The bill amends the 1973 PA 116, which regulates child care organizations in Michigan, by introducing new definitions and clarifications for terms such as "child care staff member," "child care organization," "child caring institution," and "child placing agency." It establishes that a "child care staff member" must be at least 16 years old, while a "child caring institution staff member" must be at least 18 years old. The definition of "child care center" is expanded to encompass various facility types while explicitly excluding certain programs, including religious instruction classes and specific school-based programs.

Additionally, the bill enhances the regulatory framework by mandating criminal history checks and defining "qualified residential treatment program" (QRTP) to ensure trauma-informed care for children. It clarifies the roles of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs in overseeing these organizations. The bill also addresses licensing for family child care homes and group child care homes, specifying criteria for automatic eligibility for increased capacity and outlining conditions for rescinding that capacity, along with an appeal process for affected homes. Overall, the bill aims to strengthen child protection standards and ensure that child care organizations meet established regulations.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 722.111