SUMMARY OF SENATE BILL 268 as introduced 2-14-95:

The bill would amend the Social Welfare Act to require the Department of Social Services to amend the State plan for Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) to require a minor parent, as a condition of receiving assistance, to live with his or her dependent child in an adult-supervised household. “Minor parent” would mean an individual under the age of 18 who had never been married and who was either the biological parent of a dependent child living in the same household or eligible for AFDC as a pregnant woman. “Parent” would mean a biological or adoptive parent or a step-parent. “Adult-supervised household” would mean either of the following:

-- The residence of a parent or legal guardian of the minor parent or the residence of another adult relative as described in the Act, if that residence were maintained as a home for the minor parent and the minor parent’s dependent child.

-- Another living arrangement that the Department determined to be maintained as a family setting that provided care and control of the minor parent and his or her dependent child or supportive services including, but not limited to, counseling, guidance, or supervision.

Specifically, the bill would require the minor parent to live with a parent or legal guardian unless one or more of the following applied:

-- The minor parent was not able to locate either parent or a legal guardian.

-- Neither a parent nor a legal guardian of the minor parent allowed the minor parent to live in his or her home.

-- The minor parent had lived apart from his or her parent or legal guardian for at least one year before either the birth of the minor parent’s dependent child or the date of the minor parent’s application for AFDC.

-- The physical or emotional health or safety of the minor parent or dependent child would be jeopardized if they resided with a parent or legal guardian.

If a minor parent were exempted from living with a parent or guardian, the Department would have to require the minor parent to live in another adult-supervised household unless there were good cause for the minor parent and dependent child to receive assistance without living in an adult- supervised household. The Department would have to determine and set forth in the State plan the circumstances constituting good cause.

Proposed MCL 400.56h Legislative Analyst: L. Burghardt

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill should produce a $2,000,000 GF/GP savings to the State. Currently, there are about 1,500 minors receiving AFDC payments. To the extent that those minors were required to live with their parents in order to receive benefits, some of them would no longer qualify for AFDC due to parental income, and that caseload reduction leads to the $2,000,000 estimate.

Fiscal Analyst: S. Angelotti

S9596\S268SA

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.