Senate Bill 103: Reduce “student growth” portion of teacher rating criteria
Passed 35 to 2 in the Senate on October 20, 2015, to base just 20 percent of a teacher’s “effectiveness” rating on actual progress of students in the teacher’s classroom as measured by state assessments, instead of as much as 50 percent suggested by a 2011 teacher tenure reform law. Also, to let school districts develop their own evaluation tools for other parts of the rating rather than ones prescribed by the state. A school would be prohibited from assigning students to a class in the same subject for two years in a row taught by a teacher rated “ineffective” in that subject, but new students could still be assigned to that teacher.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718067
Senate Bill 401: Regulate liquid industrial waste “byproducts”
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on October 20, 2015, to revise details of environment law regulations on “liquid industrial waste” so that they also apply to “by-products” of this, as detailed in Senate Bill 400. This bill revises state regulations on hazardous material transporters to reflect this.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718074
Senate Bill 402: Regulate liquid industrial waste “byproducts”
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on October 20, 2015, to revise details of environment law regulations on “liquid industrial waste” so that they also apply to “by-products” of this, as detailed in Senate Bill 400. This bill revises state sentencing guidelines to reflect those changes.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718075
Senate Bill 516: Revise “gun free zone” CPL exception
Passed 30 to 7 in the Senate on October 20, 2015, to revise the “gun free zone” provision of the concealed pistol permit law to exempt active and retired corrections, probation, and parole officers who have concealed pistol licenses from the restrictions, and also retired county jail guards.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718072
Senate Bill 152: Revise boxing and “mixed martial arts” regulation
Passed 97 to 9 in the House on October 21, 2015, to revise details of a comprehensive regulatory regime imposed by a 2004 law on professional boxing and “mixed martial arts” competitions. Among other things the bill would index to inflation the license fees imposed on contestants, referees, judges, physicians, matchmakers, timekeepers, contestants, and promoters, without further authorization from the legislature for any increases.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718184
Senate Bill 326: Establish B-24 Liberator as symbolic “state airplane”
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on October 21, 2015, to establish that the B-24 Liberator flown by the U.S. Army Air Force and Navy in WW II shall be deemed the “official airplane” of the state of Michigan. The B-24 was a sophisticated four-engine bomber produced in huge numbers by the Ford Motor Company on an unprecedented mile-length assembly line at the purpose-built Willow Run plant in Wayne County.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718149
Senate Bill 336: Authorize “Amber Alert” type system for at-large cop killer
Passed 104 to 1 in the House on October 20, 2015, to establish procedures for rapidly disseminating useful information to radio and television stations when a person suspected of killing or seriously injuring a police officer is on the loose and dangerous. This would be called a “blue alert”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718094
Senate Bill 414: Road funding package - income tax earmark
Passed 61 to 45 in the House on October 21, 2015, to potentially roll back future income tax rates if the amount of revenue deposited into the state “general fund” in a given year grows faster than inflation, starting in 2019. Note that the legislature controls the level of these deposits, and can reduce them by redirecting revenue elsewhere, or depositing money into the state rainy day fund. Therefore, any future income tax rate reductions would essentially be at the discretion of each legislature, as under current law.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718199
Senate Bill 421: Make it a crime to not pull over for ambulance
Passed 36 to 2 in the Senate on October 21, 2015, to make it a crime subject to 90 days is jail to not yield the right of way and pull over at the approach of an emergency vehicle with its flashing lights and siren activated. Under current law this is a civil offense subject to fines of $100 to $250. Also, to authorize up to 15 years in prison if the failure to yield costs the life of emergency personnel, and two years if it causes an injury.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718150
Senate Bill 422: Authorize prison for driver causing emergency responder death
Passed 36 to 2 in the Senate on October 21, 2015, to establish sentencing guidelines for the criminal penalties proposed by Senate Bill 421 for certain traffic violations that cause the death of an emergency responder.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718151
House Bill 4286: Revise “mixed martial arts” regulations
Passed 95 to 11 in the House on October 21, 2015, to revise the state sentencing guidelines to make it a felony to knowingly allow a professional to participate as a contestant in an amateur mixed martial arts contest. See also Senate Bill 152.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718213
House Bill 4286: Revise “mixed martial arts” regulations
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on October 21, 2015, to revise the state sentencing guidelines to make it a felony to knowingly allow a professional to participate as a contestant in an amateur mixed martial arts contest. See also Senate Bill 152.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718152
House Bill 4370: Earmark some income tax to roads; increase home property tax credit:
The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on October 21, 2015, to restrict the earmarked money to road repair projects only, and not to municipal bus and “transit” system subsidies.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169007
House Bill 4370: Earmark some income tax to roads; increase home property tax credit:
Passed 62 to 44 in the House on October 21, 2015, to earmark $600 million in state income tax revenue to road repairs starting in 2020, and smaller amounts starting in 2018. This would reduce the rate of increase in other state spending. Also, to raise the household income limit on eligibility for a “homestead property tax credit” that homeowners and renters can claim on their state income tax, from $50,000 to $60,000. Also, to slightly increase the value of the credit; raise the maximum credit amount from $1,200 to $1,500; reduce the “property taxes as a percentage of household resources” limit used in calculating the amount of a taxpayer’s credit; and index these dollar amounts to inflation. The homestead credit reduces a person’s state income tax liability based their principle residence property tax payments. The bill is intended to offset around $200 million of the $600 million of gas tax and vehicle registration tax hikes included in a House road funding proposal.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718200
House Bill 4614: House GOP road funding package - alternative fuels tax details
Passed 56 to 50 in the House on October 21, 2015, to revise details of the Michigan version of the “Streamlined Sales Tax” project being pursued this and most states with the goal of taxing out-of-state purchase, so that it conforms with the proposal in House Bill 4738 to increase motor fuel taxes.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718203
House Bill 4616: House GOP road funding package
Passed 56 to 50 in the House on October 21, 2015, to increase the current 15 cent per gallon motor carrier fuel tax imposed on interstate truckers to correspond with the proposal in House Bill 4738 to increase the state tax on diesel fuel.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718206
House Bill 4736: Increase vehicle registration tax
Passed 55 to 51 in the House on October 21, 2015, to increase the annual vehicle registration (license plate) tax by around 40 percent per vehicle. Most of the revenue from this tax goes to the state road budget. Also, to impose a surtax on electric and alternative fuel vehicles that use the roads but don’t pay gas tax.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718197
House Bill 4737: Increase vehicle registration tax
Passed 101 to 5 in the House on October 21, 2015, to revise details of road warranties contractors must provide on state road projects, and also to let Detroit use up to 20 percent of the road funding it gets from the state on municipal bus (transit) spending.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718201
House Bill 4738: Increase gas and diesel tax
Passed 56 to 50 in the House on October 21, 2015, to increase the state gasoline and diesel taxes to 22.3 cents per gallon starting Oct. 1, 2018, and after that index the amount to inflation. The current gas and diesel tax rates are 19 cents and 15 cents per gallon, respectively. The bill would increase the diesel tax to 19 cents on Oct. 1, 2017.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718198