The bill amends the Guardianship Assistance Act (2008 PA 260) by updating the definitions and criteria related to guardianship assistance for children. Key insertions include a detailed definition of "relative," which now specifies the conditions under which an individual is considered a relative, including both blood relations and those with strong emotional ties to the child. Additionally, the term "legal custodian" has been removed from the definitions, and the language surrounding "successor guardian" has been clarified to exclude individuals whose parental rights have been terminated or suspended.

Other definitions have been refined, such as "certification," which now explicitly refers to the department's determination of a foster child's eligibility for guardianship assistance or medical subsidies. The bill also emphasizes the role of the department of health and human services in determining eligibility and outlines the nature of the guardianship assistance agreement. The enactment of this bill is contingent upon the passage of related legislation in the 103rd Legislature.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 722.872