September 7, 2006, Introduced by Rep. David Law and referred to the Committee on Family and Children Services.
A bill to amend 1994 PA 204, entitled
"The children's ombudsman act,"
by amending the title and section 3 (MCL 722.923), as amended by
2004 PA 560.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
TITLE
An
act to establish the children's ombudsman office; and to
prescribe the powers and duties of the children's ombudsman,
certain
state departments and officers, and certain county and
private agencies serving children, certain other persons and
agencies, and the legislative council; and to provide remedies from
certain administrative acts.
Sec. 3. (1) As a means of effecting changes in policy,
procedure, and legislation, educating the public, investigating and
reviewing actions of the department, child placing agencies, or
child caring institutions, monitoring and ensuring compliance with
relevant statutes, rules, and policies pertaining to children's
protective services and the placement, supervision, treatment, and
improving delivery of care of children in foster care and adoptive
homes, the children's ombudsman is established as an autonomous
entity in the department of management and budget. Effective
October 1, 2007, the office of the children's ombudsman is
transferred to the legislative council as an autonomous entity.
(2) The governor shall appoint an individual as the ombudsman,
with the advice and consent of the senate. The individual shall be
qualified by training and experience to perform the duties and
exercise the powers of the children's ombudsman and the children's
ombudsman office as provided in this act.
(3) The governor may remove the children's ombudsman from
office for cause that includes, but is not limited to, incompetency
to properly exercise duties, official misconduct, habitual or
willful neglect of duty, or other misfeasance or malfeasance in
connection with the operation of the office of the children's
ombudsman. The governor shall report the reason for the removal to
the legislature.
(4)
The children's ombudsman serving in office on the
effective
date of the amendatory act that added this subsection
January 3, 2005 shall serve at the pleasure of the governor.