Child protection bills among new laws signed by Governor Snyder

A package of bills that will increase collaboration and provide cohesive data on children who have died in state care is among the legislation signed by Gov. Rick Snyder Tuesday. Senate Bill 226 creates a public registry of statistical information regarding children who have died under state supervision. The bill is sponsored by state Sen. Mark Jansen, R-Gaines Township. It is Public Act 69 of 2011. S.B. 228 allows courts to have access to confidential information from DHS pertaining to children who died while under state care. S.B. 228, sponsored by state Sen. Judy Emmons, R-Sheridan, is P.A. 70 of 2011. House Bill 4385, sponsored by state Rep. Tom Hooker, R-Byron Center, requires DHS to provide written or electronic notification to the courts, Legislature and Office of Children's Ombudsman within one business day if a child dies in state custody. It is P.A. 67 of 2011. H.B. 4387 requires the child fatality review team and the state advisory committee to include a representative of a state or local court. It also requires a review of each child fatality involving allegations of abuse or neglect for children who, at the time of death or within the prior year, were under the family court's jurisdiction in an abuse or neglect case. In addition, the state advisory committee must transmit its annual report of child abuse to DHS. H.B. 4387 is sponsored by state Rep. Margaret O'Brien, R-Portage. It is P.A. 68 of 2011. Published: Thu, Jun 30, 2011