 28 or more days, and has not sought custody of the child during that period. For the purposes of this section, a parent is unidentifiable if the parent’s identity cannot be ascertained after reasonable efforts have been made to locate and identify the parent.

(ii) The child’s parent has deserted the child for 91 or more days and has not sought custody of the child during that period.

(iii) The child’s parent voluntarily surrendered the child to an emergency service provider under chapter XII and did not petition the court to regain custody within 28 days after surrendering the child.

(b) The child or a sibling of the child has suffered physical injury or physical or sexual abuse under 1 or more of the following circumstances:

(i) The parent’s act caused the physical injury or physical or sexual abuse and the court finds that there is a reasonable likelihood that the child will suffer from injury or abuse in the foreseeable future if placed in the parent’s home.

(ii) The parent who had the opportunity to prevent the physical injury or physical or sexual abuse failed to do so and the court finds that there is a reasonable likelihood that the child will suffer injury or abuse in the foreseeable future if placed in the parent’s home.

(iii) A nonparent adult’s act caused the physical injury or physical or sexual abuse and the court finds that there is a reasonable likelihood that the child will suffer from injury or abuse by the nonparent adult in the foreseeable future if placed in the parent’s home.

(c) The parent was a respondent in a proceeding brought under this chapter, 182 or more days have elapsed since the issuance of an initial dispositional order, and the court, by clear and convincing evidence, finds either of the following:

(i) The conditions that led to the adjudication continue to exist and there is no reasonable likelihood that the conditions will be rectified within a reasonable time considering the child’s age.

(ii) Other conditions exist that cause the child to come within the court’s jurisdiction, the parent has received recommendations to rectify those conditions, the conditions have not been rectified by the parent after the parent has received notice and a hearing and has been given a reasonable opportunity to rectify the conditions, and there is no reasonable likelihood that the conditions will be rectified within a reasonable time considering the child’s age.

(d) The child’s parent has placed the child in a limited guardianship under section 5205 of the estates and protected individuals code, 1998 PA 386, MCL 700.5205, and has substantially failed, without good cause, to comply with a limited guardianship placement plan described in section 5205 of the estates and protected individuals code, 1998 PA 386, MCL 700.5205, regarding the child to the extent that the noncompliance has resulted in a disruption of the parent-child relationship.

(e) The child has a guardian under the estates and protected individuals code, 1998 PA 386, MCL 700.1101 to 700.8206, and the parent has substantially failed, without good cause, to comply with a court-structured plan described in section 5207 or 5209 of the estates and protected individuals code, 1998 PA 386, MCL 700.5207 and 700.5209, regarding the child to the extent that the noncompliance has resulted in a disruption of the parent-child relationship.

(f) The child has a guardian under the estates and protected individuals code, 1998 PA 386, MCL 700.1101 to 700.8206, and both of the following have occurred:

(i) The parent, having the ability to support or assist in supporting the minor, has failed or neglected, without good cause, to provide regular and substantial support for the minor for a period of 2 years or more before the filing of the petition or, if a support order has been entered, has failed to substantially comply with the order for a period of 2 years or more before the filing of the petition.

(ii) The parent, having the ability to visit, contact, or communicate with the minor, has regularly and substantially failed or neglected, without good cause, to do so for a period of 2 years or more before the filing of the petition.

(g) The parent, without regard to intent, fails to provide proper care or custody for the child and there is no reasonable expectation that the parent will be able to provide proper care and custody within a reasonable time considering the child’s age.

(h) The parent is imprisoned for such a period that the child will be deprived of a normal home for a period exceeding 2 years, and the parent has not provided for the child’s proper care and custody, and there is no reasonable expectation that the parent will be able to provide proper care and custody within a reasonable time considering the child’s age.

(i) Parental rights to 1 or more siblings of the child have been terminated due to serious and chronic neglect or physical or sexual abuse, and prior attempts to rehabilitate the parents have been unsuccessful.

(j) There is a reasonable likelihood, based on the conduct or capacity of the child’s parent, that the child will be harmed if he or she is returned to the home of the parent.

(k) The parent abused the child or a sibling of the child and the abuse included 1 or more of the following:

(i) Abandonment of a young child.

(ii) Criminal sexual conduct involving penetration, attempted penetration, or assault with intent to penetrate.

(iii) Battering, torture, or other severe physical abuse.

(iv) Loss or serious impairment of an organ or limb.

(v) Life-threatening injury.

(vi) Murder or attempted murder.

(vii) Voluntary manslaughter.

(viii) Aiding and abetting, attempting to commit, conspiring to commit, or soliciting murder or voluntary manslaughter.

(ix) Sexual abuse as that term is defined in section 2 of the child protection law, 1975 PA 238, MCL 722.622.

(l) The parent’s rights to another child were terminated as a result of proceedings under section 2(b) of this chapter or a similar law of another state.

(m) The parent’s rights to another child were voluntarily terminated following the initiation of proceedings under section 2(b) of this chapter or a similar law of another state and the proceeding involved abuse that included 1 or more of the following:

(i) Abandonment of a young child.

(ii) Criminal sexual conduct involving penetration, attempted penetration, or assault with intent to penetrate.

(iii) Battering, torture, or other severe physical abuse.

(iv) Loss or serious impairment of an organ or limb.

(v) Life-threatening injury.

(vi) Murder or attempted murder.

(vii) Voluntary manslaughter.

(viii) Aiding and abetting, attempting to commit, conspiring to commit, or soliciting murder or voluntary manslaughter.

(ix) Sexual abuse as that term is defined in section 2 of the child protection law, 1975 PA 238, MCL 722.622.

(n) The parent is convicted of 1 or more of the following, and the court determines that termination is in the child’s best interests because continuing the parent-child relationship with the parent would be harmful to the child:

(i) A violation of section 316, 317, 520b, 520c, 520d, 520e, or 520g of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.316, 750.317, 750.520b, 750.520c, 750.520d, 750.520e, and 750.520g.

(ii) A violation of a criminal statute that includes as an element the use of force or the threat of force and that subjects the parent to sentencing under section 10, 11, or 12 of chapter IX of the code of criminal procedure, 1927 PA 175, MCL 769.10, 769.11, and 769.12.

(iii) A federal law or law of another state with provisions substantially similar to a crime or procedure listed or described in subparagraph (i) or (ii).

(4) If a petition to terminate the parental rights to a child is filed, the court may enter an order terminating parental rights under subsection (3) at the initial dispositional hearing. If a petition to terminate parental rights to a child is filed, the court may suspend parenting time for a parent who is a subject of the petition.

(5) If the court finds that there are grounds for termination of parental rights and that termination of parental rights is in the child’s best interests, the court shall order termination of parental rights and order that additional efforts for reunification of the child with the parent not be made.

(6) As used in this section, “concerned person” means a foster parent with whom the child is living or has lived who has specific knowledge of behavior by the parent constituting grounds for termination under subsection (3)(b) or (g) and who has contacted the department, the prosecuting attorney, the child’s attorney, and the child’s guardian ad litem, if any, and is satisfied that none of these persons intend to file a petition under this section.

Sec. 19c. (1) Except as provided in section 19(4) of this chapter and subject to subsection (14), if a child remains in placement following the termination of parental rights to the child, the court shall conduct a review hearing not more than 91 days after the termination of parental rights and no later than every 91 days after that hearing for the first year following termination of parental rights to the child. If a child remains in a placement for more than 1 year following termination of parental rights to the child, a review hearing shall be held no later than 182 days from the immediately preceding review hearing before the end of the first year and no later than every 182 days from each preceding review hearing thereafter until the case is dismissed. A review hearing under this subsection shall not be canceled or delayed beyond the number of days required in this subsection, regardless of whether any other matters are pending. Upon motion by any party or in the court’s discretion, a review hearing may be accelerated to review any element of the case. The court shall conduct the first permanency planning hearing within 12 months from the date that the child was originally removed from the home. Subsequent permanency planning hearings shall be held within 12 months of the preceding permanency planning hearing. If proper notice for a permanency planning hearing is provided, a permanency planning hearing may be combined with a review hearing held under section 19(2) to (4) of this chapter. A permanency planning hearing under this section shall not be canceled or delayed beyond the number of months required in this subsection, regardless of whether any other matters are pending. At a hearing under this section, the court shall review all of the following:

(a) The appropriateness of the permanency planning goal for the child.

(b) The appropriateness of the child’s placement.

(c) The reasonable efforts being made to place the child for adoption or in other permanent placement in a timely manner.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), if the court determines that it is in the child’s best interests, the court may appoint a guardian for the child.

(3) The court shall not appoint a guardian for the child without the written consent of the MCI superintendent or his or her designee. The MCI superintendent or his or her designee shall consult with the child’s lawyer guardian ad litem when considering whether to grant written consent.

(4) If a person believes that the decision to withhold the consent required in subsection (3) is arbitrary or capricious, the person may file a motion with the court. A motion under this subsection shall contain information regarding both of the following:

(a) The specific steps taken by the person to obtain the consent required and the results, if any.

(b) The specific reasons why the person believes that the decision to withhold consent was arbitrary or capricious.

(5) If a motion is filed under subsection (4), the court shall set a hearing date and provide notice to the MCI superintendent, the foster parents, the prospective guardian, the child, and the child’s lawyer guardian ad litem.

(6) Subject to subsection (8), if a hearing is held under subsection (5) and the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the decision to withhold consent was arbitrary or capricious, the court may approve the guardianship without the consent of the MCI superintendent.

(7) A guardian appointed under this section has all of the powers and duties set forth under section 15 of the estates and protected individuals code, 1998 PA 386, MCL 700.5215.

(8) If a child is placed in a guardian’s or a proposed guardian’s home under subsection (2) or (6), the court shall order the department of human services to perform an investigation and file a written report of the investigation for a review under subsection (10) and the court shall order the department of human services to do all of the following:

(a) Perform a criminal record check within 7 days.

(b) Perform a central registry clearance within 7 days.

(9) The court’s jurisdiction over a juvenile under section 2(b) of this chapter and the jurisdiction of the Michigan children’s institute under section 3 of 1935 PA 220, MCL 400.203, shall be terminated after the court appoints a guardian under this section and conducts a review hearing under section 19 of this chapter, unless the juvenile is released sooner by the court.

(10) The court’s jurisdiction over a guardianship created under this section shall continue until released by court order. The court shall review a guardianship created under this section annually and may conduct additional reviews as the court considers necessary. The court may order the department of human services or a court employee to conduct an investigation and file a written report of the investigation.

(11) The court may, on its own motion or upon petition from the department of human services or the child’s lawyer guardian ad litem, hold a hearing to determine whether a guardianship appointed under this section shall be revoked.

(12) A guardian may petition the court for permission to terminate the guardianship. A petition may include a request for appointment of a successor guardian.

(13) After notice and hearing on a petition for revocation or permission to terminate the guardianship, if the court finds by a preponderance of evidence that continuation of the guardianship is not in the child’s best interests, the court shall revoke or terminate the guardianship and appoint a successor guardian or commit the child to the Michigan children’s institute under section 3 of 1935 PA 220, MCL 400.203.

(14) This section applies only to a child’s case in which parental rights to the child were either terminated as the result of a proceeding under section 2(b) of this chapter or a similar law of another state or terminated voluntarily following the initiation of a proceeding under section 2(b) of this chapter or a similar law of another state. This section applies as long as the child is subject to the jurisdiction, control, or supervision of the court or of the Michigan children’s institute or other agency.

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Secretary of the Senate

Clerk of the House of Representatives

Approved

Governor