ELIMINATE ADOPTIVE PARENT REGISTRY FEE

House Bill 4457 (reported from committee w/o amendment)

Sponsor:  Rep. Jim Runestad

Committee:  Families, Children, and Seniors

Complete to 5-5-15                                                                (Enacted as Public Act 106 of 2015)

SUMMARY:

Under the Foster Care and Adoption Services Act, the Department of Human Services is required to produce, or contract to produce, a registry of prospective adoptive homes to be used as a central clearinghouse for information about adoptive parents.  The registry contains information about prospective adoptive parents (those seeking to adopt) who have received a pre-placement finding of suitability.  The information in the registry is for use without charge by biological parents and child placing agencies seeking adoptive homes for children.  Under the statute, the department charges prospective adoptive parents (those seeking to adopt) an initial fee of $100 for maintaining information in the registry and an annual renewal fee of $50.

House Bill 4457 would eliminate these fees. 

MCL 722.958

FISCAL IMPACT:

House Bill 4457 would have no fiscal impact to the state of Michigan or local units of government.  The Department of Human Services has not been charging these fees to prospective adoptive parents so the elimination of these fees in statute would have no fiscal impact to the revenues or expenditures of the department.

POSITIONS:

Department of Human Services has no position on the bill. (4-29-15)

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   E. Best

                                                                                                Fiscal Analyst:   Viola Bay Wild

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