CHILD ABUSE REPORT BY DHS S.B. 1254: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Senate Bill 1254 (as introduced 5-5-06)
Sponsor: Senator Bill Hardiman
Committee: Families and Human Services
Date Completed: 5-9-06
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Child Protection Law to require the Department of Human Services (DHS) to report to the Legislature after fiscal year 2004-05, 2005-06, and 2006-07 the number of certain child abuse or neglect cases that were closed during the time period covered by the report, and the reasons for the case closures, as well as other information about those cases.
The Law requires the DHS, upon investigating an allegation of child abuse or neglect, to rank the case according to five categories, with Category I being cases requiring a court petition, and Category V being cases in with there is no evidence of abuse or neglect. Category III cases are those in which the DHS determines that there is a preponderance of evidence of child abuse or neglect, and an indication of low to moderate risk of future harm to the child. In these cases, the DHS must assist the family in receiving community-based services. If the family does not participate in the services, or participates but does not progress toward alleviating the child's risk level, the DHS must consider reclassifying the case as Category II (which requires child protective services).
The Law required the DHS to furnish a written report regarding Category III cases to the appropriate House and Senate standing committees and to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees within four months after the following periods:
-- From October 1, 1999, to September 30, 2000.
-- From October 1, 2000, to September 30, 2001.
-- From October 1, 2001, to September 30, 2002.
The bill would require the report to be furnished within four months after the following periods:
-- From October 1, 2004, to September 30, 2005.
-- From October 1, 2005, to September 30, 2006.
-- From October 1, 2006, to September 30, 2007.
The Law required the report to contain certain information on families that were classified in Category III during the time period covered by the report, including the number and percentage of Category III families that voluntarily participated in services and that did not participate in services.
The bill instead would require the report to include the number of Category III cases closed during the specified time period for each of the following reasons:
-- Transfer to foster care.
-- Risk of further child abuse or neglect had been reduced to an acceptable level.
-- The perpetrator no longer had access to the child victim.
-- Unsatisfactory family response; referral to court was not feasible.
-- Child protective services not needed; family was receiving services from another program.
-- Client unavailable for services; location of client unknown.
-- Other.
As required in the previous report, the report required under the bill also would have to include the total number of families classified in Category III; the number for which the DHS entered more than one determination that there was evidence of child abuse or neglect; and the number the DHS reclassified from Category III to Category II.
MCL 722.628d Legislative Analyst: Curtis Walker
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Fiscal Analyst: Constance Cole
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. sb1254/0506