Senate Bill 444: Revise aquatic nuisance species control regulations
Passed 26 to 12 in the Senate on April 23, 2014, to revise details of the law restricting and requiring permits for chemicals used to control aquatic nuisance species; increase the permit fees (by extending the sunset on their authorization); revise the duration of permits and make them transferable; and more.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=689234
Senate Bill 664: Revise “debt management services” regulations
Passed 25 to 13 in the Senate on April 23, 2014, to revise and update various definitions and prescribed procedures in a law that imposes licensure and regulations on “debt management services.” The bill would also increase license fees.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=689235
Senate Bill 873: Authorize “Pure Michigan Trail” designations
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on April 23, 2014, to authorize the designation of a trail as “Pure Michigan Trail” if it contributes to a statewide trail network that “promotes healthy lifestyles, economic development, recreation, and conservation.” The bill would also authorize designation of “Pure Michigan Towns” and “Pure Michigan Water Trails”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=689236
Senate Bill 874: Authorize “Pure Michigan Trail” designations
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on April 23, 2014, to authorize the use of money in an existing “Michigan trailways fund” to develop the statewide multi-use trail network proposed by Senate Bill 873. The bill would also make nonprofits and private sector entities eligible for grants from to operate and maintain designated trail segments.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=689237
Senate Bill 875: Authorize “Pure Michigan Trail” designations
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on April 23, 2014, to revise the state environmental protection law to conform to the proposal in Senate Bill 873 to designate a statewide multi-use trail network.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=689238
Senate Bill 876: Authorize “Pure Michigan Trail” designations
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on April 23, 2014, to revise the law authorizing the state to operate an “adopt a trail” program using the services of volunteers so as to conform to the proposal in Senate Bill 873 to designate a statewide multi-use trail network.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=689239
Senate Bill 49: Make government firearms ownership databases non-public information
Passed 36 to 2 in the Senate on April 24, 2014, to establish that state databases containing information on licenses issued to individuals to purchase, carry, possess, or transport pistols are confidential and not subject to disclosure under the state Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The bill was introduced after a New York newspaper published the names and addresses of gun owners it acquired from a state database (since then New York has also banned releasing this information).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=689269
Senate Bill 680: Exclude county road commissions as waterfront road end decision maker
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on April 24, 2014, to clarify that cities, villages and townships rather than counties may exercise the authority granted by a 2012 law to permit a single seasonal public dock or wharf at a road end at an inland lake or stream. This applies unless a recorded deed, easement or other recorded dedication expressly provides otherwise.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=689271
Senate Bill 834: Make government firearms ownership databases non-public information
Passed 36 to 2 in the Senate on April 24, 2014, to establish that a firearms-related court order or disposition entered into the state’s Law Enforcement Information Network (LIEN) is not subject to disclosure under the state Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). See Senate Bill 49.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=689267
Senate Bill 878: Accommodate and regulate the “millionaire party” business
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on April 24, 2014, to revise the law governing charitable “millionaire party” gambling events that include casino games, in a manner that accommodates charities contracting-out operation of these fundraising events to a “charitable gaming service” that operates them for multiple charities at a single location, one event after another. The bill would establish a licensing regime covering both the charities and the companies that provide the gambling service, which would recognize a system that has evolved in which, on most days of the week, a person can go to a single location to gamble on casino-like games, with the proceeds going to a different charitable organization each day (or during different hours of the same day). Among other details the bill would permit charitable organizations to sponsor these events a maximum of 16 days a year, and permit them to be held at horse race tracks. The state Gaming Control Board had proposed a different regulatory regime that would restrict this practice rather than accommodate it.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=689274
House Bill 4962: Mandate SIDS information distribution & parent acknowledgement
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on April 24, 2014, 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). This would also apply to a health professional in charge of a birth or a newborn’s care outside of a hospital. The Department of Community Health would be responsible for producing the pamphlets and related material.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=689272
House Bill 5277: Revise foreclosure restrictions
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on April 24, 2014, to revise details of a 2013 law that made changes to the right of a mortgage foreclosure auction property buyer to monitor the property during the post-auction redemption period (during which a delinquent borrower can pay the loan in full to redeem the property). The bill would impose more restrictions on inspections by the buyer, require more notice before interior inspections, and offer more opportunities for the borrower to repair or correct damage before the buyer can claim immediate ownership rights.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=689270