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HB 4218

Mental health: other; recipient rights advisory committee membership; modify. Amends secs. 100d & 756 of 1974 PA 258 (MCL 330.1100d & 330.1756).

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jamie Thompson

The bill adds three advocacy-group seats to the State Recipient Rights Advisory Committee and bars DHHS executive-office staff from membership.

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES
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Bill Summary · HB 4218

Summary — HB 4218 (Mental Health Code amendments)

Sponsor: Rep. Jamie Thompson
Statutes amended: MCL 330.1100d & 330.1756 (1974 PA 258, “Mental Health Code”)
Introduced: March 2025 — Passed House (with substitute) September 4, 2025; referred to Senate Committee on Housing and Human Services September 9, 2025. Companion: SB 50.

Purpose

To modify membership and eligibility rules for the State Recipient Rights Advisory Committee so that specified recipient‑advocacy organizations are directly represented and to prohibit members who are part of the DHHS executive office from serving on the committee.

Key provisions

  • Increases the number of appointed members on the State Recipient Rights Advisory Committee from 12 to 15.
  • Adds three mandated appointees (to be made by the DHHS director beginning on the bill’s effective date):
    • One representative of Disability Rights Michigan.
    • One representative of the Mental Health Association in Michigan.
    • One representative of The Arc Michigan.
  • Prohibits any individual who is employed by, serving under, or otherwise part of the executive office at the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) from serving on the committee.
    • Any current committee member who falls into that prohibited category must be replaced within 30 days after the bill’s effective date.
  • Director of DHHS retains appointment authority for committee members; the new appointments are required to begin on the bill’s effective date.

Background — committee role and current composition

Under current law the State Recipient Rights Advisory Committee:
- Advises the DHHS director and the director of the State Office of Recipient Rights.
- Recommends candidates for the State Office of Recipient Rights director and consults on proposed dismissals.
- Seeks to protect the Office of Recipient Rights from improper pressures and reviews the office’s annual recipient‑rights report.
Statutory membership requirements already call for broadly based backgrounds (DHHS staff, government officials, attorneys, program staff, private providers, recipients and interest groups). At least four members must be primary consumers or family members, with at least two primary consumers.

Who would be affected

  • Recipient‑rights stakeholders: Disability Rights Michigan, Mental Health Association in Michigan, and The Arc Michigan would gain dedicated representation on the state advisory committee.
  • Current DHHS executive office personnel serving on the committee would be disqualified and replaced.
  • The DHHS director (appointment authority) and the State Office of Recipient Rights could see changes in advisory input and stakeholder engagement.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Committee substitute (H‑2) was adopted in the House; the House passed the bill with immediate effect on September 4, 2025 (Roll Call #195).
  • After House passage the bill was transmitted to the Senate and referred to the Senate Committee on Housing and Human Services on September 9, 2025.
  • If enacted, the director must make the new appointments beginning on the bill’s effective date; DHHS executive‑office members then serving must be replaced within 30 days.

Fiscal impact

House Fiscal Agency estimates a negligible fiscal impact to the state and local units of government.

Implications

The bill formalizes a direct seat for three statewide advocacy organizations, likely increasing consumer‑advocate representation and perspectives in statewide recipient‑rights deliberations, and aims to reduce potential conflicts of interest by excluding DHHS executive‑office staff from committee membership.

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

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