ACCESS TO CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS

House Bill 5338 (Substitute H-3)

Sponsor:  Rep. Peter MacGregor

Committee:  Families, Children, and Seniors

Complete to 5-27-14

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5338 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

The bill would amend Section 7 of the Child Protection Law (MCL 722.627), which deals with the electronic statewide Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry maintained by the Department of Human Services.  That section says that written reports, documents, and photographs filed with the department are confidential documents, but allows the department to release confidential records to parties specified in the statute.

House Bill 5338 would say that documents, reports, or records authored by or obtained from another agency or organization could not be released or open for inspection to those specified parties unless required by other state or federal law; in response to an order issued by a judge, magistrate or authorized judicial officer; or unless the documents, reports, or records are requested for a child abuse or child neglect case or for a criminal investigation of a child abuse or child neglect case conducted by law enforcement.

MCL 722.627

FISCAL IMPACT:

This bill will likely have a negligible fiscal impact on the Department of Human Services and local units of government.

POSITIONS:

Department of Human Services testified in support of the bill as introduced. (3-12-14)

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   E. Best

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Kevin Koorstra

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.