SUBSIDIZED GUARDIANSHIP ASSISTANCE S.B. 170 (S-2): FLOOR ANALYSIS
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Senate Bill 170 (Substitute S-2 as reported)
Sponsor: Senator Irma Clark-Coleman
Committee: Families and Human Services
CONTENT
The bill would create the "Subsidized Guardianship Assistance Act" to do the following:
-- Provide that a child who was a ward of the court due to abuse or neglect or was under the jurisdiction of the Michigan Children's Institute would be eligible for subsidized guardianship assistance if specific factors existed making it reasonable to conclude that the child could not be placed without assistance, and if a reasonable effort had been made to place the child without assistance or a subsidized guardianship were the only placement in the child's best interest.
-- Permit the Department of Human Services (DHS) to pay subsidized assistance to a court-appointed legal guardian on behalf of an eligible child if the guardian were the child's relative or legal custodian and were approved for the assistance by the DHS, and the child lived with the guardian.
-- Require a guardian to apply for and maintain on behalf of the child any public or private medical insurance or assistance for which the child was eligible.
-- Require the DHS to terminate relative guardianship assistance under particular circumstances.
-- Provide for an appeal of the DHS's decision to terminate or alter the terms of guardianship assistance, or deny an application for assistance.
-- Require the DHS to collect, assemble, and report all information required for reporting purposes, and require a guardian to provide information requested by the DHS.
The bill is tie-barred to Senate Bills 668 through 672, which would amend provisions of the juvenile code concerning the placement of children in foster care.
Legislative Analyst: Curtis Walker
FISCAL IMPACT
The FY 2007-08 budget includes $4.6 million GF/GP for the estimated first 12 months of costs associated with the subsidized guardianship program.
Date Completed: 12-7-07 Fiscal Analyst: Bill Bowerman
floor\sb170 Analysis available @ http://www.michiganlegislature.org
This 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.
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. sb170/0708