SB 626 — Children: protection; modifications to the central registry; provide for. Amends secs. 2, 7j & 8 of 1975 PA 238 (MCL 722.622 et seq.).

SB-626, As Passed Senate, April 21, 2026 SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO.

OOH S05127'25 (S-1)(S-1)_SB626_APS_1 430ciztybkh9 1 (b) "Attorney" means, if appointed to represent a child under the provisions referenced in section 10, an attorney serving as the child's legal advocate in the manner defined and described in section 13a of chapter XIIA of the probate code of 1939, 1939 PA 288, MCL 712A.13a.

(i) "Child care provider" means an owner, operator, employee, OOH S05127'25 (S-1)(S-1)_SB626_APS_1 430ciztybkh9 1 or volunteer of a child care organization or of an adult foster care location authorized to care for a child.

(m) "Citizen review panel" means a panel established as OOH S05127'25 (S-1)(S-1)_SB626_APS_1 430ciztybkh9 1 required by section 5106a of the child abuse prevention and treatment act, 42 USC 5106a.

(r) "Confirmed sexual exploitation" means a confirmed case that involves allowing, permitting, or encouraging a child to engage in prostitution, or allowing, permitting, encouraging, or engaging in the photographing, filming, or depicting of a child OOH S05127'25 (S-1)(S-1)_SB626_APS_1 430ciztybkh9 1 engaged in a listed sexual act as that term is defined in section 145c of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.145c.

OOH S05127'25 (S-1)(S-1)_SB626_APS_1 430ciztybkh9 1 (ii) Has a close personal relationship with the child's parent or with a person responsible for the child's health or welfare.

(ff) "Specified information" means information in a children's protective services case record related specifically to the OOH S05127'25 (S-1)(S-1)_SB626_APS_1 430ciztybkh9 1 department's actions in responding to a complaint of child abuse or child neglect.

(1) The department must shall maintain a statewide, OOH S05127'25 (S-1)(S-1)_SB626_APS_1 430ciztybkh9 1 electronic case management system to carry out the intent of this act.

(a) The individual was not convicted of an offense listed OOH S05127'25 (S-1)(S-1)_SB626_APS_1 430ciztybkh9 1 under this section.

(7) An individual who is the subject of a report or record OOH S05127'25 (S-1)(S-1)_SB626_APS_1 430ciztybkh9 1 made under this section may request the department to amend an inaccurate report or record from the central registry and local office file.

(10) If the investigation of a report conducted under this OOH S05127'25 (S-1)(S-1)_SB626_APS_1 430ciztybkh9 1 section does not show serious child abuse or child neglect, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or methamphetamine production by a preponderance of the evidence, or if a court dismisses a petition based on the merits of the petition filed under section 2(b) of chapter XIIA of the probate code of 1939, 1939 PA 288, MCL 712A.2, because the petitioner has failed to establish, or a court has failed to find, that the child comes within the jurisdiction of the court following an adjudication hearing, the information identifying the subject of the report must be expunged from the central registry after a party has exhausted all appellate remedies and an appellate review does not find that the child is within the jurisdiction of the court.

Except for confirmed sexual abuse or confirmed sexual exploitation, the department must hold a hearing to determine whether the OOH S05127'25 (S-1)(S-1)_SB626_APS_1 430ciztybkh9 1 information should be maintained on the central registry.

(14) An individual or organization for whom a person is OOH S05127'25 (S-1)(S-1)_SB626_APS_1 430ciztybkh9 1 applying for employment, licensing for a child care organization, or to act as a volunteer, may, with appropriate authorization and identification, request and receive confirmation of central registry placement, if that employment or volunteer work includes contact with children.

(17) An action taken to exclude an individual from licensure OOH S05127'25 (S-1)(S-1)_SB626_APS_1 430ciztybkh9 1 to provide foster care, child care, or camp services by the department of licensing and regulatory affairs or the division of child welfare licensing in the department, or a predecessor agency, in effect before the effective date of the amendatory act that added this subsection, November 1, 2022, must remain in effect according to its terms, except if an individual is successful in an administrative review or appeal of the exclusionary status in accord with section 9 of 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.119.

If the child suspected of being abused OOH S05127'25 (S-1)(S-1)_SB626_APS_1 430ciztybkh9 1 or exposed to or who has had contact with methamphetamine production is not in the physical custody of the parent or legal guardian and informing the parent or legal guardian would not endanger the child's health or welfare, the local law enforcement agency or the department must inform the child's parent or legal guardian of the investigation as soon as the local law enforcement agency or the department discovers the identity of the child's parent or legal guardian.

(3) In conducting its investigation, the department must seek OOH S05127'25 (S-1)(S-1)_SB626_APS_1 430ciztybkh9 1 the assistance of and cooperate with law enforcement officials within 24 hours after becoming aware that 1 or more of the following conditions exist:

(6) In each county, the prosecuting attorney and the department must develop and establish procedures for involving law OOH S05127'25 (S-1)(S-1)_SB626_APS_1 430ciztybkh9 1 enforcement officials and children's advocacy centers, as appropriate, as provided in this section.

The department may delay the notice if the notice would compromise the safety of the OOH S05127'25 (S-1)(S-1)_SB626_APS_1 430ciztybkh9 1 child or child's siblings or the integrity of the investigation, but only for the time 1 of those conditions exists.

The department must shall maintain a report OOH S05127'25 (S-1)(S-1)_SB626_APS_1 430ciztybkh9 1 entered on the electronic case management system as required by this subsection until the child about whom the investigation is made is 18 years old or until 10 years after the investigation is commenced, whichever is later, or, if the case is classified as a central registry case, until the department receives reliable information that the perpetrator of the child abuse or child neglect is dead.

(b) Must set forth the person's right to request amendment of OOH S05127'25 (S-1)(S-1)_SB626_APS_1 430ciztybkh9 1 the record and the right to an administrative review conducted by the department.

(c) Notification that the information being conveyed is OOH S05127'25 (S-1)(S-1)_SB626_APS_1 430ciztybkh9 1 confidential.

(a) A finding that a preponderance of evidence indicates that OOH S05127'25 (S-1)(S-1)_SB626_APS_1 430ciztybkh9 1 there has been child abuse or child neglect.

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