Posted on 12/09/2012 5:00:49 AM PST by cripplecreek
Make Michigan a "right-to-work" state: Passed 58 to 52 in the House To prohibit employers from enforcing a union contract provision that compels employees to join or financially support a union as a condition of employment. The bill also includes a $1 million appropriation to make it "referendum-proof." All Democrats voted "no" and all Republicans voted "yes" except for Reps. Forlini, Goike, Horn, McBroom, Somerville and Zorn.
, Make Michigan a "right-to-work" state: Passed 22 to 16 in the Senate The Senate vote on the same "right-to-work" measure described above. All Democrats voted "no" and all Republicans voted "yes" except for Sens. Casperson, Green, Nofs and Rocca.
, Extend "right-to-work" to government and school employees: Passed 22 to 4 in the Senate To prohibit Michigan governments and schools from enforcing a union contract provision that compels employees to join or financially support a union as a condition of employment.
, Subsidize new Red Wings Stadium: Passed 27 to 11 in the Senate To allow property tax revenue "captured" by the Detroit "Downtown Development Authority" to pay the debt on money borrowed to provide taxpayer subsidies for a particular developer's new sports stadium and associated projects (Mike Ilitch). The bill would also exempt DDAs from property and other taxes, and revise details of public officials' appointments to DDA boards.
, Create Detroit streetlight authority: Passed 25 to 13 in the Senate To authorize a Detroit streetlight authority with the power to borrow money to restore the city's streetlights, 70 percent of which are reportedly out. The bill requires passage of House Bill 5705, which would let Detroit earmark current utility tax revenue to pay off the new debt, and Senate Bill 970, which would suspend a required city income tax reduction until the new debt is paid off. It also allows Detroit's city unions to bargain for the unionization of the authority's employees.
, Create Detroit regional mass transit authority: Passed 57 to 50 in the House To create a new Detroit area regional transportation authority covering Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties, and potentially others. Among other powers, the authority could levy property taxes (special assessments) and higher local vehicle registration taxes if approved by a majority of voters in the region, meaning a particular community could not “opt out” of the tax increase. The authority would be specifically authorized to create “rolling rapid transit” corridors along some streets and highways, potentially with dedicated lanes that other motorists could not use. It would be run by a board appointed by the counties and the City of Detroit.
, Authorize Detroit regional transit vehicle registration tax: Passed 57 to 50 in the House To give the regional transit authority proposed by Senate Bill 909 (above) the power to impose a higher vehicle registration tax in the region to pay for buses and other public transportation. A vote of the people would be required, but if approved region-wide the tax would still be imposed on individual communities that vote against it (no local "opt-out").
, Ban abortion coverage from "Obamacare“ exchange: Passed 27 to 11 in the Senate To prohibit health insurance acquired (and subsidized) through an “exchange” created under the federal health care law from including coverage for elective abortion.
, Give county officials power to halt recall as "non-factual": Passed 65 to 43 in the House To require county election commissions to determine whether the reasons for a recall petition are stated both "factually and clearly." Under current law, they must simply determine whether the recall language is clear. Note: This may violate Article 8, Section 8 of Michigan's constitution, which asserts that recallers don't have to justify their reasons, but only make them clear.
, Require parental permission to place student with "ineffective" teacher: Passed 60 to 49 in the House To require a public school district to get the written consent of a parent or guardian before placing a child in a classroom with a teacher who is rated “ineffective” under a new state rating system.
Authorize “essential services” tax on industrial plants: Passed 57 to 52 in the House To give local governments the power to impose targeted property taxes on industrial and commercial property deemed by the bill to be “especially benefited” by fire, police and ambulance services. This would replace some of the revenue from proposed reductions in the property tax imposed on business tools and equipment ("personal property tax").
, Repeal BCBS tax exemption, regulate like other insurers: Passed 61 to 49 in the House To convert Blue Cross Blue Shield into a “nonprofit mutual insurance company” (technically "owned" by the policy holders), make it subject to the same regulations as regular health insurers, and no longer exempt BCBS from state and local taxes.
, Give special treatment to firms submitting to “environmental leader” process: Passed 65 to 43 in the House To give certain businesses special treatment in awarding state contracts, eligibility for government subsidies, environmental permit and inspection mandates, and more, if the firm submits itself to a government “environmental leader” designation process. This would require a company to demonstrate that it has no outstanding permit violations or serious past ones, adopt certain practices not required by law, submit to certain additional reporting mandates, participate in “workshops,” etc.
Senate Bill 459: Alternative to federal health care law Medicaid expansion (and more)
Introduced by Sen. Patrick Colbeck (R) on July 31, 2013, to revise state insurance regulations to facilitate “direct primary care” arrangements, potentially as an alternative to mandated conventional insurance under the federal health care law. The bill would also authorize the use of private health insurance “exchanges” as an alternative to the government version of these entities, which are the vehicle by which the federal law administers and distributes insurance subsidies to individuals. (Note: The Federal government has reportedly agreed to use the private “eHealthInsurance.com” company to perform this role by giving it access to the federal exchange data hub.)
“Direct primary care” is a “new-old” health care delivery model that uses contracts between individuals and a physician in which routine and preventative health care services are delivered for a low monthly fee payment. This reportedly saves money because it eliminates the costly administration of reimbursements from conventional third-party insurance companies.
Senate Bill 460 would convert the Medicaid health welfare program into a system that combines direct primary care services, a high-deductible insurance plan, and “gap” insurance or “deductible support” subsidies to cover the high deductibles for low income persons. Both bills were reported from committee at the same time as a Senate version of House Bill 4714 authorizing the expansion, so they can be available for consideration by the full Senate instead of the expansion.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160584
Senate Bill 460: Alternative to federal health care law Medicaid expansion
Introduced by Sen. Patrick Colbeck (R) on July 31, 2013, to convert the Medicaid health welfare program into a system that combines a “direct primary care services” model (see Senate Bill 459), a high-deductible insurance plan, and “gap” insurance or “deductible support” subsidies to cover the high deductibles for low income persons.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160586
House Bill 4714: Accept federal health care law Medicaid expansion
Reported in the Senate on July 31, 2013, the Senate “work group” version of the bill. This would require the federal government to approve a program of health savings accounts, modest cost-sharing, and “healthy behavior incentives” for Medicaid recipients before the expansion could proceed. (State Medicaid officials testified in committee this “waiver” would probably be granted before the expansion’s Jan. 1, 2014 starting date.) Recipients would be enrolled in HMO-like managed care plans provided by hospitals that are granted state contracts for this.
The bill would also require the state to request federal permission to limit individuals covered by the expansion to 48 months on the program, and would supposedly terminate the benefits of some 400,000 individuals expected to be enrolled, and around $3 billion worth of federally-funded managed care contracts with hospitals, if permission was not granted by 2016.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159308
MichiganVotes.org promotes Government Transparency and Government Accountability.
Senate Bill 450: Give certain government employees property tax break
Introduced by Sen. Jim Ananich (D) on July 31, 2013, to grant a state income tax credit to teachers and public safety personnel who buy and move into a home in a run-down area that has been repossessed by the federal Housing and Urban Development agency and sold at a steep discount. Under a federal “Good Neighbor Next Door Program,” such purchase discounts are available only to these government employees. The bill would allow these buyers to cut their state income tax liability by the amount they owe each year in property tax. If the property tax amount is higher than their income tax liability the difference could not be “refunded,” however.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160591
Senate Bill 451: Authorize state child care subsidies and tax breaks
Introduced by Sen. Jim Ananich (D) on July 31, 2013, to authorize a “refundable” state income tax credit (essentially a cash subsidy in many cases) that would be a percentage of a federal income tax child care credit the individual can claim, with the percentage “means tested” on the basis of gross income (ranging from 110 percent for households with less than $25,000 income to 20 percent for those between $65,000 and $100,000).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160592
Senate Bill 452: Give in-state vendors “second chance” on state contracts
Introduced by Sen. Jim Ananich (D) on July 31, 2013, to establish that if a Michigan company is out-bid by an out-of-state company on a state contract, the state must give it 30 days to match or beat the lower bid.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160593
Senate Bill 453: Give in-state vendors “second chance” on state contracts
Introduced by Sen. Morris Hood, III (D) on July 31, 2013, to establish that if a Michigan company is out-bid by an out-of-state company on a state contract, the state must give it 30 days to match or beat the lower bid.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160594
Senate Bill 454: Ban sex offender’s participation in Halloween, birthday parties, etc.
Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on July 31, 2013, to prohibit convicted sex offenders whose crime involved a minor from participating in Halloween costumes and “trick or treats,” children’s birthday parties, and similar non-holiday activities involving minors.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160595
Senate Bill 455: Mandate mental health insurance “parity”
Introduced by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D) on July 31, 2013, to impose a new coverage mandate that would require health insurance companies to include in all their policies coverage for mental health treatment, and prohibit requiring a higher deductible or co-pay, or providing a lower benefit level, than those that apply to coverage for physical ailments.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160596
Senate Bill 456: Mandate mental health insurance “parity”
Introduced by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D) on July 31, 2013, to impose a new coverage mandate that would require Blue Cross Blue Shield to include in all their health insurance policies coverage for mental health treatment, and prohibit requiring a higher deductible or co-pay, or providing a lower benefit level, than those that apply to coverage for physical ailments.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160597
Senate Bill 457: Authorize “second parent adoption”
Introduced by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D) on July 31, 2013, to provide for “second parent adoption” in Michigan law. This is a legal procedure that allows a same-sex parent to adopt his or her partner’s biological or adoptive child without terminating the first parent’s legal status as a parent.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160598
Senate Bill 458: Give tax break to new oil refinery
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on July 31, 2013, to grant a 10 year property tax exemption to the owners of a new oil refinery that is built in Michigan.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160599
Senate Bill 461: Impose term limits on charter school boards
Introduced by Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D) on July 31, 2013, to impose five-year “term limits” on charter school board members (but not on members of conventional school boards), after which they would be prohibited from being on the board again for 10 years. The bill also would require at least two parents be on the charter board, impose attendance requirements, require there be at least seven members on the board, and more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160600
Senate Bill 422: Create new low-income medical welfare program
Failed 9 to 29 in the Senate on August 27, 2013, to create a new state medical welfare program that for a minimal monthly premium ($5 to $20) would provide insurance benefits to individuals below the federal poverty level who are not eligible for federal Medicaid subsidies (which mostly applies to childless adults). This is potentially an alternative to the Medicaid expansion portion of the federal health care law called “Obamacare” by most people.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=671997
House Bill 4132: Revise conservation district vacancy detail
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on August 27, 2013, to give the Department of Natural Resources the authority to appoint a person to fill a county conservation district board vacancy until the next annual meeting at which directors are selected. The bill also revises some other details related to these government entities.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=671988
House Bill 4541: Extend “Obsolete Property” tax break for particular developer
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on August 27, 2013, to revise the criteria in the law that authorizes tax breaks for the rehabilitation and reuse of “obsolete structures” in a way that will allow granting these tax breaks to a particular project. The bill would also require the state Tax Commission to post online information about applications for these tax break exceptions that are approved or disapproved, and also send this information to the legislators representing the area where an applicant is located.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=671991
House Bill 4714: Accept federal health care law Medicaid expansion
Passed 20 to 18 in the Senate on August 27, 2013, to expand Medicaid eligibility to families and childless adults up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, which implements a key component of the federal health care law (aka “Obamacare”). Under that law, the feds are supposed to pay 100 percent of the expansion’s cost during the first three years, with the state responsible for not more than 10 percent of the costs starting in 2020.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672004
House Bill 4714: Accept federal health care law Medicaid expansion
The motion failed 24 to 14 in the Senate on August 27, 2013, to give the bill immediate effect. Without a two-thirds majority on this vote, the Medicaid expansion cannot proceed until 90 days after the 2013 legislative session concludes at the end of the year. Under the federal health care law, the expansion is scheduled to begin on Jan. 1, 2014.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672005
House Bill 4891: Earmark liquor tax money to prevention and treatment
Introduced by Rep. Matt Lori (R) on July 18, 2013, to earmark a portion of liquor tax revenue to local drug and alcoholism prevention and treatment programs.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160373
House Bill 4892: Revise state contractor detail
Introduced by Rep. Robert Genetski (R) on July 18, 2013, to revise the procedures used when making partial progress payments to contractors on state construction projects. The bill would require these rather than just allow them, and establish deadlines and penalties for failures by the state to pay contractors in a timely manner.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160374
House Bill 4893: Revise child abuse investigation database details
Introduced by Rep. Margaret O’Brien (R) on July 18, 2013, to revise the rules for maintaining or expunging records of investigations contained in a central state registry of serious child abuse cases, and for notifications sent to individuals who are the targets of such investigations.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160375
House Bill 4894: Mandate hours of school health education
Introduced by Rep. Thomas Stallworth, III (D) on July 18, 2013, to mandate that public schools provide at least 50 hours per year of “health education” to students in grades K to 8.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160376
House Bill 4895: Increase concealing stolen car penalties
Introduced by Rep. Klint Kesto (R) on July 18, 2013, to increase the penalty for second and subsequent convictions for concealing a stolen vehicle.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160377
House Bill 4896: Increase concealing stolen car penalties
Introduced by Rep. Klint Kesto (R) on July 18, 2013, to establish sentencing guidelines for the increased penalties proposed by House Bill 4895 for second and subsequent convictions for concealing a stolen vehicle.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160378
House Bill 4897: Use state agency to “facilitate” creating Detroit futures exchange
Introduced by Rep. John Olumba (D) on July 18, 2013, to require the state financial and insurance regulation bureau to collaborate with other government agencies to “facilitate” creation of a Detroit “Mercantile and Commodities Exchange”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160379
House Bill 4898: Repeal state income tax
Introduced by Rep. Robert Genetski (R) on July 18, 2013, to repeal the state income tax, if voters approve. This bill would place the repeal on the ballot as a legislative initiative on the November 2014 general election.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160380
House Bill 4899: Impose new regulations on gas and oil “fracking”
Introduced by Rep. Sarah Roberts (D) on July 18, 2013, to require the Department of Environmental Quality to hold a public hearing before issuing a permit for the extraction of natural gas or oil using “hydraulic fracturing,” if local politicians or residents request a hearing.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160381
House Bill 4900: Impose new regulations on gas and oil “fracking”
Introduced by Rep. Jeff Irwin (D) on July 18, 2013, to prohibit the extraction of natural gas using “hydraulic fracturing” unless a driller discloses extensive details on the particular well and the chemicals used in the process, applies for permission, is granted a permit by state environmental regulators and more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160382
House Bill 4901: Impose new regulations on gas and oil “fracking”
Introduced by Rep. Marcia Hovey-Wright (D) on July 18, 2013, to require the Department of Environmental Quality, the Department of Community Health, and the Department of Natural Resources to jointly undertake a study of the public health, environmental, and natural resource impacts associated with the extraction of oil or gas from shale formations in this state, and detailing potential regulations.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160383
House Bill 4902: Impose “fracking” pollution presumption
Introduced by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D) on July 18, 2013, to establish a rebuttable presumption of legal liability, that any groundwater contamination “in the vicinity” of an oil or gas well using the hydraulic fracturing extraction process was caused by the chemicals used in that process.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160384
House Bill 4903: Impose new regulations on gas and oil “fracking”
Introduced by Rep. Sean McCann (D) on July 18, 2013, to impose a groundwater withdrawal assessment regulatory regime and permit mandates on the use of “hydraulic fracturing” to extract natural gas and oil.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160385
House Bill 4904: Impose new regulations on gas and oil “fracking”
Introduced by Rep. Gretchen Driskell (D) on July 18, 2013, to give counties and townships the power to regulate and possibly ban hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas through their zoning ordinances.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160386
House Bill 4906: Impose new regulations on gas and oil “fracking”
Introduced by Rep. Vicki Barnett (D) on July 18, 2013, to increase from 450 feet to 1,000 feet the distance a gas or oil well must be kept from a residence, school, child care facility, hospital or park.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160388
House Bill 4907: Revise arson law details
Introduced by Rep. John Walsh (R) on July 18, 2013, to clarify wording in the state’s law against arson.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160389
House Bill 4908: Revise arson law details
Introduced by Rep. John Walsh (R) on July 18, 2013, to revise details of state sentencing guidelines for the crime of arson.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160390
House Bill 4909: Repeal ban on same-sex marriage
Introduced by Rep. Jeff Irwin (D) on July 18, 2013, to eliminate the state ban on same-sex marriage. Enactment of the bill would require adoption of House Joint Resolution V or another constitutional amendment repealing this ban.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160391
House Bill 4910: Repeal ban on same-sex marriage
Introduced by Rep. Kate Segal (D) on July 18, 2013, to eliminate the state ban on same-sex marriage in a state “foreign marriage act.” Enactment of the bill would require adoption of House Joint Resolution V or another constitutional amendment repealing the ban on same-sex marriage.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160392
House Bill 4911: Require warrant to use or disclose cell phone GPS data
Introduced by Rep. Jeff Irwin (D) on July 18, 2013, to prohibit law enforcement agents from using a cell phone GPS to obtain or disclose the location of an individual, unless they obtain a warrant or the person’s permission.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160393
House Bill 4912: Require warrant to use or disclose cell phone GPS data
Introduced by Rep. Tom McMillin (R) on July 18, 2013, to establish sentencing guidelines for violations of the prohibition proposed by House Bill 4911 of using a cell phone GPS to obtain or disclose the location of an individual without a warrant or the person’s permission.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160394
House Bill 4913: Limit SLAPP suits
Introduced by Rep. Tom McMillin (R) on July 18, 2013, to limit “strategic lawsuits against public participation” (SLAPP suits), which are filed against a person who communicates with a governmental unit, public official, or other person to seek relief, influence action, inform, communicate, and otherwise participate in the process of government. The bill would require a court to dismiss such a suit unless there was prima facie evidence that it was not initiated to deny constitutionally protected free speech, and the defendant was prohibited by law from disseminating the information, or the information was false or made with reckless regard for the truth. A defendant could collect damages of up to $5,000 if the plaintiff failed to meet these standards and the case was dismissed.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160395
House Bill 4914: Require militarized police agency disclosures
Introduced by Rep. Tom McMillin (R) on July 18, 2013, to require law enforcement agencies with SWAT teams to file reports every six months disclosing the number of times these were deployed, where, the reason, the legal authority for the raid, the result, the number of arrests made if any, the type of evidence and property seized, whether a forcible entry was made, whether a weapon was discharged by a SWAT team member, and whether a person or pet was injured or killed by a SWAT team member.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160396
House Bill 4915: Extend sunset on crime victim’s rights fund earmark
Introduced by Rep. Matt Lori (R) on July 18, 2013, to extend until October 2018 the sunset on a provision of the state crime victim’s rights fund earmarking money not used by the fund in any given year to pay instead for other law enforcement activities, such as maintaining the state sex offender registry, “Amber alert” programs, sex crime victim treatment services, lie detector tests and expert witness fees.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160397
House Bill 4916: Allow nonprofits to solicit money in the street
Introduced by Rep. Terry Brown (D) on July 18, 2013, to permit individuals to solicit charitable donations in public a right-of-way (street) if this is permitted by the local government and if the money is being raised for a nonprofit 501c organization.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160398
House Bill 4917: Revise asbestos lawsuit detail
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on July 18, 2013, to require a claimant in an asbestos case to disclose any information related to prior claims for compensation from asbestos trust funds.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160399
House Bill 4918: Ban paying “bounties” to local parking enforcement “volunteers”
Introduced by Rep. Tim Kelly (R) on August 2, 2013, to prohibit local governments from paying “bounties” to individuals participating in local volunteer parking meter enforcement programs.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160601
House Bill 4919: Authorize state spending to encourage governments to buy local produce
Introduced by Rep. Theresa Abed (D) on August 2, 2013, to authorize a new government program in which the state would spend money to encourage schools and other government entities to buy farm products that are grown, processed, or manufactured in this state.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160602
House Bill 4920: Delay certain mandated large retailer use and sales tax prepayments
Introduced by Rep. John Walsh (R) on August 2, 2013, to postpone until 2015 a new law that increases the amount of use tax and sales tax prepayments large retailers are required to pay in advance to the state.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160603
House Bill 4921: Delay certain mandated large retailer use and sales tax prepayments
Introduced by Rep. John Walsh (R) on August 2, 2013, to postpone until 2015 a new law that increases the amount of use tax and sales tax prepayments large retailers are required to pay in advance to the state.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160604
House Bill 4922: Ban food stamps for beverage deposits
Introduced by Rep. Robert Genetski (R) on August 2, 2013, to prohibit using food stamps (“bridge cards”) to pay the deposit on beverage containers.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160605
House Bill 4923: Name a highway after a fallen police officer
Introduced by Rep. Aric Nesbitt (R) on August 2, 2013, to designate a portion of I-94 in Van Buren county as the “Trooper Rick Johnson Memorial Highway”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160606
House Bill 4924: Expand allowable farmers market wine tastings
Introduced by Rep. Mike Shirkey (R) on August 2, 2013, to allow larger winemakers to sell wine and hold wine tastings at farmers markets and special events under a recent law.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160607
House Bill 4925: Authorize toll road and bridge “public/private partnerships”
Introduced by Rep. Marilyn Lane (D) on August 2, 2013, to authorize the state Department of Transportation to enter “public/private partnerships” for roads, bridges and other facilities, potentially including additional toll-charging lanes on freeways. The state could borrow against future revenues (“sell bonds”) to pay for these projects, which would be owned by the state, with the private vendor collecting user fees.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160608
House Bill 4926: Revise totaled vehicle title detail
Introduced by Rep. Mike Callton (R) on August 2, 2013, to facilitate insurance companies getting salvage or scrap certificates of title on totaled vehicles from the Secretary of State if needed.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160609
Senate Bill 389: Give high school diploma to Viet Nam veterans
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on September 3, 2013, to grant a high school diploma to veterans who did not graduate but joined the armed forces during Vietnam war.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672032
House Bill 4714: Accept federal health care law Medicaid expansion
Passed 75 to 32 in the House on September 3, 2013, to concur with the comparatively minor changes the Senate made to the House-passed bill. This vote send the measure to the Governor for signature.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672074
Senate Bill 325: Establish a “uniform child abduction prevention act”
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on September 11, 2013, to create a “uniform child abduction prevention act” that would allow a court to order abduction prevention measures in a child-custody proceeding if evidence established a credible risk of the child being taken or retained in violation of custody or visitation rights. A court could also take physical custody of a child to prevent imminent abduction.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672246
Senate Bill 325: Establish a “uniform child abduction prevention act”
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on September 11, 2013, to create a “uniform child abduction prevention act” that would allow a court to order abduction prevention measures in a child-custody proceeding if evidence established a credible risk of the child being taken or retained in violation of custody or visitation rights. A court could also take physical custody of a child to prevent imminent abduction.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672243
House Bill 4732: Exempt roadside farm stands from building permit mandates
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on September 11, 2013, to exempt roadside farm stands from building code regulations and permit requirements. Specifically, to establish that they need not have plumbing and electricity.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672247
Senate Bill 237: Revise school vaccination age
Passed 108 to 0 in the House on September 12, 2013, to change from 6th grade to 7th grade the year in which public school students are required to have been given certain vaccinations (with specified exceptions).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672322
Senate Bill 238: Revise school vaccination age
Passed 108 to 0 in the House on September 12, 2013, to change from 6th grade to 7th grade the year in which public school students are required to have been given certain vaccinations (with specified exceptions).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672323
Senate Bill 239: Revise school vaccination age
Passed 108 to 0 in the House on September 12, 2013, to change from 6th grade to 7th grade the year in which public school students are required to have been given certain vaccinations (with specified exceptions).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672324
Senate Bill 257: Expand “Business Improvement Zone” tax-and-spend entities
Passed 77 to 31 in the House on September 12, 2013, to expand the items that a “Business Improvement Zone” can spend money on, increase from seven years to 10 years the time one of these zones can operate without reauthorization, revise voting rules in a way that (potentially) reduces the proportion of property owners in the district needed to impose a zone’s tax-and-spending powers, increase the proportion of owners needed to dissolve one, reduce notice and public meeting requirements required to establish a zone, allow the “zone” to sell services to particular property owners, increase penalties for not paying the “special assessments” these entities impose, and make other changes. These zones may be created by owners of a majority of the property in a certain area (not the same as the majority of owners), and have the power to impose property taxes (special assessments) to pay for the debt they incur to pay for projects that are supposed to benefit the property owners. Reportedly the city of Detroit is the main focus of the bill, but the “zones” are not limited to Detroit.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672295
Senate Bill 332: Exempt “natural fertilizer” from phosphate content restrictions
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on September 12, 2013, to exempt “natural fertilizer” from restrictions imposed by a 2010 law restricting spreading a fertilizer containing more than 0.5 percent of the plant nutrient “available phosphate” (p2o5) on a lawn, golf course or other grass.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672254
Senate Bill 347: Expand MSHDA developer subsidies
Passed 88 to 20 in the House on September 12, 2013, to empower the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) to use money in reserve funds to “invest” (buy ownership interest) in companies or nonprofits whose “primary purpose is to acquire ownership interests in multifamily housing projects” (and not necessarily build new ones).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672297
Senate Bill 351: Clarify fertilizer use restrictions
Passed 27 to 10 in the Senate on September 12, 2013, to clarify that use of fertilizers and other soil conditioners which follows “generally accepted” agricultural and management practices at the time of use does not constitute a “release” of hazardous substances in violation of state regulations.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672255
Senate Bill 354: Revise dog and cat euthanasia regulations
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on September 12, 2013, to require an animal control or protection shelter to use only injections of a commercially prepared solution for euthanizing a dog or cat.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672256
Senate Bill 373: Require pharmacy best practices pilot programs
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on September 12, 2013, to allow the Michigan Board of Pharmacy to establish a process for the approval of up to 25 pilot projects designed to provide better pharmacy products or more efficient pharmacy services.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672258
House Bill 4094: Prohibit penalty for hunts and game legally taken in another state
Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate on September 12, 2013, to explicitly establish in statute that “an individual shall not be prosecuted, punished, or penalized” by Michigan authorities for lawfully taking or possessing game animals taken in another state.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672253
House Bill 4786: Increase vital records fees
Passed 58 to 50 in the House on September 12, 2013, to increase the fees for obtaining copies of vital records such as birth and death certificates. The fee increases range from $4 to $15 per record, and the bill also authorizes an extra $25 fee for “expedited” service.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672298
House Bill 4787: Increase CON health facility rationing fees
Passed 82 to 26 in the House on September 12, 2013, to increase from $1,500 to $3,000 the “base” fee for a hospital or other health care providers seeking government permission to open or expand a health care facility, or add certain capital-intensive equipment (like MRIs), under an existing state “Certificate of Need” rationing regime. The bill would also authorize additional fee increases of $5,000 for large projects, $3,000 for “complex” projects, $500 for “letter of intent” reviews, and more. These fees would then be indexed to inflation so that legislative authorization would not be required for future fee hikes.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672299
House Bill 4961: Increase state share of foster care rate increase cost
Passed 108 to 0 in the House on September 12, 2013, to require the Department of Human Services to pay all of a $3 administrative rate increase for private providers of foster care services as provided in the 2013-14 state budget, rather than half the amount (with counties responsible for the rest which is what current law requires).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672328
Senate Bill 462: Repeal ban on bars using liquor brand novelty items
Introduced by Sen. Steve Bieda (D) on August 27, 2013, to repeal an administrative ban on bars and restaurants “furnishing or using” novelty items with liquor brand logos.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160652
Senate Bill 463: Exempt “historic military vehicles” from displaying license plate
Introduced by Sen. Bruce Caswell (R) on September 3, 2013, to no longer require license plates on a “historic military vehicle,” regardless of its size, weight, or age, if it was manufactured for use in any country’s military forces and is maintained to accurately represent the military design and markings.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160667
Senate Bill 464: Define breastfeeding woman as civil rights “protected class”
Introduced by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D) on September 10, 2013, to include a woman who is breastfeeding in the protected classes in the state civil rights law. The bill would prohibit denying a breastfeeding woman “the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations of a place of public accommodation,” and prohibit these places from having or posting a policy that a breastfeeding woman’s patronage or presence is “objectionable, unwelcome, unacceptable, or undesirable”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160731
Senate Bill 465: Adopt “uniform adult guardianship and protective proceedings jurisdiction act”
Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on September 10, 2013, to revise details in the state “estates and protected individuals code” to reflect the proposal in Senate Bill 466 to adopt a “uniform adult guardianship and protective proceedings jurisdiction act”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160732
Senate Bill 466: Adopt “uniform adult guardianship and protective proceedings jurisdiction act”
Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on September 10, 2013, to adopt a “uniform adult guardianship and protective proceedings jurisdiction act” to address multi-state and international jurisdiction issues related to guardians appointed by a court to protect the interests of an incapacitated person.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160733
Senate Bill 467: Repeal voter photo ID law by allowing non-photo IDs
Introduced by Sen. Jim Ananich (D) on September 10, 2013, to essentially repeal the law requiring an individual to show a photo identification card when voting, and instead allow voting with just a current pay stub, utility bill, bank statement, work or school ID card, welfare “bridge card,” unemployment benefits debit card and more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160734
Senate Bill 468: Ban non-ferrous metal sales without sheriff’s permission
Introduced by Sen. Virgil Smith, Jr. (D) on September 10, 2013, to prohibit transporting or selling nonferrous metal a unless a person gets permission from the county sheriff, except for employees of government agencies and certain types of contractor specified in the bill, subject to fines of up to $1,000.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160735
Senate Bill 469: Ban non-ferrous metal sales without sheriff’s permission
Introduced by Sen. Virgil Smith, Jr. (D) on September 10, 2013, to require second hand dealers to verify that a seller of nonferrous metal has the sheriff’s permission that Senate Bill 468 would mandate, and impose additional record keeping requirements on these dealers.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160736
Senate Bill 470: Create scrap metal theft offenders registry
Introduced by Sen. Virgil Smith, Jr. (D) on September 10, 2013, to require an individual convicted for stealing scrap metal and related offenses to register on a state “scrap metal offenders registry” and pay an extra $50 for this. Scrap metal dealers would have to check sellers against this registry before buying metal from them, and would have a $1 fee per transaction imposed on their scrap metal purchases.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160737
Senate Bill 471: Restrict releasing juvenile criminal history record information
Introduced by Sen. Roger Kahn (R) on September 10, 2013, to restrict law enforcement agencies from disseminating juvenile criminal history record information.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160738
Senate Bill 472: Revise state survey and remonumentation commission details
Introduced by Sen. Howard Walker (R) on September 10, 2013, to revise details of the law that authorizes a state survey and remonumentation commission, including its duties and some definitions related to corner and landmark markers.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160739
Senate Bill 473: Exempt some government housing program firms from income tax withholding
Introduced by Sen. Jack Brandenburg (R) on September 10, 2013, to not impose income tax withholding mandates on companies involved in certain government housing programs if this would violate the terms of those programs.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160740
Senate Bill 474: Impose new regulations on “petroleum coke”
Introduced by Sen. Coleman Young (D) on September 10, 2013, to impose new regulations on the storage of “petroleum coke” (“pet coke”). This is related to a Marathon Oil refinery expansion in Detroit.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160741
Senate Bill 475: Establish trampoline court regulations
Introduced by Sen. Dave Hildenbrand (R) on September 10, 2013, to establish standards and regulations for trampoline courts and operators, and grant limited immunity from lawsuits if these are followed.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160742
Senate Bill 476: Repeal auctioneer registration mandate
Introduced by Sen. Dave Hildenbrand (R) on September 11, 2013, to repeal a law that imposes a registration (licensure) mandate on auctioneers.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160755
Senate Bill 477: Repeal auctioneer registration mandate
Introduced by Sen. Dave Hildenbrand (R) on September 11, 2013, to repeal a law that imposes a registration (licensure) mandate on auctioneers. This bill repeals various fee mandates.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160756
Senate Bill 478: Repeal auctioneer registration mandate
Introduced by Sen. Dave Hildenbrand (R) on September 11, 2013, to revise references to snowmobile dealers in the state environmental law so as to reflect the provisions of Senate Bill 476, which would repeal a law that imposes a registration (licensure) mandate on auctioneers.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160757
Senate Bill 479: Repeal interior designer registration
Introduced by Sen. Mark Jansen (R) on September 11, 2013, to repeal a law that establishes a government interior designer registry and makes it available to state or local government agencies, and rescind related administrative regulations. To be included on the registry a designer must have passed a test created by a national organization of incumbent interior designers. This organization has sought repeatedly in this state to impose a full licensure and regulatory regime on interior designers, with several bills introduced in previous legislatures.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160758
Senate Bill 480: Repeal “proprietary school solicitor” regulations
Introduced by Sen. Mark Jansen (R) on September 11, 2013, to repeal state regulations on “proprietary school solicitors.” This refers to private trade schools, business schools and correspondence schools.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160759
House Bill 4927: Let adoption agencies refuse adoptions that violate moral convictions
Introduced by Rep. Andrea LaFontaine (R) on August 28, 2013, to specify in statute that a “child placing agency” (private adoption agency) is not required to assist or participate in an adoption that violates its written religious or moral convictions, including adoptions of a child by a homosexual.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160653
House Bill 4928: Lwr adoption agencies refuse adoptions that violate moral convictions
Introduced by Rep. Kenneth Kurtz (R) on August 28, 2013, to specify in statute that a “child placing agency” (private adoption agency) is not required to assist or participate in an adoption that violates its written religious or moral convictions, including adoptions of a child by a homosexual.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160654
House Bill 4929: Revise timber harvest revenue detail
Introduced by Rep. Robert Genetski (R) on August 28, 2013, to allow money held by a state “Forest Finance Authority” (which includes revenue from timber harvesting on state land) to be given to local governments for fighting forest fires on state land.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160655
House Bill 4930: Repeal club emblem vehicle display ban
Introduced by Rep. Tom Leonard (R) on August 28, 2013, to repeal a law that bans displaying the emblem or insignia of any organization, association, fraternity, lodge, club or order on a vehicle unless the vehicle owner belongs to the organization.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160656
House Bill 4931: Ban unauthorized interception of electronic communications
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on August 28, 2013, to prohibit and authorize penalties for the unauthorized interception or tracing of a broad range of electronic communications and information technologies, and for producing or possessing a device intended to do this, with certain exceptions allowing service providers to operate their networks. The bill would require the state Supreme Court to appoint five circuit and appeals court judges as “judges of competent jurisdiction” empowered to authorize warrants for law enforcement agencies to intercept communications covered by the bill.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160657
House Bill 4932: Ban unauthorized interception of electronic communications
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on August 28, 2013, to establish sentencing guidelines for the penalties proposed by House Bill 4931 for the unauthorized interception or tracing of a broad range of electronic communications and information technologies.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160658
House Bill 4933: Revise out-of-state lawyer reciprocity law
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on August 28, 2013, to eliminate a provision that only allows a lawyer who is a “member of the bar” in another state to practice law in Michigan if the individual intends to “maintain an office” or teach law full time here.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160659
House Bill 4934: Retroactively grant subsidy to particular developer
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on August 28, 2013, to retroactively convert the remaining portion of a selective “historical preservation” tax break granted to a particular developer into an outright cash subsidy from the state.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160660
House Bill 4935: Increase sanctions for certain liquor license law violations
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on August 28, 2013, to increase the penalties and licensing sanctions for certain liquor license law violations deemed by the bill to be “critical” violations.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160661
House Bill 4936: Redesignate a highway
Introduced by Rep. Tom Leonard (R) on August 28, 2013, to designate a portion of U.S. 127 in Clinton County as the “Tim Sanborn Memorial Highway”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160662
House Bill 4937: Revise utility regulation detail
Introduced by Rep. Aric Nesbitt (R) on August 28, 2013, to repeal a requirement that gas and electric utilities must periodically disburse money from an “uncollectibles allowance recovery fund” they are required to maintain to a state fund that makes air pollution reduction grants.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160663
House Bill 4938: Repeal voter photo ID law by allowing non-photo IDs
Introduced by Rep. David Knezek (D) on September 3, 2013, to essentially repeal the law requiring an individual to show a photo identification card when voting, and instead allow voting with just a current pay stub, utility bill, bank statement, work or school ID card, welfare “bridge card” or unemployment benefits debit card, and more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160683
House Bill 4939: Revise “incompatible offices” detail
Introduced by Rep. David Knezek (D) on September 3, 2013, to revise the law on incompatible public offices to allow the head of a department in a city with less than 50,000 people to also serve as the city manager.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160684
House Bill 4940: Repeal ban on paying child abuse task force members
Introduced by Rep. Kenneth Kurtz (R) on September 3, 2013, to repeal a prohibition on paying members of a state child abuse prevention task force created by a 2012 law.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160685
House Bill 4941: Revise nurse license reciprocity detail
Introduced by Rep. Gail Haines (R) on September 4, 2013, to repeal a January 1, 2012 expiration date for the state nursing licensure board to extend reciprocity to a nurse licensed by an equivalent licensing board or authority in Canada.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160702
House Bill 4942: Establish “carbon dioxide sequestration” regulations
Introduced by Rep. Douglas Geiss (D) on September 4, 2013, to establish regulations and impose bonding or other financial surety requirements on operators of underground carbon dioxide sequestration facilities. Sequestration is the injection of CO2 into wells deep in the ground, and is a technique being investigated to use mainly in conjunction with coal burning power plants to mitigate the possibility of global warming caused by the release of CO2 into the atmosphere.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160703
House Bill 4943: Establish “carbon dioxide sequestration” regulations
Introduced by Rep. Douglas Geiss (D) on September 4, 2013, to establish regulations and impose bonding or other financial surety requirements on operators of underground carbon dioxide sequestration facilities. Sequestration is the injection of CO2 into wells deep in the ground, and is a technique being investigated to use mainly in conjunction with coal burning power plants to mitigate the possibility of global warming caused by the release of CO2 into the atmosphere.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160704
House Bill 4944: Establish “carbon dioxide sequestration” regulations
Introduced by Rep. Douglas Geiss (D) on September 4, 2013, to establish sentencing guidelines for the crime of making false statements regarding carbon sequestration regulations proposed by House Bill 4943.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160705
House Bill 4945: Ban emergency manager conflict of interest contracts
Introduced by Rep. Douglas Geiss (D) on September 4, 2013, to prohibit an emergency manager appointed by the state to oversee a fiscally failed school district or local government from authorizing a contract in which the manager or a family member have a financial interest, with certain specific exceptions.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160706
House Bill 4946: Ban propane tanks within 50 feet of store
Introduced in the House on September 4, 2013, to prohibit storing propane or LP gas within 50 feet of a building that is open to the public. Among other things this would potentially restrict propane tank swap services that have become available at many retail locations.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160707
House Bill 4947: Establish procedures for legislative candidate withdrawal or death
Introduced by Rep. Sean McCann (D) on September 4, 2013, to establish that if a major party candidate in a state legislator race dies, withdraws, moves or becomes ineligible after the primary election and before the general election, then the general election would be postponed, a special election would be held on the next regular election date (in February), and a new candidate would be selected by the political party’s county committees in the affected district under procedures specified in the bill.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160708
House Bill 4948: Restrict releasing juvenile criminal history records
Introduced by Rep. Joseph Haveman (R) on September 4, 2013, to restrict law enforcement agencies from disseminating juvenile criminal history record information.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160709
House Bill 4949: Unemployment insurance reform package
Introduced by Rep. Frank Foster (R) on September 4, 2013, to increase the potential sanctions for taking unemployment benefits to which a person is not entitled.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160710
House Bill 4950: Unemployment insurance reform package
Introduced by Rep. Frank Foster (R) on September 4, 2013, to potentially increase the unemployment insurance assessments (payroll tax) on an employer who fails to provide a timely notice to the state unemployment agency that a person has been fired rather than laid off, and so is not eligible for benefits.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160711
House Bill 4951: Unemployment insurance reform package
Introduced by Rep. Frank Foster (R) on September 4, 2013, to revise the allocation of money recovered from unemployment benefit fraud investigations to various government funds.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160712
House Bill 4952: Unemployment insurance reform package
Introduced by Rep. Ken Goike (R) on September 4, 2013, to make a person ineligible to collect unemployment benefits if a prospective employer requires a drug test as a condition of a job offer and the individual either refuses to take the test or fails it.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160713
House Bill 4953: Unemployment insurance reform package
Introduced by Rep. Ken Goike (R) on September 4, 2013, to potentially increase the unemployment payroll tax on an employer who fails to provide a timely notice to the state unemployment agency that a person has been fired, not laid off, and so is not eligible for benefits.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160714
House Bill 4954: Unemployment insurance reform package
Introduced by Rep. Ken Goike (R) on September 4, 2013, to revise the allocation of money recovered from unemployment benefit fraud investigations to various government funds.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160715
House Bill 4955: Ban schools denying “dual enrollment”
Introduced by Rep. Frank Foster (R) on September 4, 2013, to prohibit a school district or a private school from denying an eligible student’s request to enroll in “dual enrollment” programs that let students get credit for taking college courses, with the state or school district paying all or part of the cost.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160716
House Bill 4956: Mandate state give unused facilities to public schools
Introduced by Rep. Frank Foster (R) on September 4, 2013, to require the state to give unused state facilities to a public school that wants to use them for instructional purposes. Specifically, the state would have to sell or lease the facility for $1, or $1 per year. The school would be responsible for all “direct expenses” related to the facility, but not the state’s debt service payments (if any).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160717
House Bill 4957: Rename Cut River gorge bridge
Introduced by Rep. Frank Foster (R) on September 4, 2013, to designate the bridge on U.S. 2 over the Cut River gorge west of the Straits of Mackinac as the “Heath Michael Robinson Memorial Bridge”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160718
House Bill 4958: Prohibit unemployment benefits for legal aliens on work visa
Introduced by Rep. Frank Foster (R) on September 4, 2013, to establish that legal aliens with a work visa are not eligible for Michigan unemployment benefits. Under current law this ineligibility applies to agricultural work, and the bill would expand it to include non-agricultural work.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160719
House Bill 4959: Exempt drivers on Medicare from unlimited personal injury insurance mandate
Introduced by Rep. Jeff Farrington (R) on September 4, 2013, to no longer require drivers age 65 and older (who are eligible for federal Medicare health benefits) to purchase the unlimited personal injury protection (PIP) coverage mandated by Michigan’s no-fault insurance law.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160720
House Bill 4960: Revise charitable “millionaire party” gambling regulations
Introduced by Rep. Jeff Farrington (R) on September 4, 2013, revise the law governing charitable “millionaire party” gambling operations that include casino games. The bill would reverse some restrictions recently placed on the operations by the state lottery commission, but also extend to their operators certain regulations and restrictions that apply to casino operators.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160721
Senate Bill 481: Repeal registration mandate on foresters
Introduced by Sen. Mark Jansen (R) on September 11, 2013, to repeal a registration mandate imposed on foresters.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160760
Senate Bill 482: Repeal registration mandate on foresters
Introduced by Sen. Mark Jansen (R) on September 11, 2013, to repeal a registration mandate imposed on foresters. This bill amends a related law authorizing tax breaks for certain forest property owners.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160761
Senate Bill 483: Repeal registration mandate on foresters
Introduced by Sen. Mark Jansen (R) on September 11, 2013, to repeal a registration mandate imposed on foresters. This bill amends a related law authorizing tax breaks for certain forest property owners.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160762
Senate Bill 484: Repeal registration mandate on foresters
Introduced by Sen. Mark Jansen (R) on September 11, 2013, to repeal a registration mandate imposed on foresters. This bill repeals associated fees.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160763
Senate Bill 485: Establish state “unclaimed body program”
Introduced by Sen. Bruce Caswell (R) on September 11, 2013, to require Department of Community Health to establish an “unclaimed body program” that would refer unclaimed bodies either to medical schools or to “preferred provider” funeral homes in different counties, who would be paid to supervise the final disposition according to standards and procedures specified or authorized in the bill.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160764
Senate Bill 486: Prohibit seven-day work weeks
Introduced by Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D) on September 11, 2013, to mandate that employers must give employees “at least 24 consecutive hours of rest in every calendar week,” with some exceptions. The bill would also impose a related record-keeping mandate on employers.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160765
Senate Bill 487: Expand scrap metal sales regulatory regime
Introduced by Sen. Tupac Hunter (D) on September 12, 2013, to expand the scope of a 2008 law that imposed regulations and record keeping requirements on scrap metal dealers who buy and sell copper, brass, aluminum, bronze, lead, zinc, or nickel. The bill would extend these regulations to ferrous metal (scrap iron) transactions.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160766
Senate Bill 488: Expand scrap metal sales regulatory regime
Introduced by Sen. Tupac Hunter (D) on September 12, 2013, to extend criminal penalties of up to 10 years in prison and a $15,000 fine for stealing nonferrous metal to also apply to thefts of scrap iron.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160767
Senate Bill 489: Revise “personal property tax” reform details
Introduced by Sen. Jack Brandenburg (R) on September 12, 2013, to revise details of a 2012 law that exempts up to $80,000 worth ($40,000 in “taxable value”) of tools and equipment owned or leased by a business in a particular jurisdiction from a “personal property tax” that imposes annual property taxes on business tools and equipment. The bill would empower local assessors to retroactively deny exemptions for the three past years; authorize criminal penalties for claiming the exemption on ineligible property; revise details of the definition of what property is eligible; revise procedures for claiming the exemption; impose new record-keeping requirements on businesses; and more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160768
Senate Bill 490: Revise “personal property tax” reform details
Introduced by Sen. Jack Brandenburg (R) on September 12, 2013, to revise details of a 2012 law that gradually phases out a so-called “personal property tax” that imposes annual property taxes on tools and equipment owned by “industrial” firms. The bill would revise details of the definition of what property is taxable and what business operations are considered “industrial”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160769
Senate Bill 491: Restrict licensing golf carts for on-road travel
Introduced by Sen. Jack Brandenburg (R) on September 12, 2013, to prohibit licensing a vehicle that is manufactured exclusively for off-road use for on-road travel, including golf carts, unless the manufacturer certifies in writing that it may be modified for use on roads.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160770
Senate Bill 492: Revise kindergarten minimum age detail
Introduced by Sen. Bruce Caswell (R) on September 12, 2013, to extend to “schools of choice” students (who attend a public school outside the district to which they are assigned) a 2012 law that requires children to be age 5 by Sept. 1 to attend kindergarten, rather than by Dec. 1 under current law. The date change is phased-in over three years.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160771
House Bill 4962
Introduced by Rep. Gail Haines (R) on September 10, 2013, to mandate that hospitals give mothers a copy of a pamphlet on the risk factors of sudden infant death syndrome and sudden unexpected infant death ( SIDS and SUID) and require parents to sign a statement acknowledging that they were given the pamphlet. This would also apply to a health professional in charge of a birth outside of a hospital or “in charge of the care of a newborn.” The Department of Community Health would be responsible for producing the pamphlets, and for producing a “safe sleep” video.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160750
House Bill 4963: Name ceremonial Capitol governor’s office after John Engler
Introduced by Rep. Pete Lund (R) on September 10, 2013, to name the ceremonial governor’s office in the state Capitol after former Gov. John Engler.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160751
House Bill 4964: Authorize automatic government employee 401(k) enrollments
Introduced by Rep. John Walsh (R) on September 10, 2013, to allow the state, schools and local governments to automatically enroll eligible employees in 401(k) type retirement accounts, with a percentage of the individual’s pay deposited in the account. An employee could choose to opt-out of deductions and deposits.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160752
House Bill 4965: Impose tax on horse-drawn vehicles
Introduced by Rep. Joel Johnson (R) on September 12, 2013, to empower counties to impose a registration fee (tax) of up to $50 on horse-drawn vehicles. A vote of the people would be required.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160775
House Bill 4966: Expand prisons’ access to the state’s criminal information database
Introduced by Rep. Aric Nesbitt (R) on September 12, 2013, to give the Department of Corrections access to the state’s LEIN criminal information database for use “in the performance of their duties” rather than just for employee screening purposes.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160776
House Bill 4967: Expand prisons’ access to the state’s criminal information database
Introduced by Rep. Kevin Cotter (R) on September 12, 2013, to give the Department of Corrections access to the state’s LEIN criminal information database for use “in the performance of their duties” rather than just for employee screening purposes.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160777
House Bill 4968: Expand prisons’ access to the state’s criminal information database
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on September 12, 2013, to give the Department of Corrections access to the state’s LEIN criminal information database for use “in the performance of their duties” rather than just for employee screening purposes.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160778
House Bill 4969: Expand prisons’ access to the state’s criminal information database
Introduced by Rep. Margaret O’Brien (R) on September 12, 2013, to give the Department of Corrections access to the state’s LEIN criminal information database for use “in the performance of their duties” rather than just for employee screening purposes.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160779
House Bill 4970: Require license to install residential lifts
Introduced by Rep. Al Pscholka (R) on September 12, 2013, to require a licensed “residential maintenance and repair” contractor to get a separate license to install a “residential lift.” The contractor would have to be certified by the manufacturer, pay fees to be determined by the state’s occupational licensure bureau, and be deemed by that agency to be “qualified.” Residential lifts can include one-story stair-climbing machines for elderly or handicapped individuals. This is connected to House Bill 4971 which would exempt residential lift installers from the more comprehensive licensure and regulatory regime that applies to regular elevator contractors.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160780
House Bill 4971: Require license to install residential lifts
Introduced by Rep. Aric Nesbitt (R) on September 12, 2013, to exempt residential lift installers from the comprehensive licensure and regulatory regime that applies to regular elevator contractors. Residential repair contractors would be subject to a less onerous regulatory regime imposed by House Bill 4970.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160781
House Bill 4972: Prohibit state board adoption of “Next Generation Science Standards”
Introduced by Rep. Tom McMillin (R) on September 12, 2013, to prohibit the state Board of Education from adopting a “Next Generation Science Standards” model curriculum created by a nonprofit entity called “Achieve, Inc.” or basing state tests on them.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160782
House Bill 4973: Cut income tax if Congress authorizes state “internet sales tax”
Introduced by Rep. Frank Foster (R) on September 12, 2013, to reduce the state income tax to 4.05 percent if Congress passes a law that allows states to collect sales tax from out-of-state merchants.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160783
Senate Bill 276: Require community service work by welfare recipients
Passed 27 to 9 in the Senate on September 18, 2013, to require welfare recipients to perform community service if they are not already required to participate in welfare-related work or training programs.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672440
Senate Bill 409: Revise first degree murder detail
Passed 35 to 0 in the Senate on September 18, 2013, to make the crime of “unlawful imprisonment” a “predicate” offense for first degree murder, meaning that a murder committed in the act of committing this crime would be punishable by life in prison with no chance for parole.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672436
House Bill 4525: Revise sentencing guidelines for arson
Passed 35 to 0 in the Senate on September 18, 2013, to revise the state sentencing guidelines in a way that authorizes more severe penalties for arson and some other recently enacted crimes.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672437
Senate Bill 126: Appropriations: Supplemental budget
The amendment failed 11 to 25 in the Senate on September 19, 2013, to repeal a provision of the current state budget that prohibits spending money to implement a “common core standards” curriculum promoted an entity associated with the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672492
Senate Bill 126: Appropriations: Supplemental budget
The amendment failed 12 to 24 in the Senate on September 19, 2013, to spend $340,000 on a “pre-college engineering” program in Detroit and Grand Rapids high schools. This spending was line-item vetoed by Gov. Rick Snyder in the 2013-2014 budget.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672493
Senate Bill 126: Appropriations: Supplemental budget
Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate on September 19, 2013, to appropriate $747,300 for a dock renovation project at Port Austin State Harbor in Huron County, and revise details of other previously-appropriated money and projects.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672494
Senate Bill 162: Revise criminal plot prosecution venue detail
Passed 101 to 3 in the House on September 19, 2013, to authorize prosecuting felonies committed in another county if they are part of a plot to commit a crime in the prosecution venue.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672536
Senate Bill 489: Revise “personal property tax” reform details
Passed 27 to 9 in the Senate on September 19, 2013, to revise details of a 2012 law that exempts from “personal property tax” up to $80,000 ($40,000 in “taxable value”) worth of tools and equipment owned or leased by a business in a particular jurisdiction. This tax imposes annual property taxes on business tools and equipment. The bill would empower local assessors to retroactively deny exemptions for the three past years; authorize criminal penalties for claiming the exemption on ineligible property; revise details of the definition of what property is eligible; revise procedures for claiming the exemption; impose new record-keeping requirements on businesses; and more.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672490
Senate Bill 490: Revise “personal property tax” reform details
Passed 27 to 9 in the Senate on September 19, 2013, to revise details of a 2012 law that gradually phases out a so-called “personal property tax” that imposes annual property taxes on tools and equipment owned by “industrial” firms. The bill would revise details of the definition of what property is taxable and what business operations are considered “industrial”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672491
House Bill 4229: Appropriations: Supplemental school aid budget
Passed 104 to 0 in the House on September 19, 2013, to adopt a number of technical revisions to instructions to state departments (”boilerplate language”) contained in the previously-enacted 2013-2014 state budget.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672533
House Bill 4636: Clarify criminal restitution detail
Passed 104 to 0 in the House on September 19, 2013, to clarify wording in a law that requires convicted criminals to pay restitution to the victim, or if the victim dies, to his or her estate.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672535
House Bill 4694: Authorize “mental health courts”
Passed 104 to 0 in the House on September 19, 2013, to authorize a type of alternative judicial proceeding for mentally disturbed or disabled individuals who commit minor crimes, similar to the state “drug courts” for minor drug use crimes. These “mental health” courts would allow dismissal of charges if the individual agrees to and abides by an agreement that includes a prescribed mental health treatment program. This bill establishes criteria for a defendant being allowed to participate; it is part of a package comprised of House Bills 4694 to 4697.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672538
House Bill 4695: Authorize “mental health courts”
Passed 103 to 1 in the House on September 19, 2013, to authorize a type of alternative judicial proceeding for mentally disturbed or disabled individuals who commit minor crimes, similar to the state “drug courts” for minor drug use crimes. These “mental health” courts would allow dismissal of charges if the individual agrees to and abides by a prescribed mental health treatment program.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672539
House Bill 4696: Authorize “mental health courts”
Passed 104 to 0 in the House on September 19, 2013, to authorize a type of alternative judicial proceeding for mentally disturbed or disabled individuals who commit minor crimes, similar to the state “drug courts” for minor drug use crimes. These “mental health” courts would allow dismissal of charges if the individual agrees to and abides by a prescribed mental health treatment program. This bill establishes procedures and duties for both the defendant and the court, including making available and accepting related mental health services; it is part of a package comprised of House Bills 4694 to 4697.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672540
House Bill 4833: Increase election recount deposit requirement
Passed 95 to 9 in the House on September 19, 2013, to increase the money deposit a candidate must make to get an election recount from $10 to $25 per precinct, and to $125 per precinct if the election wasn’t close (within 50 votes or 0.5 percent).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672537
Senate Bill 493: Preempt local amateur radio restrictions
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on September 17, 2013, to prohibit local ordinances that preclude federally licensed amateur radio service communications, or that do not comply with Federal Communications Commission rules, or that unreasonably restrict antennas up to 90 feet tall.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160814
Senate Bill 494: Repeal licensure of “community planners”
Introduced by Sen. Bruce Caswell (R) on September 17, 2013, to repeal the registration mandate imposed on “community planners.” This bill repeals the registration, application, and examination fees, and a bill to be introduced later repeals the mandate itself.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160815
Senate Bill 495: Institute Headlee Amendment unfunded mandate restrictions
Introduced by Sen. Tom Casperson (R) on September 17, 2013, to prohibit any bill that potentially imposes a mandate on local governments from becoming law unless a “local government mandate panel” comprised the House and Senate Fiscal Agencies, and the relevant state department if any in consultation with the local governments affected, create a “fiscal note” that quantifies how much the mandate will cost; and require that money is appropriated and allocated to pay for the mandate, in compliance with the Headlee amendment provision prohibiting the state from imposing unfunded mandates on local governments.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160816
Senate Bill 496: Institute Headlee Amendment unfunded mandate restrictions
Introduced by Sen. Mark Jansen (R) on September 17, 2013, to prohibit a state agency from imposing any new increase in local government services or activities unless the legislature has appropriated money to pay for it. Along with Senate Bill 495 this bill would establish an administrative process to restrict such impositions.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160817
Senate Bill 497: Institute Headlee Amendment unfunded mandate restrictions
Introduced by Sen. Arlan Meekhof (R) on September 17, 2013, to create a permanent legislative council “local government mandate panel” to implement the provisions of Senate Bill 495.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160818
Senate Bill 498: Institute Headlee Amendment unfunded mandate restrictions
Introduced by Sen. David Robertson (R) on September 17, 2013, to explicitly give local governments standing to sue the state under the Headlee Amendment’s unfunded mandate ban in the state constitution; establish that the burden of proof is on the state in such suits; establish that the burden of proof is on the local government if a taxpayer sues it for violating the Headlee amendment’s tax limitation provisions; and establish specific procedures for such lawsuits.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160819
Senate Bill 499: Revise human trafficking crime details
Introduced by Sen. Glenn Anderson (D) on September 17, 2013, to require the State Police to maintain a toll-free number to take confidential reports of human trafficking violations.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160820
Senate Bill 500: Revise human trafficking crime details
Introduced by Sen. Glenn Anderson (D) on September 17, 2013, to require that half the money raised from the sale of assets forfeited due to human trafficking violations must be deposited into a state fund proposed by Senate Bill 499 to pay for a toll-free number to take confidential reports of human trafficking violations.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160825
Senate Bill 501: Mandate reporting of human trafficking violations
Introduced by Sen. Glenn Anderson (D) on September 17, 2013, to require a person who knows of a human trafficking crime being committed to report this, subject to up 90 days in jail and a $500 fine.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160826
Senate Bill 502: Revise human trafficking crime details
Introduced by Sen. Glenn Anderson (D) on September 17, 2013, to require that individuals convicted under the state’s human trafficking law, or for enticing or requiring a person to become a prostitute, must register on the state’s sex offender registry.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160827
Senate Bill 503: Revise human trafficking crime details
Introduced by Sen. Glenn Anderson (D) on September 17, 2013, to restrict questioning a crime victim about past prostitution violations, with some specified exceptions, and establish procedures if an alleged violator wants to raise such questions in court.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160828
Senate Bill 504: Revise liquor license law details
Introduced by Sen. Joe Hune (R) on September 17, 2013, to establish that rules, orders, bulletins, declaratory rulings, or other administrative directives issued by the state Liquor Control Commission are void and not enforceable if they are not consistent with state liquor control laws, or do not “protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160829
Senate Bill 505: Revise liquor license law details
Introduced by Sen. Joe Hune (R) on September 17, 2013, to explicitly allow liquor manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors to provide bars, restaurants and retailers with advertising items that promote their brands; and repeal Liquor Control Commission regulations promulgated in 2013 restricting this.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160830
Senate Bill 506: Revise liquor license law details
Introduced by Sen. Joe Hune (R) on September 17, 2013, to prohibit requiring brewers and beer wholesalers from having to pay a state beer tax more than once every three months.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160831
Senate Bill 507: Revise liquor license law details
Introduced by Sen. Joe Hune (R) on September 17, 2013, to prohibit requiring wineries, liquor makers or their wholesalers from having to pay a state wine or liquor tax more than once every three months. The bill also revises details of which entities are required to deliver the tax.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160832
Senate Bill 508: Revise home-related use tax detail
Introduced by Sen. Darwin Booher (R) on September 17, 2013, to extend by one additional year into the past a 2012 law that clarified the applicability of the state use tax on “a manufacturer that affixes its product to real estate,” retroactive to 2006.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160833
Senate Bill 509: Authorize new state Senate office building
Introduced by Sen. Randy Richardville (R) on September 17, 2013, to authorize the sale of the Farnum Senate office building in Lansing and construction of a new building for Senators’ offices.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160834
Senate Bill 510: Exempt drivers on Medicare from unlimited personal injury insurance mandate
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on September 18, 2013, to no longer require drivers age 65 and older (who are eligible for federal Medicare health benefits) to purchase the unlimited personal injury protection (PIP) coverage mandated by Michigan’s no-fault insurance law.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160835
Senate Bill 511: Revise property tax assessment detail
Introduced by Sen. Tom Casperson (R) on September 18, 2013, to establish that in assessing a property’s value for property tax purposes, “if the existing use is financially feasible and is more profitable than modification or redevelopment,” then it should be considered the “highest and best use of the property” and used to determine the true cash value.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160836
Senate Bill 512: Repeal licensure of landscape architects
Introduced by Sen. Tom Casperson (R) on September 18, 2013, to repeal the licensure mandate imposed on landscape architects. This bill repeals the license fees, and Senate Bill 513 repeals the mandate.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160837
Senate Bill 513: Repeal licensure of landscape architects
Introduced by Sen. Tom Casperson (R) on September 18, 2013, to repeal the licensure mandate imposed on landscape architects.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160838
Senate Bill 514: Repeal licensure of respiratory care therapists
Introduced by Sen. Tom Casperson (R) on September 18, 2013, to repeal the licensure mandate imposed on respiratory care therapists.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160839
House Bill 4974: Require property assessments more quickly reflect market declines
Introduced by Rep. Lisa Lyons (R) on September 17, 2013, to place in statute the provisions of the constitutional amendment proposed by House Joint Resolution Y, which would revise details of the Proposal A property tax assessment cap. Specifically, if a property’s assessed value has decreased, or has increased by less than both the rate of inflation level and 5 percent, then the owner’s “taxable value” in the immediately succeeding must be the same as the previous year. Currently, assessors use a “moving average” of a property’s value over several years, so if values go down an owner could still be assessed more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160786
House Bill 4975: Authorize auto insurance rebate mandate and lawsuits
Introduced by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D) on September 17, 2013, to establish that if the state insurance bureau has determined that an insurer has overcharged on an auto insurance policy, then the bureau can order rebates. Also, to establish that customers can sue the insurer for a rebate even if the insurance bureau has not determined there was an overcharge.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160787
House Bill 4976: Authorize auto insurance rebate mandate
Introduced by Rep. Marilyn Lane (D) on September 17, 2013, to mandate that auto insurance companies must rebate the amount of additional premiums they charged a person for having traffic violation “points” on their record once the points have expired (two years after the violation).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160788
House Bill 4977: Revise property tax assessment detail
Introduced by Rep. John Kivela (D) on September 17, 2013, to establish that in assessing a property’s value for property tax purposes, “if the existing use is financially feasible and is more profitable than modification or redevelopment,” then it should be considered the “highest and best use of the property” and used to determine the true cash value.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160789
House Bill 4978: Mandate businesses restrict smoking outside the premises
Introduced by Rep. Dian Slavens (D) on September 17, 2013, to mandate that a business must prohibit people from smoking within 15 feet of entrances, exits, open windows, and ventilation systems, and allow local governments to extend this mandate to a greater distance.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160790
House Bill 4979: Revise regulations on local “medical control authorities”
Introduced by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D) on September 17, 2013, to prohibit the medical directors of state-authorized “medical control authorities” responsible for establishing certain patient treatment mandate protocols on local hospitals from being affiliated with or receiving any benefits from the hospitals and surgery centers within the authority’s jurisdiction.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160791
House Bill 4980: Revise regulations on local “medical control authorities”
Introduced by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D) on September 17, 2013, to require the state-authorized “medical control authorities” responsible for establishing certain treatment protocols in an area with a population of 500,000 or more to adopt protocols that ensure ambulances are dispatched and respond in “a reasonable time.” The term “reasonable time” is not defined in the bill.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160792
House Bill 4981: Restrict police use of automated license plate readers
Introduced by Rep. Sam Singh (D) on September 17, 2013, to restrict the use by law enforcement of automated license plate readers unless they are used for a specified (but broad) range of law enforcement purposes, and require the data accumulated by these devices to be purged from the system within 48 hours unless it is related to an active investigation. The allowable uses include activities related to stolen vehicles; individuals who are wanted or missing; individuals who missed required court appearances or who have criminal warrants; people driving on suspended or revoked drivers licenses; criminal suspects; commercial trucking enforcement; investigative surveillance for a specific criminal case; and license plate canvasses in homicides, shootings, or other major crimes.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160793
House Bill 4982: Authorize year-round school pilot program
Introduced by Rep. Andy Schor (D) on September 17, 2013, to earmark $10 million in school aid money to establish year-round school district pilot programs in low income (“at risk”) schools.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160794
House Bill 4983: Revise regulations on local “medical control authorities”
Introduced by Rep. George T. Darany (D) on September 17, 2013, to prohibit the state-authorized “medical control authorities” responsible for establishing certain treatment protocols in an area from entering into an agreement with a life support agency or emergency medical services personnel within its region unless the agreement is in writing.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160795
House Bill 4984: Revise local 9-1-1 service detail
Introduced by Rep. Matt Lori (R) on September 17, 2013, to revise details of the procedures used by local 9-1-1systems to determine which public safety service unit is closest to a request for public safety service.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160796
House Bill 4985: Redesignate a road
Introduced by Rep. Robert Kosowski (D) on September 17, 2013, to designate a portion of portion M-153 in Wayne County as the “Firefighter Brian Woehlke Memorial Highway”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160797
House Bill 4986: Ban school discrimination based on student religious expression
Introduced by Rep. Thomas Hooker (R) on September 17, 2013, to prohibit a public school from discriminating against a student or parent on the basis of their religious viewpoint or expression. Schools would have to treat a student’s voluntary expression of a religious viewpoint no differently that the expression of a secular viewpoint.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160798
House Bill 4987: Give fallen soldiers’ families free state park passes
Introduced by Rep. Thomas Hooker (R) on September 17, 2013, to not charge the spouse, parent, sibling, or child of a member of the armed services who died during combat for the state park “passport” that is an option when paying for annual license plate renewals. These fallen soldier relatives are eligible for a “gold star” license plate authorized by a 2011 law.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160799
House Bill 4988: Give fallen soldiers’ families free state park passes
Introduced by Rep. Thomas Hooker (R) on September 17, 2013, to not charge the spouse, parent, sibling, or child of a member of the armed services who died during combat for the state park “passport” that is an option when paying for annual license plate renewals. These fallen soldier relatives are eligible for a “gold star” license plate authorized by a 2011 law.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160800
House Bill 4989: Authorize discounted agricultural truck license plate
Introduced by Rep. Kenneth Kurtz (R) on September 17, 2013, to authorize a special license plate for trucks providing agricultural services to farm operations, for which an owner would only have to pay a one-time tax of $500 rather than annual renewal fees.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160801
House Bill 4990: Establish state “unclaimed body program”
Introduced by Rep. Kenneth Kurtz (R) on September 17, 2013, to require Department of Community Health to establish an “unclaimed body program” that would refer unclaimed bodies either to medical schools or to “preferred provider” funeral homes in different counties, who would be paid to supervise the final disposition according to standards and procedures specified or authorized in the bill.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160802
House Bill 4991: Let adoption agencies refuse adoptions that violate moral convictions
Introduced by Rep. Tom Leonard (R) on September 17, 2013, to specify in statute that a “child placing agency” (private adoption agency or foster care service) is not required to assist or participate in an adoption or placement that violates its written religious or moral convictions, including adoptions of a child by a homosexual.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160803
Senate Bill 76: Ban sex offender loitering near day care center
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on September 25, 2013, to prohibit a person on the state sex offender registry from loitering within 1,000 feet of day care center.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672680
Senate Bill 77: Ban sex offender loitering near day care center
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on September 25, 2013, to establish sentencing guidelines for the ban proposed by Senate Bill 76 on a person on the state sex offender registry loitering within 1,000 feet of day care center.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672682
Senate Bill 227: Facilitate continued Detroit “neighborhood enterprise zone” tax breaks
Passed 34 to 3 in the Senate on September 25, 2013, to amend a law which currently authorizes certain “neighborhood enterprise zone” property tax breaks to a particular developer’s project in a city with a population greater than 750,000 (Detroit), by lowering this population threshold to 600,000.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672679
House Bill 4585: Authorize paperless architect, engineer and surveyor filings
Passed 107 to 0 in the House on September 25, 2013, to authorize the use by architects, professional engineers, and surveyors of electronic versions of the official “seals” that attest their licensed status on documents that they file electronically with public authorities.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672721
House Bill 4613: Establish dead tenant procedures for landlords
Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate on September 25, 2013, to establish specific property entry procedures and notice requirements to be followed by a landlord who believes a tenant has died. Also, to shorten the statute of limitations on a tenant suing a landlord for unlawfully interfering with the premises.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672683
House Bill 4930: Repeal club emblem vehicle display ban
Passed 107 to 0 in the House on September 25, 2013, to repeal a law that bans displaying the emblem or insignia of any organization, association, fraternity, lodge or club on a vehicle unless the vehicle owner belongs to the organization.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672723
House Bill 4937: Revise utility regulation detail
Passed 107 to 0 in the House on September 25, 2013, to repeal a requirement that gas and electric utilities must periodically disburse money from an “uncollectibles allowance recovery fund” they are required to maintain to a state fund that is supposed to make air pollution reduction grants. According to the House Fiscal Agency the “uncollectibles” funds never accumulated much money, and so the state fund has not made any grants.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672722
House Concurrent Resolution 11: Authorize adoption of “Common Core” school standards
The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on September 26, 2013, to strip out a provision added in committee that would require the Governor, legislators and school district officials to take tests based on the standards.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160886
House Concurrent Resolution 11: Authorize adoption of “Common Core” school standards
Passed 85 to 21 in the House on September 26, 2013, to authorize the State Board of Education and the Michigan Department of Education to spend money to implement “Common Core” curriculum promoted by an entity associated with the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, subject to various restrictions and conditions specified in the resolution. The authorization does not apply to an associated student testing regime.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672823
Senate Bill 126: Appropriations: Supplemental budget
Passed 104 to 2 in the House on September 26, 2013, to appropriate $747,300 for a dock renovation project at Port Austin State Harbor in Huron County, and revise details of other previously-appropriated money and projects.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672817
Senate Bill 311: Increase tobacco sale to & possession by minors penalties
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on September 26, 2013, to increase the penalties for selling tobacco to minors, from $50 to $100 for a first offense and $500 for subsequent offenses. The increased penalties would also apply to a minor who tries to buy or who possesses tobacco.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672780
Senate Bill 397: Expand a corporate/developer subsidy regime
Passed 33 to 4 in the Senate on September 26, 2013, to authorize creation of a sixth “Next Michigan Development Corporation,” which is a government agency that gives tax breaks and subsidies to particular corporations or developers selected by political appointees on the entity’s board for projects meeting extremely broad “multi-modal commerce” criteria (basically, any form of goods-related commerce). The new entity would be in the Upper Peninsula.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672781
Senate Bill 398: Expand a corporate/developer subsidy regime
Passed 33 to 4 in the Senate on September 26, 2013, to authorize creation of a sixth “Next Michigan Development Corporation,” which is a government agency that gives tax breaks and subsidies to particular corporations or developers selected by political appointees on the entity’s board for projects meeting extremely broad “multi-modal commerce” criteria (basically, any form of goods-related commerce).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672782
House Bill 4229: Appropriations: Supplemental school aid budget
The amendment passed by voice vote in the Senate on September 26, 2013, to revise details of student test tracking related to high school students in “middle college” programs, which allow them to take some college courses in high school. The amendment would allow the public high school to “count” these students’ test scores in their overall student progress assessments for purposes of meeting various state and federal requirements.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=154243
House Bill 4229: Appropriations: Supplemental school aid budget
The amendment failed 16 to 21 in the Senate on September 26, 2013, to increase public school spending by $100 per-student.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672783
House Bill 4229: Appropriations: Supplemental school aid budget
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on September 26, 2013, to adopt a number of technical revisions to instructions to state departments (”boilerplate language”) contained in the previously-enacted 2013-2014 state budget.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672784
House Bill 4344: Revise special Detroit powers population threshold
Passed 36 to 1 in the Senate on September 26, 2013, to revise the population threshold in a law that gives Detroit the power to define a fire arson investigator as a police officer. The Michigan constitution prohibits passing “local acts” with less than a two-thirds majority vote in the House and Senate, so the legislature has circumvented this by granting certain privileges or exemptions to “a city with a population greater than 1 million,” later revised to 900,000, and then 750,000. This bill changes that to 600,000. Also, to establish that the Detroit Chief of Police is automatically deemed to be a state certified peace officer, and extend certification to an person employed as a police officer in another state within the past year if that state has certification standards substantially the same as Michigan’s.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672785
House Bill 4949: Unemployment insurance reform package
Passed 102 to 4 in the House on September 26, 2013, to increase the potential sanctions for taking unemployment benefits to which a person is not entitled.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672811
House Bill 4950: Unemployment insurance reform package
Passed 103 to 3 in the House on September 26, 2013, to potentially increase the unemployment insurance assessments (payroll tax) on an employer who fails to provide a timely notice to the state unemployment agency that a person has been fired rather than laid off, and so is not eligible for benefits.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672812
House Bill 4951: Unemployment insurance reform package
Passed 103 to 3 in the House on September 26, 2013, to revise the allocation of money recovered from unemployment benefit fraud investigations to various government funds.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672813
House Bill 4952: Halt unemployment benefits for failed drug test
Passed 82 to 24 in the House on September 26, 2013, to make a person ineligible to collect unemployment benefits if a prospective employer requires a drug test as a condition of a job offer and the individual either refuses to take the test or fails it.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672814
House Bill 4954: Unemployment insurance reform package
Passed 103 to 3 in the House on September 26, 2013, to revise the allocation of money recovered from unemployment benefit fraud investigations to various government funds.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672816
Senate Bill 515: Declare blueberry as the official state fruit
Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on September 19, 2013, to establish in law that henceforth the blueberry (Vaccinium Cyanococcus) shall be designated as the official State of Michigan fruit. Note: At present, Michigan does not have an official state fruit. Past bills have proposed designating the cherry as the official state fruit, and apple cider as the official state beverage.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160840
Senate Bill 516: Convert certain bank tax breaks to cash subsidies
Introduced by Sen. Darwin Booher (R) on September 19, 2013, to allow certain banks that have been granted selective tax credits under the old Michigan Business Tax to essentially convert the balance of their credits into cash subsidies from the state, and revise details of the apportionment of the corporate income tax on the income of banks and affiliates that is earned in other states.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160841
Senate Bill 517: Allow giving state purchase contracts to Michigan companies, not lowest bidder
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on September 19, 2013, to allow the state to not award purchase contracts to the lowest bidder if this is not a Michigan company and a Michigan-based bidder offers the goods at a higher price. The bill would allow this if the Michigan company’s bid is not more than 1 percent higher for contracts greater than $1 million, 5 percent higher for contracts under $500,000, and 3 percent higher for contracts between those amounts.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160842
Senate Bill 518: Authorize “Denver boot” for delinquent court fees
Introduced by Sen. John Proos, IV (R) on September 19, 2013, to empower courts to order that the vehicle of a person who fails to pay a court-ordered penalty, fee, or costs within 56 days be immobilized using a “Denver boot” until the delinquent amounts are paid.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160843
Senate Bill 519: Authorize seizure of lawsuit judgments to pay delinquent court fees
Introduced by Sen. John Proos, IV (R) on September 19, 2013, to require the State Court Administrative Office to maintain a database of people with delinquent court-ordered penalties, fees, or costs, and if a person on the list wins a monetary award in a lawsuit then deduct the delinquent amounts from the award. The same would apply to a person with delinquent child support payments.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160844
Senate Bill 520: Revise details of child support order procedures
Introduced by Sen. Judy Emmons (R) on September 19, 2013, to revise notification details of alimony or child support orders, and of restitution orders imposed on individuals who are delinquent in these payments.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160845
Senate Bill 521: Authorize Friend of the Court subpoenas
Introduced by Sen. Judy Emmons (R) on September 19, 2013, to authorize Friend of the Court offices to issue subpoenas in unresolved parenting time conflicts in divorce cases.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160846
Senate Bill 522: Repeal child support “service fee”
Introduced by Sen. Bruce Caswell (R) on September 19, 2013, to repeal a $2 monthly fee imposed on court-ordered child support payers.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160847
Senate Bill 523: Authorize using delinquent child support payer’s IRA
Introduced by Sen. Mike Nofs (R) on September 19, 2013, to pay arrearage to allow assets in a delinquent child support payer’s Individual Retirement Account to be seized to make up the arrearage.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160848
Senate Bill 524: Authorize using delinquent child support payer’s IRA to pay arrearage
Introduced by Sen. Mike Nofs (R) on September 19, 2013, to allow assets in a delinquent child support payer’s Individual Retirement Account to be seized to make up the arrearage. This bill establishes that if the payer goes bankrupt the creditors can’t claim the IRA money if it is being used to cover the child support arrearage.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160849
Senate Bill 525: Authorize using delinquent child support payer’s IRA to pay arrearage
Introduced by Sen. Mike Nofs (R) on September 19, 2013, to allow assets in a delinquent child support payer’s Individual Retirement Account to be seized to make up the arrearage.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160850
Senate Bill 526: Revise child support recipient detail
Introduced by Sen. Bruce Caswell (R) on September 19, 2013, to establish that court-ordered child support payments should go to the person who is actually caring for the children, not necessarily the person who is “legally responsible” for this.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160851
Senate Bill 527: Revise child support motion filing fee detail
Introduced by Sen. Bruce Caswell (R) on September 19, 2013, to require fees for legal actions involving child custody, support, or parenting time to be paid when the action is filed.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160852
Senate Bill 528: Clarify procedures to seize delinquent child support payer’s lottery winnings
Introduced by Sen. Mike Nofs (R) on September 19, 2013, to clarify procedures related to seizing a delinquent child support payer’s lottery winnings to pay the arrearage.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160853
Senate Bill 529: Revise child support guidelines detail
Introduced by Sen. Bruce Caswell (R) on September 19, 2013, to establish that a state “Office of Child Support” has the duty to “develop and implement guidelines for the allocation and distribution of all child support payments”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160854
Senate Bill 530: Revise and update Friend of the Court procedures and powers
Introduced by Sen. Bruce Caswell (R) on September 19, 2013, to revise and update details related to the powers, procedures and duties of Friend of the Court offices.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160855
Senate Bill 531: Repeal landscape architect licensure
Introduced by Sen. Tom Casperson (R) on September 19, 2013, to revise a law addressing construction industry indemnity agreements to reflect the proposal in Senate Bill 513 to repeal licensure of landscape architects.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160856
Senate Bill 532: Let foreclosing lender keep homestead property tax exemption
Introduced by Sen. Jack Brandenburg (R) on September 19, 2013, to allow a home loan lender who forecloses on the loan to retain the delinquent debtor’s principal residence property tax exemption from school operating millages.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160857
House Bill 4992: Revise state student testing detail
Introduced by Rep. Andy Schor (D) on September 17, 2013, to allow a school district to alter or omit portions of state student assessment tests that collect demographic information from students or other information not related to the actual test.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160808
House Bill 4993: Increase hunting and fishing fees for PR campaign
Introduced by Rep. Jon Bumstead (R) on September 17, 2013, to increase hunting and fishing license fees by $1 and use the money for ads promoting hunting and fishing. The bill would create a state “wildlife council and wildlife management public education fund” with political appointees on its board representing various interests deciding what advertising agency to hire to do the PR campaign.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160809
House Bill 4994: Ban personal care product “micro beads”
Introduced by Rep. Terry Brown (D) on September 17, 2013, to prohibit the manufacture and sale in Michigan of personal care products containing plastic particles. This refers to “micro beads” in some brands of toothpaste and facial or body washes, which reportedly accumulate in the Great Lakes.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160810
House Bill 4995: Allow electronic “proof of insurance”
Introduced by Rep. Aric Nesbitt (R) on September 17, 2013, to allow “proof of insurance” documents motorists are required to have when driving under the state’s no-fault insurance law to be an electronic communication from the insurance company.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160811
House Bill 4996: Exempt some small stock offerings from state registration
Introduced by Rep. Nancy Jenkins (R) on September 17, 2013, to exempt certain small company stock offerings from state registration requirements if they meet various conditions specified in the bill.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160812
House Bill 4997: Ban sale of e-cigarettes to minors
Introduced by Rep. Rick Outman (R) on September 19, 2013, to ban the sale to minors of electronic cigarettes or any oral device that provides vaporized nicotine.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160824
Senate Bill 80: Increase certain school expense reporting
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on October 1, 2013, to require school districts to include the total amount of employee and school board member expense reimbursements in the budget and spending data they are supposed to post online. See also Senate Bill 81.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672880
Senate Bill 81: Ban school spending on luxuries and gifts
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on October 1, 2013, to extend to regular public school districts, charter schools and the state “Education Achievement Authority” created to take over academically-failed public schools a provision in a 2004 law banning corrupt Intermediate School District (ISD) practices that requires them to have a policy against using public money to buy alcoholic beverages, jewelry, gifts, entertainment tickets, sporting event tickets, golf fees, other recreational activity fees, or illegal items.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672881
House Bill 4786: Increase vital records fees
Passed 20 to 18 in the Senate on October 1, 2013, to increase the fees for obtaining copies of vital records such as birth and death certificates. The fee increases range from $4 to $15 per record, and the bill also authorizes an extra $25 fee for “expedited” service.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672897
House Bill 4786: Increase vital records fees
Failed 18 to 19 in the Senate on October 1, 2013, to increase the fees for obtaining copies of vital records such as birth and death certificates. The fee increases range from $4 to $15 per record, and the bill also authorizes an extra $25 fee for “expedited” service.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672882
House Bill 4787: Increase CON health facility rationing fees
Passed 23 to 14 in the Senate on October 1, 2013, to increase from $1,500 to $3,000 the “base” fee for a hospital or other health care providers seeking government permission to open or expand a health care facility, or add certain capital-intensive equipment (like MRIs), under an existing state “Certificate of Need” rationing regime. The bill would also authorize additional fee increases of $5,000 for large projects, $3,000 for “complex” projects, $500 for “letter of intent” reviews, and more. These fees would then be indexed to inflation so that legislative authorization would not be required for future fee hikes.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672898
House Bill 4961: Increase state share of foster care rate increase cost
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on October 1, 2013, to require the Department of Human Services to pay all of a $3 administrative rate increase for private providers of foster care services as provided in the 2013-14 state budget, rather than half the amount (with counties responsible for the rest which is what current law requires).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672899
Senate Concurrent Resolution 10: Adjourn 2013 legislature immediately so Medicaid expansion can begin Jan. 1
Failed by voice vote in the Senate on October 1, 2013, to adjourn the 2013 legislative session immediately (rather than the usual time in the last week of December, so that the federal health care law (Obamacare) Medicaid expansion can go into effect at the start of 2013. When the legislature approved the approved the expansion in August they did not give the measure “immediate effect,” which means it cannot go into effect for three months after the legislature adjourns for the year.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160927
Senate Bill 404: Revise landfill performance bond detail
The amendment failed by voice vote in the Senate on October 2, 2013, to increase the state “tipping fee” tax imposed on dumping in landfills, from 12 cents per-cubic yard to $2.50 pwer yard, (a 20-fold increase).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159828
Senate Bill 404: Revise landfill performance bond detail
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on October 2, 2013, to revise details of the financial instruments that may used by a landfill operator to satisfy the performance bond-like “perpetual care fund” requirements related to the future upkeep of closed landfills.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672950
Senate Bill 428: Ban governments placing foreign-made American flags on veterans’ graves
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on October 2, 2013, to prohibit local governments from buying American flags made outside this country to place on veteran’s graves, unless no competitively-priced American-made flags are available.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672951
House Bill 4355: Revise condominium audit standards
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on October 2, 2013, to allow a majority of a condominium association’s members to choose not to obtain an annual audit if the association has annual revenues of less than $20,000, and instead only require that a certified public accountant review the books.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672952
Senate Bill 25: Revise principal residence property tax exemption appeal detail
Passed 102 to 6 in the House on October 3, 2013, to provide property owners with a process to appeal to the Department of Treasury for any year that a principal residence property tax exemption was erroneously not applied, regardless of when the exemption was claimed. Under current law appeals can only cover the past three years, and this would still apply if an owner erroneously received the credit due to an error by the local government.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673010
Senate Bill 351: Clarify fertilizer use restrictions
Passed 94 to 14 in the House on October 3, 2013, to clarify that use of fertilizers and other soil conditioners prior to a 1981 law, and which followed “generally accepted” agricultural and management practices at the time of use, does not constitute a “release” of hazardous substances in violation of state regulations, which could trigger extremely burdensome cleanup requirements.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673009
Senate Bill 372: Exclude certain farm property sales from property tax assessment basis
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on October 3, 2013, to require tax assessors to exclude sales of certain agricultural property that will be used by the new owner for non-agricultural use from the “sales ratio studies” that determine the property tax assessments for other farm property.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672989
House Bill 4194: Increase cap on local “rainy day” funds
Passed 107 to 1 in the House on October 3, 2013, to increase the amount that local governments are allowed to place in a “rainy day fund,” from 15 percent to 20 percent of most recent general fund annual budget.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673008
House Bill 4633: Mandate license plate replacement after 10 years (as-passed version)
Passed 74 to 33 in the House on October 3, 2013, to mandate that vehicle owners must replace their license plate after 10 years, even if it is still legible. Under current law the state imposes a $5 extra charge to replace a plate.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673006
House Bill 4811: Revise “military family relief fund” details
Passed 107 to 0 in the House on October 3, 2013, to expand the conditions and revise procedures for military families applying for assistance from a state “military family relief fund” created by a 2004 law for families who are suffering financial stress as a result of the military service, or who have an emergency. Also, to allow $50,000 from the fund to be used for annual advertising and marketing. The money comes from an income tax checkoff.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673007
Senate Bill 473: Exempt some government housing program firms from income tax withholding
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on October 8, 2013, to not impose income tax withholding mandates on companies involved in certain government housing programs if this would violate the terms of those programs.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673164
Senate Bill 539: Revise “Miss Dig” regulatory regime
Passed 37 to 1 in the Senate on October 8, 2013, to establish that, under the MISS DIG notification system for underground excavation, the law under which the operations of governmental agencies are generally immune from tort liability would not apply to liability for damage caused by their excavation work.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673183
Senate Bill 540: Revise “Miss Dig” regulatory regime
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on October 8, 2013, to update the regulatory regime established by the “Miss Dig” notification system for underground excavation and blasting, which was created in the 1970s to avoid damage to cables, pipes and other underground “facilities.” The bill codifies many procedures and protocols that have grown up since this system was created.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673184
Senate Bill 542: Increase cap on government employee health benefits
The amendment passed by voice vote in the Senate on October 8, 2013, to exclude from the cost-cap formula any payments the state, a school district or a local government must make under the federal health care law (Obamacare). This would have the effect of allowing more generous benefits than if these extra payments were included in the formula.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160873
Senate Bill 542: Increase cap on government employee health benefits
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on October 8, 2013, to increase from $11,000 to $13,455 the “hard cap” on the amount that a local government or school district can spend for an “individual-plus-spouse” employee health care policy under a 2011 law limiting such benefits; and include “individual-plus-one nonspouse-dependent” coverage under $15,000 “family” policy cap. The caps are indexed to inflation and apply to the average amount spent (so some can get more expensive coverage if others get less). Also, to include elected officials in the base used to establish a local government’s “average” cost per employee, exclude payments to employees who take cash instead of insurance benefits, and revise some other details in the formula.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673172
Senate Bill 543: Revise government employee health benefit detail
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on October 8, 2013, to revise details of the procedures used by a local government or school district to select either an annual dollar-amount cap or percentage cap on the amount it can spend on employee health benefits under a 2011 law. Also, to include elected officials in the base used to establish a local government’s “average” cost per employee, exclude payments to employees who take cash instead of insurance benefits, and revise some other details in the formula.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673173
Senate Bill 544: Revise government employee health benefit detail
Passed 37 to 1 in the Senate on October 8, 2013, to retroactively move back the effective date of a 2011 law that capped the amount that a local government or school district could spend on government employee health benefits. As passed, the caps apply to union labor contracts signed on or after Sept. 15, 2011. The bill moves this back to Sept. 27, 2011, meaning contracts offering more generous benefits that were entered before that date would remain valid.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673174
Senate Bill 545: Revise government employee health benefit detail
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on October 8, 2013, to clarify the annual deadline by which a local government’s governing body may exempt its employees from the 2011 law that capped the amount they could spend on employee health benefits. Under that law, local governments (but not school districts) can exempt themselves from the cap for one year at a time with a 2/3 vote of their governing body.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673175
House Bill 4586: Revise business tax detail
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on October 8, 2013, to revise a business tax law “look-back period” detail related to the state tax filing responsibilities of business entities that previously were not required to file a tax return but then are required due to changes in state rules. See this House Fiscal Agency summary for details.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673165
House Bill 4654: Revise accountant business licensure detail
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on October 8, 2013, to establish that a “professional limited liability company” may engage in the practice of public accounting if more than 50 percent of the equity and voting rights of the company are held by individuals who are licensed public accountants.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673167
Senate Bill 560: Ban large puppy breeders
Introduced by Sen. Steve Bieda (D) on October 1, 2013, to prohibit commercial puppy breeding operations that have more than 50 female dogs over four months of age, and impose a number of other new regulations on animal breeders, shelters and pet shops. Among other new regulations shelters would have to hold an animal for at least one week and make efforts to identify the owner before euthanizing it, selling it, making it available for adoption, etc.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160928
Senate Bill 561: Let fiscally-failed county’s treasurer keep powers and duties
Introduced by Sen. Jack Brandenburg (R) on October 1, 2013, to establish that even if an emergency manager is appointed to restore the finances of a fiscally failed county, the existing county treasurer would still retain all the powers and duties of that office.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160929
Senate Bill 562: Revise county delinquent tax revolving funds
Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on October 1, 2013, to revise details of the law authorizing delinquent tax revolving funds in counties. The bill would affect repayment by local governments of advances from these county funds.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160930
Senate Bill 563: Create pseudoephed “shadow buyer” crime
Introduced by Sen. John Proos, IV (R) on October 1, 2013, to authorize sentencing guidelines for the methamphetamine-related crime proposed by Senate Bill 564.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160931
Senate Bill 564: Create pseudoephed “shadow buyer” crime
Introduced by Sen. John Proos, IV (R) on October 1, 2013, to create a new crime of purchasing of pseudoephedrine or ephedrine for another individual who intends to manufacture methamphetamines.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160932
Senate Bill 565: Require financial institution joint account customer disclosures
Introduced by Sen. Coleman Young (D) on October 1, 2013, to require credit unions to disclose to individuals opening a joint account the particular characteristics of these accounts, including what happens when one account owner dies, and the fact that each account owner has the right to remove money from the account.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160933
Senate Bill 566: Require financial institution joint account customer disclosures
Introduced by Sen. Coleman Young (D) on October 1, 2013, to require savings banks to disclose to individuals opening a joint account the particular characteristics of these accounts, including what happens when one account owner dies, and the fact that each account owner has the right to remove money from the account.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160934
Senate Bill 567: Require financial institution joint account customer disclosures
Introduced by Sen. Coleman Young (D) on October 1, 2013, to require banks to disclose to individuals opening a joint account the particular characteristics of these accounts, including what happens when one account owner dies, and the fact that each account owner has the right to remove money from the account.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160935
Senate Bill 568: Revise medical professional licensure details
Introduced by Sen. Jim Marleau (R) on October 1, 2013, to consolidate and update the licensure and regulatory regimes imposed on physicians, osteopaths, physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160936
Senate Bill 569: Revise medical professional licensure details
Introduced by Sen. Jim Marleau (R) on October 1, 2013, to consolidate and update the licensure and regulatory regimes imposed on regulation and physicians, osteopaths, physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160937
Senate Bill 570: Revise medical professional business ownership details
Introduced by Sen. Jim Marleau (R) on October 1, 2013, to allow physicians to organize a corporation or limited liability company with nurse anesthetists.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160938
Senate Bill 571: Revise medical professional business ownership details
Introduced by Sen. Bert Johnson (D) on October 2, 2013, to allow physicians to organize a corporation or limited liability company with nurse anesthetists.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160988
Senate Bill 572: Allow CPL holders to carry tasers in “gun free zone”
Introduced by Sen. Darwin Booher (R) on October 2, 2013, to revise the concealed pistol permit law to allow permit holders to carry tasers or other “electromuscular disruption devices” in so-called “gun free zones.” This zone provision prohibits citizens who have received a permit after meeting the background check and training requirements, from carrying a pistol in schools, day care facilities, sports stadiums or arenas, bars, bar/restaurants, places of worship, college dorms and classrooms, hospitals, casinos, large entertainment facilities and courts.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160989
Senate Bill 573: Allow CPL holders to carry tasers in “gun free zone”
Introduced by Sen. Tom Casperson (R) on October 2, 2013, to revise criminal sentencing guidelines to reflect the proposal in Senate Bill 572 to allow concealed pistol permit holders to carry tasers in so-called “gun free zones”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160990
Senate Bill 574: Revise county tax foreclosure detail
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on October 2, 2013, to allow a particular county that elected to have the state foreclose tax delinquent property in the county to rescind that decision for one year.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160991
Senate Bill 575: Prohibit licensure discipline board conflicts of interest
Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on October 2, 2013, to prohibit a member of a health profession occupational licensure board’s disciplinary subcommittee from participating in disciplinary procedures if he or she has a conflict of interest.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160992
Senate Bill 576
Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on October 2, 2013, Prohibit licensure discipline board conflicts of interest to require members of a government board, commission, or committee that has authority in regulatory actions concerning private individuals or entities to disclose any personal or financial interest in a matter before the board, refrain from board discussions on the matter and not participate in any related votes.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160993
Senate Bill 577: Revise licensure discipline board procedures
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on October 2, 2013, to require (rather than just “allow”) the state agency in charge of occupational licensure in the health care field to investigate allegations that grounds exist for disciplinary action against a health care professional. Also, to explicitly include any conduct with a patient that is sexual in any way in the grounds for investigation and disciplinary action, and authorize administrative penalties (in addition to any criminal sanctions a prosecutor may seek).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160994
Senate Bill 578: Revise licensure discipline board procedures
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on October 2, 2013, to establish specific procedures to be followed by a health profession occupational licensure board’s disciplinary subcommittee in making a final decision on disciplinary action against a health care professional.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160995
Senate Bill 579: Repeal licensure mandate on dietitians and nutritionists
Introduced by Sen. Dave Hildenbrand (R) on October 2, 2013, to repeal a law that imposes a licensure mandate on dietitians and nutritionists.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160996
Senate Bill 580: Revise renaissance zone details
Introduced by Sen. Tom Casperson (R) on October 2, 2013, to revise various details of the law authorizing the extensive tax exemptions of a “renaissance” zone. The bill appears related to Senate Bill 397, which would authorize creation of a sixth “Next Michigan Development Corporation” to be located in the Upper Peninsula. This is a government agency that gives tax breaks and subsidies to particular corporations or developers, potentially including extensive “renaissance” zone tax exemptions.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160997
Senate Bill 581: Correct citation reference in jail law
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on October 3, 2013, to correct a citation reference in a statute requiring verification of school enrollment or employment of an individual released from jail for either of these.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160998
Senate Bill 582: Authorize enhanced penalties for drive-by shooting
Introduced by Sen. Jim Marleau (R) on October 3, 2013, to authorize up to life in prison for intentionally discharging a firearm from a vehicle or at a dwelling when this causes death (as in a “drive-by” shooting), and 15 to 20 years if someone is injured. These penalties would be on top of any imposed for assault, attempted murder, etc. The bill also increases the maximum penalty if no one is hurt from four years to 10 years.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160999
Senate Bill 583: Authorize enhanced penalties for drive-by shooting
Introduced by Sen. Jim Ananich (D) on October 3, 2013, to establish sentencing guidelines for the enhanced “drive-by” shooting penalties proposed by Senate Bill 5832.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161000
Senate Bill 584: Eliminate statute of limitations on child sex trafficking
Introduced by Sen. Judy Emmons (R) on October 3, 2013, to eliminate the statute of limitations for prosecution of child sex trafficking or commercial sexual exploitation of children offenses.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161001
House Bill 5020: Eliminate sunset on “sobriety court interlock project”
Introduced by Rep. Nancy Jenkins (R) on October 1, 2013, to make permanent the “sobriety court interlock project” pilot program authorized by a 2010 intended to “reduce recidivism among alcohol offenders”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160952
House Bill 5021: Eliminate sunset on “sobriety court interlock project”
Introduced by Rep. Dan Lauwers (R) on October 1, 2013, to make permanent the “sobriety court interlock project” pilot program authorized by a 2010 intended to “reduce recidivism among alcohol offenders”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160953
House Bill 5022: Clarify identity theft penalties
Introduced by Rep. Dan Lauwers (R) on October 1, 2013, to increase the identity theft penalties in the state criminal code so they match the penalties in a to clarify that a property owner is not required to use a state-licensed plumber to replace a domestic water heater in a residence if the job “requires modification to an existing hot and cold water distribution supply by a state-licensed mechanical contractor, a permit is secured, required inspections are performed, and the installation complies” with building codes.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160954
House Bill 5023: Revise occupational license detail
Introduced by Rep. Rob VerHeulen (R) on October 1, 2013, to revise the three-year of experience a person must acquire to be granted a state-license allowing him or her to earn a living as a “mechanical contractor.” The bill would define this as fulfilled if the person has held a license for three years in one of the sub-classifications of this licensure mandate, which include refrigeration, steam or forced-air heating systems, and fire suppression systems.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160955
House Bill 5024: Revise occupational license detail
Introduced by Rep. Roger Victory (R) on October 1, 2013, to expand the “scope of practice” of state-licensed “mechanical contractors” in a way that permits them to provide more services that under current law may only be done by a state-licensed electrician.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160956
House Bill 5025: “Human trafficking” criminal law package
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on October 1, 2013, to allow and facilitate the expungement of a prostitution offense from a person’s criminal record if the person was the victim of a “human trafficking” violation.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160957
House Bill 5026: Expand grounds for court supervision of juveniles
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on October 1, 2013, to expand the grounds under which a court may order the removal of a juvenile from a home and into foster care to include cases of “danger of substantial physical or psychological harm” where the juvenile is not living with a parent legally responsible adult, or has repeatedly run away and is considered “beyond the control of a parent,” or the has committed “commercial sexual activity” that is the result of “force, fraud, coercion, or manipulation by a parent or other adult”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160958
House Bill 5027: Expand scrap metal theft penalties
Introduced by Rep. Eileen Kowall (R) on October 1, 2013, to expand the scope of a 2008 law that imposed enhanced sentences on stealing nonferrous metal so that this also applies to stealing scrap iron.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160959
House Bill 5028: Expand scrap metal theft penalties
Introduced by Rep. Klint Kesto (R) on October 1, 2013, to establish sentencing guidelines for the enhances scrap iron theft penalties proposed by House Bill 5027.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160960
House Bill 5029: Revise indigent burial detail
Introduced by Rep. John Kivela (D) on October 1, 2013, to require requests for county assistance in paying for the burial of an indigent person to be made within 30 days of the burial or cremation.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160961
House Bill 5030: Require financial institution joint account customer disclosures
Introduced by Rep. Winnie Brinks (D) on October 1, 2013, to require credit unions to disclose to individuals opening a joint account the particular characteristics of these accounts, including what happens when one account owner dies, and the fact that each account owner has the right to remove money from the account.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160962
House Bill 5031: Require financial institution joint account customer disclosures
Introduced by Rep. Tom Cochran (D) on October 1, 2013, to require savings banks to disclose to individuals opening a joint account the particular characteristics of these accounts, including what happens when one account owner dies, and the fact that each account owner has the right to remove money from the account.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160963
House Bill 5032: Require financial institution joint account customer disclosures
Introduced by Rep. Tom Cochran (D) on October 1, 2013, to require banks to disclose to individuals opening a joint account the particular characteristics of these accounts, including what happens when one account owner dies, and the fact that each account owner has the right to remove money from the account.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160964
House Bill 5033: Require psychotropic drug prescription disclosures
Introduced by Rep. George T. Darany (D) on October 1, 2013, to require that a health care professional who writes a prescription for psychotropic drugs to be administered to a minor must explain and give the parents a written summary listing the side effects.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160965
House Bill 5034: Impose tax payments in advance on tax-reverted property buyers
Introduced by Rep. Phil Cavanagh (D) on October 1, 2013, to require the buyer of tax-reverted property that will not be the buyer’s principal residence to pay in advance three years worth of estimated property taxes.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160966
House Bill 5035: Require certain community college admissions practices
Introduced by Rep. Ken Goike (R) on October 1, 2013, to require community college admissions forms to ask if the applicant is a veteran or active military member, or the spouse or dependent of one, for purposes of granting potential government subsidies.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160967
House Bill 5036: Require certain community college admissions practices
Introduced by Rep. Bruce Rendon (R) on October 1, 2013, to require community colleges to inform applicants that they may receive credit for college-level training and education received in the military, and require them to accept a “joint services transcript” prepared under “American Council On Education Registry of Credit” recommendations..
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160968
House Bill 5037: Clarify and enforce tenant duties
Introduced by Rep. Joseph Graves (R) on October 1, 2013, to establish that tenants are responsible for keeping “the part of a dwelling the tenant occupies and controls” in a clean, sanitary, and safe condition unless the lease contract specifies a different responsibility arrangement, and authorize local governments to enforce this through violation orders issued to a tenant, with potential civil or misdemeanor penalties for not complying. The bill establishes procedures and various exceptions.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160969
House Bill 5038: Impose minimum staff ratios on child protection workers
Introduced by Rep. Kenneth Kurtz (R) on October 1, 2013, to codify in statute specific county-level child welfare staffer-to-child ratios for child protection investigation workers, child protection “ongoing” workers, direct foster care or adoption workers, “service monitor workers,” foster home licensing workers, and child welfare supervisors.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160970
House Bill 5039: Expand mandatory child death investigations
Introduced by Rep. Kenneth Kurtz (R) on October 2, 2013, to expand the duties of the state “children’s ombudsman” to include investigating all deaths of a child if there was an active or recent child protective services investigation or complaint.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160971
House Bill 5040: Mandate “pints” of beer contain 16 ounces
Introduced by Rep. David Knezek (D) on October 2, 2013, to prohibit selling a glass of beer as a “pint” if it contains less than 16 ounces of beer.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160972
House Bill 5041: Revise business tax detail
Introduced by Rep. Jeff Farrington (R) on October 2, 2013, to clarify details of the application of state business taxes to a “flow-through entity” and “unitary business group”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160973
House Bill 5042: Require disclosure of State Police speed limit change requests
Introduced by Rep. Tom McMillin (R) on October 2, 2013, to require the State Police to post on the internet details related to speed limit engineering and traffic investigation requests from local government.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160974
House Bill 5043: Allow local gravel road speed limit setting
Introduced by Rep. Tom McMillin (R) on October 2, 2013, to allow a county road commission and township board to set speed limits on gravel roads, including different at different times of day. A 2006 law set “prima facie” statewide speed limits on gravel roads, and under current law can’t be changed locally without State Police approval.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160975
House Bill 5044: Restrict schools collecting personal and “biometric” student data
Introduced by Rep. Tim Kelly (R) on October 2, 2013, to prohibit public schools from collecting or using student “biometric” or other specified data, including data from a behavior-response measuring “biofeedback” or facial recognition device. The bill also bans schools administering tests that ask students about their own or family members’ socioeconomic status; place of birth; political affiliations or beliefs; religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs; income; or any other data about the student’s relationships, health, behaviors, attitudes, or beliefs, unless approved in writing by a parent or legal guardian. Schools would also be prohibited from revealing any such information to a state or federal government agency.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160976
House Bill 5045: Allow local governments to permit golf carts on streets
Introduced by Rep. Kevin Cotter (R) on October 2, 2013, to allow cities, villages and townships to permit the daytime operation of golf carts on streets. A local government could require registration but could not charge a fee for this.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160977
House Bill 5046: Allow customer’s wine in restaurants but impose minimum $25 fee
Introduced by Rep. Jim Stamas (R) on October 2, 2013, to allow a customer to bring his or her own bottle of wine to a restaurant that has a liquor license, but mandate the restaurant charge a minimum $25 fee for this.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160978
House Bill 5047: Authorize “breast cancer awareness” specialty license plate
Introduced by Rep. Winnie Brinks (D) on October 2, 2013, to authorize a specialty license plate for “breast cancer awareness,” and give the net revenue from its sale to government breast and cervical cancer control programs.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160979
House Bill 5048: Increase drunk of stoned doctor penalties
Introduced by Rep. Charles Brunner (D) on October 2, 2013, to increase the penalties for a health care professional practicing while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The bill would establish a maximum penalty of $2,500; under current law there is a minimum penalty of $1,000 (plus up to 180 days in jail) but no maximum fine. The bill would also revise details that allow a record of the proceedings related to the case to not be public if the offender meets conditions and terms imposed by the court.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160950
House Bill 5049: Revise “veteran’s court” detail
Introduced by Rep. Sam Singh (D) on October 2, 2013, to establish that if a defendant in a “veteran’s treatment” specialty court authorized by a 2012 does not meet the conditions and terms imposed by the court then the record of the proceedings would become a public record. These courts adjudicate offenses related to alcohol and drug use, which can include traffic and other violations.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160951
House Bill 5050: Expand ban on electronic cash register dirty tricks devices
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on October 3, 2013, to revise a 2012 law banning the possession, manufacture or sale of an automated sales suppression device for falsifying the records of electronic cash registers (also called a “zapper” or “phantom-ware”), so that it also bans “skimming” devices intended to obtain information allowing access to a customer’s financial accounts.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160980
House Bill 5051: Clarify identity theft penalties
Introduced by Rep. Kevin Cotter (R) on October 3, 2013, to increase the penalties provided in the state criminal code for identity theft so they match those called for in a 2004 identity theft law.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160981
House Bill 5052: Clarify identity theft penalties
Introduced by Rep. Mike Callton (R) on October 3, 2013, to establish sentencing guidelines for the increased identity theft penalties proposed by House Bill 5051.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160982
Senate Bill 471: Restrict releasing juvenile criminal history record information
Passed 35 to 0 in the Senate on October 9, 2013, to restrict law enforcement agencies from disseminating juvenile criminal history record information, except in response to a fingerprint-based search. This would make the information available to employers required to do criminal background checks but not to journalists reporting on subsequent crimes a juvenile may later commit as an adult.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673300
House Bill 4656: Revise youth employment limits
Passed 108 to 0 in the House on October 9, 2013, to exempt minors age 16 and 17 who have received a GED high school equivalency certificate from a law that caps the number of hours a minor who is in school can work. Under current law the maximum is 24 hours in one week when school is in session, and not more than “an average of 8 hours per day in one week” during the summer.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673275
House Bill 4760: Increase interest payments to taxpayers owed refunds
Passed 106 to 2 in the House on October 9, 2013, to require the state to pay “an additional monthly interest rate of 3 percent per annum” to a business that filed under the repealed Michigan Business Tax and is due a tax refund because of an overpayment, starting 90 days after the claim is due or filed.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673276
House Bill 4770: Ban vehicle accident-related commercial solicitations (“ambulance chasing”)
The substitute passed by voice vote in the House on October 8, 2013, to adopt a version of the bill that does not attempt to limit access by defining who may or may not get an accident report - including a controversial attempt to define eligible “journalists” - and instead just bans getting a report for purposes of “ambulance chasing”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159632
House Bill 4770: Ban vehicle accident-related commercial solicitations (“ambulance chasing”)
Passed 98 to 10 in the House on October 9, 2013, to restrict public access to vehicle accident reports for 30 days after the crash by requiring outside parties who want the report to file a statement that they will not use it for commercial solicitation (”ambulance chasing”). The original bill’s attempt to limit access by defining “journalist” was removed. Violations would be subject to a $15,000 fine, and subsequent violations with up to one year in jail.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673271
House Bill 4771: Ban vehicle accident-related commercial solicitations (“ambulance chasing”)
Passed 98 to 10 in the House on October 9, 2013, to make it a crime to contact a vehicle accident victim or family members for purposes of commercial solicitation (“ambulance chasing”) within 30 days of the accident, with violations subject to a $15,000 fine. House Bill 4771 makes it a crime to obtain an accident report for this purpose.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673273
House Bill 4993: Increase hunting and fishing fees for PR campaign
Passed 77 to 31 in the House on October 9, 2013, to use $1 of the increased hunting and fishing license fees authorized by a 2013 law for ads promoting hunting and fishing. The bill would create a state “wildlife council” and “wildlife management public education fund” with political appointees on the council board representing various interests deciding what advertising agency to hire and helping to design the public relations campaign.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673274
House Bill 5002: Designate road after fallen police officer
Passed 108 to 0 in the House on October 9, 2013, to designate a section of I-96 in Ottawa County as the “Officer Trevor Slot Memorial Highway”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673277
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