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SB 999

An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school health services, further providing for seizure recognition and related first aid training.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lisa Boscola and 4 co-sponsors

SB 999 lets DHHS confirm/deny and, in limited cases, release specified information about child abuse/neglect cases to media to correct misinformation while protecting privacy.

Referred to Education
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 999

Summary — SB 999 (amendment to MCL 722.627)

Title: Children: services; acknowledgement of child protective services cases to certain media sources; provide for. (Amends Sec. 7 of 1975 PA 238 — MCL 722.627)

Main purpose / intent

SB 999 modifies Michigan’s Child Protection Law to permit the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to confirm or deny — and in limited circumstances to release — information about child abuse or neglect reports to the news media upon request, provided personally identifying information is protected. The change is intended to give DHHS a limited ability to respond to media inquiries, correct inaccuracies, and increase public awareness while maintaining confidentiality protections for children and families.

Key provisions

  • Authorizes the DHHS Director to confirm or deny the existence or filing of a written report regarding a specific child abuse/neglect case to qualified media upon request.
  • Permits DHHS to release “specified information” to media only if:
    • The release contributes to the purposes of the Child Protection Law, and
    • The requesting media organization has appropriate controls to maintain confidentiality of personally identifying information (PII) for individuals named in reports.
  • Defines “media” to include newspapers, magazines, wire services, radio/TV/cable/satellite stations or networks and similar entities in the regular business of news gathering; explicitly excludes individual bloggers and social media influencers.
  • Retains existing confidentiality framework: written reports, documents, and photographs filed under the law are generally confidential and available only to enumerated parties (law enforcement, treating physicians, courts, specified legislative committees, child-placing agencies, etc.).
  • Preserves current statutory limits on release: for example, the Director already may or must release certain information in cases involving death, confirmed reports of sexual abuse/serious injury/life‑threatening harm, or where clear-and-convincing evidence supports release in the child’s best interests.
  • Prohibits denial of a request on the basis of shielding DHHS performance (i.e., Director cannot withhold information merely to cover up poor or inappropriate DHHS actions).
  • Bars release when an investigation is in progress and the report has not been confirmed.
  • Procedural elements described in committee reports: the Director must notify of approval or denial within 14 days; specified notice and pre-release appeal processes to circuit court are provided for affected individuals (per committee analysis).

Who is affected

  • DHHS: gains discretionary authority and new obligations when processing media requests.
  • Qualified media organizations: may receive confirmations/limited information when they can safeguard PII.
  • Children, families, alleged perpetrators, and reporters: privacy protections remain but the bill creates a new channel for public-facing acknowledgement or limited disclosure of cases.
  • Courts, law enforcement, child welfare agencies: existing access rules and statutory roles remain in place.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Statutory change amends MCL 722.627 (Section 7 of the Child Protection Law). Committee analyses refer to notice and appeal timelines (14-day decision window and right to seek circuit court review prior to disclosure).
  • Fiscal impact: nonpartisan committee analysis determined no fiscal impact to state or local government.
  • Legislative status (high-level): introduced and reported through Senate committees; reported passed second reading as amended (SD1) and placed on calendar for further legislative action. (See official legislative history for up‑to‑date procedural status and amendments.)

Practical effect / considerations

  • Enables DHHS to engage with reputable media to correct misinformation and increase transparency about system actions, while keeping PII confidential.
  • Raises operational questions about criteria for “appropriate controls” by media, procedures for vetting requests, and how DHHS balances transparency with the privacy and safety of children under investigation.
  • Retains important limitations to protect ongoing investigations and child privacy; judicial review mechanisms are available for parties notified of a proposed release.

For readers seeking the exact statutory language or current status, refer to MCL 722.627 and the official legislative history / substituted (S‑1) text as reported by the Senate.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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