COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES

House Bill 4706 as introduced

Sponsor:  Rep. Andrea K. Schroeder

Committee:  Families, Children and Seniors

Complete to 6-19-19

SUMMARY:

House Bill 4706 would amend section 8d of the Child Protection Law (CPL) to modify a determination by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) that community services are needed in response to a report and investigation of child abuse or neglect.

Currently, if such a determination is made, DHHS must assist the child’s family in receiving community-based services commensurate with the risk to the child. If the family does not voluntarily participate in community services or its participation does not alleviate the child’s level of risk, DHHS must consider reclassifying the case as requiring child protective services.

Under the bill, DHHS would determine whether evidence showed a recurrence of child abuse or child neglect to be probable or less probable.

If probable, DHHS would proceed as described above and could not close the case until it had followed up to confirm and document the family’s participation in community services and the child’s well-being.

If less probable, DHHS would assist the child’s family in receiving community-based services commensurate with the risk to the child. After doing so, DHHS could close the case. If the case remained open and it was determined the family did not voluntarily participate in community services or its participation did not alleviate the child’s level of risk, DHHS would have to consider reclassifying the case as requiring child protective services.

MCL 722.628d

FISCAL IMPACT:

House Bill 4706 would have a minimal fiscal impact on DHHS and on local units of government. Any additional cost to DHHS would depend on any increased administrative costs and staff time needed under the bill’s provisions to assist families with participation in community-based services programs and to follow up to confirm and document the participation of families in these programs, as well as to confirm the well-being of the children.

                                                                                         Legislative Analyst:   E. Best

                                                                                                 Fiscal Analyst:   Viola Bay Wild

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.