HUMAN TRAFFICKING HEALTH ADVISORY BD S.B. 596:
SUMMARY AS ENACTED
Senate Bill 596 (as enacted) PUBLIC ACT 461 of 2014
Sponsor: Senator Dave Robertson
Senate Committee: Families, Seniors and Human Services
House Committee: Criminal Justice
CONTENT
The bill created the "Human Trafficking Health Advisory Board Act", to do the following:
-- Establish the Human Trafficking Health Advisory Board as an autonomous entity within the Department of Community Health.
-- Designate certain individuals to serve on the Board.
-- Prescribe the responsibilities of the Board.
The bill took effect January 14, 2015
The Board must include the Directors of the Departments of Human Services and Community Health, or their designated representatives, as well as the following members appointed by the Governor:
-- One individual appointed from a list of three individuals submitted by the Senate Majority Leader.
-- One individual appointed from a list of three individuals submitted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
-- One individual with expertise in the field of intervention in or prevention of human trafficking or treatment of human trafficking survivors.
-- Two human trafficking survivors.
-- One individual who is a mental health professional.
-- One individual who is a registered professional nurse licensed to engage in the practice of nursing under the Public Health Code, and who is experienced in an emergency department, emergency room, or trauma center of a licensed hospital.
The individuals appointed from names submitted by the Senate Majority Leader and the Speaker of the House must be licensed or authorized to practice medicine under Part 170 (Medicine) or Part 175 (Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery) of the Public Health Code.
The members appointed to the Board must be appointed within 90 days after the bill's effective date. The initially appointed members must be appointed as follows:
-- One for a term that expires on December 31, 2015.
-- One for a term that expires on December 31, 2016.
-- Two for terms that expire on December 31, 2017.
-- Three for terms that expire on December 31, 2018.
When an initial appointment expires, a member must be appointed for a four-year term.
A member who attends less than 66% of the scheduled meetings of the Board in any calendar year must be considered to have vacated his or her appointment. Upon notification of a vacancy, the Governor must fill the vacancy in the same manner as the original appointment. The Governor may remove a Board member for incompetence, dereliction of duty, malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance in office, or any other good cause.
The first meeting of the Board must be called within 180 days of the bill's effective date, and subsequent meetings must be held at least quarterly, or more frequently at the call of the chairperson or if requested by a majority of the members. Before the first meeting of the Board, the Governor must appoint a chairperson of the Board from its members. At its first meeting, the Board must elect a vice-chairperson and other officers, as necessary or appropriate, for renewable one-year terms. The Board members must serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses.
The Board is subject to the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act.
The Board is required to do all of the following:
-- Collect and analyze information concerning medical and mental health services available to survivors of human trafficking in this State.
-- Identify Federal, State, and local agencies involved with human trafficking issues and coordinate the dissemination of information pertaining to medical and mental health services available to human trafficking survivors.
-- Meet annually with local health agencies to review existing medical and mental health services provided to human trafficking victims.
-- Establish a program to improve public awareness of medical and mental health services available to human trafficking survivors.
-- Review existing State laws and administrative rules relating to medical and mental health policies affecting survivors of human trafficking and make recommendations to the Legislature to improve those laws and rules.
The Board also must file a report with the chairs of the Senate and House committees concerned with health policy regarding its activities by February 1 of each year.
MCL 752.991-752.994 Legislative Analyst: Jeff Mann
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill will result in a minor increase in administrative costs for the Department of Community Health. While board members will not be compensated, existing Department resources may be used to pay the actual and necessary expenses they incur in the performance of their official duties. Other new costs may result from the requirement that the Board establish a program to improve public awareness of human trafficking. These costs are difficult to estimate as they will depend on the recommendation of the Board.
Fiscal Analyst: Ellyn Ackerman
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.