Sec. 7a.

(1) The department shall make information contained in the central registry and reports and records made pursuant to this act available to a standing or select committee or appropriations subcommittee of either house of the legislature having jurisdiction over protective services matters for children subject to all of the following:

(a) The department shall not provide confidential information protected by section 7 to the committee unless the committee members appointed and serving agree by roll call vote that the information is essential for the protection of Michigan children or for legislative oversight of the protective services program and that the confidential information will only be considered at a closed session of the committee. The affirmative vote required by this subdivision shall be by not less than the super majority required by section 7 of the open meetings act, Act No. 267 of the Public Acts of 1976, being section 15.267 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, and may serve as the vote required under that section for holding a closed session.

(b) In addition to compliance with Act No. 267 of the Public Acts of 1976, being sections 15.261 to 15.275 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, a closed session held under this section shall comply with all of the following:

(i) Tape recording, camera, or other electronic equipment for documenting the proceedings shall not be permitted in the closed session.

(ii) Attendance at the closed session shall be limited to committee members, other members of the legislature and legislative staff at the discretion of the chairperson, and staff members from the department designated by the director.

(2) A person who discloses or causes to be disclosed confidential information to which the person has gained access at a meeting held under this section is guilty of a misdemeanor. A person who keeps a confidential record or file, or a copy of a confidential record or file, at the conclusion of a closed session held under this section, which record or file is obtained at that meeting, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

History: Add. 1993, Act 251, Imd. Eff. Nov. 24, 1993