Sec. 2.

As used in this act:

(a) "Child" means a person less than 18 years of age.

(b) "Department" means the department of health and human services.

(c) "Eligible child" means a child who meets the eligibility criteria set forth in section 3 for receiving guardianship assistance.

(d) "Guardian" means a person appointed by the court to act as a legal guardian for a child under section 19a or 19c of chapter XIIA of the probate code, MCL 712A.19a and 712A.19c.

(e) "Guardianship assistance agreement" means a negotiated binding agreement regarding financial support as described in section 5 for children who meet the qualifications for guardianship assistance as specified in this act or in the department's administrative rules.

(f) "Legal custodian" means an individual who is at least 18 years of age in whose care a child remains or is placed after a court makes a finding under section 13a of chapter XIIA of the probate code, MCL 712A.13a.

(g) "Probate code" means the probate code of 1939, 1939 PA 288, MCL 710.21 to 712B.41.

(h) "Relative" means an individual who is at least 18 years of age and related to the child by blood, marriage, or adoption, as grandparent, great-grandparent, great-great-grandparent, aunt or uncle, great-aunt or great-uncle, great-great-aunt or great-great-uncle, sibling, stepsibling, nephew or niece, first cousin or first cousin once removed, or the spouse of any of the above, even after the marriage has ended by death or divorce. The parent of a man who the court has found probable cause to believe is the putative father if there is no man with legally established rights to the child may be considered a relative under this act but this is not to be considered as a finding of paternity and does not confer legal standing on the putative father.

(i) "Successor guardian" means a person appointed by the court to act as a legal guardian when the preceding guardian is no longer able to act as a result of his or her death or incapacitation under section 19a or 19c of chapter XIIA of the probate code, MCL 712A.19a and 712A.19c. Successor guardian does not include a person appointed as a guardian if that person's parental rights to the child have been terminated or suspended.

(j) "Title IV-E" refers to the federal assistance provided through the United States Department of Health and Human Services to reimburse states for foster care, adoption assistance payments, and guardianship assistance payments.

History: 2008, Act 260, Imd. Eff. Aug. 4, 2008 ;-- Am. 2009, Act 15, Imd. Eff. Apr. 9, 2009 ;-- Am. 2015, Act 227, Imd. Eff. Dec. 17, 2015