Bill Text: MI HB4639 | 2023-2024 | 102nd Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Children: services; reference to "children's ombudsman" in social welfare act; amend to "child advocate". Amends sec. 115m of 1939 PA 280 (MCL 400.115m). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4638'23
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 33-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-12-31 - Assigned Pa 294'23 [HB4639 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2023-HB4639-Engrossed.html
HOUSE BILL NO. 4639
A bill to amend 1939 PA 280, entitled
"The social welfare act,"
by amending section 115m (MCL 400.115m), as amended by 2014 PA 308.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
Sec. 115m. (1) The department shall prepare and distribute to adoption facilitators and other interested persons information describing the adoption process and the adoption assistance and medical subsidy programs established under sections 115f to 115s. The state department shall provide the information to each prospective adoptive parent before placing a child with that parent.
(2) The description of the adoption process required under subsection (1) shall must include at least all of the following:
(a) The steps that must be taken under the adoption code to complete an adoption, and a description of all of the options available during the process.
(b) A description of the services that are typically available from each type of adoption facilitator.
(c) Recommended questions for a biological parent or prospective adoptive parent to ask an adoption facilitator before engaging that adoption facilitator's services.
(d) A list of the rights and responsibilities of biological parents and prospective adoptive parents.
(e) A description of the information services available to biological and prospective adoptive parents, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(i) The registry of adoptive homes established and maintained by the department under section 8 of the foster care and adoption services act, 1994 PA 203, MCL 722.958.
(ii) The directory of children that is produced under section 8 of the foster care and adoption services act, 1994 PA 203, MCL 722.958.
(iii) The public information forms maintained by the department according to section 14d of 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.124d.
(f) A statement about the existence of the children's ombudsman child advocate and its authority as an investigative body.
(g) A statement about the importance and availability of counseling for all parties to an adoption and that a prospective adoptive parent must pay for counseling for a birth parent or guardian unless the birth parent or guardian waives the counseling.
Enacting section 1. This amendatory act does not take effect unless Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 4638(request no. 01940'23) of the 102nd Legislature is enacted into law.
