March 24, 2016, Introduced by Reps. Runestad, Kelly, Cole, Hooker, Callton, Glenn, Chatfield, Graves, Lucido, Kesto and Webber and referred to the Committee on Oversight and Ethics.
A bill to provide for certain information regarding refugee
resettlement; to create a communication process for certain state
departments and local units of government to collaborate in the
process as set forth in federal immigration law; and to prescribe
powers and duties for certain state offices and departments.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. As used in this act:
(a) "Absorption capacity" means the criteria set forth in
section 1522(a)(2)(C) and (D) of the refugee act of 1980, Public
Law 96-212.
(b) "Department" means the department of health and human
services.
(c) "Office of refugee services" means the office of refugee
services established within the department.
(d) "Refugee" means an individual placed in this state by a
national resettlement agency through the United States Refugee
Resettlement Program.
Sec. 2. (1) The department, in cooperation with the office of
refugee services and the department of technology, management, and
budget, shall analyze costs and create a model for defining the
total state absorption capacity with regard to the department's
capacity to deliver benefits to refugees and unaccompanied minors
from the date they are placed in the state until the date they
become self-sufficient in their community.
(2) If offered by a local unit of government, the department
may accept a statement from the local unit of government that
indicates that the local unit of government's absorption capacity
is in compliance with federal law.
Sec. 3. (1) The department may request on behalf of the
legislature and receive information from agencies that have been
contracted to provide services to refugees. The information may
include the types of services to be provided, the cost to the state
to provide the services, including public education services, and
the number of refugees to whom the services are to be provided.
(2) Before refugees are placed in a local unit of government,
the department or the office of refugee services may provide the
information obtained in subsection (1) to the local unit of
government, in compliance with federal law as provided in section
1522(a)(2) of the refugee act of 1980, Public Law 96-212.
(3) The department, in collaboration with the office of
refugee services and the department of technology, management, and
budget, shall verify that, in a timely manner, federal
reimbursement is being properly requested and obtained with regard
to all services for which refugees qualify and are being provided
in this state.
Sec. 4. The department and the office of refugee services
shall disclose to the department of state police any incident or
failure of placement that may be related to a human trafficking
event or to a state or national security issue.
Sec. 5. The department, in collaboration with the office of
refugee services, shall submit a report annually to the legislature
that contains all of the following:
(a) Information on refugee arrivals.
(b) The programs being provided to refugees.
(c) Federal reimbursements.
(d) State costs.
(e) County and local costs.
(f) Health screening compliance rates.
(g) Job placement and job retention rates, as well as average
hourly full-time wage.
(h) Information on unaccompanied minors brought into the state
and their current placement and status.
Enacting section 1. This act takes effect 90 days after the
date it is enacted into law.