Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the House on March 19, 2008, to revise the conditions limiting a request from an individual for documentation that he or she is not named as a perpetrator in the state's central registry of serious child abuse cases, and allow the person to request that the state share the information with whoever is appropriate for purposes of seeking employment. Under current law only a person applying to work in a child care center, child caring institution, or child placing agency can ask for this documentation

The vote was 82 in favor, 26 opposed and 2 not voting

(House Roll Call 359 at House Journal 41)

Click here to view bill details.

Rep. Calley, 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: The US Constitution guarantees due process to all citizens of this country. This bill violates that unalienable right.”

Rep. Agema, 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: This bill would continue the allowance of somebody being put on the registry before they’ve even been convicted causing great harm to individuals that are not guilty. Presently we have many on this registry that are guilty of minor issues but have been placed on this for life. This whole area needs work. This is not a fix.”

Rep. Sheen, 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: The problem with this bill is that it will hurt more people than it helps. Anyone convicted of child abuse whether it is physical, sexual, or neglect would be revealed in a criminal back round check. Most of time people are put on the central registry within 24 hours of being accused of some type of abuse. Many people who get put on the central registry have not been convicted of any crime and or are later exonerated, but may be on there for 9 months to a year before any decision is rendered. Many innocent people loose their jobs, because they end up on this list, but even after they are removed they don’t get there job back or their reputation. Expanding the number of people, individuals, and employers who can access this information would have little effect on the problem they desire to address, but it will most certainly damage the lives of many people financially, professionally and their reputations. The central registry abrogates the principle of “innocent until proven guilty” and makes them guilty until proven innocence and that is not what the constitutional writers ever intended.”