Senate Bill 332: Reduce minor-in-possession of alcohol sanctions
Passed 36 to 2 in the Senate on March 3, 2016, to remove the misdemeanor penalties for a first violation of the minor-in-possession of alcohol law, but not on second or third violation, which carry potential 30 and 60 day jail sentences. First-time offenders would instead be subject to a $100 civil fine. The bill also revises certain permissible police actions such as requiring a minor to take a chemical breath test.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=727783
Senate Bill 333: Suspend drivers license for third “minor in possession” violation
Passed 36 to 2 in the Senate on March 3, 2016, to only suspend the drivers license of a minor for a second and subsequent violation of the state minor-in-possession of alcohol law. The bill also would not require automatic license suspension for a single instance of open alcohol in a vehicle, or a minor transporting alcohol in a vehicle.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=727784
Senate Bill 592: Revise organ removal detail
Passed 100 to 3 in the House on March 3, 2016, to include a facility operated by a federally designated organ procurement organization among those in which the surgical removal of a human organ may be performed under state law.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=727810
Senate Bill 656: Clarify “re-po” licensure scope
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on March 3, 2016, to clarify that the act of turning over uncollected bills to a bill collection agency for possible repossession actions, or subsequent communications with that agency, do not come under the regulations, restrictions, licensure requirements and more that apply to “re-po” activities.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=727785
Senate Bill 657: Clarify “re-po” licensure scope
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on March 3, 2016, to clarify that the act of turning over uncollected bills to a bill collection agency for possible repossession actions, or subsequent communications with that agency, do not come under the regulations, restrictions, licensure requirements and more that apply to “re-po” activities.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=727786
Senate Bill 672: Expand children sports liability waivers to camping
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on March 3, 2016, to include “camping activities” in a law that explicitly states that a parent or guardian of a minor who participates in sports or a recreational activity may release the organizer, sponsor or property owner in advance from liability for economic or noneconomic damages for injuries sustained by the minor.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=727787
House Bill 4970: Revise county veteran affairs board detail
Passed 103 to 0 in the House on March 3, 2016, to establish that the board of a county department of veterans’ affairs have at least one member from a “congressionally chartered veterans’ organization” within the county, and at least one board member who is not.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=727805
House Bill 5156: Revise school “professional development” rules
Passed 89 to 14 in the House on March 3, 2016, to increase from five hours to 30 hours the amount of “professional development” school districts provide for public school teachers, and prescribe in greater detail their content. This is part of a package consisting of House Bills 5156 to 5159.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=727809
House Bill 5157: Revise school “professional development” rules
Passed 88 to 15 in the House on March 3, 2016, to prescribe in greater detail content of continuing education requirements for public school administrators, including basing these on an individual professional development plan for each individual. This is part of a package consisting of House Bills 5156 to 5159.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=727808
House Bill 5158: Revise school “professional development” rules
Passed 89 to 14 in the House on March 3, 2016, to prescribe in greater detail the procedures and content of “professional development” and continuing education requirements for new public school teachers. This is part of a package consisting of House Bills 5156 to 5159.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=727807
House Bill 5159: Require voters approve local “judgment levies”
Passed 55 to 48 in the House on March 3, 2016, to penalize a school district that does not provide the “professional development” and continuing education requirements for public school teachers and administrators proposed by House Bills 5156 to 5158. The bill would authorize withholding part of a district’s funding until it complied.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=727806
Senate Bill 823: Appropriations: 2016-2017 “omnibus” budget
Introduced by Sen. Dave Hildenbrand (R) on March 1, 2016, to authorize an “omnibus” state government budget for the fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1, 2016, except for education spending. This would appropriate $38.711 billion for all state departments, compared to $38.623 billion the previous year. Of this, $20.596 billion is federal money. Senate Bill 824 would appropriate money for public schools, colleges and universities. Spending in both bills comes to $54.891 billion next year (or slightly less when adjusted to reflect interdepartmental transfers), compared to $54.443 originally authorized for the current year, of which $20.597 billion is federal money.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172622
Senate Bill 824: “Omnibus” education budget
Introduced by Sen. Dave Hildenbrand (R) on March 1, 2016, to authorize an “omnibus” education budget for the fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1, 2016. This would appropriate $399.0 million for community colleges (vs. $388 million appropriated the previous year), $1.598 billion for higher education (vs. $1.534 billion), and $14.183 billion for K-12 public schools (vs. $13.869 billion). The total comes to $16.180, of which $1.917 billion is federal money, compared to a total of $15.819 billion the previous year. Senate Bill 823 contains the rest of the budget. Spending in both bills comes to $54.891 billion next year (or slightly less when adjusted to reflect interdepartmental transfers), compared to $54.443 originally authorized for the current year, of which $20.597 billion is federal money.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172623
Senate Bill 825: Add new food stamp restriction
Introduced by Sen. Jack Brandenburg (R) on March 1, 2016, to prohibit using food stamps (“bridge cards”) to buy uncooked seafood, meat, or poultry that is to be cooked on the premises where purchased.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172624
Senate Bill 826: Scrap “Common Core” curriculum and tests
Introduced by Sen. Patrick Colbeck (R) on March 1, 2016, to cease all planning and actions related to adopting the national “common core” curriculum in Michigan schools and tests, and replace this with the curriculum that was in effect in Massachusetts during the 2008-2009 school year. This would be an interim step pending creation of Michigan content standards, which the bill proposes be adopted in five years.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172625
Senate Bill 827: Create environmental rules administrative oversight committee
Introduced by Sen. Tom Casperson (R) on March 1, 2016, to create an environmental rules committee in the Department of Environmental Quality consisting of state officials and representatives of various specified interests, which would oversee all of the department’s rule-making. This body would have the authority to halt any new rules that it deems do not meet standards specified in the bill (which address clarity, need and potential over-reach).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172626
Senate Bill 828: Revise drug prescription reporting rules
Introduced by Sen. Dale W. Zorn (R) on March 1, 2016, to repeal certain exceptions to a law that requires doctors and pharmacists to report all schedule 2, 3, 4, and 5 controlled substances that they prescribe and dispense to the state through an electronic reporting system.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172627
Senate Bill 829: Create administrative water resources oversight commission
Introduced by Sen. Jim Ananich (D) on March 1, 2016, to create a state water resources commission comprised of certain state officials and representatives of various specified interests to oversee state government permits, rules and policies related to water resources.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172628
Senate Bill 830: Create administrative water resources oversight commission
Introduced by Sen. Coleman Young, II (D) on March 1, 2016, to explicitly give the state water resources commission proposed by Senate Bill 829 oversight of drinking water standards, procedures and complaints.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172629
Senate Bill 831: Create administrative air pollution oversight commission
Introduced by Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D) on March 1, 2016, to create a state air pollution control commission comprised of various, officials and representatives of specified interests to oversee state government permits, rules and policies related to air pollution.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172630
Senate Bill 832: Repeal crime of threatening excommunication for voting wrong
Introduced by Sen. Patrick Colbeck (R) on March 2, 2016, to repeal a law that makes it a crime for a cleric or official of a church or religious society to attempt to influence a how a member votes in an election by threatening excommunication, dismissal, or expulsion.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172661
Senate Bill 833: Revise fireworks tax allocation
Introduced by Sen. Goeff Hansen (R) on March 2, 2016, to revise details of the distribution of a 6 percent tax levied on retail fireworks sales, which is earmarked for firefighter training.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172662
Senate Bill 834: Give students government predictions related to careers
Introduced by Sen. John Proos (R) on March 2, 2016, to require school districts to make available to students a regional government “career outlook” forecast document.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172663
Senate Bill 835: Create statewide policy on seclusion and restraint in schools
Introduced by Sen. Margaret O’Brien (R) on March 2, 2016, to declare a legislative “finding” that certain specified factors should be considered in creating a uniform policy on the use of seclusion and restraint in public schools. This is part of a package comprised of Senate Bills 835 to 838 that aims to gradually establish and implement this in all schools.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172664
Senate Bill 836: Create statewide policy on seclusion and restraint in schools
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on March 2, 2016, to specify in detail which provisions that should be included in a uniform policy on the use of seclusion and restraint in public schools. This is part of a package comprised of Senate Bills 835 to 838 that aims to gradually establish and implement this in all schools.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172665
Senate Bill 837: Create statewide policy on seclusion and restraint in schools
Introduced by Sen. Curtis Hertel, Jr. (D) on March 2, 2016, to establish statutory definitions of various forms of allowable or prohibited seclusion and restraint in public schools. This is part of a package comprised of Senate Bills 835 to 838 that aims to gradually establish and implement this in all schools.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172666
Senate Bill 838: Create statewide policy on seclusion and restraint in schools
Introduced by Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D) on March 2, 2016, to require public schools to adopt the uniform state policy on the use of seclusion and restraint that is to be devised according to goals and guidelines asserted by Senate Bills 835 to 837.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172667
Senate Bill 839: Require DNR create forest trail map
Introduced by Sen. Wayne Schmidt (R) on March 2, 2016, to require the Department of Natural Resources to create a comprehensive inventory of state forest roads that are considered “state roads,” which identifies the condition and development level of the forest roads, and shows the types of motorized and non-motorized uses currently restricted on each segment, including seasonal restrictions. Also, to allow pack-saddle horses in parts of the forests that are otherwise closed to this activity, if it is to haul out game during hunting season.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172668
Senate Bill 840: Appropriate $3 million to pay for firefighter cancer presumption
Introduced by Sen. Curtis Hertel, Jr. (D) on March 3, 2016, to appropriate $3 million for purposes related to the state adopting a presumption that certain types of cancer contracted by firefighters arose out of and in the course of employment, and so are eligible for workers compensation benefits.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172669
Senate Bill 841: Repeal low-spending exemption to comprehensive campaign finance regulatory regime
Introduced by Sen. David Knezek (D) on March 3, 2016, to repeal an exemption from state campaign finance reporting mandates that applies to political campaigns that raise and spend $1,000 or less. The bill would have the effect of imposing the full state campaign finance regulatory regime on any individuals or citizen groups who wish to organize small scale campaign activities.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172670
Senate Bill 842: Revise consumer loan fee detail
Introduced by Sen. David Robertson (R) on March 3, 2016, to clarify details of certain fees authorized by one of the state laws that regulate consumer loans.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172671
Senate Bill 843: Revise consumer loan fee detail
Introduced by Sen. David Robertson (R) on March 3, 2016, to clarify details of certain fees authorized by one of the state laws that regulate consumer loans.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172672
House Bill 5401: Revise pollution equipment tax treatment detail
Introduced by Rep. Jeff Farrington (R) on March 1, 2016, to revise the requirements for getting a property tax exemption that is allowed for industrial pollution control equipment. The bill would require applications to include an affidavit from an environmental engineer that the equipment meets the rules.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172631
House Bill 5402: Require written school “pay to play” policies
Introduced by Rep. Sam Singh (D) on March 1, 2016, to require school districts to adopt written policies for charging students to engage in certain sports and extracurricular activities (“pay to play”). Schools could not charge fees for use of their facilities or to cover coaches’ pay. Students whose family income makes them eligible for free federal lunches would have to be exempted.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172632
House Bill 5403: Let local governments raise and spend money on “water quality alliances”
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on March 1, 2016, to allow municipal governments to create “water quality alliances” with other local governments for purposes of spending money on water sampling and public information campaigns.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172633
House Bill 5404: Create state water resources commission
Introduced by Rep. Phil Phelps (D) on March 1, 2016, to create a state water resources commission comprised of certain state officials and representatives of various specified interests to oversee state government permits, rules and policies related to water resources.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172634
House Bill 5405: Create state water resources commission
Introduced by Rep. Sheldon Neeley (D) on March 1, 2016, to explicitly give the state water resources commission proposed by House Bill 5304 oversight of drinking water standards, procedures and complaints.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172635
House Bill 5406: Create state water resources commission
Introduced by Rep. Stephanie Chang (D) on March 1, 2016, to create a state water resources commission comprised of certain state officials and representatives of various specified interests to oversee state government permits, rules and policies related to water resources.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172636
House Bill 5407: Revise legislator expulsion/resignation detail
Introduced by Rep. Lisa Lyons (R) on March 1, 2016, to revise a procedural detail related to when legislators are expelled or resign. The bill would require a resignation letter or expulsion resolution to explicitly cover the full balance of the term (rather than be temporary).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172637
House Bill 5408: Revise rule on adult residents in “child care centers”
Introduced by Rep. Wendell Byrd (D) on March 1, 2016, to prohibit “child care centers” (a definition that ranges from summer camps and day care facilities to foster care and group homes) with more than 50 residents from having more than 15 who are age 18 or more, and only if they still have at least 40 who are still minors.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172638
House Bill 5409: Create statewide policy on seclusion and restraint in schools
Introduced by Rep. Frank Liberati (D) on March 2, 2016, to declare a legislative “finding” that certain specified factors should be considered in creating a uniform policy on the use of seclusion and restraint in public schools. This is part of a package comprised of House Bills 5409 to 5416 to gradually establish and implement this in all schools.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172642
House Bill 5410: Create statewide policy on seclusion and restraint in schools
Introduced by Rep. Frank Liberati (D) on March 2, 2016, to require the Department of Education to develop a uniform policy on the use of seclusion and restraint in public schools, according to goals and guidelines articulated by House Bills 5409 to 5416.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172643
House Bill 5411: Create statewide policy on seclusion and restraint in schools
Introduced by Rep. Christine Greig (D) on March 2, 2016, to require the uniform policy on the use of seclusion and restraint in public schools expressed by House Bills 5409 to 5418 to include prohibitions on corporal punishment, chemical restraints, and specified forms of physical restraint.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172644
House Bill 5412: Create statewide policy on seclusion and restraint in schools
Introduced by Rep. Amanda Price (R) on March 2, 2016, to specify in detail the provisions that should be included in a uniform policy on the use of seclusion and restraint in public schools. This is part of a package comprised of House Bills 5409 to 5418 to gradually establish and implement this in all schools.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172645
House Bill 5413: Create statewide policy on seclusion and restraint in schools
Introduced by Rep. Hank Vaupel (R) on March 2, 2016, to prescribe the types of documentation and reporting that must be included in the uniform policy on the use of seclusion and restraint in public schools expressed by House Bills 5409 to 5418.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172646
House Bill 5414: Create statewide policy on seclusion and restraint in schools
Introduced by Rep. Amanda Price (R) on March 2, 2016, to require public schools to have a written policy on the use of seclusion and restraint in an emergency situation. This is part of a package comprised of House Bills 5409 to 5418 to create a uniform policy on the use of seclusion and restraint in public schools.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172647
House Bill 5415: Create statewide policy on seclusion and restraint in schools
Introduced by Rep. Jim Tedder (R) on March 2, 2016, to require Intermediate School Districts to collect data on instances where seclusion and restraint was used in their constituent regular school districts. This is part of a package comprised of House Bills 5409 to 5418 to create a uniform policy on the use of seclusion and restraint in public schools.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172648
House Bill 5416: Create statewide policy on seclusion and restraint in schools
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on March 2, 2016, to suggest the kind of personnel training that should be in the uniform policy on the use of seclusion and restraint in public schools proposed by House Bills 5409 to 5418.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172649
House Bill 5417: Create statewide policy on seclusion and restraint in schools
Introduced by Rep. Christine Greig (D) on March 2, 2016, to establish statutory definitions of various forms of allowable seclusion and restraint in public schools. This is part of a package comprised of House Bills 5409 to 5418 to gradually establish and implement this in all schools.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172650
House Bill 5418: Create statewide policy on seclusion and restraint in schools
Introduced by Rep. Jim Tedder (R) on March 2, 2016, to require public schools to adopt the uniform state policy on the use of seclusion and restraint in public schools that is to be devised according to goals and guidelines expressed by House Bills 5409 to 5418.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172651
House Bill 5419: Create police “surveillance technology oversight board”
Introduced by Rep. Jim Runestad (R) on March 2, 2016, to create a state “surveillance technology oversight board,” and require police agencies to report to it what surveillance technology they possess, the type and frequency of its use, the cost, whether it has led to criminal charges and convictions, and more. The board would be required to produce an annual report on this.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172652
House Bill 5420: Expand fourth degree vulnerable adult abuse crime
Introduced by Rep. Peter Lucido (R) on March 2, 2016, to expand the crime of fourth degree vulnerable adult abuse to include actions that create an unreasonable risk of harm or injury even if nothing bad happens.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172653
House Bill 5421: Revise government retiree insurance/Detroit bankruptcy detail
Introduced by Rep. Laura Cox (R) on March 2, 2016, to revise a 1999 law that authorizes prefunding post-retirement health insurance benefits for government employees, so as to accommodate the Detroit city bankruptcy and a potential Detroit school district bankruptcy. Among other things the bill creates rules for compensation paid to board members on government trusts created for this purpose.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172654
House Bill 5422: Expand fourth degree vulnerable adult abuse crime
Introduced by Rep. John Chirkun (D) on March 2, 2016, to expand the crime of fourth degree vulnerable adult abuse to include actions that create an unreasonable risk of harm or injury even if nothing bad happens.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172655
House Bill 5423: Let local government borrow to replace water service lines
Introduced by Rep. Amanda Price (R) on March 2, 2016, to allow local governments to borrow to replace lead service lines that connect individual residences to municipal systems, and repay the interest and principle by tacking an extra charge onto customer bills.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172656
House Bill 5424: Revise city/township annexation detail
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on March 3, 2016, to exempt a certain city from the law that authorizes a township from annexing part of a neighboring jurisdiction’s territory, subject to various conditions specified in the bill.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172677
House Bill 5425
Introduced by Rep. Robert Kosowski (D) on March 3, 2016, Authorize state loans to municipal water systems to authorize interest free state loans to municipalities (like Flint) for emergencies involving water supply contamination or the threat of contamination.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172678
House Bill 5426: Give away free feminine hygiene products in state restrooms
Introduced by Rep. Sarah Roberts (D) on March 3, 2016, to require the state to provide free tampons and sanitary napkins in all women’s restrooms located in state facilities.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172679
House Bill 5427: Give away free feminine hygiene products in school restrooms
Introduced by Rep. Sarah Roberts (D) on March 3, 2016, to require public schools to provide free tampons and sanitary napkins in all women’s restrooms located.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172680
House Bill 5428: Authorize “sales tax holidays”
Introduced by Rep. Lee Chatfield (R) on March 3, 2016, to exempt from sales tax specified amounts spent on certain items of clothing, sports equipment, school supplies and computers purchased from Sept. 2 through Sept. 5, and specified amounts spent on camping, fishing, boating and ORV gear from June 3 though June 5.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=172681