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Proposals Aim To Ease Michigan's Adoption Process

LANSING (WWJ/AP) - Michigan lawmakers have introduced measures they say will make it easier for Michigan residents to adopt. The five-bill package was introduced Tuesday.

Under one of the measures, birth mothers would have 72 hours to revoke their consent for the adoption. Under current law, there is no limit for when a mother can revoke her consent.

Republican Rep. Mike Shirkey of Clarklake said in a statement that current law makes it tedious and time consuming for families to adopt.

The legislative package also would provide children in foster care with added stability and support by creating a Resource Families Bill of Rights, which would help empower foster parents to improve children's care.

"We need to do all we can to make sure Michigan's foster children get placed in permanent, loving homes," Shirkey said.  "Our adoption and foster care systems need reforms as well. We should endeavor to encourage Michigan couples to look at Michigan children first. This is continuous improvement of an important process at its best."

Another measure would shorten the supervisory period for some adopting families. For families that adopt children under one year of age, the supervisory period would drop from six months to three months. It would remain six months for families that adopt older children.

TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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