Gov. Whitmer signed bipartisan bills to protect foster kids, bolster election access and other legislation. | Michigan.gov
Gov. Whitmer signed bipartisan bills to protect foster kids, bolster election access and other legislation. | Michigan.gov
State leaders are hoping that a series of bipartisan bills will make it easier for families seeking to adopt a child.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) recently signed the bills that also safeguard the process if take to foster children, along with laws to enhancing voting access for military personnel and having area clerks pre-process absentee ballots two days before voting day, according to a news release by the state government.
“These bipartisan bills deliver on a range of kitchen-table issues and are proof of what’s possible when we work across the aisle to put Michiganders first,” Whitmer said in the release. “Together, we are taking action to protect Michigan’s foster youth by offering them more permanent homes and improving training for the professionals who work with them. We are increasing capacity at high-quality residential facilities and conducting thorough assessments to ensure foster children’s needs are being met. Finally, we are also expanding voting access for Michiganders who are serving our nation in uniform and authorizing local clerks to pre-process absentee ballots two days before Election Day. Let’s keep working together to protect kids and help more people exercise their constitutional right to vote.”
Whitmer has signed 969 bipartisan bills since becoming governor.
"Our child welfare system took a huge step forward today with the signing of these bills into law. Several of these bills expand the definition of relative,” Rep. Mary Whiteford (R-Casco Township) said. “With this in place, if no blood relative is available to foster a child, then someone with close emotional ties can be considered instead of the child going to a stranger.”
Whiteford added that the creation of the Adoption and Foster Care Task Force would serve as an advocate law on behalf of needy children.
"I'm grateful that my bill to require LGALs participate in trauma-informed training will now be law,” Rep. Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia) said. “It's important that those tasked with advocating for our foster youth understand their experiences and needs as best they can."
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