MI HB4697

Expands eligibility for guardianship assistance payments to include relatives who are not licensed foster parents, in addition to licensed foster parents caring for eligible children

Requires prospective guardians to have the eligible child reside in their home for a minimum of 6 months before applying for guardianship assistance

Mandates criminal record checks, child abuse/neglect central registry checks, and FBI fingerprint-based background checks for prospective guardians, successor guardians, and all adults in the home

Allows relatives caring for title IV-E eligible children in approved or licensed foster homes for 6 consecutive months to qualify for federal guardianship assistance funding

Children not eligible for federal title IV-E funding who are placed with relatives or licensed foster parents may still qualify for state-funded guardianship assistance

Bill is tied to HB 4696 and will not take effect unless that companion bill is also enacted