Legislative Analysis
Phone: (517) 373-8080
HOMELESS AND RUNAWAY YOUTH
http://www.house.mi.gov/hfa
House Bill 4085 (H-4) as reported from committee Analysis available at
Sponsor: Rep. Lori Stone http://www.legislature.mi.gov
House Bill 4086 (H-3) as reported from committee
Sponsor: Rep. John R. Roth
Committee: Families, Children and Seniors
Complete to 10-14-23
SUMMARY:
House Bill 4085 would amend 1973 PA 116, known as the child care licensing act, to require
a child caring institution to obtain parental or guardian consent within 72 hours in order to
continue to provide services to a homeless youth or a runaway youth.
The act defines a child caring institution as a child care facility that is organized to
receive minor children for care, maintenance, and supervision, usually on a 24-hour
basis, 1 in buildings maintained by the institution for that purpose, and that operates
throughout the year.
House Bill 4086 would define homeless youth for purposes of the act to mean an
individual for whom it is not possible to live in a safe environment with a relative, who
has no other safe alternative living arrangement, and who is either of the following:
• Seeking shelter in a runaway and youth center for youth under 18 years of age
as described in federal law. 2
• Seeking enrollment in a transitional living program as described in federal law
and either of the following:
o At least 16 but less than 22 years of age.
o 22 years of age or older as of the expiration of the maximum period of
stay permitted under federal law 3 if the individual commences the stay
before reaching 22 years of age.
Runaway youth would mean an individual who is seeking shelter in a runaway and
homeless youth center as described in federal law, who is less than 18 years of age, and
who absents themselves from home or a place of legal residence without the permission
of a parent or legal guardian.
1
The bill would add an exception to the 24-hour requirement for runaway or homeless youth provided services under
its provisions.
2
Specifically, 34 USC 11222(a). For further information, see: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/fysb/runaway-homeless-youth
and https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fysb/rhy_factsheet_043018_508.pdf
3
34 USC 11222(a)(2) specifies the provision of shelter and services to individual homeless youth “throughout a
continuous period not to exceed 540 days, or in exceptional circumstances 635 days, except that a youth... who has
not reached 18 years of age on the last day of the 635-day period may, in exceptional circumstances and if otherwise
qualified for the program, remain in the program until the youth’s 18th birthday.”
House Fiscal Agency Page 1 of 3
 A child caring institution would have to obtain parental or guardian consent within 72 hours to
continue to provide services to a homeless or runaway youth.
The bill would not apply to youth who are under a court order exercising jurisdiction under
chapter XIIA of the Probate Code (known as the juvenile code), or to youth who have been
tried in the same manner as an adult and committed to an institution or an agency described in
the Youth Rehabilitation Services Act, or section 1 of chapter IX of the Code of Criminal
Procedure, or to youth who are currently under the custody of the state.
MCL 722.111 and proposed MCL 722.111b
House Bill 4086 would amend the same act to expand the definition of minor child for
purposes of the act (and to define homeless youth as described above).
Currently, minor child means either an individual who is less than 18 years of age or an
individual who meets all of the following:
• The individual is at least 18 but less than 21 years of age.
• The individual is a resident in a child caring institution, family foster home, or family
foster group home.
• The individual meets the requirements of the Young Adult Voluntary Foster Care Act.4
Under the bill, minor child would additionally include an individual who meets all of the
following:
• The individual is at least 18 but less than 21 years of age.
• The individual is a resident in a child caring institution, family foster home, or family
foster group home.
• The individual is a homeless youth (defined as above).
MCL 722.111
FISCAL IMPACT:
House Bills 4085 and 4086 would increase costs for the Department of Health and Human
Services (DHHS) and local units of government by an indeterminate amount. The fiscal impact
of the bill would be dependent on an increased number of homeless or runaway youths, who
are not under court jurisdiction or state custody, receiving services in child caring institutions.
Child caring institutions that contract with DHHS receive both state per diem and county per
diem rates based on services provided and capacity. Child caring institutions may also
experience increased staffing costs due to contracted staff-to-youth ratios. An increase of youth
in residential care would require an increased number of staff to comply with contracted ratios.
POSITIONS:
Representatives of the following entities testified in support of the bills:
• Detroit Phoenix Center (5-16-23)
• Youth Protection Council (9-26-23)
4
https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/faq/fc1821
House Fiscal Agency HBs 4085 and 4086 as reported from committee Page 2 of 3
 The following organizations indicated support for the bills:
• Arbor Circle (5-16-23)
• Michigan Catholic Conference (9-26-23)
• Michigan Center for Youth Justice (5-16-23)
• Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness (5-16-23)
• Michigan County Social Services Association (9-26-23)
• Michigan Federation for Children and Families (5-16-23)
• Michigan League for Public Policy (5-16-23)
• Michigan’s Children (9-26-23)
• Reach and Traverse Place (5-16-23)
• Saginaw Youth Protection Council (5-16-23)
• SchoolHouse Connection (5-16-23)
• Strategic Education Plan (5-16-23)
Legislative Analyst: E. Best
Fiscal Analyst: Sydney Brown
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their
deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
House Fiscal Agency HBs 4085 and 4086 as reported from committee Page 3 of 3


Statutes affected:
Substitute (H-4): 722.111
Substitute (S-1): 722.111
House Introduced Bill: 722.111
As Passed by the House: 722.111