Section 722.928 - Family independence agency and child placing agency; duties; information to be provided to biological parent, adoptive parent, or foster parent; access to departmental computer netwo
THE CHILDREN'S OMBUDSMAN ACT (EXCERPT)
Act 204 of 1994
722.928 Family independence agency and child placing agency; duties; information to be provided to biological parent, adoptive parent, or foster parent; access to departmental computer networks.
Sec. 8.
(1) The department and a child placing agency shall do all of the following:
(a) Upon the ombudsman's request, grant the ombudsman or his or her designee access to all information, records, and documents in the possession of the department or child placing agency that the ombudsman considers relevant and necessary in an investigation.
(b) Assist the ombudsman to obtain the necessary releases of those documents that are specifically restricted.
(c) Upon the ombudsman's request, provide the ombudsman with progress reports concerning the administrative processing of a complaint.
(d) Upon the ombudsman's request, provide the ombudsman information he or she requests under subdivision (a) within 10 business days after the request. If the department determines that release of the information would violate federal or state law, the ombudsman shall be notified of that determination within the same 10-day deadline.
(2) The department, an attorney involved with an adoption, and a child placing agency shall provide information to a biological parent, prospective adoptive parent, or foster parent regarding the provisions of this act.
(3) The ombudsman, the department, and the department of information technology shall enter an agreement not later than June 30, 2005 that shall ensure that the ombudsman has access, in the ombudsman's own office, to departmental computer networks pertaining to protective services, foster care, and adoption, including the central registry, service workers support system/foster care, adoption, juvenile justice (SWSS), and customer information management system (CIMS) unless otherwise prohibited by state or federal law, or the release of the information to the ombudsman would jeopardize federal funding. The cost of implementing this subsection shall be negotiated among the office of the children's ombudsman, the department, and the department of information technology.
History: 1994, Act 204, Eff. Jan. 1, 1995 ;-- Am. 2004, Act 560, Imd. Eff. Jan. 3, 2005