House Bill 4583: Authorize termination of parental rights upon child rape conviction
Introduced by Rep. Joel Johnson (R) on April 18, 2013, to authorize the termination of parental rights and child custody dispute visitation rights for a parent or legal guardian who is convicted and sentenced for child rape, if the sentencing court finds this “in the best interest of the child”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158647
House Bill 4584: Authorize termination of grandparent rights upon child rape conviction
Introduced by Rep. Joel Johnson (R) on April 18, 2013, to authorize the termination of any “grandparent rights” related to child custody disputes for a grandparent convicted and sentenced for child rape, if the sentencing court finds this “in the best interest of the child”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158648
House Bill 4585: Authorize paperless architect, engineer and surveyor filings
Introduced by Rep. Rob VerHeulen (R) on April 18, 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.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158649
House Bill 4586: Revise business tax detail
Introduced by Rep. Patrick Somerville (R) on April 18, 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.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158650
House Bill 4587: Allow family member to get disabled veteran plate
Introduced by Rep. Jon Switalski (D) on April 18, 2013, to allow the spouse, parent, sibling, or child of a totally disabled armed services veteran to get a disabled veteran special license plate.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158651
House Bill 4588: Exempt police and firefighters from property tax
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on April 18, 2013, to exempt police and firefighters from property tax on their principle residence if they live in the same community in which they are employed. A 1999 law prohibited local governments from imposing residency mandates on police and firefighters, and a number of bills have been introduced since to partially repeal that preemption.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158652
House Bill 4589: Revise foster care adoption rules
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on April 18, 2013, to revise details of child foster care and adoption procedures, to among other things, prohibit the adoption of a foster care child by a foster care home or parents if they have been determined to be unsuitable to continue providing foster care.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158653
House Bill 4590: Authorize new specialty plate; give profits to particular organization
Introduced by Rep. Joseph Haveman (R) on April 18, 2013, to authorize a new specialty license plate, with the profits delivered to an entity that calls itself “First in Michigan”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158654
House Bill 4591: Exempt home monitoring system installers from electrician licensure mandate
Introduced by Rep. Aric Nesbitt (R) on April 18, 2013, to establish that an electricians license is not required for a registered or licensed security alarm provider or contractor to install a “home monitoring system,” defined as one that lets a person “remotely monitor their home through audio, video, or sensor detection systems and that may allow them to remotely control the home’s environment, including controlling temperature, humidity, lighting, doors, locks” and more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158655
House Bill 4592: Exempt home thermostat installers from mechanical contractor licensure
Introduced by Rep. Bradford Jacobsen (R) on April 18, 2013, mandate to establish that an “mechanical contractors” license is not required for a registered or licensed security alarm provider or contractor to install a home thermostat.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158656
House Bill 4593: Expand scrap metal regulatory regime
Introduced by Rep. Paul Muxlow (R) on April 18, 2013, to expand the regulations imposed on scrap metal dealers under a 2008 law that imposed regulations and record keeping requirements on sales of nonferrous scrap metal.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158657
House Bill 4594: Expand scrap metal regulatory regime
Introduced by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D) on April 18, 2013, to expand the scope of a 2008 law imposed regulations and record keeping requirements on dealers who buy and sell nonferrous scrap metal. The bill wood expand these to include transactions involving a larger range of items.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158658
House Bill 4595: Expand scrap metal theft law scope
Introduced by Rep. Jim Ananich (D) on April 18, 2013, to expand penalties authorized for stealing nonferrous metals such as copper, brass, aluminum, bronze, lead, zinc, or nickel, so they apply to any scrap metal theft.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158659
House Bill 4596: Revise county veterans affairs committee detail
Introduced by Rep. Sam Singh (D) on April 18, 2013, to require appointees to a county department of veterans’ affairs administration committee to be recommended by either county residents or a veterans service organization.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158660
House Bill 4597: Restrict health insurance abortion coverage
Introduced by Rep. Amanda Price (R) on April 18, 2013, to prohibit health care providers from accepting health insurance reimbursements from a health policy that covers abortion unless the coverage is added as an optional rider for which an additional premium has been paid.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158661
House Bill 4598: Prohibit coercing a woman to have an abortion
Introduced by Rep. Amanda Price (R) on April 18, 2013, to make it a crime to coerce or attempt to coerce a woman into having an abortion. In addition to potential prison for threats of violence or “stalking,” the bill authorizes penalties for acts like threatening divorce or other living arrangement changes, threatening to withhold current or promised support, etc.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158662
House Bill 4599: Prohibit coercing a woman to have an abortion
Introduced by Rep. Nancy Jenkins (R) on April 18, 2013, to establish sentencing guidelines for the penalties proposed by House Bill 4598 for attempting to coerce a woman into having an abortion.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158663
Senate Bill 182: Appropriations: K-12 School Aid budget
The amendment failed 18 to 18 in the Senate on April 24, 2013, to not use tax revenues earmarked to the state School Aid Fund in the university and community college budgets, but instead use non-earmarked revenue. Although the state constitution explicitly authorizes using SAF money for higher education, the public school establishment contends that the 1994 Proposal A initiative earmarking a sales tax increase to the SAF means it can only be used for K-12 schools.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=660910
Senate Bill 182: Appropriations: K-12 School Aid budget
Passed 21 to 15 in the Senate on April 24, 2013, the Senate version of the K-12 school aid budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct 1, 2013. It would appropriate $13.225 billion for K-12 public schools, compared to $12.944 billion this year.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=660922
Senate Bill 187: Appropriations: Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
Passed 33 to 3 in the Senate on April 24, 2013, the Senate version of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs budget for the fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1, 201]. This would appropriate $162.5 million in gross spending, compared to $170.0 million the previous year. Of this, $89.7 million is from federal funds.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=660900
Senate Bill 188: Appropriations: Department of Natural Resources
Passed 26 to 10 in the Senate on April 24, 2013, the Senate version of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, 2013. This would appropriate $339.8 million in gross spending, compared to $337.8 million, which was the FY 2012-2013 amount enrolled in 2012. Of this, $67.1 million is federal money, and the rest is from state taxes, fees, fines, royalties, etc..
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=660892
Senate Bill 196: Appropriations: Department of Education
Passed 24 to 12 in the Senate on April 24, 2013, the Senate version of the Department of Education budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, 2012. This would appropriate $322.4 million (compared to $328.9 million the previous year), of which $232.4 million would come from the federal government.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=660908
House Bill 4228: Appropriations: “Omnibus” education budget
The substitute passed by voice vote in the House on April 23, 2013, to adopt a version of this budget that expresses the fiscal and policy preferences of the Republican-majority in the House on various spending items and programs.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=154242
House Bill 4228: Appropriations: “Omnibus” education budget
Passed 58 to 52 in the House on April 24, 2013, the House version of the non-education portion of the state government budget for the fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1, 2013. (House Bill 4228 contains K-12 school, college and university spending.) This would appropriate $33.918 billion, compared to $34.018 billion the previous year. Of this, $15.802 billion comes from state tax, fee and other revenue, compared to $16.149 billion the previous year. The rest of this budget is federal money ($18.116 billion, compared to $17.869 billion the previous year).
The House budget does not include spending requested by the Governor from $1.2 billion in higher transportation taxes he has recommended, or $1.5 billion from the federal health care law’s expansion of Medicaid, which would bring in more federal money in the short term but require higher state spending in a few years.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=661000
House Bill 4328: Appropriations: 2013-2014 “omnibus” budget
Passed 59 to 51 in the House on April 24, 2013, the House version of the K-12 school aid, community college and university budgets for the fiscal year that begins Oct 1, 2013. A separate House budget authorizes the rest of state government spending (House Bill 4328). This bill would appropriate $13.235 billion for K-12 public schools, compared to $12.944 billion this year. It also also appropriates $1.430 billion for state universities, compared to $1.399 billion this year. Community colleges would get $334 million, vs. $294 million this year.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=661002
Senate Joint Resolution S: Place right to hunt and fish in Constitution
Passed 25 to 11 in the Senate on April 25, 2013.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=661231
Senate Bill 185: Appropriations: State Police
Passed 33 to 3 in the Senate on April 24, 2013, the Senate version of the State Police budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2013. This would appropriate $600.6 million in gross spending, compared to $577.9 million the previous year. Of this, $98.8 million is from federal revenue.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=660898
Senate Bill 195: Appropriations: Department f Environmental Quality
Passed 29 to 7 in the Senate on April 24, 2013, the Senate version of the Department of Environmental Quality budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, 2013. This would appropriate $510.6 million in gross spending, compared to $431.7 million, which was the amount appropriated the previous year. Of this, $150.9 million is federal money, and the rest is from state and local taxes and fees (including a 7/8 cent per gallon fuel tax). The large increase over the previous year’s budget is from a proposal to spend $97 million in borrowed money on grants and loans to municipalities for sewer upgrades and another $3 million for “wetland mitigation banks”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=660894
Senate Bill 201: Appropriations: Department of Agriculture
Passed 32 to 4 in the Senate on April 24, 2013, the Senate version of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, 2013. This would appropriate $79.1 million in gross spending, compared to $76.9 million in the prior year’s budget. Of this, $9.7 million is federal money, and the rest is from state and local taxes and fees.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=660888
Senate Bill 288: Give NRC duty of designating huntable game species
Passed 25 to 11 in the Senate on April 25, 2013, to give the state Natural Resources Commission (in addition to the Legislature) the power to designate a species as a huntable game species. Also, to allow members of the military to obtain hunting and fishing licenses for free. The bill was changed on the floor to prohibit the commission from designating mourning doves as a game species, and to remove a modest appropriation intended to make it “referendum-proof”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=661229
House Bill 4054: Revise pension in divorce case rules
Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate on April 24, 2013, to revise procedural details related to an “eligible domestic relations order,” which refers to a court order granting a former spouse a portion of a government employee’s pension payments.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=660901
House Bill 4093: Eliminate .08 BAC drunk driving sunset
Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate on April 24, 2013, to make permanent the 2003 decrease in the drunk driving intoxication threshold (from .10 to .08 grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood) mandated by the federal government as a condition of federal road funding.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=660902
House Bill 4131: Eliminate .08 BAC drunk driving sunset
Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate on April 24, 2013, to eliminate the 2013 sunset on the .08 grams per 100 milliliters blood-alcohol-content (BAC) threshold for drunk driving offences. Under current law, on Oct. 1, 2013 the limit returns to .10 grams per 100 milliliters. This bill amends the state sentencing guidelines law; see also House Bill 4093.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=660903
House Bill 4471: Exempt some schools from minimum instruction days mandate
Passed 109 to 1 in the House on April 24, 2013, to revise the law that requires public schools to provide a minimum of 1,098 hours and 170 days of instruction per year, by exempting schools that closures in the 2012-2013 school year for various reasons specified in the bill.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=661003