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Rep. Hall’s plan to protect vulnerable children advances in Michigan House
RELEASE|December 20, 2019
Contact: Matt Hall

State Rep. Matt Hall’s legislation to better protect Michigan’s vulnerable children and improve the performance of the state’s Children’s Protective Services (CPS) division is advancing in the state House.

Hall’s proposal came in the wake of a 2018 performance audit that called into question the effectiveness and efficiency of CPS. The House Oversight Committee, chaired by Hall, hosted a series of hearings digging into the issues found by the Auditor General, and now he is presenting solutions.

Hall’s legislation would require Children’s Protective Services to inquire into the safety of all children in a home where suspected child abuse or neglect has occurred within 24 hours of receiving a complaint. His legislation was recently approved by the House Judiciary Committee and now awaits a vote on the House floor, along with other measures aimed at improving CPS.

“We have a duty to defend the children of our state who cannot defend themselves,” said Hall, of Marshall. “I will continue to fight on their behalf until we see serious improvements from CPS.”

Current state law requires a CPS investigation be started within 24 hours after receiving a complaint. Hall’s proposal – House Bill 4705 – clarifies and specifies what must be done within that vital 24-hour window to better protect vulnerable children.

The reform is needed because of the audit finding that CPS did not appropriately start an investigation within the required 24 hours in 17 percent of cases – in part because there was disagreement on what is legally required to consider an investigation started.

Hall’s measure would require CPS to move quickly and make contact that provides information on the safety of each child in the residence — not only the children who may be mentioned in a complaint.

“Just opening a case file isn’t enough,” Hall said. “The most important thing we can do within that critical first 24 hours is focus on the safety of every child living under that roof. If one child is in danger, every child living there might be in danger.”

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