HB-4096,As Passed House,Jun 12, 2003

SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE BILL NO. 4096

                                                                             A bill to amend 1994 PA 204, entitled                                             

"The children's ombudsman act,"                                             

by amending the title and sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,              

and 11 (MCL 722.922, 722.923, 722.924, 722.925, 722.926, 722.927,           

722.928, 722.929, 722.930, and 722.931); and to repeal acts and             

parts of acts.                                                              

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

1                                 TITLE                                         

2                                                                                An act to  create establish the children's ombudsman                              

3   office; and to prescribe the powers and duties of the children's            

4   ombudsman, certain state departments and officers, and certain              

5   county and private agencies serving children; and to provide                

6   remedies from certain administrative acts.                                  

7       Sec. 2.  As used in this act:                                               

8       (a) "Administrative act" includes an action, omission,                      

House Bill No. 4096 (H-4) as amended June 12, 2003

1   decision, recommendation, practice, or other procedure of the               

2   department  of social services, an adoption attorney,  or a child           

3   placing agency with respect to a particular child related to                

4   adoption, foster care, or protective services.                              

5   (b) "Adoption attorney" means that term as defined in                       

6   section 22 of the adoption code, being section 710.22 of the                

7   Michigan Compiled Laws.                                                     

8       (c) "Adoption code" means chapter X of Act No. 288 of the                   

9   Public Acts of 1939, being sections 710.21 to 710.70 of the                 

10  Michigan Compiled Laws.

11  (b) "Central registry" means that term as defined in section                

12  2 of the child protection law, MCL 722.622.                                 

13      (c) "Child" means an individual under the age of 18.                        

14      (d) "Child abuse" and "child neglect" mean those terms as                   

15  defined in section 2 of the child protection law, MCL 722.622.              

16      (e) "Child caring institution" means that term as defined in                

17  section 1 of 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.111.

18  (f)  (d)  "Child placing agency" means an organization                      

19  licensed or approved by the department of  social services under            

20  Act No. 116 of the Public Acts of 1973, being sections 722.111 to           

21  722.128 of the Michigan Compiled Laws consumer and industry                

22  Services [or its successor department or agency] under 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.111 to 722.128, to receive                                                          

23  children for placement in private family homes for foster care or           

24  adoption and to provide services related to adoption.                       

25  (e) "Child" means an individual under the age of 18.                        

26      (f) "Complainant" means an individual who makes a complaint                 

27  as provided in section 5.

1   (g) "Child protection law" means the child protection law,                  

2   1975 PA 238, MCL 722.621 to 722.638.                                        

3       (h) "Children's ombudsman" or "ombudsman" means the                         

4   individual appointed to the office of children's ombudsman under            

5   section 3.                                                                  

6       (i) "Closed session" means that term as defined in the open                 

7   meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275.

8   (j)  (g)  "Department" means the  department of social                      

9   services family independence agency.                                       

10  (h) "Foster parent" means an individual licensed by the                     

11  department of social services under Act No. 116 of the Public               

12  Acts of 1973 to provide foster care to children.                            

13      (i) "Official" means an official or employee of the                         

14  department or a child placing agency.                                       

15      (j) "Ombudsman" means the children's ombudsman created in                   

16  section 3.

17  (k) "Foster care" means care provided to a child in a foster                

18  family home, foster family group home, or child caring                      

19  institution licensed or approved by the department of consumer              

20  and industry services under 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.111 to 722.128,            

21  or care provided to a child in a relative's home under a court              

22  order.                                                                      

23  (l) "Office" means the children's ombudsman office                                  

24  established under section 3.

25      Sec. 3.  (1) As a means of effecting changes in policy,                     

26  procedure, and legislation, educating the public, investigating             

27  and reviewing actions of state agencies or entities receiving               

House Bill No. 4096 (H-4) as amended June 12, 2003

1   state funding, monitoring and ensuring compliance with relevant             

2   statutes, rules, and policies pertaining to children's protective           

3   services and the placement, supervision,  and  treatment, and               

4   improving delivery of care of children in foster care and                   

5   adoptive homes, the children's ombudsman is  created established

6   as an autonomous entity in the department of management and                 

7   budget.   The ombudsman shall exercise its powers and duties,               

8   including the functions of budgeting and procurement and other              

9   management-related functions, independently of the director of              

10  the department of management and budget. The office of                     

11  children's ombudsman is established in the children's ombudsman             

12  office.

13      (2) [                                                    

14                                             ]  The governor shall            

15  appoint an individual as the ombudsman, with the advice and                 

16  consent of the senate, from a list of not less than 3 individuals           

17  submitted to the governor by a committee consisting of the                  

18  following members:                                                          

19      (a) Two attorneys, 1 appointed by the state bar of Michigan                 

20  and 1 appointed by the governor.                                            

21  (b) Two judges who are serving in the family division of                    

22  circuit court, 1 appointed by the supreme court and 1 appointed             

23  by the governor.                                                            

24      (c) One physician appointed by the governor.                                

25      (d) One member of the house of representatives appointed by                 

26  the speaker of the house of representatives.                                

27      (e) One member of the senate appointed by the senate majority               

House Bill No. 4096 (H-4) as amended June 12, 2003

1   leader.                                                                     

2       (f) One psychologist appointed by the governor.                             

3       (g) One social worker appointed by the national association                 

4   of social workers of Michigan.                                              

5       (h) One representative of a child placing agency appointed by               

6   the governor.                                                               

7       (i) One representative of the Michigan domestic violence                    

8   prevention and treatment board, appointed by the Michigan                   

9   domestic violence prevention and treatment board or its                     

10  designee.                                                                   

11      (j) One member of the general public appointed by the                       

12  governor.                                                                   

13      (k) One representative of the department of state police                    

14  appointed by the governor.                                                  

15      (3) The committee established under subsection (2) shall                    

16  recommend not less than 3 individuals to the governor for                   

17  selection as the children's ombudsman.  [               

18                                                                              

19                                                                              

20                                                                              

21                                                                              

22                                                                ]             

23  The committee shall not recommend an individual unless the                  

24  individual is qualified by training and experience to perform the           

25  duties and exercise the powers of the children's ombudsman and              

26  the children's ombudsman office as provided in this act.                    

27      (4) [On the effective date of the amendatory act that added this subsection], a    

House Bill No. 4096 (H-4) as amended June 12, 2003                          

1   committee consisting of members as provided in subsection (2)               

2   shall be formed and shall meet to interview and consider                    

3   individuals to recommend for appointment as the children's                  

4   ombudsman under the guidelines established by subsection (3).               

5   Not more than 60 days after [the effective date of the amendatory act that added this subsection], the committee shall                                     

6   submit to the governor a list of not less than 3 individuals,               

7   ranked in order of committee preference.                                    

[(5) If the office of children's ombudsman becomes vacant, not more than 60 days after that vacancy occurs, the committee established under subsection (2) shall submit to the governor a list of not less than 3 individuals, ranked in order of committee preference.]

8       [(6)] Not more than 60 days after the committee submits its                 

9   recommendations, the governor shall appoint 1 of the individuals            

10  recommended under subsection (4) [or (5)] to fill the vacancy.  An          

11  appointment to fill a vacancy in the office of the children's               

12  ombudsman is subject to the advice and consent of the senate.  If           

13  the governor fails to make the appointment within 60 days, the              

14  individual ranked the highest in the committee's recommendation             

15  under subsection (4) [or (5)] is appointed as the children's ombudsman.     

16      [(7)] The governor may remove the children's ombudsman from                 

17  office for cause that includes, but is not limited to,                      

18  incompetency to properly exercise duties, official misconduct,              

19  habitual or willful neglect of duty, or other misfeasance or                

20  malfeasance in connection with the operation of the office of the           

21  children's ombudsman.  The governor shall report the reason for             

22  the removal to the legislature.                                             

23  [(8)] The children's ombudsman serving in office on the                     

24  effective date of the amendatory act that added this subsection             

25  shall serve at the pleasure of the governor [until the governor makes an appointment under subsection (4)]. 

26      Sec. 4.  (1)  The Independently from the department of                     

27  management and budget and from the executive office of the                  

House Bill No. 4096 (H-4) as amended June 12, 2003

1   governor, the ombudsman shall establish procedures for the office

2   for budgeting, expending  funds money, and employing personnel.            

3   Subject to annual appropriations, the ombudsman shall employ                

4   sufficient personnel to carry out the duties and powers                     

5   prescribed by this act.                                                     

6       (2) The ombudsman shall establish procedures for receiving                  

7   and processing complaints from  complainants the public,                   

8   conducting investigations, holding informal hearings, and                   

9   reporting findings resulting from investigations.                           

10  (3) Personnel employed by the office of the children's                      

11  ombudsman shall receive mandatory training conducted by the                 

12  Michigan domestic violence prevention and treatment board in                

13  domestic violence and in handling complaints of [child abuse or child neglect]

14  that involve a history of domestic violence.                                

15      (4) If the subject matter of a complaint falls within the                   

16  duties and powers of the ombudsman to investigate, any individual           

17  may submit the complaint to the ombudsman.  The ombudsman has the           

18  sole discretion and authority to determine if a complaint falls             

19  within his or her duties and powers to investigate and if a                 

20  complaint involves an administrative act.  The ombudsman may                

21  initiate an investigation without receiving a complaint.  The               

22  ombudsman defines the scope, duration, and issues to be                     

23  considered as part of the investigation.  During the course of an           

24  investigation, the ombudsman may refer a case to the department             

25  if the ombudsman determines that the department received a report           

26  on the case, but did not conduct a field investigation.  If the             

27  ombudsman refers a case to the department, the department shall             

House Bill No. 4096 (H-4) as amended June 12, 2003

1   conduct a field investigation of the case and report its findings           

2   to the ombudsman.                                                           

3   [

4                                                                               

5                                                                               

6                                                                               

7                                                                               

8                                                                               

9                                                                               

10                                                                              

11                                                    ]                         

12      Sec. 5.   All of the following individuals may make a                       

13  complaint to the ombudsman with respect to a particular child,              

14  alleging that an administrative act is contrary to law, rule, or            

15  policy, imposed without an adequate statement of reason, or based           

16  on irrelevant, immaterial, or erroneous grounds:                            

17      (a) The child, if he or she is able to articulate a                         

18  complaint.                                                                  

19      (b) A biological parent of the child.                                       

20      (c) A foster parent of the child.                                           

21      (d) An adoptive parent or a prospective adoptive parent of                  

22  the child.                                                                  

23      (e) A legally appointed guardian of the child.                              

24      (f) A guardian ad litem of the child.                                       

25      (g) An adult who is related to the child within the fifth                   

26  degree by marriage, blood, or adoption, as defined in section 22            

27  of the adoption code, being section 710.22 of the Michigan                  

House Bill No. 4096 (H-4) as amended June 12, 2003

1   Compiled Laws.                                                              

2       (h) A Michigan legislator.                                                  

3       (i) An attorney for any individual described in subparagraphs               

4   (a) to (g). The children's ombudsman has the authority to do all           

5   of the following:

6   (a) Pursue all necessary action, including, but not limited                 

7   to, legal action, to protect the rights and welfare of each child           

8   or the class of children under the jurisdiction, control, or                

9   supervision of the department, the Michigan children's institute,           

10  the family division of circuit court under section 2(a)(1) of               

11  chapter XIIA of the probate code of 1939, 1939 PA 288, MCL                  

12  712A.2, a child caring institution, or a child placing agency.              

13      (b) Pursue [            ] legislative advocacy in the best                  

14  interests of children.                                                      

15      (c) Review policies and procedures relating to the                          

16  department's involvement with children and make recommendations             

17  for improvement.                                                            

18      (d) Investigate each child's death that may have resulted                   

19  from child abuse or child neglect.

20      Sec. 6.  The ombudsman may do all of the following in                       

21  relation to a child who may be a victim of child abuse or child             

22  neglect:                                                                    

23      (a) Upon  its his or her own initiative or upon receipt of a               

24  complaint,  from a complainant,  investigate an administrative              

25  act that is alleged to be contrary to law or rule,  or  contrary            

26  to policy of the department or a child placing agency, imposed              

27  without an adequate statement of reason, or based on irrelevant,            

1   immaterial, or erroneous grounds.  The ombudsman has sole                   

2   discretion to determine if a complaint involves an administrative           

3   act.

4       (b) Decide, in  its his or her discretion, whether to                      

5   investigate  a complaint an administrative act.                            

6   (c) Upon its own initiative or upon receipt of a complaint                  

7   from a complainant, conduct a preliminary investigation to                  

8   determine whether an adoption attorney may have committed an                

9   administrative act that is alleged to be contrary to law, rule,             

10  or the Michigan rules of professional conduct adopted by the                

11  Michigan supreme court.

12  (c) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, access                

13  records and reports necessary to carry out the ombudsman's powers           

14  and duties under this act to the same extent and in the same                

15  manner as provided to the department under the provisions of the            

16  child protection law.  The ombudsman shall be provided access to            

17  medical records in the same manner as access is provided to the             

18  department under section 16281 of the public health code, 1978 PA           

19  368, MCL 333.16281.  The ombudsman shall be provided access to              

20  mental health records in the same manner as access is provided to           

21  the department in section 748a of the mental health code, 1978 PA           

22  258, MCL 330.1748a.                                                         

23  (d) Issue a subpoena requiring the production of a record or                

24  report necessary to carry out the ombudsman's duties and powers.            

25  If the person to whom a subpoena is issued fails or refuses to              

26  produce the record or report, the ombudsman may petition the                

27  court for enforcement of the subpoena.

1   (e)  (d)  Hold informal hearings and request that individuals               

2   appear before the ombudsman and give testimony or produce                   

3   documentary or other evidence that the ombudsman considers                  

4   relevant to a matter under investigation.                                   

5   (f)  (e)  Make recommendations to the governor and the                      

6   legislature concerning the need for children's protective                   

7   services, adoption, or foster care legislation, policy, or                  

8   practice without prior review by other offices, departments, or             

9   agencies in the executive branch in order to facilitate rapid               

10  implementation of recommendations or for suggested improvements             

11  to the recommendations.  However, no other office, department, or           

12  agency shall prohibit or inhibit the release of an ombudsman's              

13  recommendation to the governor or the legislature.                          

14      Sec. 7.  (1) Upon  rendering a decision deciding to                        

15  investigate a complaint,  from a complainant,  the ombudsman                

16  shall notify the  complainant complaining individual of the                

17  decision to investigate and shall notify the department  ,                  

18  adoption attorney,  or child placing agency of the intention to             

19  investigate.  If the ombudsman declines to investigate a                    

20  complaint or continue an investigation, the ombudsman shall                 

21  notify the  complainant complaining individual and the                     

22  department  , adoption attorney,  or child placing agency of the            

23  decision and of the reasons for the ombudsman's action.                     

24  (2) If the preliminary investigation described in section 6                 

25  leads the ombudsman to believe that the matter may involve                  

26  misconduct by an adoption attorney, the ombudsman shall                     

27  immediately refer the complaint to the attorney grievance                   

1   commission of the state bar of Michigan.

2   (2)  (3)  The ombudsman may advise a  complainant

3   complaining individual to pursue all administrative remedies or             

4   channels of complaint open to the  complainant individual before           

5   pursuing a complaint with the ombudsman.  Subsequent to the                 

6   administrative processing of a complaint, the ombudsman may                 

7   conduct further investigations of  any a complaint upon the                

8   request of the  complainant or upon the ombudsman's own                     

9   initiative complaining individual.                                         

10  (3)  (4)  If the ombudsman finds in the course of an                        

11  investigation that an individual's action is in violation of                

12  state or federal criminal law, the ombudsman shall immediately              

13  report that fact to the county prosecutor or the attorney                   

14  general.  If the complaint is against a child placing agency, the           

15  ombudsman shall refer the matter to the department of  social

16  consumer and industry services or its successor department for              

17  further action with respect to licensing.                                   

18  (5) The ombudsman may file a petition on behalf of a child                  

19  requesting the court to take jurisdiction under section 2(b) of             

20  chapter XIIA of Act No. 288 of the Public Acts of 1939, being               

21  section 712A.2 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, or a petition for             

22  termination of parental rights under section 19b of chapter XIIA            

23  of Act No. 288 of the Public Acts of 1939, being section 712A.19b           

24  of the Michigan Compiled Laws, if the ombudsman is satisfied that           

25  the complainant has contacted the department, the prosecuting               

26  attorney, the child's attorney, and the child's guardian ad                 

27  litem, if any, and that none of these persons intend to file a              

1   petition as described in this subsection.

2       Sec. 8.  (1) The department and a child placing agency shall                

3   do all of the following:                                                    

4       (a) Upon the ombudsman's request, grant the ombudsman or                    

5   its his or her designee access to all  relevant  information,             

6   records, and documents in the possession of the department or               

7   child placing agency that the ombudsman considers relevant and

8   necessary in an investigation.                                              

9       (b) Assist the ombudsman to obtain the necessary releases of                

10  those documents that are specifically restricted.                           

11      (c)  Provide Upon the ombudsman's request, provide the                     

12  ombudsman  upon request  with progress reports concerning the               

13  administrative processing of a complaint.                                   

14  (d) Upon the ombudsman's request, provide the ombudsman                     

15  information he or she requests under subdivision (a) within 5               

16  business days after the date of request.  Upon the ombudsman's              

17  request, the attorney general may take appropriate action to                

18  require that the information requested be provided to the                   

19  ombudsman.

20      (2) The department, an  adoption  attorney involved with an                 

21  adoption, and a child placing agency shall provide information to           

22  a biological parent, prospective adoptive parent, or foster                 

23  parent regarding the provisions of this act.                                

24  (3) The department shall provide the ombudsman with access,                 

25  in the ombudsman's own office, to departmental computer networks,           

26  including the central registry, service workers support                     

27  system/foster care, adoption, juvenile justice (SWSS), and                  

House Bill No. 4096 (H-4) as amended June 12, 2003                          

1   customer information management system (CIMS) unless otherwise              

2   prohibited by federal law, or the release of the information to             

3   the ombudsman would jeopardize federal funding.

4       Sec. 9.  (1)  The ombudsman shall treat all matters under                   

5   investigation, including the identities of recipients or                    

6   individuals from whom information is acquired, as confidential,             

7   except so far as disclosures may be necessary to enable the                 

8   ombudsman to perform the duties of the office and to support any            

9   recommendations resulting from an investigation.  A record of the           

10  office of the ombudsman is confidential, shall be used only for             

11  purposes set forth in this act, and is not subject to court                 

12  subpoena.  A record of the office of the ombudsman is exempt from           

13  disclosure under the freedom of information act, Act No. 442 of             

14  the Public Acts of 1976, being sections 15.231 to 15.246 of the             

15  Michigan Compiled Laws. Subject to [subsections (2) through (7)], all      

16  information obtained or generated by the office of the children's           

17  ombudsman is confidential [                                    

18                                                               ], is          

19  not subject to a court subpoena, and is not discoverable in a               

20  legal proceeding.  [The ombudsman shall not disclose confidential information in response to a request under the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246, unless the public interest in disclosure outweighs the public interest in nondisclosure.  The ombudsman shall not disclose any information that impairs the rights of the child or the child's parents or guardians.]

21  (2) The ombudsman may release information to a complainant or               

22  to a closed session of a legislative committee that has                     

23  jurisdiction over family and children's services issues regarding           

24  the department's handling of a case under the child protection              

25  law that is obtained or generated during an investigation                   

26  conducted by the office.                                                    

27      (3) Unless otherwise part of the public record, the office                  

1   shall not release any of the following confidential information             

2   to the general public:                                                      

3       (a) Records relating to mental health evaluation or treatment               

4   of a parent or child.                                                       

5       (b) Records relating to the evaluation or treatment of a                    

6   substance abuse-related disorder of a parent or child.                      

7       (c) Records relating to medical diagnosis or treatment of a                 

8   parent or child.                                                            

9       (d) Records relating to domestic violence-related services                  

10  and sexual assault services provided to a parent or child.                  

11      (e) Records relating to educational services provided to a                  

12  parent or child.                                                            

13      (4) Notwithstanding subsection (3), if the ombudsman                        

14  determines that disclosure of confidential information is                   

15  necessary to identify, prevent, or respond to the abuse or                  

16  neglect of a child, the ombudsman may disclose information in his           

17  or her possession to a public or private agency responsible for             

18  the welfare of the child or to a court.  The ombudsman shall not            

19  release the address, telephone number, or other information                 

20  regarding the whereabouts of a victim or suspected victim of                

21  domestic violence unless ordered to by a court.                             

22  (5) Except as necessary to support legal action initiated                   

23  under section 5(a), the ombudsman shall not disclose information            

24  relating to an ongoing law enforcement investigation or an                  

25  ongoing children's protective services investigation.                       

26      (6) The ombudsman shall not disclose the identity of an                     

27  individual making a child abuse or neglect complaint under the              

1   child protection law unless that individual's written permission            

2   is obtained first or a court has ordered the ombudsman to release           

3   that information.                                                           

4       (7) The ombudsman may release an individual's identity who                  

5   makes an intentionally false report of child abuse or neglect               

6   under the child protection law.

7       Sec. 10.  (1) The ombudsman shall prepare a report of the                   

8   factual findings of an investigation and make recommendations to            

9   the department or child placing agency if the ombudsman finds               

10  1 or more of the following:                                                 

11      (a) A matter should be further considered by the department                 

12  or child placing agency.                                                    

13      (b) An administrative act or omission should be modified,

14  or  canceled, or corrected.                                                

15      (c) Reasons should be given for an administrative act or                    

16  omission.                                                                   

17      (d) Other action should be taken by the department or child                 

18  placing agency.                                                             

19  (2) Before announcing a conclusion or recommendation that                   

20  expressly or by implication criticizes an individual, the                   

21  department, or a child placing agency, the ombudsman shall                  

22  consult with that individual, the department, or the child                  

23  placing agency.  When publishing an opinion adverse to the                  

24  department or child placing agency, the ombudsman shall include             

25  in the publication any statement of reasonable length made to the           

26  ombudsman by the department or child placing agency in defense or           

27  mitigation of the action.  The ombudsman may request to be                  

1   notified by the department or child placing agency, within a                

2   specified time, of any action taken on any recommendation                   

3   presented.

4   (2)  (3)  The ombudsman shall notify the  complainant

5   complaining individual of the actions taken by the ombudsman and            

6   by the department or child placing agency.                                  

7   (4) The ombudsman shall provide the complainant with a copy                 

8   of its recommendations on a complaint.

9   (3) The ombudsman may provide to the individual making the                  

10  complaint to the office the following information:                          

11      (a) A copy of the ombudsman's report regarding the                          

12  investigation's findings, recommendations to the department made            

13  according to the investigation, the department's response to the            

14  ombudsman's findings and recommendations, and any epilogue to the           

15  ombudsman's report and the department's response.                           

16      (b) Information that has otherwise been made public.                        

17      (c) Confidential information, but only to the extent that                   

18  release is necessary to enable the individual making the                    

19  complaint to take action to protect the child from child abuse or           

20  child neglect.                                                              

21  (4) The ombudsman shall not release information to the                      

22  individual making the complaint that will endanger the health or            

23  welfare of a child or another individual.

24      (5) The ombudsman shall submit to the governor, the director                

25  of the department, and the legislature an annual report on the              

26  ombudsman's conduct,  of the ombudsman,  including any                      

27  recommendations regarding the need for legislation or for change            

1   in rules or policies.                                                       

2       Sec. 11.  (1)  An Subject to subsection (4), an official,                  

3   the department, or a child placing agency shall not penalize any            

4   person for filing a complaint or cooperating with the ombudsman             

5   in investigating a complaint.                                               

6       (2) An individual, the department, an  adoption  attorney                   

7   involved in an adoption, or a child placing agency shall not                

8   hinder the lawful actions of the ombudsman or employees of the              

9   ombudsman.                                                                  

10  (3) A report by the ombudsman is not subject to prior                       

11  approval by a person outside of the office.                                 

12      (4) An individual who intentionally makes a false complaint                 

13  of child abuse or neglect under this act is subject to the                  

14  penalties contained in section 13(5) of the child protection law,           

15  MCL 722.633.

16      Enacting section 1.  Sections 13, 14, and 15 of the                         

17  children's ombudsman act, 1994 PA 204, MCL 722.933, 722.934, and            

18  722.935, are repealed.                                                      

19      Enacting section 2.  Section 6(d) of the children's                         

20  ombudsman act, 1994 PA 204, MCL 722.936, is repealed 5 years                

21  after the effective date of this amendatory act.