HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 1996.02.15 - 24746MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION # 9602 •
BY: GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE - KAY SCHMID, CHAIRPERSON
IN RE: (OPPOSE) SB586, CREATION OF CITIZEN FRIEND OF THE COURT
ADVISORY COMMITTEES
TO THE OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS control and accountability for the operation of the Friend of the Court as part of the judicial
branch of government rests with the chief circuit judge and ultimately with the Chief Justice of the Michigan
Supreme Court; and
WHEREAS Senate Bill 586 would revise the Friend of the Court Act to require county boards of
commissioners to establish and appoint Citizen Friend of the court Advisory Committees composed of certain
specified representatives: and
WHEREAS among the duties enumerated in the legislation, the advisory committees would be charged
with reviewing and investigating grievances concerning the Friend of the Court; and
WHEREAS mechanisms currently exist to review and investigate Friend of the Court grievances, both
operational grievances and those filed against employees of the Friend of the Court and such grievances may
also be tiled with the Chief Circuit Judge; and
WHEREAS while current law requires the Friend of the court to provide its clients with forms to request
modifications of child support; Senate Bill 586 would, in addition to forms for child support modifications, also
require Friends of the Court to provide form motions, responses, and order for custody and parenting time as
well, thereby adding to the statutory duties of the Friend of the Court without providing additional resources to
perform these duties; and
WHEREAS current law provides for a State Friend of the Court Bureau within the judiciary to provide
guidelines and assistance to Friend of the court offices: and
WHEREAS current law provides for a State Advisory Committee to assist the Friend of the Court
Bureau in its duties: and
WHEREAS the Friend of the Court citizen advisory committees proposed by Senate Bill 586 would be
redundant and would create yet another structural layer dealing with Friend of the Court issues; and
WHEREAS the Michigan Friends of the Court currently lead the nation in collecting child support and
enforcing visitation.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland county Board of Commissioners opposes
Senate Bill 586 as being redundant, creating unfunded mandates, and raising separation of powers issues.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Board of Commissioners encourages such positive efforts by
Friends of the court as SMILE (Start Making It Livable for Everyone) programs. paternity SMILE programs,
family counseling workshops and circuit and probate court efforts to improve procedures for handling cases
involving children.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that such innovative programs and others like these should be
encouraged. if not required, and appropriately funded so that Friend of the Court offices can provide quality
services to their clients.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that cerlited copies of this resolution be forwarded to Oakland County's
state legislators, Oakland County's Chief Judge, and the County's legislative agents,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that S8586 should be revised to make such citizen advisory committees
permissive, rather than mandatory.
Chairperson, on behalf of the General Government Committee, I move the adoption of the foregoing
resolution.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
Resolution 496027 February 15, 1996
Moved by Schmid supported by McPherson the resolution be adopted.
AYES: Jensen, Johnson, Kaczmar, Kingzett, Law, McCulloch, McPherson,
Moffitt, Palmer, Powrs, Quarles, Schmid, Taub, Wolf, Amos, Crake, Douglas,
Garfield, Holbert, Huatocn, Jacobs. (21)
NAYS: Pernick. (1)
A sufficient majority having voted therefor, the resolution was adopted.
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DOES HOT REQUIRE COMITY EXECIII V' ill
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
I, Lynn D. Allen, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the
foregoing resolution is a true and accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the
Oakland County Board of Commissioners on February 15, 1996 with the original
record thereof now renaming in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the zeal of the
County of Oakland at Pontiac, Michigan this 15th clay. of Febriozy 1996.
n D. Allen, County Clerk