HUMAN TRAFFICKING: MED. BENEFITS S.B. 592:
SUMMARY OF BILL
REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 592 (as reported without amendment)
Committee: Families, Seniors and Human Services
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Social Welfare Act to indicate that a victim of a human trafficking violation could receive medical assistance benefits for psychological and medical treatment as a result of injuries sustained from the violation.
The bill would define "human trafficking violation" as a violation of Chapter 67A of the Michigan Penal Code. Violations of Chapter 67A include:
-- Subjecting a person to forced labor or services by causing, or threatening, a) physical harm or restraint, b) abuse of the law or legal process, or c) financial harm or control.
-- Subjecting a person to forced labor or services by destroying, concealing, or confiscating the person's passport, immigration document, or other government identification document.
-- Recruiting, enticing, harboring, or transporting a minor knowing that the minor will be used for sexually abusive activity.
-- Knowingly a) recruiting, enticing, harboring, or transporting another person, intending, or knowing, that the person will be subjected to forced labor or services, or b) benefiting financially or receiving anything of value from participating in a venture that has engaged in one of these violations.
-- Providing or obtaining the labor or services of another by force, fraud, or coercion.
-- Recruiting, harboring, or transporting a person for labor or services for the purpose of holding that person in involuntary servitude or debt bondage.
Under the bill, a victim of any of the violations listed above could receive medical assistance benefits from the Department of Community Health's program of medical assistance for those are eligible for Medicaid.
Proposed MCL 409.109m Legislative Analyst: Jeff Mann
FISCAL IMPACT
A person's eligibility for Medicaid is determined based on income, assets, and other eligibility criteria. Status as a victim does not affect the eligibility determination. Furthermore, the bill's language is permissive. Therefore, the bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Date Completed: 1-30-14 Fiscal Analyst: Steve Angelotti
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.