CENTRAL REGISTRY CLEARANCE H.B. 4971: FLOOR SUMMARY
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House Bill 4971 (as reported without amendment)
Sponsor: Representative Robert Dean
House Committee: Families and Children's Services
Senate Committee: Families and Human Services

CONTENT
The bill would amend the Child Protection Law (CPL) to allow central registry clearance information to be shared for employment or volunteer work purposes only if that employment or volunteer work would include contact with children.


The CPL requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to maintain a statewide, electronic central registry, which contains all reports filed with the Department in which relevant and accurate evidence of child abuse or neglect is found to exist.


The central registry is a confidential record available only to certain governmental agencies, law enforcement agencies, courts, child care organizations, and authorized individuals. Upon written request, the DHS may give an individual documentation stating that he or she is not named in a central registry case as the perpetrator of child abuse or neglect.


An individual or the DHS may share that document with whomever is appropriate for the purpose of seeking employment or serving as a volunteer. Under the bill, a person could share the document for that purpose if the employment or volunteer work would include contact with children.


The CPL also permits an employer, a person or agency to whom an individual is applying for employment, or a volunteer agency to request and receive central registry clearance information, with appropriate authorization and identification from the individual. Under the bill, that provision would apply if the employment or volunteer work would include contact with children.


MCL 722.627j Legislative Analyst: Curtis Walker

FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.


Date Completed: 1-19-10 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. hb4971/0910