MI SB0432

Renames the "children's ombudsman office" to the "office of the child advocate" and updates the act's title accordingly.

Establishes the office of the child advocate as an autonomous entity within the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget, with a child advocate appointed by the governor with senate confirmation.

Expands the child advocate's authority to investigate administrative acts by the Department of Health and Human Services, child placing agencies, child caring institutions, and residential facilities providing juvenile justice services related to adoption, foster care, protective services, and juvenile justice.

Mandates the child advocate conduct preliminary investigations into all child fatality cases involving suspected child abuse or neglect in specified circumstances (active CPS cases, deaths in foster care, residential facilities, or within 24 months of case closure) and complete full investigations within 12 months when necessary.

Grants the child advocate powers including access to confidential records, ability to hold informal hearings, request subpoenas, make legislative recommendations without prior review, and file petitions for court jurisdiction or termination of parental rights; establishes confidentiality protections for office records while requiring public release of findings within 30 days of case closure.