CHILDREN'S OMBUDSMAN; LEG. COUNCIL                                                                                                             S.B. 983:

                                                                                                                                                                                                      SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                                                                                                        REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 983 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:   Senator Peter MacGregor

Committee:   Families, Seniors, and Veterans

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Children's Ombudsman Act to transfer the Office of the Children's Ombudsman from the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget (DTMB) to the Legislative Council and to assign the power to appoint and remove the Ombudsman to the Legislative Council, instead of the Governor.

MCL 722.923                                                                                                                     Legislative Analyst:   Tyler VanHuyse

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government, assuming all current appropriations for the Children's Ombudsman were redirected to the Legislative Council. As the bill would move the Office of the Children's Ombudsman from the DTMB to the Legislative Council, there would be equal offsetting adjustments in expenditures: a decrease in the DTMB and an increase in the Legislative Council. Appropriations for fiscal year (FY) 2019-20 total $1.9 million General Fund/General Purpose and 14.0 FTE positions. The Governor included funding of $1.9 million and 14.0 FTEs for the Children's Ombudsman in the FY 2020-21 Executive Recommendation. If that funding remains when the FY 2020-21 budget is enacted it should be sufficient for the Legislative Council to fund the Children's Ombudsman.

Date Completed:   9-24-20                                                                                                       Fiscal Analyst: Joe Carrasco

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    John Maxwell

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.