HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS IN FOSTER CARE S.B. 587:
SUMMARY AS ENACTED
Senate Bill 587 (as enacted) PUBLIC ACT 337 of 2014
Sponsor: Senator Vincent Gregory
Senate Committee: Families, Seniors and Human Services
House Committee: Criminal Justice
CONTENT
The bill amended the Foster Care and Adoption Services Act to do the following:
-- Require a supervising agency that provides foster care for a child to indicate in the child's medical passport indicating that he or she may be a victim of human trafficking.
-- Require a supervising agency to have a mental health professional perform a psychological evaluation of a child who is alleged to be a victim of human trafficking.
-- Require the supervising agency to provide appropriate counseling services if the evaluation indicates that the child may have been a victim of human trafficking.
The bill took effect January 14, 2015.
Under the Act, a supervising agency that provides foster care for a child must develop a medical passport for the child. The medical passport must contain medical information and history, immunization records, and any other information concerning the child's physical and mental health. (A supervising agency is the Department of Human Services or a child placing agency that provides foster care to a child.)
The bill requires a supervising agency also to include in a child's medical passport information indicating that the child may be a victim of human trafficking.
The Act requires a supervising agency to have an experienced and licensed mental health professional who is trained in children's psychological assessments perform an assessment or psychological evaluation of a child who has suffered sexual abuse, serious physical abuse, or mental illness. The bill also requires an assessment or evaluation of a child who is alleged to be a victim of human trafficking.
If the assessment or evaluation indicates that the child may have been a victim of human trafficking, the supervising agency must provide appropriate counseling services, in addition to any reunification, adoption, or other services provided to a child under the agency's care.
MCL 722.954c Legislative Analyst: Jeff Mann
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill may have a minimal fiscal impact on the Department of Human Services budget and local units of government. The counseling services required by the bill primarily will be funded through a 50-50 cost share between the State and counties. Any potential cost increase will be shared by both entities.
Actual costs will be affected by several factors, such as the number of minor victims of human trafficking who are identified as such, and the capacity of the current infrastructure to absorb these new cases. The estimated number of total victims, including adults, ranges from 100 to 1,800 annually. Foster care services are provided by both the Department and private service providers. It is undetermined whether the existing infrastructure will be sufficient to provide counseling that is specific to victims of human trafficking. The Department may be required to develop specific protocols and provide training to public and private foster care providers.
Fiscal Analyst: Frances Carley
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.