pa003498

Act No. 34

Public Acts of 1998

Approved by the Governor

March 18, 1998

Filed with the Secretary of State

March 18, 1998

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 18, 1998

STATE OF MICHIGAN

89TH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 1998

Introduced by Senator Gougeon

ENROLLED SENATE BILL No. 363

AN ACT to amend 1973 PA 116, entitled "An act to provide for the protection of children through the licensing and regulation of child care organizations; to provide for the establishment of standards of care for child care organizations; to prescribe powers and duties of the department of social services and adoption facilitators; to provide penalties; and to repeal certain acts and parts of acts," by amending section 5 (MCL 722.115), as amended by 1995 PA 81.

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

Sec. 5. (1) A person, partnership, firm, corporation, association, or nongovernmental organization shall not establish or maintain a child care organization unless licensed or registered by the department. Application for a license or certificate of registration shall be made on forms provided, and in the manner prescribed, by the department. Before issuing or renewing a license, the department shall investigate the activities and proposed standards of care of the applicant and shall make an on-site visit of the proposed or established organization. If the department is satisfied as to the need for a child care organization, its financial stability, the good moral character of the applicant, and that the services and facilities are conducive to the welfare of the children, the department shall issue or renew the license. As used in this subsection, "good moral character" means good moral character as defined and determined pursuant to 1974 PA 381, MCL 338.41 to 338.47.

(2) The department shall issue a certificate of registration to a person who has successfully completed an orientation session offered by the department, and who certifies to the department that the family day care home has complied with and will continue to comply with the rules promulgated under this act, and will provide services and facilities, as determined by the department, conducive to the welfare of children. The department shall make available an orientation session to applicants for registration regarding this act, the rules promulgated under this act, and the needs of children in family day care before issuing a certificate of registration. The department shall issue a certificate of registration to a specific person at a specific location. A certificate of registration is nontransferable and remains the property of the department. Within 90 days after initial registration, the department shall make an on-site visit of the family day care home.

(3) The department may authorize a licensed child placing agency or an approved governmental unit to investigate a foster family home or a foster family group home pursuant to subsection (1) and to certify that the foster family home or foster family group home meets the licensing requirements prescribed by this act. A foster family home or a foster family group home shall be certified for licensing by the department by only 1 child placing agency or approved governmental unit. Other child placing agencies may place children in a foster family home or foster family group home only upon the approval of the certifying agency or governmental unit.

(4) The department may authorize a licensed child placing agency or an approved governmental unit to place a child who is 16 or 17 years of age in his or her own unlicensed residence, or in the unlicensed residence of an adult who has no supervisory responsibility for the child, if a child placing agency or governmental unit retains supervisory responsibility for the child.

(5) A licensed child placing agency, child caring institution, and an approved governmental unit shall provide the state court administrative office and a local foster care review board established under 1984 PA 422, MCL 722.131 to 722.139a, such records as may be requested pertaining to children in foster care placement for more than 6 months.

(6) The department may authorize a licensed child placing agency or an approved governmental unit to place a child who is 16 or 17 years old in an adult foster care family home or an adult foster care small group home licensed under the adult foster care facility licensing act, 1979 PA 218, MCL 400.701 to 400.737, if a licensed child placing agency or approved governmental unit retains supervisory responsibility for the child and certifies to the department all of the following:

(a) The placement is in the best interests of the child.

(b) The needs of the child can be adequately met by the adult foster care family home or small group home.

(d) The child placing agency or approved governmental unit will periodically reevaluate the placement of an individual under this subsection to determine that the criteria for placement in subdivisions (a) through (c) continue to be met.

(7) The director of the department, or his or her designee, may authorize, on an exception basis, a licensed child placing agency or an approved governmental unit to place an adult in a foster family home, if a licensed child placing agency or approved governmental unit certifies to the department all of the following:

(a) The adult is a person with a developmental disability as defined by section 100a of the mental health code, 1974 PA 258, MCL 330.1100a, or a person who is otherwise neurologically disabled, and the person is also physically limited to such a degree as to require complete physical assistance with mobility and activities of daily living.

(b) The placement is in the best interest of the adult and will not adversely affect the interest of the foster child or children residing in the foster family home.

(d) The adult will be compatible with other residents of the foster family home.

(e) The child placing agency or approved governmental unit will periodically reevaluate the placement of an adult under this subsection to determine that the criteria for placement in subdivisions (a) through (d) continue to be met and document that the adult is receiving care consistent with the administrative rules for a child placing agency.

(8) The director of the department, or his or her designee, may authorize, on an exception basis, a licensed child placing agency or an approved governmental unit to place a child in an adult foster care family home or an adult foster care small group home licensed under the adult foster care licensing act, 1979 PA 218, MCL 400.701 to 400.737, if the licensed child placing agency or approved governmental unit certifies to the department all of the following:

(a) The placement is in the best interests of the child.

(b) The placement has the concurrence of the parent or guardian of the child.

(d) The psychosocial and clinical needs of the child are compatible with those of other residents of the adult foster care family home or small group home.

(e) The clinical treatment of the child's condition is similar to that of the other residents of the adult foster care family home or small group home.

(f) The child's cognitive level is consistent with the cognitive level of the other residents of the adult foster care family home or small group home.

(g) The child is neurologically disabled and is also physically limited to such a degree as to require complete physical assistance with mobility and activities of daily living.

(h) The child placing agency or approved governmental unit will periodically reevaluate the placement of a child under this subsection to determine that the criteria for placement in subdivisions (a) to (g) continue to be met.

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Secretary of the Senate.

Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Approved

Governor.