Senate Bill 146: Extend enterprise zone tax breaks to a particular development
Passed 93 to 17 in the House on February 4, 2014, to revise a law that authorizes tax breaks for developers whose projects are in an area deemed a “neighborhood enterprise zone,” in a way that would allow the tax break for a particular developer’s project, notwithstanding this developer’s failure to request the tax break before getting a building permit, which the current law requires.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=681906
Senate Bill 319: Repeal mandatory life sentences for minors
Passed 62 to 48 in the House on February 4, 2014, to revise the sentencing guidelines related to Michigan’s mandatory life sentence with no chance of parole for certain very serious crimes committed by minors. Life without parole would no longer be automatic in these cases but prosecutors could request it. Otherwise, the minimum sentence would be 25 to 40 years, and the maximum at least 60 years. These provisions would only apply prospectively, to cases still open as of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Miller v Alabama decision in June, 2012. Language in the bill would apply the new standard retroactively to the approximately 350 current prisoners in this category if future court rulings require this.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=681915
Senate Bill 533: Revise “brownfield” reporting detail
Passed 98 to 12 in the House on February 4, 2014, to delay a 2013 deadline for a brownfield redevelopment authority to apply to receive revenue from the state school property tax, which is intended to replace property tax revenue the authority would have “captured” but for certain personal property tax exemptions enacted in 2007.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=681907
House Bill 4493: Expand scope of child abuse reporting mandate
Passed 109 to 1 in the House on February 4, 2014, to expand the law that requires health care professionals, social workers, teachers, clergy and other officials and to report suspected child abuse, so that it also requires reporting by all school employees. This would individuals who work for a firm under contract with the school, unless the employment is “incidental or temporary” and does not involve regular interaction with children.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=681905
House Bill 4570: Exempt college students from jury duty
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on February 4, 2014, to require the chief judge of a judicial circuit or district to postpone jury duty for a full time student in a college or other educational institution until the end of the current school term, if the student provides evidence the duty will interfere with his or her class schedule.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=681784
House Bill 5157: Clarify “aggravated physical abuse” sentencing guidelines
Passed 97 to 13 in the House on February 4, 2014, to clarify “offense variables” included in the state sentencing guidelines for the crime of “aggravated physical abuse”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=681908
Senate Bill 396: Restrict replacement-construction property tax hikes
Passed 82 to 27 in the House on February 11, 2014, to revise a provision restricting property tax assessment increases on construction that replaces parts of a structure damaged by accident or an Act of God. The bill would prohibit an assessment hike as long as the construction is of substantially the same materials and square footage. This restriction would also apply to improvements that do increase property value but are undertake to meet current health, sanitary, zoning, safety, fire, or buiding code requirements.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=682906
Senate Bill 581: Correct citation reference in jail law
Passed 109 to 0 in the House on February 11, 2014, 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.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=682907
House Bill 5198: Revise child services worker discipline procedure
Passed 108 to 1 in the House on February 11, 2014, to allow access to confidential records contained in a state database of serious child abuse incidents to a state employee undergoing a disciplinary action. Access would be limited only to the individual’s union representative, or the arbitrator or official conducting a hearing involving the employee’s dereliction or malfeasance. This access would be for use of records solely in connection with that action or hearing.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=682905