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Rep. Hall testifies in support of bill protecting children from abuse and neglect
RELEASE|June 20, 2019
Contact: Matt Hall

State Reps. Matt Hall (left) and David LaGrand testified before the House Families, Children, and Seniors Committee.

State Rep. Matt Hall (R- Emmett Township) today testified before the Michigan House Families, Children, and Seniors Committee in support of his legislation requiring Children’s Protective Services (CPS) to confirm the safety of all children in a home where suspected child abuse or neglect has occurred within 24 hours of receiving a complaint.

“Children’s Protective Services should do more than conduct an internet search or leave a voicemail in the first 24 hours of an investigation,” Hall said. “Also, CPS must do more to get all children out of danger as soon as possible, including confirming the safety of all children living in that home. If one child in the home is in danger all could be in danger.”

House Bill 4705 is one of six in a package that is a result of recommendations made by the Michigan Auditor General’s (OAG) September 2018 Performance Audit of Children’s Protective Services Investigations. The audit found 17 material conditions that called into question the effectiveness and efficiency of Children’s Protective Services and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).

The Auditor General reported that “MDHHS’s interpretation of the CPL commencement requirement likely does not reflect the law’s intent with regard to commencing investigations of all children within 24 hours who are reported to MDHHS as suspected of being abused or neglected.” Rep. Hall’s bill clarifies the commencement requirement and requires contact with a person who can provide information on the well-being of a child in a household where suspected abuse and neglect has occurred.

Following four weeks of testimony and working with the OAG, CPS, and MDHHS, the Oversight Committee unanimously adopted a report recommending the legislative amendments to Michigan’s Child Protection Law. In addition to Halls plan, the remaining reforms were included in the other bills in the package:

  • CPS should document reasons it abbreviated an investigation and develop an abbreviated investigation checklist. Abbreviated investigations occur when an investigator discovers early on that no child abuse or neglect occurred.
  • When a CPS investigation finds that a family needs to receive community-based services to alleviate a child’s risk of abuse and neglect, CPS must monitor the family to verify that they are participating in the community-based services.
  • A license-exempt child care provider should be added to the Central Registry if a preponderance of evidence exists that he or she committed child abuse or neglect. This would treat license-exempt child care providers the same as owners, operators, volunteers, or employees of licensed or registered child care organizations, who have direct and regular contact with children in much the same manner.
  • Centralized state oversight should exist to verify each county is properly developing and implementing its required child abuse and neglect investigation protocols. These protocols are intended to improve cooperation among professionals and agencies that are commonly involved in child abuse and neglect cases.
  • CPS should provide periodic reports measuring its compliance with conditions raised in the Auditor General’s September 2018 report to an appropriate oversight authority.

House Bills 4704-4709 remain under consideration by the House Families, Children and Seniors Committee.

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