CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PREVENTION BOARD:
RESTORE TO 15 MEMBERS
House Bill 4826 as introduced
Sponsor: Rep. Rick Baxter
Committee: Family and Children Services
First Analysis (6-7-05)
BRIEF SUMMARY: The bill would amend the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Act to increase the number of public members on the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board from 10 to 11. This would restore the total membership to 15; a member was lost when the departments of Mental Health and Public Health merged since both department directors served on the board. Public members are appointed by the Governor.
FISCAL IMPACT: A fiscal analysis is in process.
THE APPARENT PROBLEM:
When originally created in 1982, the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board consisted of 15 members. Five of the 15 board members were ex-officio members. Two of the five ex-officio board members were the Directors of the Departments of Public Health and Mental Health. When the departments merged to become the Department of Community Health, one board member position was eliminated. Legislation has been proposed to add a public member to restore the board to its original size and make its membership an odd number, which would help to eliminate the possibility of an impasse voting situation.
THE CONTENT OF THE BILL:
House Bill 4826 would amend the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Act to increase the number of public members on the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board from 10 to 11. Public members are appointed by the Governor.
MCL 722.604
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Act describes the board's functions as developing a biennial state plan for distributing funds from the Children's Trust Fund; providing for the coordination and exchange of information on prevention programs; developing and publicizing criteria for the receipt of trust fund money by local councils and prevention programs; reviewing, approving, and monitoring the expenditure of trust fund money; and providing statewide educational and public informational seminars on the prevention of child abuse and neglect.
Ex officio members on the board are the directors of the departments of Human Services, Community Health, and State Police, and the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
ARGUMENTS:
For:
The bill restores the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board to odd-numbered status, which it lost when the Departments of Public Health and Mental Health were merged into the Department of Community Health.
POSITIONS:
Children's Trust Fund supports the bill. (6-2-05)
Department of Human Services supports the bill. (6-2-05)
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.