Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the House on September 7, 2006, to transfer the office of children's ombudsman to the legislative council. It is currently in the executive branch (specifically, the Department of Management and Budget.) As introduced, the bill leaves the appointment of the ombudsman in the hands of the governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. The children's ombudsman is tasked with investigating and reviewing actions of the state and local government agencies serving children, child placing agencies, and child caring institutions; monitoring and ensuring compliance with relevant statutes, rules, and policies pertaining to children's protective services and the placement, supervision, treatment children in foster care and adoptive homes; and improving delivery of care to children subject to the authority of any of these entities

The vote was 67 in favor, 40 opposed and 0 not voting

(House Roll Call 1059 at House Journal 83)

Click here to view bill details.

Rep. Tobocman, having reserved the right to explain his protest against the passage of the bill, made the following statement: "Mr. Speaker and members of the House: I voted against HB 6440 because I do not believe that placing the Children's Ombudsman under the direction of the Legislature will solve any of the current problems in the foster care system. I have heard no information to date that the current structure to the Ombudsman's office has inhibited its effectiveness. Problems in the foster care system are not solved by reshuffling the organizational chart for the Ombudsman, unless it is shown that the current structure is a barrier to the Ombudsman's effectiveness. Michigan need only look to other states, such as New Jersey, and the great work of Kevin Ryan at the Department of Children and Families, to understand that the Ombudsman need not be under the state legislature to be effective. Let us focus on the breakdown in the foster care system and not on the organizational chart of government if we are serious about protecting our children."