HOUSE BILL No. 5242


     October 16, 2001, Introduced by Reps. Vander Veen, Richardville, Tabor, Meyer, Voorhees, Birkholz, Stewart, Toy and Hart and referred to the
Committee on Family and Children Services.


        A bill to amend 1994 PA 203, entitled

   "Foster care and adoption services act,"

   by amending section 8 (MCL 722.958).

               THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

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           Sec. 8.  (1) The department shall promulgate rules  pursuant

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      to  UNDER the administrative procedures act of 1969,  Act No. 306

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      of the Public Acts of 1969, being sections 24.201 to 24.328 of

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      the Michigan Compiled Laws  1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 TO 24.328, to

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      ensure the comprehensive, high-quality training of foster care

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      and adoption workers.  It shall consult and may contract with

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      colleges and universities, child placing agencies, and profes-

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      sional organizations for the design and implementation of the

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      training.  The training shall stress cultural sensitivity,

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      interagency cooperation, and respect for individuals and

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      families.


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           (2) The department shall produce or contract with another

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      person to produce a directory of children under the jurisdiction

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      of the department who are available for adoption.  The department

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      shall make copies available throughout the state to ensure that

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      interested individuals have reasonable access to the directory.

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           (3) The department shall establish and maintain a registry

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      of adoptive homes to be used as a central clearinghouse for

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      information about prospective adoptive parents.  The department

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      shall accept information from a prospective adoptive parent who

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      has received a preplacement assessment with a finding that the

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      individual is suitable to be the parent of an adoptee.  The

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      information shall be filed in a form and manner that will permit

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      it to be readily accessible to biological parents or child plac-

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      ing agencies seeking adoptive homes for children.  The department

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      shall charge a prospective adoptive parent an initial fee of

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      $100.00 for maintaining the information in the registry and a

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      renewal fee of $50.00 for each year the prospective adoptive

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      parent remains in the registry.  The department shall provide

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      information in the registry without charge to biological parents

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      or child placing agencies who request it.

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           (4) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTABLISH AS PILOT PROJECTS AT

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      LEAST 4, BUT NOT MORE THAN 6, FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE PARENT RESOURCE

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      CENTERS.  EACH RESOURCE CENTER SHALL PROVIDE AT LEAST SUPPORT FOR

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      AND COORDINATION OF RESPITE CARE AND ASSISTANCE TO FOSTER PARENTS

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      IN OBTAINING DAY CARE.  RESOURCE CENTER STAFF SHALL PURSUE OTHER

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      ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE PERMANENCY FOR CHILDREN,

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      PARTICULARLY CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, SUCH AS SUPPORT AIMED



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      AT RETAINING FOSTER PARENTS.  THE DEPARTMENT MAY FUND THE PILOT

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      FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE PARENT RESOURCE CENTERS USING MONEY APPROPRI-

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      ATED FOR POSTADOPTION INCENTIVES AND FROM STRONG FAMILY/SAFE

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      CHILDREN FUNDS.
















































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