2007 House Bill 4735: Give preference to relatives over foster care

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Introduced by Rep. Gino Polidori (D) on May 9, 2007, to require government authorities determining whether to remove a child from his or her parents and place the child in foster care to give special consideration and preference to placing the child with relatives instead, unless doing so is clearly not in the child’s best interests.
- Referred to the House Family and Childrens Services Committee on May 9, 2007.
  - Reported in the House on May 30, 2007, without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill pass.
- Amendment offered by Rep. Frank Accavitti, Jr. (D) on June 13, 2007, to require that exceptions to the preferred placement specified by the be because it is determined to not be in the child's best interest, rather than "clearly" not in the child's best interest; (strike the word "clearly," in other words). The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on June 13, 2007.
- Amendment offered by Rep. Frank Accavitti, Jr. (D) on June 13, 2007, to also specify that the placement with a realitive should meet the child's "developmental, emotional and physical needs". The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on June 13, 2007.
Passed 106 to 0 in the House on June 14, 2007.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
Received in the Senate on June 19, 2007.
- Referred to the Senate Families and Human Services Committee on June 19, 2007.

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1) Re: 2007 House Bill 4735 (Give preference to relatives over foster care ) by beverlytran on March 25, 2009

"...If a parent or relative within
the third degree of consanguinity or affinity of a child who is a ward
of the institute establishes a suitable home and is capable and willing
to support the child, the department may restore the child to his or
her parent or relative. The institute may assist the parent or relative
with the support of the child if the aid is less than the cost of care
the institute would otherwise provide."

It seems, in part, there is already legislation on the books to reinstate parental rights. Unfortunately, there, also, exists a desperate need to clean up all the statutes pertaining to child welfare, for they are extremely antiquated and incoherent.

Beverly Tran

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2) Re: 2007 House Bill 4735 (Give preference to relatives over foster care ) by beverlytran on February 21, 2009

Just when you think all facets of the argument have been explored, there exists another area to be addressed:

Reinstatement of Parental Rights

If a system is to be viewed as balanced, there is always a counter-balance. This would be the reinstatement of parental rights. Currently, there are four states which have some form of limited execptions to reinstatements. Michigan is in a prime position to lead the nation in the development of a "checks and balance" mechanism that would raise the bar to the term "reunification".

Beverly Tran

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3) Re: 2007 House Bill 4735 (Give preference to relatives over foster care ) by beverlytran on February 1, 2009

Thank you very much.

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