Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules  
MOAHR-Rules@michigan.gov  
AGENCY REPORT TO THE  
JOINT COMMITEE ON ADMNINISTRATIVE RULES (JCAR)  
1. Agency Information  
Agency name:  
Health and Human Services  
Division/Bureau/Office:  
Economic Stability Administration  
Name of person completing this form:  
Mary Brennan  
Phone number of person completing this form:  
517-242-9634  
E-mail of person completing this form:  
BrennanM@michigan.gov  
Name of Department Regulatory Affairs Officer reviewing this form:  
Mary Brennan  
2. Rule Set Information  
MOAHR assigned rule set number:  
2021-87 HS  
Title of proposed rule set:  
Family Independence Program  
3. Purpose for the proposed rules and background:  
The purpose of these rules is to set guidance for DHHS on how to process and determine eligibility  
for the cash assistance program, specifically the Family Independence Program. The changes intend  
to address the ability for both applicants and recipients to choose either an in-house or telephone  
interview for benefits. The rules currently address only in-person interviews but offer alternatives  
only for undue hardship. Because many of the recipients and applicants have medical issues,  
transportation issues, or feel uncomfortable with the current COVID numbers, it may not be feasible  
or safe for the Department or the client to come into the MDHHS building to conduct an in-person  
interview. The change will be also allowing telephone interviews for the public without restriction of  
proving hardship.  
4. Summary of proposed rules:  
The purpose of these rules is set guidance for DHHS on how to process and determine eligibility for  
the Family Independence and State Disability Assistance programs. DHHS seeks to amend the  
current rules to add telephone interview, in addition to in-person interview, for application review.  
These rules seek to improve client customer service by allowing a telephone interview in the event of  
the recipient having medical issues, transportation issues, child care issues, or having to take leave  
from his or her employment in order to complete the a application process.  
MCL 24.242 and 24.245  
Agency Report to JCAR-Page 2  
5. List names of newspapers in which the notice of public hearing was published and  
publication dates:  
Oakland Press; March 8, 2022; Battle Creek Enquirer; March 8, 2022; Marquette Mining Journal,  
March 9, 2022  
6. Date of publication of rules and notice of public hearing in Michigan Register:  
3/15/2022  
7. Date, time, and location of public hearing:  
3/22/2022 09:00 AM at Grand Tower-Room 1A , 235 S. Grand Avenue, First Floor, Lansing, MI  
48933  
8. Provide the link the agency used to post the regulatory impact statement and cost-benefit  
analysis on its website:  
https://ARS.apps.lara.state.mi.us/Transaction/RFRTransaction?TransactionID=1345  
9. List of the name and title of agency representative(s) attending public hearing:  
Lana Karadsheh, Department Analyst, Cash Assistance Program  
10. Persons submitting comments of support:  
None  
11. Persons submitting comments of opposition:  
None  
12. Persons submitting other comments:  
None  
13. Identify any changes made to the proposed rules based on comments received during the  
public comment period:  
Name &  
Organization public hearing  
Comments made at Written  
Comments  
Agency Rationale Rule number  
for Rule Change & citation  
and Description changed  
of Change(s)  
Made  
1
14.Date report completed:  
4/12/2022  
MCL 24.242 and 24.245  
;