HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON FAMILIES, CHILDREN, AND SENIORS
REP. KATHY CRAWFORD
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
9:00 a.m.
Room 308, House Office Building
The House Standing Committee on Families, Children, and Seniors was called to order by the
Chair.
The Chair requested attendance be called:
Present: Reps. Crawford, Rendon, Farrington, Hoitenga, Wozniak, Garrett, Liberati, Brenda
Carter, Cynthia Johnson.
Absent/Excused: None.
Representative Carter moved to adopt the meeting minutes from February 26, 2020. There being
no objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
The Chair laid HB 5248 and HB 5249 before the committee:
HB 5248
(Rep. Hall)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 204, entitled "The
children's ombudsman act," by amending section 9 (MCL
722.929), as amended by 2013 PA 38.
HB 5249
(Rep. Schroeder)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 204,
entitled "The children's ombudsman act," by amending
sections 2 and 6 (MCL 722.922 and 722.926), as amended
by 2014 PA 455.
Representative Farrington moved to adopt substitute (H-1) to HB 5248. The motion prevailed 9-
0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Crawford, Rendon, Farrington, Hoitenga, Wozniak, Garrett, Liberati, Brenda
Carter, Cynthia Johnson.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
Representative Andrea Schroder, the bill sponsor for HB 5248, submitted written testimony,
which is attached.
Rep. Matt Hall explained HB 5248 (H-1) and HB 5249. Questions followed. A copy of his
submitted written testimony is attached.
Lisa McGraw, Public Affairs Manager for the Michigan Press Association, submitted a testimony
card in support of HB 5248 and HB 5249, but did not wish to speak.
Ryan Speidel, Acting Director for the Office of Children's Ombudsman, responded to questions
from committee members on HB 5248 and HB 5249.
The Chair laid before the committee a presentation on Michigan's Runaway and Homeless Youth
Programs.
Angela Parth, Director of The Connection Youth Services within Livingston County Family
Center, testified on her county's runaway and youth program, and introduced Isabel Rodriguez,
provided testimony on her experiences as a runaway using Livingston County Family Center's
youth program. Questions followed. Copy of the Michigan network for Youth and Families
handouts are attached.
There being no further business before the committee, Representative Liberati moved to adjourn
the committee. There being no objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent. The
Chair adjourned the meeting at 10:11 a.m.
Representative Kathy Crawford, Chair
Joy Brewer
Committee Clerk
joybrewer@house.mi.gov