SB 18: Children: foster care; conditions on the use of certain benefits for a child in foster care; provide. Amends 1994 PA 203 (MCL 722.951 - 722.960) by adding sec. 8g. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4750'25 - Michigan

As Passed by the Senate → As Passed by the House · 6 edits · Jul 3, 2026

MODERATE

The House substantially narrowed SB 18 by removing most of its content and renumbering the new section from 8f to 8g. The Senate version contained a comprehensive framework for screening foster children for benefits, applying on their behalf, managing funds as representative payee, providing financial literacy training, and transferring assets at discharge. The House version retains only notification requirements and a new fund-release provision, apparently because the broader provisions were moved to companion bill HB 4750, which is now a condition precedent for this bill to take effect.

SCOPE

The new section was renumbered from 8f to 8g, indicating that section 8f is being added by a separate bill (HB 4750). The House version strips out most of the Senate text, keeping only notification and fund-release provisions.

Removed: mandatory screening of foster children for benefits eligibility within 90 days and annually; requirement to consult with parents or GAL on benefits decisions; requirement to apply for state and federal benefits on behalf of children; prohibition on using a child's benefits or assets to reimburse the cost of care (with limited exceptions); representative payee and fiduciary duties including annual accounting; financial literacy training for children 14 and older; asset transfer requirements at discharge, age 18, or death; requirement to file appeals of benefit denials; and definitions of federal and state benefits.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new enacting section 2 making the entire bill conditional on HB 4750 of the 103rd Legislature also being enacted into law. If HB 4750 is not passed, this bill has no effect.

The notice required before each permanency planning hearing was expanded. The Senate version required reporting only the amount and date of benefits received since last notification plus an accounting of disbursed funds and trust balances. The House version requires information regarding ALL of the child's assets and resources, including benefits, insurance, cash assets, trust accounts, earnings, and other resources.

New subsection (3) establishes that all benefit payments are the property of the child in foster care and requires the department to release remaining funds when its responsibility ends: to the child if 18 or emancipated, to the responsible adult if under 18 and not emancipated, or to heirs if the child dies.

ENFORCEMENT

Notification requirements now require the department to notify both the child's guardian ad litem AND the appropriate contact at the supervising child placement agency, expanding who must be informed of benefit applications, decisions, and appeals.

As Passed by the House → Substitute (H-1) · 2 edits

MINOR

This is a House substitute (H-1) for SB 18 that reformats the bill's layout and title page but makes no substantive changes to the policy content. The text of new Section 8g, which establishes notification requirements for foster care benefit applications and fund management, is identical between versions.

TECHNICAL

Title page reformatted to display 'HOUSE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 18' as a header instead of the previous layout.

Line numbers added throughout the body text and page markers inserted, reflecting standard legislative formatting for a substitute bill.

Senate Concurred Bill → As Passed by the House · 2 edits · Jul 3, 2026

MINOR

The bill text was replaced by a system validation error message instead of the legislative content, preventing any analysis of substantive policy changes. The document now shows a technical block requiring user input validation rather than displaying the new foster care notification requirements.

TECHNICAL

The entire legislative text was removed and replaced with a system error message indicating a validation request.

A validation error screen was added, blocking access to the bill content due to client IP address issues.

Substitute (H-1) - 3 → Senate Concurred Bill · 2 edits

MINOR

The legislative text for SB 18 was removed and replaced with a system error message indicating a validation failure. Consequently, no substantive policy changes, scope adjustments, or new requirements were enacted in this version.

TECHNICAL

The entire bill text regarding foster care benefit notifications and fund distribution was removed.

A system error message was added, indicating a validation failure preventing the bill from being processed.

Substitute (H-1) → Substitute (H-1) - 2 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill text was reorganized to clarify its title and status as a House substitute, while retaining the core mandate for the state department to notify foster care guardians and placement agencies about benefit applications. The substantive policy requirement remains unchanged, ensuring that children in foster care are informed about financial decisions affecting them.

Scope change

No change in the scope or applicability of the law; the amendment to the Foster Care and Adoption Services Act remains the same.

TECHNICAL

The bill header was updated to reflect the version passed by the House on July 3, 2026, and the document metadata was updated with new tracking identifiers.

Minor formatting adjustments were made to the text layout, including line breaks and indentation, without altering the legal content.

The original header indicating the bill was a 'Substitute for Senate Bill No. 18' was replaced with a more descriptive title indicating the House substitute status and passage date.

As Passed by the Senate → Substitute (H-1) · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was renumbered from Section 8f to 8g and significantly restructured to improve transparency and accountability. The new version mandates immediate notifications to children and their guardians regarding benefit applications and decisions, requiring detailed financial reporting before permanency hearings. It also clarifies that all benefit funds belong to the child and establishes specific rules for releasing remaining funds when the child ages out or dies.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include mandatory notification protocols and detailed accounting requirements that were not present in the original version.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the section number from 8f to 8g and reorganized the text to prioritize immediate notification of children and guardians regarding benefit applications and decisions.

Added a requirement for the department to provide detailed financial reports, including asset information and fund balances, before every permanency planning hearing.

Removed the original provision allowing the department to screen children for benefits at its own discretion, replacing it with a more structured process.

DEFINITION

Explicitly stated that all payments from benefits are the property of the child in foster care, overriding any conflicting laws.

TIMELINE

Added an effective date of October 1, 2026, and a condition that the bill only takes effect if a related House Bill is passed.

Senate Introduced Bill → As Passed by the Senate · 1 edit · Apr 17, 2025

MINOR

The bill text was interrupted by a system validation error before the final section could be displayed. Consequently, no substantive policy changes, such as new requirements or funding adjustments, can be identified from the provided text.

TECHNICAL

The legislative text was cut off due to a validation error, preventing analysis of the final sections.

Children: foster care; conditions on the use of certain benefits for a child in foster care; provide. Amends 1994 PA 203 (MCL 722.951 - 722.960) by adding sec. 8g. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4750'25

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