MODIFY CHILD PROTECTION LAW

House Bill 5910

Sponsor:  Rep. Robert Dean

Committee:  Families and Children's Services

Complete to 4-29-08

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5910 AS INTRODUCED 3-19-08

Section 7j of the Child Protection Law (MCL 722.627j) allows a person who is or is seeking to be an employee or volunteer at a child care center, child caring institution, or child placing agency to obtain an individual documentation from the Department of Human Services stating that the individual is not named in a central registry case as a perpetrator of child abuse or child neglect.  Then, for the purpose of applying for employment or seeking to volunteer, the individual can share the document with the appropriate agency or institution.

House Bill 5910 would modify Section 7j so that, apparently, any individual could apply to the DHS for such a documentation, and then that individual could share the document or direct the DHS to share the document with any appropriate party for the purpose of seeking employment or serving as a volunteer.  (Under the bill, the section would no longer cite the kinds of entities where an individual was seeking to be employed or to volunteer.)

The bill would remove the provision that requires a written request to the DHS for the documentation to include an affirmation that he or she is employed by, volunteers at, or is seeking employment or a volunteer opportunity in a specified agency or institution.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Since the bill expands the number of individuals to which the Department of Human Services may provide documentation related to their appearing as a perpetrator in a central registry case, it has the potential to increase the Department's workload in providing this type of documentation to the public.  However, it would also eliminate the need for the Department to receive and review the affirmation required in current law before providing the requested documentation, which would have an offsetting impact on workload.  Further, it should be noted the bill appears to allow, but not require, the Department to take any action on these requests.  Overall, the bill would have an indeterminate, and likely negligible, impact on Department costs.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   E. Best

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Bob 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.