CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATIONS: DEFINITION
OF SEVERE PHYSICAL INJURY
House Bill 4420
Sponsor: Rep. Fulton Sheen
Committee: Family and Children Services
Complete to 6-20-05
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4420 AS INTRODUCED 3-1-05
The Child Protection Law requires that in the course of an investigation of an allegation of child abuse or neglect, a child protective services (CPS) investigator must seek the assistance of and cooperate with law enforcement officials within 24 hours after becoming aware that certain specified conditions exist.
One of those conditions is when abuse or neglect resulting in "severe physical injury" to a child requires medical treatment or hospitalization. The definition of "severe physical injury" includes a list of injuries and also includes "any other physical injury that seriously impairs the health or physical well being of a child." House Bill 4420 would strike that general description and replace it with: "any other severe physical injury that threatens the life of a child." (The underlined portions are the new language.)
MCL 722.628(3)(c)
FISCAL IMPACT:
The bill could reduce state investigative costs and local law enforcement costs to the extent that the bill's provisions reduce the involvement of local law enforcement officials in abuse and neglect investigations that may no longer meet the definition of "severe physical injury" in the bill. There is insufficient information available to determine the amount of any cost reduction.
Fiscal Analyst: Robert Schneider
■ 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.