Senate Bill 575: Prohibit licensure discipline board conflicts of interest
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on March 18, 2014, 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. The bill would also revise procedures for the initiation of a state investigation.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=687788
Senate Bill 576: Prohibit licensure discipline board conflicts of interest
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on March 18, 2014, 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.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=687789
Senate Bill 577: Revise licensure discipline board procedures
Passed 109 to 1 in the House on March 18, 2014, 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 increase potential administrative penalties (in addition to any criminal sanctions a prosecutor may seek).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=687790
Senate Bill 578: Revise licensure discipline board procedures
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on March 18, 2014, 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, which then becomes subject to judicial review.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=687791
House Bill 5254: Establish enhanced hydrocarbon recovery CO2 pipeline regulations
Passed 25 to 13 in the Senate on March 18, 2014, to revise the state law imposing permit requirements on gas, oil and other pipelines, so it also applies to pipelines carrying carbon dioxide used to produce oil and gas in secondary or “enhanced recovery’ operations. Senate Bill 5255 and 5256 would apply property condemnation powers and the state preemption of local pipeline restrictions to these pipelines. See also House Bill 4885, which would cut the tax on oil and gas extracted using enhanced recovery.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=687736
House Bill 5255: Authorize eminent domain for oil well CO2 pipelines
Passed 25 to 13 in the Senate on March 18, 2014, to extend the state law authorizing eminent domain takings for gas, oil and other pipeline easements, so it also includes pipelines carrying carbon dioxide used to produce hydrocarbons in secondary or “enhanced recovery” operations. See also House Bill 4885, which would cut the tax on oil and gas extracted using enhanced recovery.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=687740
House Bill 5274: Preempt locals from restricting CO2 pipelines
Passed 25 to 13 in the Senate on March 18, 2014, to expand the law that gives the state Public Service Commission authority to regulate oil and gas pipelines so it also applies to pipelines carrying carbon dioxide used in hydrocarbon “enhanced recovery” operations. This law preempts local governments from restricting pipelines in their jurisdiction. This is related to House Bill 4885, which would cut the tax on oil and gas extracted using enhanced recovery.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=687732
Senate Bill 713: Revise mental health services law to accommodate rehab
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on March 19, 2014, to expand the powers of governing board of a community mental health services authority, explicitly authorizing “partnering with entities that provide health care and rehabilitative services” directly related to community mental health programs.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=687835
House Bill 4593: Expand scrap metal regulatory regime
Passed 98 to 12 in the House on March 19, 2014, to expand an existing scrap metal dealer regulatory regime that applies to purchases of nonferrous scrap metal so that it also applies to purchases of scrap iron (ferrous metals). The bill would also impose restrictions on the form of payment a dealer could use to purchase “scrapped” catalytic converters, air conditioners and stripped copper wire. Payment in cash would be prohibited, and payments greater than $25 would have to be sent by mail to the seller’s address as indicated on valid form of identification. If the scrap metal industry creates a real time database of each purchase, some payment restrictions would be less stringent. The bills would also require dealers to keep specified records of sellers and purchased items, and more.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=687918
House Bill 4885: Cut tax on oil and gas from “enhanced recovery”
Passed 25 to 13 in the Senate on March 19, 2014, to reduce the “severance tax” or royalty paid to the state on oil and gas extracted from state land to 4 percent for hydrocarbons extracted using “enhanced recovery” technology, which injects carbon dioxide into wells to force out more product (this is different from hydraulic fracturing). The current tax ranges from 5.0 to 6.6 percent.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=687838
House Bill 5121: Revise judgeships
Passed 28 to 10 in the Senate on March 19, 2014, to increase by one the number of judgeships in the 16th circuit court in Macomb County.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=687846
House Bill 5122: Revise judgeships
Passed 27 to 11 in the Senate on March 19, 2014, to increase the by one the number of judgeships in the sixth circuit court in Oakland County.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=687847
House Bill 5123: Revise judgeships
Passed 26 to 12 in the Senate on March 19, 2014, to increase the number of judges in some judicial circuits and districts, and decrease them in some others. Among other changes the bill would reduce by one the number of judges in the 36th district in Detroit.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=687850
House Bill 5124: Revise judgeships
Passed 24 to 14 in the Senate on March 19, 2014, to reduce the number of district judgeships in the third judicial circuit in Wayne County from 60 to 56.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=687848
House Bill 5125: Revise judgeships
Passed 27 to 11 in the Senate on March 19, 2014, to consolidate and revise the number of judgeships in several district courts around the state.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=687849
House Bill 5234: Human trafficking crime package
Passed 108 to 1 in the House on March 19, 2014, to revise and update definitions in the state criminal law that covers human trafficking.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=687865
House Bill 5235: Human trafficking crime package
Passed 108 to 1 in the House on March 19, 2014, to revise the state sentencing guidelines to conform to the proposal in House Bill 5234 to update definitions in the state criminal law that covers human trafficking.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=687866
House Bill 5236: Human trafficking crime package
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on March 19, 2014, to revise the law authorizing seizure and forfeiture of property related to the commission of a crime or the proceeds from a criminal act so that it explicitly applies to human trafficking crimes.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=687867
House Bill 5237: Human trafficking crime package
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on March 19, 2014, to include human trafficking crimes in the state’s victim restitution law.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=687868
House Bill 5239: Human trafficking crime package
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on March 19, 2014, to require Department of Human Services employees to promptly report to law enforcement suspected child abuse or child neglect involving human trafficking crimes.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=687869