pa066102

Act No. 661

Public Acts of 2002

Approved by the Governor

December 23, 2002

Filed with the Secretary of State

December 23, 2002

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 23, 2002

STATE OF MICHIGAN

91ST LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2002

Introduced by Reps. Middaugh, Vander Veen, Hart, Hager, Cassis, Shackleton, Birkholz, Jelinek, Tabor, Rison, Toy, Stewart, Lipsey, Garza, Voorhees, Patterson, Richardville and Lemmons

ENROLLED HOUSE BILL No. 5372

AN ACT to amend 1975 PA 238, entitled ''An act to require the reporting of child abuse and neglect by certain persons; to permit the reporting of child abuse and neglect by all persons; to provide for the protection of children who are abused or neglected; to authorize limited detainment in protective custody; to authorize medical examinations; to prescribe the powers and duties of the state department of social services to prevent child abuse and neglect; to prescribe certain powers and duties of local law enforcement agencies; to safeguard and enhance the welfare of children and preserve family life; to provide for the appointment of legal counsel; to provide for the abrogation of privileged communications; to provide civil and criminal immunity for certain persons; to provide rules of evidence in certain cases; to provide for confidentiality of records; to provide for the expungement of certain records; to prescribe penalties; and to repeal certain acts and parts of acts,'' by amending sections 2, 3, 7, 8a, and 8d (MCL 722.622, 722.623, 722.627, 722.628a, and 722.628d), sections 2, 7, and 8d as amended by 2000 PA 45, section 3 as amended by 2002 PA 10, and section 8a as added by 1992 PA 39.

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

Sec. 2. As used in this act:

(a) "Adult foster care location authorized to care for a child" means an adult foster care family home or adult foster care small group home as defined in section 3 of the adult foster care facility licensing act, 1979 PA 218, MCL 400.703, in which a child is placed in accordance with section 5 of 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.115.

(b) "Attorney" means, if appointed to represent a child under the provisions referenced in section 10, an attorney serving as the child's legal advocate in the manner defined and described in section 13a of chapter XIIA of the probate code of 1939, 1939 PA 288, MCL 712A.13a.

(c) "Central registry" means the system maintained at the department that is used to keep a record of all reports filed with the department under this act in which relevant and accurate evidence of child abuse or neglect is found to exist.

(d) "Central registry case" means a child protective services case that the department classifies under sections 8 and 8d as category I or category II. For a child protective services case that was investigated before July 1, 1999, central registry case means an allegation of child abuse or neglect that the department substantiated.

(e) "Child" means a person under 18 years of age.

(f) "Child abuse" means harm or threatened harm to a child's health or welfare by a parent, a legal guardian, or any other person responsible for the child's health or welfare, or by a teacher or teacher's aide, that occurs through nonaccidental physical or mental injury; sexual abuse; sexual exploitation; or maltreatment.

(g) "Child care organization" means that term as defined in section 1 of 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.111.

(h) "Child care provider" means an owner, operator, employee, or volunteer of a child care organization or of an adult foster care location authorized to care for a child.

(i) "Child care regulatory agency" means the department of consumer and industry services or a successor state department that is responsible for the licensing or registration of child care organizations or the licensing of adult foster care locations authorized to care for a child.

(j) "Child neglect" means harm or threatened harm to a child's health or welfare by a parent, legal guardian, or any other person responsible for the child's health or welfare that occurs through either of the following:

(i) Negligent treatment, including the failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical care.

(ii) Placing a child at an unreasonable risk to the child's health or welfare by failure of the parent, legal guardian, or other person responsible for the child's health or welfare to intervene to eliminate that risk when that person is able to do so and has, or should have, knowledge of the risk.

(k) "Citizen review panel" means a panel established as required by section 106 of title I of the child abuse prevention and treatment act, Public Law 93-247, 42 U.S.C. 5106a.

(l) "Controlled substance" means that term as defined in section 7104 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7104.

(m) "CPSI system" means the child protective service information system, which is an internal data system maintained within and by the department, and which is separate from the central registry and not subject to section 7.

(n) "Department" means the family independence agency.

(o) "Director" means the director of the department.

(p) "Expunge" means to physically remove or eliminate and destroy a record or report.

(q) "Lawyer-guardian ad litem" means an attorney appointed under section 10 who has the powers and duties referenced by section 10.

(r) "Local office file" means the system used to keep a record of a written report, document, or photograph filed with and maintained by a county or a regionally based office of the department.

(s) "Nonparent adult" means a person who is 18 years of age or older and who, regardless of the person's domicile, meets all of the following criteria in relation to a child:

(i) Has substantial and regular contact with the child.

(ii) Has a close personal relationship with the child's parent or with a person responsible for the child's health or welfare.

(iii) Is not the child's parent or a person otherwise related to the child by blood or affinity to the third degree.

(t) "Person responsible for the child's health or welfare" means a parent, legal guardian, person 18 years of age or older who resides for any length of time in the same home in which the child resides, or, except when used in section 7(2)(e) or 8(8), nonparent adult; or an owner, operator, volunteer, or employee of 1 or more of the following:

(i) A licensed or registered child care organization.

(ii) A licensed or unlicensed adult foster care family home or adult foster care small group home as defined in section 3 of the adult foster care facility licensing act, 1979 PA 218, MCL 400.703.

(u) "Relevant evidence" means evidence having a tendency to make the existence of a fact that is at issue more probable than it would be without the evidence.

(v) "Sexual abuse" means engaging in sexual contact or sexual penetration as those terms are defined in section 520a of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.520a, with a child.

(w) "Sexual exploitation" includes allowing, permitting, or encouraging a child to engage in prostitution, or allowing, permitting, encouraging, or engaging in the photographing, filming, or depicting of a child engaged in a listed sexual act as defined in section 145c of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.145c.

(x) "Specified information" means information in a central registry case record that relates specifically to referrals or reports of child abuse or neglect. Specified information does not include any of the following:

(i) Except as provided in this subparagraph regarding a perpetrator of child abuse or neglect, personal identification information for any individual identified in a child protective services record. The exclusion of personal identification information as specified information prescribed by this subparagraph does not include personal identification information identifying an individual alleged to have perpetrated child abuse or neglect, which allegation has been classified as a central registry case.

(ii) Information in a law enforcement report as provided in section 7(8).

(iii) Any other information that is specifically designated as confidential under other law.

(y) "Structured decision-making tool" means the department document labeled "DSS-4752 (P3) (3-95)" or a revision of that document that better measures the risk of future harm to a child.

(z) "Substantiated" means a child protective services case classified as a central registry case.

(aa) "Unsubstantiated" means a child protective services case the department classifies under sections 8 and 8d as category III, category IV, or category V.

Sec. 3. (1) An individual is required to report under this act as follows:

(a) A physician, dentist, physician's assistant, registered dental hygienist, medical examiner, nurse, person licensed to provide emergency medical care, audiologist, psychologist, marriage and family therapist, licensed professional counselor, certified social worker, social worker, social work technician, school administrator, school counselor or teacher, law enforcement officer, or regulated child care provider who has reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or neglect shall make immediately, by telephone or otherwise, an oral report, or cause an oral report to be made, of the suspected child abuse or neglect to the department. Within 72 hours after making the oral report, the reporting person shall file a written report as required in this act. If the reporting person is a member of the staff of a hospital, agency, or school, the reporting person shall notify the person in charge of the hospital, agency, or school of his or her finding and that the report has been made, and shall make a copy of the written report available to the person in charge. A notification to the person in charge of a hospital, agency, or school does not relieve the member of the staff of the hospital, agency, or school of the obligation of reporting to the department as required by this section. One report from a hospital, agency, or school shall be considered adequate to meet the reporting requirement. A member of the staff of a hospital, agency, or school shall not be dismissed or otherwise penalized for making a report required by this act or for cooperating in an investigation.

(b) A department employee who is 1 of the following and has reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or neglect shall make a report of suspected child abuse or neglect to the department:

(i) Eligibility specialist.

(ii) Family independence manager.

(iii) Family independence specialist.

(iv) Social services specialist.

(v) Social work specialist.

(vi) Social work specialist manager.

(vii) Welfare services specialist.

(2) The written report shall contain the name of the child and a description of the abuse or neglect. If possible, the report shall contain the names and addresses of the child's parents, the child's guardian, the persons with whom the child resides, and the child's age. The report shall contain other information available to the reporting person that might establish the cause of the abuse or neglect, and the manner in which the abuse or neglect occurred.

(3) The department shall inform the reporting person of the required contents of the written report at the time the oral report is made by the reporting person.

(4) The written report required in this section shall be mailed or otherwise transmitted to the county family independence agency of the county in which the child suspected of being abused or neglected is found.

(5) Upon receipt of a written report of suspected child abuse or neglect, the department may provide copies to the prosecuting attorney and the probate court of the counties in which the child suspected of being abused or neglected resides and is found.

(6) If the report or subsequent investigation indicates a violation of sections 136b and 145c or sections 520b to 520g of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.136b, 750.145c, and 750.520b to 750.520g, or if the report or subsequent investigation indicates that the suspected abuse was not committed by a person responsible for the child's health or welfare, and the department believes that the report has basis in fact, the department shall transmit a copy of the written report and the results of any investigation to the prosecuting attorney of the counties in which the child resides and is found. If a written report or subsequent investigation indicates that the individual who committed the suspected abuse or neglect is a child care provider and the department believes that the report has basis in fact, the department shall transmit a copy of the written report or the results of the investigation to the child care regulatory agency with authority over the child care provider's child care organization or adult foster care location authorized to care for a child.

(7) If a local law enforcement agency receives a written report of suspected child abuse or neglect, whether from the reporting person or the department, the report or subsequent investigation indicates that the abuse or neglect was committed by a person responsible for the child's health or welfare, and the local law enforcement agency believes that the report has basis in fact, the local law enforcement agency shall provide a copy of the written report and the results of any investigation to the county family independence agency of the county in which the abused or neglected child is found. If a written report or subsequent investigation indicates that the individual who committed the suspected abuse or neglect is a child care provider and the local law enforcement agency believes that the report has basis in fact, the local law enforcement agency shall transmit a copy of the written report or the results of the investigation to the child care regulatory agency with authority over the child care provider's child care organization or adult foster care location authorized to care for a child. Nothing in this subsection or subsection (6) shall be construed to relieve the department of its responsibility to investigate reports of suspected child abuse or neglect under this act.

(8) For purposes of this act, the pregnancy of a child less than 12 years of age or the presence of a venereal disease in a child who is over 1 month of age but less than 12 years of age is reasonable cause to suspect child abuse and neglect have occurred.

Sec. 7. (1) The department shall maintain a statewide, electronic central registry to carry out the intent of this act.

(2) Unless made public as specified information released under section 7d, a written report, document, or photograph filed with the department as provided in this act is a confidential record available only to 1 or more of the following:

(a) A legally mandated public or private child protective agency investigating a report of known or suspected child abuse or neglect.

(b) A police or other law enforcement agency investigating a report of known or suspected child abuse or neglect.

(d) A person legally authorized to place a child in protective custody when the person is confronted with a child whom the person reasonably suspects may be abused or neglected and the confidential record is necessary to determine whether to place the child in protective custody.

(e) A person, agency, or organization, including a multidisciplinary case consultation team, authorized to diagnose, care for, treat, or supervise a child or family who is the subject of a report or record under this act, or who is responsible for the child's health or welfare.

(f) A person named in the report or record as a perpetrator or alleged perpetrator of the child abuse or neglect or a victim who is an adult at the time of the request, if the identity of the reporting person is protected as provided in section 5.

(g) A court that determines the information is necessary to decide an issue before the court.

(h) A grand jury that determines the information is necessary in the conduct of the grand jury's official business.

(i) A person, agency, or organization engaged in a bona fide research or evaluation project. The person, agency, or organization shall not release information identifying a person named in the report or record unless that person's written consent is obtained. The person, agency, or organization shall not conduct a personal interview with a family without the family's prior consent and shall not disclose information that would identify the child or the child's family or other identifying information. The department director may authorize the release of information to a person, agency, or organization described in this subdivision if the release contributes to the purposes of this act and the person, agency, or organization has appropriate controls to maintain the confidentiality of personally identifying information for a person named in a report or record made under this act.

(j) A lawyer-guardian ad litem or other attorney appointed as provided by section 10.

(k) A child placing agency licensed under 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.111 to 722.128, for the purpose of investigating an applicant for adoption, a foster care applicant or licensee or an employee of a foster care applicant or licensee, an adult member of an applicant's or licensee's household, or other persons in a foster care or adoptive home who are directly responsible for the care and welfare of children, to determine suitability of a home for adoption or foster care. The child placing agency shall disclose the information to a foster care applicant or licensee under 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.111 to 722.128, or to an applicant for adoption.

(l) Juvenile court staff authorized by the court to investigate foster care applicants and licensees, employees of foster care applicants and licensees, adult members of the applicant's or licensee's household, and other persons in the home who are directly responsible for the care and welfare of children, for the purpose of determining the suitability of the home for foster care. The court shall disclose this information to the applicant or licensee.

(m) Subject to section 7a, a standing or select committee or appropriations subcommittee of either house of the legislature having jurisdiction over protective services matters for children.

(n) The children's ombudsman appointed under the children's ombudsman act, 1994 PA 204, MCL 722.921 to 722.935.

(o) A child fatality review team established under section 7b and authorized under that section to investigate and review a child death.

(p) A county medical examiner or deputy county medical examiner appointed under 1953 PA 181, MCL 52.201 to 52.216, for the purpose of carrying out his or her duties under that act.

(q) A citizen review panel established by the department. Access under this subdivision shall be limited to information the department determines is necessary for the panel to carry out its prescribed duties.

(r) A child care regulatory agency.

(3) Subject to subsection (9), a person or entity to whom information described in subsection (2) is disclosed shall make the information available only to a person or entity described in subsection (2). This subsection does not require a court proceeding to be closed that otherwise would be open to the public.

(4) If the department classifies a report of suspected child abuse or neglect as a central registry case, the department shall maintain a record in the central registry and, within 30 days after the classification, shall notify in writing each individual who is named in the record as a perpetrator of the child abuse or neglect. The notice shall set forth the individual's right to request expunction of the record and the right to a hearing if the department refuses the request. The notice shall state that the record may be released under section 7d. The notice shall not identify the person reporting the suspected child abuse or neglect.

(5) A person who is the subject of a report or record made under this act may request the department to amend an inaccurate report or record from the central registry and local office file. A person who is the subject of a report or record made under this act may request the department to expunge from the central registry a report or record in which no relevant and accurate evidence of abuse or neglect is found to exist. A report or record filed in a local office file is not subject to expunction except as the department authorizes, when considered in the best interest of the child.

(6) If the department refuses a request for amendment or expunction under subsection (5), or fails to act within 30 days after receiving the request, the department shall hold a hearing to determine by a preponderance of the evidence whether the report or record in whole or in part should be amended or expunged from the central registry on the grounds that the report or record is not relevant or accurate evidence of abuse or neglect. The hearing shall be before a hearing officer appointed by the department and shall be conducted as prescribed by the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328.

(7) If the investigation of a report conducted under this act fails to disclose evidence of abuse or neglect, the information identifying the subject of the report shall be expunged from the central registry. If evidence of abuse or neglect exists, the department shall maintain the information in the central registry until the department receives reliable information that the perpetrator of the abuse or neglect is dead.

(8) In releasing information under this act, the department shall not include a report compiled by a police agency or other law enforcement agency related to an ongoing investigation of suspected child abuse or neglect. This subsection does not prevent the department from releasing reports of convictions of crimes related to child abuse or neglect.

(9) A member or staff member of a citizen review panel shall not disclose identifying information about a specific child protection case to an individual, partnership, corporation, association, governmental entity, or other legal entity. A member or staff member of a citizen review panel is a member of a board, council, commission, or statutorily created task force of a governmental agency for the purposes of section 7 of 1964 PA 170, MCL 691.1407. Information obtained by a citizen review panel is not subject to the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246.

Sec. 8a. (1) If an individual is bound over to circuit court for any of the following crimes, the prosecuting attorney shall execute the notices as prescribed by subsections (2) to (5):

(a) Criminal sexual conduct in the first, second, or third degree in violation of section 520b, 520c, or 520d of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.520b, 750.520c, and 750.520d.

(b) Assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct in violation of section 520g of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.520g.

(d) An assault on a child that is punishable as a felony.

(e) Child abuse in the first, second, or third degree, in violation of section 136b of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.136b.

(f) Involvement in child sexually abusive material or child sexually abusive activity in violation of section 145c of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.145c.

(2) If the individual is an employee of a nonpublic school as defined in section 5 of the revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.5, the prosecuting attorney shall notify the governing body of the nonpublic school.

(3) If the individual is an employee of a school district or intermediate school district, the prosecuting attorney shall notify the superintendent of the school district or intermediate school district.

(4) If the individual is an employee of the department who provides a service to children and youth as described in section 115 of the social welfare act, 1939 PA 280, MCL 400.115, the prosecuting attorney shall notify the county director of social services or the superintendent of the training school.

(5) If the individual is a child care provider, the prosecuting attorney shall notify the department, the owner or operator of the child care provider's child care organization or adult foster care location authorized to care for a child, and the child care regulatory agency with authority over that child care organization or adult foster care location authorized to care for a child.

(6) Upon final disposition of a criminal matter for which a notice was given under subsections (2) to (5), the prosecuting attorney shall notify each person previously notified under subsections (2) to (5) of that disposition.

(7) A person who is notified or otherwise receives information under this section shall keep the information received confidential except so far as disclosure is necessary to take appropriate action in response to the information.

Sec. 8d. (1) For the department's determination required by section 8, the categories, and the departmental response required for each category, are the following:

(a) Category V - services not needed. Following a field investigation, the department determines that there is no evidence of child abuse or neglect.

(b) Category IV - community services recommended. Following a field investigation, the department determines that there is not a preponderance of evidence of child abuse or neglect, but the structured decision-making tool indicates that there is future risk of harm to the child. The department shall assist the child's family in voluntarily participating in community-based services commensurate with the risk to the child.

(c) Category III - community services needed. The department determines that there is a preponderance of evidence of child abuse or neglect, and the structured decision-making tool indicates a low or moderate risk of future harm to the child. The department shall 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 services, or the family voluntarily participates in services, but does not progress toward alleviating the child's risk level, the department shall consider reclassifying the case as category II.

(d) Category II - child protective services required. The department determines that there is evidence of child abuse or neglect, and the structured decision-making tool indicates a high or intensive risk of future harm to the child. The department shall open a protective services case and provide the services necessary under this act. The department shall also list the perpetrator of the child abuse or neglect, based on the report that was the subject of the field investigation, on the central registry, either by name or as "unknown" if the perpetrator has not been identified.

(e) Category I - court petition required. The department determines that there is evidence of child abuse or neglect and 1 or more of the following are true:

(i) A court petition is required under another provision of this act.

(ii) The child is not safe and a petition for removal is needed.

(iii) The department previously classified the case as category II and the child's family does not voluntarily participate in services.

(iv) There is a violation, involving the child, of a crime listed or described in section 8a(1)(b), (c), (d), or (f) or of child abuse in the first or second degree as prescribed by section 136b of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.136b.

(2) In response to a category I classification, the department shall do all of the following:

(a) If a court petition is not required under another provision of this act, submit a petition for authorization by the court under section 2(b) of chapter XIIA of the probate code of 1939, 1939 PA 288, MCL 712A.2.

(b) Open a protective services case and provide the services necessary under this act.

(c) List the perpetrator of the child abuse or neglect, based on the report that was the subject of the field investigation, on the central registry, either by name or as "unknown" if the perpetrator has not been identified.

(3) The department is not required to use the structured decision-making tool for a nonparent adult who resides outside the child's home who is the victim or alleged victim of child abuse or neglect or for an owner, operator, volunteer, or employee of a licensed or registered child care organization or a licensed or unlicensed adult foster care family home or adult foster care small group home as those terms are defined in section 3 of the adult foster care facility licensing act, 1979 PA 218, MCL 400.703.

(4) If following a field investigation the department determines that there is a preponderance of evidence that an individual listed in subsection (3) was the perpetrator of child abuse or neglect, the department shall list the perpetrator of the child abuse or neglect on the central registry.

(5) The department shall furnish a written report described in subsection (6) to the appropriate legislative standing committees and the house and senate appropriations subcommittees for the department within 4 months after each of the following time periods:

(a) Beginning October 1, 1999 and ending September 30, 2000.

(b) Beginning October 1, 2000 and ending September 30, 2001.

(6) The department shall include in a report required by subsection (5) at least all of the following information regarding all families that were classified in category III at some time during the time period covered by the report:

(a) The total number of families classified in category III.

(b) The number and percentage classified in category III that voluntarily participated in services and that did not participate in services.

(c) The number for which the department entered more than 1 determination that there was evidence of child abuse or neglect.

(d) The number the department reclassified from category III to category II.

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Secretary of the Senate.

Approved

Governor.