REPORTING CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT H.B. 5984: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
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House Bill 5984 (as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Kate Ebli
House Committee: Judiciary
Senate Committee: Families and Human Services


Date Completed: 6-16-08

CONTENT The bill would amend the Child Protection Law (CPL) to require employees of certain entities that receive Federal funding to report suspected child abuse or neglect to the Department of Human Services (DHS).

The CPL requires certain professionals (including physicians, nurses, medical examiners, psychologists, social workers, teachers, members of the clergy, and regulated child care providers) immediately to make an oral report to the DHS if they have reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or neglect. The oral report must be followed within 72 hours by a written report.

The bill would extend that reporting requirement to any employee of an organization or entity that, as a result of Federal funding statutes, regulations, or contracts, would be prohibited from reporting in the absence of a state mandate or court order. A person required to report under the bill would have to report in the manner described above.


MCL 722.623 Legislative Analyst: Curtis Walker

FISCAL IMPACT
The changes included in the bill would be made in response to recent modifications in Federal law that (absent specific permission in state statute) prohibit recipients of some Federal grant funds from revealing personal information about their clients. It is unlikely that passage of this bill would lead to a large increase in the number of reports of abuse and neglect. The entities referred to in the bill may have continued to report suspected abuse or neglect or stopped this reporting in the very recent past. To the extent that passage of the bill resulted in an increase in reports of suspected abuse and neglect, the State and local governments could see an increase in investigation and enforcement cost.

Fiscal Analyst: David Fosdick

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. hb5984/0708