Senate Bill 912: Prohibit employment for less than mandated wage
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on April 29, 2014, to make it unlawful to employ a worker for less than $8.15 an hour beginning in December 2014, notwithstanding any voluntary agreement between the employer and employee. The current state minimum wage level mandated for hourly employees not covered by a federal wage mandate is $7.40 an hour. The bill would also increase the minimum wage for employees who receive part of their compensation in tips from $2.65 to $2.75 an hour.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164116
Senate Bill 913: Revise Medicaid health insurance claims tax
Introduced by Sen. Roger Kahn (R) on April 29, 2014, to reduce to 0.75 percent a 1.0 percent health insurance claims tax intended to “game” the federal Medicaid system in ways that result in higher federal payments to Michigan’s medical welfare system. If a 6 percent use tax on Medicaid managed care providers proposed by Senate Bill 893 is disallowed by federal government for this purpose, then this bill would increase the rate of this levy to the original 1.0 percent.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164117
Senate Bill 914: Prorate unfunded university pension benefit “catch up” costs
Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on April 29, 2014, to establish a methodology for assessing state universities a share of the annual assessment required to “catch up” on unfunded pension liabilities. The bill would assess both universities and K-12 school districts with a share of the “catch up” costs based on how much of the unfunded liability was incurred on behalf of their employees’ service over the years, using a formula the bill proposes for determining the value of past and future pension fund contributions and the projected cost of future pension benefit payments.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164118
Senate Bill 915: Make vehicle title lien updates electronic
Introduced by Sen. Tom Casperson (R) on April 29, 2014, to make it a felony to fraudulently indicate on a certificate of title for a vehicle that there is no security interest on record for the vehicle (meaning the vehicle is owned free and clear). Also, to make it felony to forge or counterfeit a letter from the lender saying the loan has been paid off. See also Senate Bills 916 to 918, which propose making vehicle title lien information electronic.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164119
Senate Bill 916: Make vehicle title lien updates electronic
Introduced by Sen. Mike Nofs (R) on April 29, 2014, to revise process for updating vehicle loan “security interests” on vehicle titles, so as to accommodate the process proposed by Senate Bill 918 for replacing the current paper-based system with an all-electronic one.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164120
Senate Bill 917: Make vehicle title lien updates electronic
Introduced by Sen. Steve Bieda (D) on April 29, 2014, to revise process for updating vehicle loan “security interests” on vehicle titles, so as to accommodate the process proposed by Senate Bill 918 for replacing the current paper-based system with an all-electronic one.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164121
Senate Bill 918: Make vehicle title lien updates electronic
Introduced by Sen. Jack Brandenburg (R) on April 29, 2014, to allow the Secretary of State to develop and contract out an electronic system to process the notification and release of vehicle lender “security interests” for purposes of indicating on vehicle titles whether a lender has an interest in the vehicle. This and related bills would mostly replace an existing “hard copy” process for updating this information and mailing out new title documents to owners or lenders. The Secretary of State could require that all transactions concerning these issues be conducted through electronic means.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164122
Senate Bill 919: Waive some state fees for veterans
Introduced by Sen. John Pappageorge (R) on May 1, 2014, to revise the documentation required by a veteran to establish that he or she is entitled to a waiver of the fees imposed for mandated registration as a government building official, inspector or plan reviewer.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164163
Senate Bill 920: Waive some state fees for veterans
Introduced by Sen. John Pappageorge (R) on May 1, 2014, to revise the documentation required by a veteran to establish that he or she is entitled to a waiver of the fees imposed to incorporate a business.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164164
Senate Bill 921: Make vehicle title lien updates electronic
Introduced by Sen. John Pappageorge (R) on May 1, 2014, to revise the documentation required by a veteran to establish that he or she is entitled to a waiver of the fees charged under a state-imposed licensure mandate for plumbers.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164165
Senate Bill 922: Authorize local “pension obligation bonds”
Introduced by Sen. Jack Brandenburg (R) on May 1, 2014, to extend for two years the Dec. 31, 2014 sunset on a law passed in 2012 to allow local governments to borrow money to cover unfunded employee pension liabilities, if the local has closed its traditional “defined benefit” pension system to new employees.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164166
Senate Bill 923: Authorize enforceable children sports liability waivers
Introduced by Sen. Mark Jansen (R) on May 1, 2014, to expand to “camping activities” a law passed in 2011 giving the parent or guardian of a minor who participates in a sports or a recreational activity the right release the organizer, sponsor or property owner in advance from liability for injuries sustained by the minor. The bill would also slightly expand the scope of these liability waivers.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164167
Senate Bill 924: Criminalize posting revealing images to harass or intimidate
Introduced by Sen. Steve Bieda (D) on May 1, 2014, to explicitly make it a crime to post on the internet any sexually explicit photograph, drawing, or other image of a person with the intent to frighten, intimidate, or harass. The bill would also authorize penalties to refusing or failing to take all reasonable steps to remove such images upon written request of the person, even if these were not posted with the intent to frighten, intimidate, or harass.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164168
Senate Bill 925: Criminalize posting revealing images to harass or intimidate
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on May 1, 2014, to place in statute misdemeanor penalties proposed by Senate Bill 924 for posting on the internet any sexually explicit photograph, drawing, or other image of another person with the intent to frighten, intimidate, or harass.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164169
House Bill 5478: Reorganize workers comp self-insurance trust fund
Introduced by Rep. Joseph Graves (R) on April 29, 2014, to replace an existing state “self-insurers’ security fund” for covering worker’s compensation insurance benefits from a private self-insurer that becomes insolvent with a new “private employer group self-insurers security fund,” starting in 2019. This fund would pay injured or disabled employees’ claims and impose assessments on member groups to cover the insufficiency if one of them is unable to pay valid claims.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164125
House Bill 5479: Reorganize workers comp self-insurance trust fund
Introduced by Rep. Joseph Graves (R) on April 29, 2014, to replace an existing state “self-insurers’ security fund” for covering worker’s compensation insurance benefits from a private self-insurer that becomes insolvent with a new entity, starting in 2019. The new fund would pay injured or disabled employees’ claims and impose assessments on member groups to cover the insufficiency if one of them is unable to pay valid claims.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164126
House Bill 5480: Reorganize workers comp self-insurance trust fund
Introduced by Rep. Joseph Graves (R) on April 29, 2014, to revise details of the state workers compensation insurance law to conform to the proposal in House Bills 5478 and 5479 to revise a state reinsurance fund to cover claims against self-insured employers who become insolvent.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164127
House Bill 5481: Reorganize workers comp self-insurance trust fund
Introduced by Rep. Joseph Graves (R) on April 29, 2014, to revise details of the state workers compensation insurance law to conform to the proposal in House Bills 5478 and 5479 to revise a state reinsurance fund to cover claims against self-insured employers who become insolvent.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164128
House Bill 5482: Reorganize workers comp self-insurance trust fund
Introduced by Rep. Joseph Graves (R) on April 29, 2014, to revise details of the state workers compensation insurance law to conform to the proposal in House Bills 5478 and 5479 to revise a state reinsurance fund to cover claims against self-insured employers who become insolvent.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164129
House Bill 5483: Reorganize workers comp self-insurance trust fund
Introduced by Rep. Harvey Santana (D) on April 29, 2014, to authorize the imposition of extra assessments against the members of the “private employer group self-insurers security fund” if its obligations exceed the capacity of the fund to pay.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164130
House Bill 5484: Reorganize workers comp self-insurance trust fund
Introduced by Rep. Harvey Santana (D) on April 29, 2014, to establish that the duty of the Attorney General to give legal advice to an existing state “self-insurers’ security fund” for covering worker’s compensation insurance benefits would be the same under the replacement entity proposed in House Bills 5478 and 5479.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164131
House Bill 5485: Reorganize workers comp self-insurance trust fund
Introduced by Rep. Harvey Santana (D) on April 29, 2014, to establish that the “private employer group self-insurers security fund” proposed by House Bills 5478 and 5479 ends up paying the benefits of an injured worker (instead of the self-insured employer paying them, it would have the right to seek reimbursement from the insolvent employer.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164132
House Bill 5486: Reorganize workers comp self-insurance trust fund
Introduced by Rep. Harvey Santana (D) on April 29, 2014, to establish that rights to an insolvent employer’s records currently vested in a state workers compensation “self-insurers’ security fund” would be the same under the replacement entity proposed by House Bills 5478 and 5479 for covering worker’s compensation insurance benefits owed by an insolvent self-insured employer.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164133
House Bill 5487: Reorganize workers comp self-insurance trust fund
Introduced by Rep. Phil Phelps (D) on April 29, 2014, to revise the assessment methodology and accounting requirements for a state trust fund created to pay worker’s compensation insurance benefits owed by an insolvent self-insured employer.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164134
House Bill 5488: Reorganize workers comp self-insurance trust fund
Introduced by Rep. Robert Kosowski (D) on April 29, 2014, to revise details of a provision enforcing the duty of an employer who self-insures for potential workers compensation liability to pay into a state trust fund created to cover benefits owed by insolvent self-insured employers.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164135
House Bill 5489: Authorize workers comp trust fund payments to former Delphi workers
Introduced by Rep. Bradford Jacobsen (R) on April 29, 2014, to authorize payments from a state trust fund created to pay workers compensation insurance benefits owed by insolvent self-insured employers to former employees of the Delphi Corporation (which was spun-off by General Motors in 1997 and filed bankruptcy in 2005). The trust fund would be allowed to seek reimbursement from whatever entity is ultimately found by a federal court to be liable for these claims.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164136
House Bill 5490: Reorganize workers comp self-insurance trust fund
Introduced by Rep. Frank Foster (R) on April 29, 2014, to revise details of the process for resolving disputes between an employer or insurer and the trustees of a state trust fund created to pay workers compensation benefits owed by an insolvent employer.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164137
House Bill 5491: Waive some state fees for veterans
Introduced by Rep. John Walsh (R) on April 29, 2014, to revise the documentation required by a veteran to establish that he or she is entitled to a waiver of the fees imposed to incorporate a business.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164138
House Bill 5492: Earmark some state use tax to roads
Introduced by Rep. Earl Poleski (R) on April 29, 2014, to earmark 1.0 percent of the revenue from the 6.0 percent state use tax to road projects (meaning one-sixth of the revenue from this tax would go to roads). See also House Bill 5459. Reportedly this would generate around $250 million annually for roads.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164139
House Bill 5493: Replace per-gallon fuel tax with 6 percent wholesale tax
Introduced by Rep. Rob VerHeulen (R) on April 29, 2014, to replace the current 15 cent per gallon motor carrier fuel tax imposed on interstate truckers with a 6 percent tax on the wholesale fuel price. House Bill 5477 establishes the new rate, and this bill deletes language related to old rate, and also requires truckers to apply within 18 months for refunds of the Michigan fuel tax they paid for fuel burned in other states.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164140
House Bill 5494: Revise Saginaw County judgeships
Introduced by Rep. Stacy Erwin Oakes (D) on April 30, 2014, to revise the number of judgeships in the second division of the seventieth district court district in Saginaw County.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164149
House Bill 5495: Authorize imposing extra property tax on vacant commercial or industrial property
Introduced by Rep. Andy Schor (D) on April 30, 2014, to permit local governments to impose an additional property tax millage on particular parcels of vacant commercial or industrial property at a rate sufficient to “reflect the costs of maintaining the vacant property through years of vacancy.” A vote of the people would be required. The complete proposal is contained in this bill and House Bill 5496.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164150
House Bill 5496: Authorize imposing extra property tax on vacant commercial or industrial property
Introduced by Rep. Andy Schor (D) on April 30, 2014, to permit local governments to impose an additional property tax millage on particular parcels of vacant commercial or industrial property at a rate sufficient to “reflect the costs of maintaining the vacant property through years of vacancy.” A vote of the people would be required. The complete proposal is contained in this bill and House Bill 5495.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164151
House Bill 5497: Waive some state fees for veterans
Introduced by Rep. Robert Kosowski (D) on April 30, 2014, to revise the documentation required by a veteran to establish to claim the waiver authorized by a 2012 law of the fees charged under a state-imposed licensure mandate for electricians.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164152
House Bill 5498: Waive some state fees for veterans
Introduced by Rep. Matt Lori (R) on April 30, 2014, to revise the documentation required by a veteran to establish that he or she is entitled to a waiver of the fees imposed to incorporate a nonprofit entity.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164153
House Bill 5499: Repeal law facilitating phase-out of telephone land lines
Introduced by Rep. Stacy Erwin Oakes (D) on April 30, 2014, to repeal the law enacted five weeks before this bill’s introduction that streamlines regulations on “landline” telephone service providers so as to facilitate transitioning customers to a wireless (cell phone or VOIP) system, and allows phone companies to discontinue landline service after 2016.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164154
House Bill 5500: Authorize lawsuits against illegal local government gun restrictions
Introduced by Rep. Tom McMillin (R) on April 30, 2014, to require local governments that are violating a state law that preempts imposing local restrictions on firearms (including taxes, regulation of ownership, registration, purchase, sale, transfer, transportation, or possession) to bring their ordinances into compliance within 91 days. The bill would establish failure to do so as a “cause of action,” on the basis of which individuals or groups aggrieved by a violation of this state law could sue to have the local restrictions invalidated, and collect costs and reasonable attorney fees if they win. Also, the bill would authorize civil fines of $5,000 against an elected or appointed local government official who “knowingly and willfully enacted or enforced an ordinance or regulation in violation” of the state preemption.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164155
House Bill 5501: Reduce, then end “driver responsibility fees”
Introduced by Rep. Alberta Tinsley Talabi (D) on April 30, 2014, to eliminate failure to pay the so-called “driver responsibility fees” imposed in 2003 as a revenue measure from a list of possible “licensing sanctions” in an unrelated drivers license statute. This is linked to House Bill 5414, with would gradually phase out these fees.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164156
House Bill 5502: Institute Headlee Amendment unfunded mandate restrictions
Introduced by Rep. Eileen Kowall (R) on April 30, 2014, to prohibit a state agency from imposing a rule that requires any increase in local government services or activities unless the legislature has appropriated money to pay for it. Along with House Bill 5503 this bill would establish an administrative process to restrict such impositions.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164157
House Bill 5503: Institute Headlee Amendment unfunded mandate restrictions
Introduced by Rep. Eileen Kowall (R) on April 30, 2014, 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=164158
House Bill 5504: Institute Headlee Amendment unfunded mandate restrictions
Introduced by Rep. John Walsh (R) on April 30, 2014, 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=164159
House Bill 5505: Institute Headlee Amendment unfunded mandate restrictions
Introduced by Rep. John Walsh (R) on April 30, 2014, 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=164160
House Bill 5506: Waive some state fees for veterans
Introduced by Rep. Harvey Santana (D) on April 30, 2014, to revise the documentation required by a veteran to establish that he or she is entitled to a waiver of the fees charged under a state-imposed licensure mandate for mechanical contractors.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164161
House Bill 5507: Revise county foster care reimbursement detail
Introduced by Rep. Peter MacGregor (R) on May 1, 2014, to extend for another year a state reimbursement to counties to cover a portion of the cost of providing foster care services. The bill also clarifies what constitutes “foster care services”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164174
House Bill 5508: Intercept delinquent child support from casino winnings
Introduced by Rep. Dale W. Zorn (R) on May 1, 2014, to require the state Office of Child Support to cooperate with the Department of Treasury to implement the proposal in House Bill 5509 to create electronically accessible registry containing the names of individuals with unpaid child support balances, with the purpose of intercepting their Detroit casino gambling winnings.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164175
House Bill 5509: Intercept delinquent child support from casino winnings
Introduced by Rep. Peter MacGregor (R) on May 1, 2014, to require the state Department of Human Services to develop or contract for an electronically accessible registry containing the names of individuals with unpaid child support balances, and require the Detroit casinos to intercept the winnings of individuals on the list and transmit the money to the state office that disburses court-ordered child support payments.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164176
House Bill 5510: Revise paternity law and unwed father child support details
Introduced by Rep. Kenneth Kurtz (R) on May 1, 2014, to specify procedures for a father and mother signing an “acknowledgment of parentage” form. See also House Bills 5463 to 5473.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164177
House Bill 5511: Revise paternity law and unwed father child support details
Introduced by Rep. Michael McCready (R) on May 1, 2014, to specify procedures and priorities for diverting money owed to an individual from a judgment against the state to a person who has a valid claim for delinquent child support owed by the judgment winner. See also House Bills 5463 to 5473.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164178
House Bill 5512: Revise paternity law and unwed father child support details
Introduced by Rep. Kenneth Kurtz (R) on May 1, 2014, to deny or terminate welfare benefits if a recipient fails to comply with applicable child support requirements, including a duty to make efforts to establish paternity and obtain child support.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164179
House Bill 5513: Expand mobile home court environmental regulation
Introduced by Rep. Andy Schor (D) on May 1, 2014, to expand the jurisdiction of the Department of Environmental Quality to impose and enforce regulations on mobile home parks. Among other things the bill would impose a performance bond mandate on mobile home park owners.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164180
House Bill 5514: Give tax break to Olympic games prize winner
Introduced by Rep. Dian Slavens (D) on May 1, 2014, to authorize a state income tax deduction for prize money from the U.S. Olympic Committee for participation in the Olympic games.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164181
House Bill 5515: Exempt some schools from minimum instruction days requirement
Introduced by Rep. Dale W. Zorn (R) on May 1, 2014, 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 had closures in the 2013-2014 school year if the make-up days would extend classes past June 13 and the failure is due to conditions outside the school’s control.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164182
House Bill 5516: Prorate unfunded university pension benefit “catch up” costs
Introduced by Rep. Al Pscholka (R) on May 1, 2014, to establish a methodology for assessing state universities a share of the annual assessment required to “catch up” on unfunded pension liabilities. The bill would assess both universities and K-12 school districts with a share of the “catch up” costs based on how much of the unfunded liability was incurred on behalf of their employees’ service over the years, using a formula the bill proposes for determining the value of past and future pension fund contributions and the projected cost of future pension benefit payments.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164183
Senate Bill 742: Give temporary occupational license to military spouse
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on May 6, 2014, to grant a temporary occupational license mandated by Michigan law to earn a living in certain professions to the spouse of a member of the military from another state if the person has an equivalent license from that state, and if the person also submits fingerprints to meet a background check mandate. The license would be valid for one year.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=689862
Senate Bill 562: Revise county delinquent tax revolving funds
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on May 6, 2014, 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. Specifically, it would make the amount due to a county from a local government or the state for a prior year’s uncollected delinquent tax a lien against future delinquent tax payments payable to them.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=689910
Senate Bill 628: Revise crime victim rights detail
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on May 6, 2014, to revise the law that allows crime victims to receive notices and provide input regarding the prosecution of the perpetrator, including providing a victim “impact statement.” Under current law, this applies to the parents or guardian of a victim who is a minor, and the bill would change this so that it defines “victim” as someone who was less than 18 “at the time of the commission of the crime”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=689914
Senate Bill 671: Waive some licensure fees for veterans
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on May 6, 2014, to waive fees charged for state-imposed occupational licensure mandates if the applicant is an honorably discharged military veteran.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=689908
Senate Bill 672: Waive some licensure fees for veterans
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on May 6, 2014, to waive fees charged for a state-imposed security guard or security system contractor licensure mandates if the applicant is an honorably discharged military veteran.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=689909
Senate Bill 741: Give temporary health care professional occupational license to military spouse
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on May 6, 2014, to grant a temporary Michigan health care specialty license to the spouse of a member of the military from another state if the person has an equivalent license from that state, if the person also submits fingerprints to meet a background check mandate. The license would be valid for one year.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=689861
Senate Bill 762: Appropriations: Community Colleges
Passed 25 to 13 in the Senate on May 6, 2014, the Senate version of the community colleges budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, 2014. This would appropriate $371.5 million in gross spending, compared to $335.9 million the previous year. The Senate did not adopt a 3.2 percent cap on tuition increases recommended by Gov. Rick Snyder.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=689870
Senate Bill 763: Appropriations: Department of Community Health
Passed 32 to 5 in the Senate on May 6, 2014, the Senate version of the Department of Community Health budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, 2014. This would appropriate $17.492 billion in gross spending, compared to $15.385 billion originally authorized for the previous year, before that amount was increased by the legislature’s adoption of the federal health care law Medicaid expansion. Of this, $12.023 billion is federal money. Most of this budget consists of Medicaid health care subsidies, including the “Obamacare” expansion.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=689881
Senate Bill 768: Appropriations: Higher Education
The amendment failed 12 to 26 in the Senate on May 6, 2014, to remove a prohibition on universities providing health insurance or other fringe benefits for “unmarried partners” of employees.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=689876
Senate Bill 768: Appropriations: Higher Education
Passed 23 to 15 in the Senate on May 6, 2014, the Senate version of the higher education budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2014. This would appropriate $1.527 billion in gross spending, compared to $1.430 billion the previous year.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=689877
Senate Bill 777: Appropriations: Department of Transportation
The amendment failed by voice vote in the Senate on May 6, 2014, to remove language prohibiting the Department of Transportation from entering any contract or obligating the state to any spending on a proposed new Detroit River bridge unless it is explicitly authorized by the legislature.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=163441
Senate Bill 777: Appropriations: Department of Transportation
Passed 27 to 11 in the Senate on May 6, 2014, the Senate version of the Transportation budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, 2014. This would appropriate $3.682 billion in gross spending, compared to $3.597 billion originally appropriated for the previous fiscal year (which doesn’t include extra spending authorized later). Of this, $1.205 billion is federal money, and the rest is mostly from state motor fuel tax and vehicle registration tax revenue.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=689865
House Bill 5400: Revise certain low-hazard waste restrictions
Amendment offered by Rep. Jeff Irwin (D) on April 30, 2014, to remove a provision that authorizes less restrictive regulations on coal “fly ash” if it is mixed with other substances (such as cement).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=163805
House Bill 5400: Revise certain low-hazard waste restrictions
Passed 68 to 42 in the House on May 6, 2014, to reduce restrictions on using certain low-hazard industrial byproducts that potentially have a beneficial use, including as fertilizer, road construction material, construction fill or other uses. The bill would also expand the definition of “inert material” in the state environmental protection law to include a number of specified materials, which would not be subject to restrictions depending on how they are used.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=689911
House Bill 5401: Revise certain low-hazard waste restrictions
Passed 66 to 44 in the House on May 6, 2014, to exempt a person who follows specified rules for storing “inert materials” and “beneficial use by-products” as defined by House Bill 5400 from liability under state the environmental protection law.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=689912
House Bill 5402: Revise certain low-hazard waste restrictions
Passed 66 to 44 in the House on May 6, 2014, to revise a law regulating the sale and use of “liming material” for soil treatment so that it conforms to the proposal in House Bill 5400 to reduce environmental law restrictions on using certain low-hazard industrial wastes and “inert materials” that have a beneficial use.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=689913
House Bill 5447: Designate road after murdered corrections officer
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on May 6, 2014, to designate a portion of U.S. 41 in Marquette County as the “Earl DeMarse Memorial Highway”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=689905
Senate Bill 934: Preempt $10.10 minimum wage initiative; hike mandated minimum to $8.15
Introduced by Sen. Randy Richardville (R) on May 8, 2014, to repeal the current state minimum wage law that makes it unlawful to employ a worker for less than $7.40 an hour, and replace it with a new law increasing the mandated minimum to $8.15 an hour, and increasing the minimum amount the employer of a worker who receives tips must pay from $2.65 to $2.93 an hour. (A tipped-worker’s employer must pay the difference between this amount and the regular mandated minimum if tips come up short).
The bill is widely regarded as a gambit to stop an “initiated law” from being placed on the November 2014 ballot, which would increase the mandated minimums to $10.10 for both tipped and non-tipped employees, and index this to inflation. If the bill repeals the statute the initiative would amend, the initiative would become moot. The bill was introduced a few weeks before petitions being circulated by a group funded by unions and other labor interests must be submitted for their initiative to be on the 2014 general election ballot.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164309
House Bill 5566: Detroit bankruptcy settlement and grant package
Introduced by Rep. John Walsh (R) on May 8, 2014, to establish a Detroit fiscal management oversight commission consisting of the Governor and the Mayor of Detroit (or their appointees), two state department heads, one Detroit resident with relevant financial training and experience, and two candidates from lists submitted by the House Speaker and Senate Majority Leader. Among the commission’s powers would be final approval of city budgets, borrowing, union contracts, police and firefighters contracts imposed by binding arbitration, and more. The commission could waive any of these powers if the city adopts deficit-free budgets for three consecutive years and meets other specified conditions, but could resume its powers in the event of subsequent backsliding. This is part of a legislative package consisting of House Bills 5566 to 5575 that are related to the Detroit bankruptcy and a proposed state grant to the city of $195 million.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164297
House Bill 5567: Detroit bankruptcy settlement and grant package
Introduced by Rep. John Kivela (D) on May 8, 2014, to require a Detroit chief financial officer to be appointed by the mayor, subject to the approval of the state oversight commission proposed by House Bill 5566, who would supervise the city’s financial and budget activities. Also, to require Detroit to adopt certain specified budget processes and generally accepted accounting practices intended to avoid overspending, and to institute twice yearly revenue estimating conferences involving state officials and university economists. This is part of a legislative package consisting of House Bills 5566 to 5575 that are related to the Detroit bankruptcy and a proposed state grant to the city of $195 million.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164298
House Bill 5568: Detroit bankruptcy settlement and grant package
Introduced by Rep. Gail Haines (R) on May 8, 2014, to no longer offer “defined benefit” pension and post-retirement health insurance benefits to new Detroit city employees hired starting in 2015 (subject to existing union contracts), and instead provide 401(k)-type contributions limited to 4 percent of the employee’s base pay, and retirement health savings account contributions limited to 2 percent. Subject to current union contracts, the bill would also ban supplemental “13th check” payments to current retirees based on pension fund investment performance, and ban pension “spiking” schemes that use include overtime, accrued sick or vacation pay, bonuses, fringe benefits and lump sum payments in the formula used to calculate pensions (abuses which contributed to Detroit’s bankruptcy). This is part of a legislative package consisting of House Bills 5566 to 5575 that are related to the Detroit bankruptcy and a proposed state grant to the city of $195 million.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164299
House Bill 5569: Detroit bankruptcy settlement and grant package
Introduced by Rep. Andrea LaFontaine (R) on May 8, 2014, to prohibit Detroit from providing employee health insurance benefits whose premiums cost more than $5,500 for a single person, $12,250 for a couple and $15,000 for a family plan (indexed to the “medical price index”), or alternatively, require city employees to contribute at least 20 percent toward the cost of their health insurance. A 2011 law mandated this for public school employees but allowed municipalities to exempt themselves with a 2/3 vote of their governing body; the bill would exclude Detroit from that exception. This is part of a legislative package consisting of House Bills 5566 to 5575 that are related to the Detroit bankruptcy and a proposed state grant to the city of $195 million.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164300
House Bill 5570: Detroit bankruptcy settlement and grant package
Introduced by Rep. Ken Yonker (R) on May 8, 2014, to establish a Detroit pension investment committee to oversee management of the city’s defined benefit pension system. The system would still be run by the existing pension board, but a process would be instituted by which the chief financial officer for the city proposed by House Bill 5567 would have final authority in the event the committee and the pension board disagreed on investment management decisions. The bill would also impose additional restrictions and disclosure requirements on reimbursed travel by pension fund board members, officials or employees. This is part of a legislative package consisting of House Bills 5566 to 5575 that are related to the Detroit bankruptcy and a proposed state grant to the city of $195 million.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164301
House Bill 5571: Detroit bankruptcy settlement and grant package
Introduced by Rep. Ken Goike (R) on May 8, 2014, to prohibit any extension of a Detroit regional arts tax authorized by a 2010 law and approved for 10 years in a 2012 election by voters in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. This property tax imposes 0.2 mills that goes to the Detroit Institute of the Arts. This is part of a legislative package consisting of House Bills 5566 to 5575 that are related to the Detroit bankruptcy and a proposed state grant to the city of $195 million, which among other things is intended to avoid the city art museum having to sell any paintings.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164302
House Bill 5572: Detroit bankruptcy settlement and grant package
Introduced by Rep. John Olumba (D) on May 8, 2014, to authorize withdrawing money from the state rainy day fund (“budget stabilization fund”) for “any purpose” the legislature may provide, which in the current context means a state grant (“bailout”) of $195 million for Detroit. House Bill 5574 would appropriate the money. This is part of a legislative package consisting of House Bills 5566 to 5575 that are related to the Detroit bankruptcy and the proposed state grant.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164303
House Bill 5573: Detroit bankruptcy settlement and grant package
Introduced by Rep. Alberta Tinsley Talabi (D) on May 8, 2014, to revise the law that authorized borrowing $400 million against future tobacco lawsuit settlement revenue for the “21st Century Jobs Fund” business subsidy program, and borrowing another $415 million against this revenue to cover deficit spending in the 2007 state budget, to borrow $350 million over 20 years for a proposed state grant (“bailout”) to Detroit. Alternatively, under House Bill 5572 the state would be authorized to give Detroit $195 million up front. This is part of a legislative package consisting of House Bills 5566 to 5575 that are related to the Detroit bankruptcy and the proposed state grant.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164304
House Bill 5574: Detroit bankruptcy settlement and grant package
Introduced by Rep. Thomas Stallworth, III (D) on May 8, 2014, to appropriate $194.8 million for a proposed Detroit bankruptcy settlement. This is part of a legislative package consisting of House Bills 5566 to 5575 that are related to the Detroit bankruptcy and this proposed state grant (considered by some to be a partial “bailout”).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164305
House Bill 5575: Detroit bankruptcy settlement and grant package
Introduced by Rep. Fred Durhal, Jr. (D) on May 8, 2014, to create a “Michigan settlement administration authority” to manage the $194.8 million state grant (“bailout”) proposed by House Bill 5574 that would go toward a Detroit bankruptcy settlement. This is part of a legislative package consisting of House Bills 5566 to 5575 that are related to the Detroit bankruptcy and state grant.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=164306