Senate passes bill to keep siblings together in foster care
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Bills requiring child-placing agencies to make reasonable efforts to keep siblings together in the foster care and adoption systems have advanced in Michigan’s Legislature.
The Senate voted unanimously Tuesday to send the legislation to the House for its consideration. The bills say if siblings could not be placed together due to safety or other concerns, agencies should prioritize sibling visitation and interaction.
State agencies already place siblings together when feasible under provisions of federal court oversight of Michigan’s child welfare system. The legislation would codify requirements in state law and extend them to local agencies run by community mental health agencies, circuit courts and counties.
Another bill approved Tuesday would require frequent visitations between foster children and their biological parents unless a judge determines it would be harmful.
Detroit police starting effort to improve physical fitness
DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Police Department is kicking off an effort to improve the physical fitness of its officers and staff members.
The “90-Day Weight Loss Challenge” is a collaboration that involves the police department and the Detroit Medical Center.
In a statement, the police department says it will be a first step in a yearlong program that seeks to promote healthy lifestyle choices and boost morale. An event is Tuesday.
Detroit Medical Center staff will screen officers and staff members for weight, cholesterol, diabetes, blood pressure, body-mass index, vision and more. The kickoff also will include personal consultations, presentations and exercise demonstrations.
Legislature OKs letting retired teachers return with pension
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Certain retired school employees could return to work without putting at risk their pension under legislation headed to Gov. Rick Snyder for his expected signature.
The bill approved Tuesday is designed to address a shortage of substitute teachers and full-time teachers in some subjects.
A law allowing educators who retired after mid-2010 to teach again without losing their pension expired last year. The legislation re-enacts provisions until 2018.
Schools administrators and companies they contract with for substitutes say the law's expiration has limited their pool of qualified substitutes.
Under the bill, retirees hired in shortage subjects could work three years without affecting their retirement benefits. Retirees working as substitutes could receive full benefits as long as they make no more than one-third of their final average compensation in a year.
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