FOSTER CHILD BILL OF RIGHTS                            H.B. 5121 (S-1), 5122 (H-1), 5123 (H-1):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 5121 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

House Bill 5122 (Substitute H-1 as reported without amendment)

House Bill 5123 (Substitute H-1 as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Representative Terry Sabo (H.B. 5121)

               Representative Jim Runestad (H.B. 5122)

               Representative Pamela Hornberger (H.B. 5123)

House Committee:  Judiciary

Senate Committee:  Families, Seniors and Human Services

CONTENT

House Bill 5121 (S-1) would amend the Foster Care and Adoption Services Act to do all of the following:

-- Require the Department of Health and Human Services or a child placing agency to develop and maintain a specific policy, known as the Children's Assurance of Quality Foster Care Policy, to provide to children placed in foster care.

-- Require the Policy to ensure that children placed in foster care had access to or received certain treatment, placement, access, and other items.

-- Require the Department to maintain a written policy describing the grievance procedure for a child in foster care to address any perceived noncompliance with the items listed in the Policy, including information on how and where to file a grievance.

House Bill 5122 (H-1) would amend the Foster Care and Adoption Services Act to require the Department to draft and maintain a specific policy to address the access of a child in foster care to his or her advocates, relevant information related to his or her case and plan for placement, and other items.

House Bill 5123 (H-1) would amend the Foster Care and Adoption Services Act to require the Department to prepare and distribute to each child placed in foster care, as age-appropriate, information describing the Children's Assurance of Quality Foster Care Policy and the process to follow if a child in foster care had concerns regarding a violation of the Policy.

MCL 722.953 et al. (H.B. 5121)                                   Legislative Analyst:  Nathan Leaman

Proposed MCL 722.958c (H.B. 5122)

Proposed MCL 722.958d (H.B. 5123)

FISCAL IMPACT

The bills could have an uncertain, but likely small cost to State government and would have no fiscal impact on local government. As many of the proposed changes reflect current Michigan Department of Health and Human Services policy, to the extent that there would be any new requirements, the State could incur an implementation cost.

Date Completed:  12-10-18                                                  Fiscal Analyst:  John Maxwell

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.