CHILD WELFARE PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL S.B. 973 (S-4):
SUMMARY OF BILL
REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 973 (Substitute S-4 as reported)
Sponsor: Senator Bruce Caswell
Committee: Families, Seniors and Human Services
CONTENT
The bill would create the "Child Welfare Partnership Council Act", which would require the Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish and operate the Child Welfare Partnership Council. The Council would consist of nine members, as follows:
-- The Directors of the DHS, the Department of Community Health, and the Department of Education, or their respective designees.
-- One member representing private child welfare agencies appointed by the Governor from a list of three names submitted by private child welfare agencies.
-- One family court judge appointed by the Governor from a list of three names submitted by the Michigan Probate Judges Association and Michigan Judges Association.
-- One county commissioner, county administrator, or court administrator, appointed by the Governor from a list of three names submitted by the Michigan Association of Counties.
-- Three members representing the public, appointed by the Governor.
The public members, to the extent possible would have to demonstrate knowledge in the area of foster care, be representative of the demographic composition of this State, and be representative of birth and foster parents, former foster care children, or professional or volunteer providers of foster care services.
An appointment by the Governor would take effect unless disapproved by a majority vote of the Senate within 60 session days after the date of the appointment. The bill would prohibit an individual who was not of good moral character or who had been convicted of, pleaded guilty or no contest to, or forfeited bail concerning a felony under any State or Federal law from being appointed or remaining as a member of the Council.
The Council would have to guide the ongoing planning, fiscal model, and continuous quality improvement of a State-administered performance-based child welfare program, and provide input in the planning and final decision regarding a plan to reinvest savings that resulted from a system in an ongoing risk management pool, start-up costs, and performance incentives.
By December 1, 2015, and annually after that, the Council would have to provide a report to the DHS, the chairpersons of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, and the chairpersons of the Senate and House Appropriations subcommittees on human services. The report would have to make nonbinding recommendations regarding implementation of a State-administered performance-based child welfare system.
The Act would be repealed effective May 1, 2018.
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Date Completed: 10-1-14 Fiscal Analyst: Frances Carley
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.