HEALTH COVERAGE FOR CHILDREN H.B. 5175: FLOOR ANALYSIS
House Bill 5175 (as discharged)
Sponsor: Representative Martha G. Scott House Committee: Judiciary and Civil Rights
Senate Committee: Health Policy and Senior Citizens
The bill would amend the Friend of the Court Act to provide for the enforcement of court-ordered health care coverage for children. Under the bill, if a parent failed to obtain or maintain health care coverage for a child as ordered by the court, the Friend of the Court would be required to initiate enforcement at the following times: within 60 days after the entry of a support order; upon written complaint from a party; upon written complaint from the Department of Social Services if the child were a recipient of public assistance or medical assistance; and when a review was conducted as required under the Friend of the Court Act. (The Act prescribes the circumstances under which the Friend of the Court must review a child support order.)
MCL 552.509 & 552.511 Legislative Analyst: G. Towne
This bill would provide for an automatic mechanism whereby all Friend of the Court offices would have to follow the same procedures regarding an order for dependent coverage. Whereas currently most enforcement by the Friend of the Court is complaint driven, this bill would require the Office to enforce an order on the parent or employer without waiting for a complaint. This in effect would result in more paperwork and use of resources by the Friend of the Court. As most of the proposed procedures are currently executed in some manner, the fiscal impact would be minimal.
Date Completed: 12-8-95 Fiscal Analyst: J. Walker
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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.