MI HB6021

Establishes criteria for agencies and courts to evaluate the best interest of the child in proceedings involving permanency plans, adoption, guardianship, and related family court matters.

Defines best interest determinations as child-centered evaluations focused on the child's needs for safety, permanency, and family connections, with safety being paramount.

Prohibits best interest determinations from being based on the comparative economic status of parents, foster parents, or legal custodians.

Requires consideration of eight specific factors including likelihood of adoption, value of maintaining family relationships, parental harm involvement, out-of-home placements, changed circumstances, parental participation in services, child's views, and quality of parent-child relationship.

Grants great weight to the preferences of children age 14 or older in termination and permanency decisions, unless substantially outweighed by risk of harm to the child's life, physical health, or mental well-being.