House committee hears bills to shorten mental-health records timeline and require recurring mandated-reporter training

Lansing — The House Families and Veterans Committee heard testimony on two bills intended to speed investigations of suspected child abuse and bolster mandated-reporter knowledge.

Representative Pachotzke introduced House Bill 45-30 to change the mental-health code so that mental-health providers must supply records requested by Child Protective Services within seven days instead of the current 14. Representative Regas described House Bill 45-31, which would require mandated reporters — teachers, medical professionals, social workers and others listed in Michigan's child protection law — to complete a training developed by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services once every three years.

Ryan Bridal, Michigan child advocate, told the committee that “simply put, they will keep Michigan's children safer,” and described the bills as a response to recommendations from the Office of the Child Advocate following a 2020 child death investigation. Bridal said the OCA reviewed the case involving a 06/28/2020 murder-suicide and found…