FOSTER CARE TASK FORCE                                                                  S.B. 1107 (S-1):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                     REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 1107 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Sponsor:  Senator Peter MacGregor

Committee:  Families, Seniors, and Veterans

CONTENT

The bill would enact a new law to create the Foster Care Task Force within the Legislative Council and to do the following:

-- Require the Task Force to consist of members who represented the three branches of government who were recognized for their child welfare expertise or who represented critical stakeholder interests.

-- Require appointments to the Task Force to include the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services, among other appointees.

-- Prescribe the duties and responsibilities of the Task Force, which would include conducting a comprehensive review of the State's foster care statewide data, statutes, and administrative practices and identifying key disparities between Michigan and the top five ranking states with the best performance practices related to certain child welfare outcomes, among other things.

-- Create the "Michigan Foster Care Task Force Fund" within the State Treasury and provide for the disposition of money to and from the Fund.

-- Within 18 months after the bill's effective date, require the Task Force to submit a report related to its findings to certain elected officials and State agencies.

-- Specify that the Task Force would be dissolved after the report's submission.

The bill states that it "is the intent of the legislature that the foster care task force provide comprehensive research on the enumerated priorities in this act and provide specific actionable recommendations and applicable metrics for long-term oversight and to remove obstacles and disincentives preventing Michigan families from supporting foster children to ensure that this state is a national leader in outcomes for children in the foster care system."

                                                                            Legislative Analyst:  Tyler VanHuyse

FISCAL IMPACT

To the extent that any funds were received by the Michigan Foster Care Task Force Fund, there would need to be a recognition of budget authorization. If the funds received were Federal or private, no State resources would be required for the Task Force. Additionally, if current staffing levels were sufficient to meet any research or data requests from the Task Force, the bill would have no fiscal impact on State government.

The Department of Treasury would experience a minimal fiscal impact to administer and invest the Michigan Foster Care Task Force Fund, which would be within current appropriations.

Date Completed:  12-1-20                                                   Fiscal Analyst: John Maxwell

                                                                                                             Cory Savino

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.