HOUSE BILL No. 6017


     May 7, 2002, Introduced by Rep. Allen and referred to the Committee on Family and Children Services.


        A bill to amend 1939 PA 280, entitled

   "The social welfare act,"

   by amending sections 18a and 55a (MCL 400.18a and 400.55a),

   section 18a as amended by 1996 PA 12 and section 55a as amended

   by 1980 PA 251.

               THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

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             Sec. 18a.  (1) A  friend of the court  COURT FAMILY SERVICES

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        OFFICE incentive payment program is established in the state

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        department.   Except as provided in subsection (2), the  THE pro-

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        gram shall consist of the following activities:

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             (a) An annual determination of the gross amount of child

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        support payments collected by each  office of the friend of the

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         court  COURT FAMILY SERVICES OFFICE for families receiving  aid

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        to families with dependent children  FAMILY INDEPENDENCE

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        ASSISTANCE, which amount is collected under the  friend of the


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        court  COURT FAMILY SERVICES OFFICE act,  Act No. 294 of the

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        Public Acts of 1982, being sections 552.501 to 552.535 of the

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        Michigan Compiled Laws  1982 PA 294, MCL 552.501 TO 552.535, or

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        the support and parenting time enforcement act,  Act No. 295 of

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        the Public Acts of 1982, being sections 552.601 to 552.650 of the

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        Michigan Compiled Laws  1982 PA 295, MCL 552.601 TO 552.650.

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             (b) The remitting of 3% of the amount determined under sub-

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        division (a) for an office, to the county treasurer for the

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        appropriate county or counties for deposit in the  friend of the

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        court  COURT FAMILY SERVICES OFFICE fund created in section 2530

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        of the revised judicature act of 1961,  Act No. 236 of the Public

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        Acts of 1961, being section 600.2530 of the Michigan Compiled

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        Laws  1961 PA 236, MCL 600.2530, if the county board of commis-

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        sioners makes appropriations in accordance with that section.

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              (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to any judicial circuit

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        in which the employees serving in the circuit court are employees

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        of the state judicial council.

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             (2)  (3)  The legislature annually shall appropriate to the

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        state department an amount equal to the amount required to be

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        remitted under subsection (1)(b).

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             Sec. 55a.  (1) In determining the eligibility of an appli-

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        cant for general assistance, and before granting the assistance,

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        except temporary assistance pending disposition of the case, the

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        county and district departments of social services shall conform

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        to the following:







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             (a) Require each applicant entitled to alimony or separate

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        maintenance to seek the assistance of the  friend of the court

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        COURT FAMILY SERVICES OFFICE.

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             (b) Clear with the proper legal authorities the case of an

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        applicant who is deserted by his or her spouse to determine the

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        advisability of legal action to obtain support.

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             (c) If it is indicated that eligibility for benefits from

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        other programs such as unemployment compensation, old-age and

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        survivors insurance benefits, federal veterans' benefits,  aid to

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        families with dependent children  FAMILY INDEPENDENCE ASSISTANCE,

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        or supplemental security income exists, secure a clearance in

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        writing with each appropriate agency.

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             (d) Require an employable person to work on a work relief or

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        work training project, or other departmental-approved activity,

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        if available, in return for assistance given.  A person partici-

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        pating in a work relief or work training project shall be enti-

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        tled to the benefits provided by  Act No. 317 of the Public Acts

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        of 1969, as amended, being sections 418.101 to 418.941 of the

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        Michigan Compiled Laws  THE WORKER'S DISABILITY COMPENSATION ACT

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        OF 1969, 1969 PA 317, MCL 418.101 TO 418.941.  All work relief or

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        work training projects or other departmental-approved activities

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        authorized by this section  shall be  ARE subject to all of the

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        following conditions:

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             (i)  Any  A person required to work on an approved project

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        or activity, upon claiming to be physically incapable to work

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        when so assigned, shall be given a thorough medical examination





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        by competent medical authorities to ascertain his or her ability

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        to participate in the required project or activity.

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             (ii) Each person assigned to an approved project or activity

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        may be required to register for employment with the  Michigan

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        employment security commission  BUREAU OF WORKER'S AND UNEMPLOY-

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        MENT COMPENSATION, if the service is available, and to investi-

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        gate all bona fide employment opportunities.

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             (e) Determine that each employable applicant, mentally and

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        physically able to work, is not currently refusing to accept

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        available employment for which wages not less than the usual rate

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        paid by that employer for the particular kind of employment are

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        being offered.

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             (2)  Any  AN employable person who, without good cause,

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        fails to participate in an approved project or activity or to

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        accept available lawful employment for which wages, not less than

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        the usual rate paid by that employer for that particular kind of

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        employment are being offered, shall have his or her needs removed

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        from the general assistance grant and  shall  IS not  be  eligi-

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        ble for general assistance for 3 months.

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             Enacting section 1.  This amendatory act does not take

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        effect unless Senate Bill No. ______ or House Bill No. 6011

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        (request no. 04605'01 *) of the 91st Legislature is enacted into

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        law.











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