[cripplecreek]

Senate Bill 625: Impose oral chemotherapy insurance mandate
Introduced by Sen. Goeff Hansen (R) on December 1, 2015, to impose a new coverage mandate that would require insurance companies to include coverage for orally administered chemotherapy in all their health insurance policies that provide for cancer chemotherapy treatments, without requiring any dollar limit, deductible or co-pay for these that does not apply to other treatments.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170639

Senate Bill 626: Expand scope of deed tax
Introduced by Sen. Curtis Hertel, Jr. (D) on December 1, 2015, to expand the reach of a law authorizing a tax on property transfer deeds, by adding provisions related to the transfer of a “controlling interest” in a company that owns real property.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170640

Senate Bill 627: Authorize “public-private agreements” with broad powers and scope
Introduced by Sen. Mike Kowall (R) on December 1, 2015, to give state and local government agencies the power to create a “public authority” with a private person under a “public-private agreement,” for purposes of building transportation facilities; water, sewer, power, or communications utilities; hospitals, courts, jails, parks, and more; or to do anything else that “serves a public purpose.”
These “partnership authorities” would have the power to impose property tax levies, borrow, take private property using eminent domain, levy tolls and user fees and more, for up to 50 years, and their projects would be exempt from property taxes. Among (many) other things this would authorize new toll roads or “toll lanes.” The government agency involved could choose the private sector actor without necessarily having to accept the lowest bid.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170641

Senate Bill 628: Authorize “photo-cop” and license suspension for not paying toll road toll
Introduced by Sen. Mike Kowall (R) on December 1, 2015, to authorize the use of automated, unmanned traffic monitoring devices for issuing tickets to individuals who fail to pay the toll on a toll roads and other fees as proposed by Senate Bill 627. Tickets would be sent by mail for up to nine months after the violation, and penalties for non-payment include drivers license suspension. The bill would give the “public-private agreements” that SB 627 would create the power to garnish wages, impound vehicles, attach liens to property and more in pursuit of unpaid tolls.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170642

Senate Bill 629: Expand law barring parental rights to rapist
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on December 2, 2015, to revise a law that prohibits granting custody of a child to a person convicted of rape, by expanding the criteria to include men convicted of criminal sexual conduct that resulted in a child being conceived.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170673

Senate Bill 630: Require voters approve local “judgement levies”
Introduced by Sen. Mike Shirkey (R) on December 2, 2015, to restrict power of a local government to impose a property tax to pay the damages ordered by a judge in a lawsuit against the local has lost or settled. Among other things a local “judgment levy” property tax increase would have to approved by voters.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170674

Senate Bill 631: Require voters approve local “judgement levies”
Introduced by Sen. Mike Shirkey (R) on December 2, 2015, to revise the state property tax law to conform to the proposal in Senate Bill 630 to restrict the power of a local government to impose a property tax to pay damages ordered by a judge in a lawsuit against it.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170675

Senate Bill 632: Revise appeals court jurisdiction
Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on December 2, 2015, to give the state court of appeals jurisdiction on appeals of probate court orders and judgments, with some exceptions (see Senate Bill 633).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170676

Senate Bill 633: Revise appeals court jurisdiction
Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on December 2, 2015, to preclude appeals of certain procedures related to probate court proceedings.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170677

Senate Bill 634: Exempt police body camera recordings from disclosure
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on December 3, 2015, to exempt police body camera recordings from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170683

Senate Bill 635: Allow some discounted non-resident hunting fees
Introduced by Sen. Tom Casperson (R) on December 3, 2015, to allow a 50 percent hunting license fee discount for non-residents who own land in this state, or for someone who previously lived here for at least 10 years and is accompanied by a relative who still lives here.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170684

Senate Bill 636: Authorize aquatic vegetation tool tax break
Introduced by Sen. Joe Hune (R) on December 3, 2015, to exempt tools and equipment used to harvest, handle, process or package aquatic vegetation from the property tax that is levied on business tools and equipment (“personal property tax”).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170685

Senate Bill 637: Expand grass seed seller regulations
Introduced by Sen. Joe Hune (R) on December 3, 2015, to revise details of a law that imposes a testing and labeling mandate on grass seed sellers. The bill would add rules for “cool season lawn and turf” seed mixtures.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170686

Senate Bill 638: Revise campaign finance law
Introduced by Sen. David Robertson (R) on December 3, 2015, to establish a new type of campaign finance committee called an “independent expenditure committee,” and more clearly define “independent expenditure” and rules against these kinds of committees coordinating with a candidate (which in that case would make expenditure not be considered “independent”).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170687

Senate Bill 639: Revise election law details
Introduced by Sen. David Robertson (R) on December 3, 2015, to revise a number of details of campaign finance regulations. Among other things the bill would preempt local governments from regulating election-related activity unless a measure is explicitly authorized by state election law; specify additional details related to first-time voting by individuals who register by mail; require daily reporting by county clerks of who has already voted absentee before an election; and more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170688

Senate Bill 640: Repeal law banning non-residents collecting recall petition signatures
Introduced by Sen. David Robertson (R) on December 3, 2015, to repeal a requirement that recall election petitions may only be circulated by a registered Michigan voter.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170689

Senate Bill 641: Clarify “telephone and telegraph company” assessments
Introduced by Sen. Mike Shirkey (R) on December 3, 2015, to clarify assessment details related to the part of “telephone and telegraph company” property that is exempt from property tax.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170690

House Bill 5103: Prohibit and define “aggressive solicitation” (begging)
Introduced by Rep. Michael McCready (R) on December 1, 2015, to prohibit various actions and behaviors specified in the bill by people who are begging for money or other things of value.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170667

House Bill 5115: Create rules on school “integrated student support services” spending
Introduced by Rep. Adam Zemke (D) on December 3, 2015, to create rules for school districts contracting with outside entities to provide “integrated student support services”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170699

[cripplecreek]

Senate Bill 151: Repeal deadline on prisoner DNA evidence appeals
Passed 106 to 0 in the House on December 8, 2015, to repeal a Jan. 1, 2016 deadline for a prisoner to appeal his or her conviction on the basis evidence generated by new DNA testing technology.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=719355

Senate Bill 400: Regulate liquid industrial waste “byproducts”
Passed 106 to 0 in the House on December 8, 2015, to revise details of environment law regulations on “liquid industrial waste” so that they also apply to “by-products” of this. Among other things the bill would permit septage waste or liquid industrial by-products to be spread on fields (subject to various restrictions) but only if authorized by the state environmental regulators.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=719356

Senate Bill 401: Regulate liquid industrial waste “byproducts”
Passed 106 to 0 in the House on December 8, 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=719357

Senate Bill 402: Regulate liquid industrial waste “byproducts”
Passed 106 to 0 in the House on December 8, 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=719358

Senate Bill 481: Authorize school recreation millage
Passed 36 to 1 in the Senate on December 8, 2015, to revise the law which authorizes recreational authorities to be created by several local governments, so that the districts could be organized by a school district. The authorities have the power to levy up to one-mill of property tax for swimming pools, recreation centers, public auditoriums, public conference centers, and parks, upon the approval of voters in each municipality in which the school district is located. The law itself is silent on whether the recreational facilities of an authority may be located at a school, or may be school facilities themselves, but it does require them to be open to the public.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=719316

Senate Bill 482: Require “reasonable efforts” to keep siblings together in foster care
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on December 8, 2015, to require child welfare authorities to make “reasonable efforts” to keep siblings together in foster care placements and adoptions and if this can’t be done, to provide for frequent sibling visitation, unless these things would be contrary to the safety or well-being of any of the siblings.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=719317

Senate Bill 483: Require “reasonable efforts” to keep siblings together in foster care
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on December 8, 2015, to require child welfare authorities to make “reasonable efforts” to keep siblings together in foster care placements and adoptions and if this can’t be done, to provide for frequent sibling visitation, unless these things would be contrary to the safety or well-being of any of the siblings.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=719318

Senate Bill 485: Define “frequent parenting time” for foster children
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on December 8, 2015, to require children in foster care to have “parenting time” at least once a week, unless a court determines that even supervised time with the child’s parent may be harmful to the child’s life, physical health, or mental well-being. Current law requires “frequent” parenting time but does not define this.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=719319

Senate Bill 529: Revise guardianship detail
Passed 106 to 0 in the House on December 8, 2015, to revise a law that authorizes a family court to place an abused or neglected minor with grandparents or other relatives who are willing to care for the child. The bill would allow a “successor” guardian to be named in case the first one dies or becomes incapacitated.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=719359

Senate Bill 530: Revise foster care detail
Passed 106 to 0 in the House on December 8, 2015, to establish that for purposes of the law that authorizes placing an abused or neglected child in foster care, a stepparent, ex-stepparent, or the parent who shares custody of a half-sibling is considered a relative for the purpose of foster care placement. Also, to define “sibling” in that law as child who is related through birth or adoption by at least one common parent, and that “sibling” includes that term as defined by the American Indian or Alaskan native child’s tribal code or custom.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=719360

House Bill 4990: Expand local government “energy efficiency” financing schemes
Passed 102 to 4 in the House on December 8, 2015, to expand the things cities can spend money on under a scheme that lets them contract with vendors for energy efficiency projects and pay for them with money the projects are supposed to save (or from regular tax revenue if savings don’t appear). The bill would allow locals to spend on information technology and utility projects they assert are related to the energy saving scheme, and would also expand the types of deals they can make with vendors to include “lease-purchase” agreements described in the bill.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=719350

House Bill 4991: Expand local government “energy efficiency” financing schemes
Passed 102 to 4 in the House on December 8, 2015, to expand the things villages can spend money on under a scheme that lets them contract with vendors for energy efficiency projects and pay for them with money the projects are supposed to save (or from regular tax revenue if savings don’t appear). The bill would allow villages to spend on information technology and utility projects they assert are related to the energy saving scheme, and would also expand the types of deals they can make with vendors to include “lease-purchase” agreements described in the bill.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=719351

House Bill 4992: Expand local government “energy efficiency” financing schemes
Passed 102 to 4 in the House on December 8, 2015, to expand the things villages can spend money on under a scheme that lets them contract with vendors for energy efficiency projects and pay for them with money the projects are supposed to save (or from regular tax revenue if savings don’t appear). The bill would allow villages to spend in information technology and utility projects they assert are related to the energy saving scheme, and would also expand the types of deals they can make with vendors to include “lease-purchase” agreements described in the bill.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=719352

House Bill 4993: Expand local government “energy efficiency” financing schemes
Passed 102 to 4 in the House on December 8, 2015, to expand the things townships can spend money on under a scheme that lets them contract with vendors for energy efficiency projects and pay for them with money the projects are supposed to save (or from regular tax revenue if savings don’t appear). The bill would allow townships to spend on information technology and utility projects they assert are related to the energy saving scheme, and would also expand the types of deals they can make with vendors to include “lease-purchase” agreements described in the bill.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=719353

House Bill 4994: Expand local government “energy efficiency” financing schemes
Passed 102 to 4 in the House on December 8, 2015, to expand the things counties can spend money on under a scheme that lets them contract with vendors for energy efficiency projects and pay for them with money the projects are supposed to save (or from regular tax revenue if savings don’t appear). The bill would allow counties to spend in information technology and utility projects they assert are related to the energy saving scheme, and would also expand the types of deals they can make with vendors to include “lease-purchase” agreements described in the bill.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=719354

House Bill 5105: Extend Medicaid health insurance claims tax
Passed 83 to 23 in the House on December 8, 2015, to extend until 2024 the 2017 sunset on a 0.75 percent tax on health insurance claims, which is designed to “game” the federal Medicaid program in ways that result in higher federal payments to Michigan’s medical welfare establishment.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=719363