MI SB0999

Allows the department to confirm or deny the existence or filing of child abuse or neglect reports to media outlets and members of the legislature upon request regarding specific cases.

Defines "media" as newspapers, magazines, news agencies, wire services, radio or television stations or networks, cable or satellite stations or networks, and entities regularly engaged in news gathering and dissemination.

Permits the department director to authorize release of information to media and legislators under sections 7c to 7h if the release serves the purposes of the child protection law and appropriate controls maintain confidentiality of personally identifying information.

Makes grammatical and pronoun updates throughout the statute, including replacing gendered pronouns with gender-neutral language and changing "shall" to "must" for consistency.

Maintains existing confidentiality protections by limiting disclosures to those already authorized under the child protection law while adding new authority for acknowledgment of case filings.