Sec. 5l.

(1) A person acting in good faith who makes a report, cooperates in an investigation, or assists in any other requirement of this act is immune from civil or criminal liability that might otherwise be incurred by that action. A person making a report or assisting in any other requirement of this act is presumed to have acted in good faith. This immunity from civil or criminal liability extends only to an act performed according to this act for reporting a potential violation or assisting or cooperating with the department in an investigation conducted by the department.

(2) Except as provided in section 10(3), the identity of a person making a report and cooperating with or assisting the department relative to that report under this act is confidential, subject only to disclosure with the consent of that person or by judicial process.

(3) If the department receives a complaint by an individual remaining anonymous, the department may take no action on the complaint if the complaint does not include sufficient information to reasonably investigate.

(4) A person who intentionally makes a false report to the department regarding a child care organization that causes the department to initiate a special investigation that the department classifies as high-risk for which the child care organization is required to send notice under section 3f is guilty of a crime as follows:

(a) If the incident reported would not constitute a crime or would constitute a misdemeanor if the report were true, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 93 days or a fine of not more than $100.00, or both.

(b) If the incident reported would constitute a felony if the report were true, the person is guilty of a felony punishable by the lesser of the following:

(i) The penalty for the incident falsely reported.

(ii) Imprisonment for not more than 4 years or a fine of not more than $5,000.00, or both.

History: Add. 2008, Act 15, Eff. June 1, 2008 ;-- Am. 2017, Act 256, Eff. Mar. 28, 2018 Compiler's Notes: For transfer of powers and duties pertaining to children's camp, child care center, day care center, family day care home, and group day care home licensing and regulation from department of human services to department of licensing and regulatory affairs, see E.R.O. No. 2015-1, compiled at MCL 400.227.For transfer of powers and duties relative to the licensing and regulation of child caring institutions, child placing agencies, foster family homes, foster family group homes, and court-operated facilities from department of licensing and regulatory affairs to the department of health and human services, see E.R.O. No. 2018-6, compiled at MCL 722.110.Popular Name: Act 116Popular Name: Child Care Licensing Act