ADOPTION ASSISTANCE H.B. 6661 (H-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS
House Bill 6661 (Substitute H-1 as discharged)
Sponsor: Representative Scott Hummel
House Committee: Family and Children Services
Senate Committee: Judiciary
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Social Welfare Act to do the following:
-- Provide for adoption assistance and medical assistance, rather than support subsidies, for the adoptive parent or parents of a child with special needs.
-- Require, rather than permit, the Department of Human Services (DHS) to provide adoption assistance and medical assistance based on conditions specified in the Act.
-- Require the DHS to notify a prospective adoptive parent or parents of the availability of adoption assistance and medical assistance.
-- Permit an adoptive parent or parents to sign a deferred adoption assistance or medical assistance agreement that would preserve future eligibility for assistance.
-- Require the DHS to give an adoptive parent or parents a copy of an adoption assistance agreement 14 days before it was signed, and encourage the parent or parents to seek legal advice before signing the agreement.
-- Require, rather than permit, the DHS to continue assistance under the Act for an adoptee under the age of 21 who was attending a high school, college, university, or vocational school.
MCL 400.115f et al. Legislative Analyst: Curtis Walker
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on the Department of Human Services' budget. The provision that allows support subsidy payments if the Department certifies the presence of certain factors would be revised to require the Department to pay an adoption assistance when an adoption of a child with special needs was final, which would increase the number of adoption assistance cases. The clarification of the list of nonrecurring adoption assistance factors and the required notification of prospective adoptive parents also could increase the caseload and associated administrative costs. The ability of adoptive parents to decline adoption assistance and the requirement that the DHS first seek other public money and third party payment would help offset the cost to the State for the medical subsidies. At this time, there is insufficient information to determine the exact cost and potential savings.
Date Completed: 12-15-06 Fiscal Analyst: Constance Cole
Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. hb6661/0506