Guardianship Assistance Act — Relative Definition

Current understanding

The Guardianship Assistance Act (2008 PA 260, MCL 722.871 et seq.) provides financial assistance to relatives who take legal guardianship of children who would otherwise remain in foster care. HB 4696 (103rd Legislature) would amend sec. 2 to modify the definition of ‘relative,’ which determines eligibility for guardianship assistance payments; the bill is tie-barred to HB 4697 and has passed a chamber.

Evidence log

• 2026-04-16 — Children: guardians; eligibility for guardianship assistance payments; modify. Amends sec. 4 of 2008 PA 260 (MCL 722.874). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4696’25: Companion bill HB 4697 (passed chamber, tie-barred with HB 4696) amends sec. 4 of 2008 PA 260 (MCL 722.874) modifying eligibility rules for guardianship assistance payments; paired with HB 4696’s revised ‘relative’ definition to reshape who qualifies for the subsidy. (novelty: 2)
• 2026-04-16 — Children: guardians; definition of relative under the guardianship assistance act; modify. Amends sec. 2 of 2008 PA 260 (MCL 722.872). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4697’25: cross-connection with foster-care-benefits: Guardianship assistance under 2008 PA 260 is a subsidized kinship-care alternative to continued foster care placement; changes to who counts as a ‘relative’ shift the boundary between the two systems. (novelty: 2)

Open questions

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