HB-5471, As Passed House, December 9, 2004                                  

    SENATE SUBSTITUTE FOR

    HOUSE BILL NO. 5471

(As amended, September 28, 2004)                                            

                                                                             A bill to amend 1970 PA 91, entitled                                              

"Child custody act of 1970,"                                                

by amending section 4 (MCL 722.24), as amended by 1998 PA 482.              

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

1       Sec. 4.  (1) In  all actions an action involving dispute of                

2   a minor child's custody, the court shall declare the child's                

3   inherent rights and establish the rights and duties as to the               

4   child's custody, support, and parenting time under court order or           

5   a court-approved parenting plan in accordance with this act.                

6   (2) If a parenting plan has been filed with and approved by a               

7   court according to section 7a, the court shall declare that plan            

8   <<                                  >> as establishing the rights and       

9   duties as to the child's custody, support, and parenting time               

10  under subsection (1), unless the court determines on the record             

11  by clear and convincing evidence that the plan is not in the                

1   child's best interests.

2   (3)  (2)  If, at any time in the proceeding, the court                      

3   determines that the child's best interests are inadequately                 

4   represented, the court may appoint a lawyer-guardian ad litem to            

5   represent the child.  A lawyer-guardian ad litem represents the             

6   child and has powers and duties in relation to that                         

7   representation as set forth in section 17d of chapter XIIA of the           

8   probate code of 1939, 1939 PA 288, MCL 712A.17d.  All provisions            

9   of section 17d of chapter XIIA of the probate code of 1939, 1939            

10  PA 288, MCL 712A.17d, apply to a lawyer-guardian ad litem                   

11  appointed under this act.                                                   

12  (4)  (3)  In a proceeding in which a lawyer-guardian ad litem               

13  represents a child, he or she may file a written report and                 

14  recommendation.  The court may read the report and                          

15  recommendation.  The court shall not  , however,  admit the                 

16  report and recommendation into evidence unless all parties                  

17  stipulate the admission.  The parties may make use of the report            

18  and recommendation for purposes of a settlement conference.                 

19  (5)  (4)  After a determination of ability to pay, the court                

20  may assess all or part of the costs and reasonable fees of the              

21  lawyer-guardian ad litem against 1 or more of the parties                   

22  involved in the proceedings or against the money allocated from             

23  marriage license fees for family counseling services under                  

24  section 3 of 1887 PA 128, MCL 551.103.  A lawyer-guardian ad                

25  litem appointed under this section shall not be paid a fee unless           

26  the court first receives and approves the fee.                              

27      Enacting section 1.  This amendatory act takes effect                       

House Bill No. 5471 (S-2) as amended December 9, 2004

1   October 1, [2005].                                                          

2       Enacting section 2.  This amendatory act does not take                      

3   effect unless [all of the following bills of the 92nd Legislature are

4 enacted into law:

    (a) House Bill No. 5467.

    (b) House Bill No. 5468.

    (c) House Bill No. 5469.

    (d) House Bill No. 5470.

    (e) House Bill No. 5473.

    (f) House Bill No. 5474.

    (g) Senate Bill No. 959.

    (h) Senate Bill No. 961.

    (i) Senate Bill No. 963.

    (j) Senate Bill No. 964.

    (k) Senate Bill No. 966.]