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State Rep. Cam Cavitt, R-Cheboygan, praised the governor's signing of his legislation that aims to strengthen protections for children being transported to residential treatment programs, according to a press release on Monday from Cavitt's office.
"Today, the state of Michigan is drawing a firm line to protect some of our most vulnerable," Cavitt said. "A difficult situation for a child should never be made more traumatic by the way they are transported. We have established clear expectations for transportation providers and given parents greater assurance that their children will be treated appropriately from the moment they leave home."
House Bill 5514 aims to strengthen protections for children transported to residential youth treatment programs by prohibiting abusive transportation methods. It also prohibits companies from picking up children for transport in the overnight hours between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., helping ensure vulnerable youth are transported under safe and appropriate conditions.
"Every child deserves dignity and compassion, especially when they are in crisis and seeking care," Paris Hilton, founder of 11:11 Media Impact, said in the release. "As a survivor of abusive youth transport, I know how terrifying these practices can be, and I have heard that same pain in the stories of Michigan advocates. By signing HB 5514, Governor Whitmer is protecting vulnerable young people from lasting trauma. I am deeply grateful to Governor Whitmer, Representative Cavitt, and the survivors whose courage made this progress possible."
"This is about accountability," Cavitt said. "If a company is entrusted with transporting a child, that responsibility comes with a clear obligation to put that child's safety first. Parents deserve to have confidence that the people handling these transports are following standards designed to protect their children."
Cavitt stated that the legislation received "strong" bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, reflecting a shared commitment to improving safeguards for vulnerable youth.
"I appreciate the lawmakers, families and advocates who helped bring attention to this issue and worked to find a path forward," Cavitt said in the release. "It took cooperation across the Legislature to move this effort forward, and I'm proud to see that work culminate in a law that provides meaningful protections for young people in our state."