House Bill 4694: Authorize “mental health courts”
Introduced by Rep. Kevin Cotter (R) on May 7, 2013, to authorize a type of alternative judicial proceeding for mentally disturbed or disabled individuals who commit minor crimes, similar to the state “drug courts” for minor drug use crimes. These “mental health” courts would allow dismissal of charges if the individual agrees to and abides by an agreement that includes a prescribed mental health treatment program. This bill establishes criteria for a defendant being allowed to participate; it is part of a package comprised of House Bills 4694 to 4697.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159151
House Bill 4695: Authorize “mental health courts”
Introduced by Rep. Gail Haines (R) on May 7, 2013, to authorize a type of alternative judicial proceeding for mentally disturbed or disabled individuals who commit minor crimes, similar to the state “drug courts” for minor drug use crimes. These “mental health” courts would allow dismissal of charges if the individual agrees to and abides by a prescribed mental health treatment program.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159152
House Bill 4696: Authorize “mental health courts”
Introduced by Rep. John Walsh (R) on May 7, 2013, to authorize a type of alternative judicial proceeding for mentally disturbed or disabled individuals who commit minor crimes, similar to the state “drug courts” for minor drug use crimes. These “mental health” courts would allow dismissal of charges if the individual agrees to and abides by a prescribed mental health treatment program. This bill establishes procedures and duties for both the defendant and the court, including making available and accepting related mental health services; it is part of a package comprised of House Bills 4694 to 4697.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159153
House Bill 4697: Authorize “mental health courts”
Introduced by Rep. Margaret O’Brien (R) on May 7, 2013, to authorize a type of alternative judicial proceeding for mentally disturbed or disabled individuals who commit minor crimes, similar to the state “drug courts” for minor drug use crimes. These “mental health” courts would allow dismissal of charges if the individual agrees to and abides by a prescribed mental health treatment program. This bill would require the state court administrative office to establish standards for such courts, and reporting requirements for the courts themselves; it is part of a package comprised of House Bills 4694 to 4697.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159154
House Bill 4698: Exempt disabled veteran’s home from property tax
Introduced by Rep. Scott Dianda (D) on May 7, 2013, to exempt the principal residence of a totally disabled veteran from property tax.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159155
House Bill 4699: Create scrap metal theft offenders registry
Introduced by Rep. Eileen Kowall (R) on May 7, 2013, to require an individual convicted for stealing scrap metal and related offenses to register on a state “scrap metal offenders registry” and pay an extra $50 for this. Scrap metal dealers would have to check sellers against this registry before buying metal from them, and would have a $1 fee per transaction imposed on their scrap metal purchases.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159156
House Bill 4700: Create scrap metal theft offenders registry
Introduced by Rep. Phil Cavanagh (D) on May 7, 2013, to revoke the parole of a convicted criminal who is on the “scrap metal offenders registry” proposed by House Bill 4699 and who tries to sell stolen scrap metal to a dealer.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159157
House Bill 4701: Create scrap metal theft offenders registry
Introduced by Rep. Eileen Kowall (R) on May 7, 2013, to revoke the “youthful trainee status” (deferred sentence or parole) for a minor who is on the “scrap metal offenders registry” proposed by House Bill 4699 and who tries to sell stolen scrap metal to a dealer.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159158
House Bill 4702: Require telecom equipment on utility pole report
Introduced by Rep. Ray Franz (R) on May 7, 2013, to require the state Public Service Commission to produce a report on the rates charged to telecommunications providers to attach equipment to utility poles.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159159
House Bill 4703: Revise unclaimed property law details
Introduced by Rep. Jeff Farrington (R) on May 7, 2013, to establish an appeals process for holders of unclaimed property who are found under administrative procedures to have under-reported the amount of unclaimed or abandoned property.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159160
House Bill 4704: Restrict legal challenges to county budget
Introduced by Rep. Peter Pettalia (R) on May 7, 2013, to restrict legal challenges to the spending levels in a county’s annual budget, establishing that only the county’s chief administrative officer has standing to bring such a challenge in court. Recent news reports have described a legal complaint by the Wayne County Prosecutor over the amount of money the county board appropriated for the prosecutor’s office.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159161
House Bill 4706: Mandate Michigan employers provide paid sick leave
Introduced by Rep. Rudy Hobbs (D) on May 8, 2013, to mandate that employers grant employees one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, up to 40 hours annually for small businesses, and 72 hours annually for larger employers.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159211
House Bill 4707: Revise privatization procedural detail
Introduced by Rep. Greg MacMaster (R) on May 9, 2013, to require that if a state agency solicits bids from contractors to privatize services that are currently provided by state employees, it must disclose the current actual costs of providing the service, including all labor costs, retirement and other obligations, and associated administrative costs.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159301
House Bill 4708: Revise hazardous material regulatory regime detail
Introduced by Rep. Eileen Kowall (R) on May 9, 2013, to replace one state fund created to hold and disburse fee and fine revenue related to hazardous material permit mandates and regulations with another state fund.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159302
House Bill 4709: Revise beer brewer regulations
Introduced by Rep. Kevin Cotter (R) on May 9, 2013, to increase the maximum production level that subjects a brewer to state “microbrewer” regulations (vs. regular brewer regulations), from 30,000 barrels annually to 60,000.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159303
House Bill 4710: Revise beer brewer regulations
Introduced by Rep. Peter MacGregor (R) on May 9, 2013, to increase the number of “brewpubs” in which a single owner can have an interest, from three to six, with a maximum capacity between them of 18,000 barrels of beer per calendar year.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159304
House Bill 4711: Revise beer brewer regulations
Introduced by Rep. Andy Schor (D) on May 9, 2013, to revise a law that prohibits a brewer from having more than one brewery in the state that sells beer at retail for off-premises consumption. The bill appears to increase this to two, and to extend the same opportunity to microbrewers.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159305
House Bill 4712: Revise high school graduation language requirement
Introduced by Rep. Jeff Irwin (D) on May 9, 2013, to revise the foreign language requirement in the high school graduation requirements adopted in a 2006 law. The bill would increase this from two to four credits, but allow two of these to be granted for a “combination of other learning experiences and credits” that the state Department of Education deems to be “substantially equivalent”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159306
House Bill 4713: Require schools to post emergency drill info on website
Introduced by Rep. Joseph Graves (R) on May 9, 2013, to require public schools to post documentation of completed school safety drills on their websites within five business days, with details including whether the drill was a fire drill or a “lockdown” drill.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159307
Senate Bill 350: Authorize, regulate electronic billboards
Introduced by Sen. Tom Casperson (R) on May 7, 2013, to amend the state billboard law to authorize regulation of digital signs, and revise a wide range of other details of this law.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159140
Senate Bill 351: Clarify fertilizer use restrictions
Introduced by Sen. Arlan Meekhof (R) on May 7, 2013, to clarify that use of fertilizers and other soil conditioners which follows “generally accepted” agricultural and management practices at the time of use does not constitute a “release” of hazardous substances in violation of state regulations.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159141
Senate Bill 352
Introduced by Sen. Dave Hildenbrand (R) on May 7, 2013, Exempt disabled veteran’s home from property tax to exempt the principal residence of a totally disabled veteran from property tax.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159142
Senate Bill 353: Cut state airport parking tax
Introduced by Sen. Joe Hune (R) on May 7, 2013, to reduce a 27 percent state airport parking tax to 6 percent.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159143
Senate Bill 354: Revise dog and cat euthanasia regulations
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on May 8, 2013, to require an animal control or protection shelter to use only injections of a commercially prepared solution for euthanizing a dog or cat.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159177
Senate Bill 355: Create annual “Korean American Day”
Introduced by Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D) on May 9, 2013, to enact a new law that would establish Jan. 13 of each year as “Korean American Day”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159292
Senate Bill 356: Establish annual state “Fred Korematsu Day”
Introduced by Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D) on May 9, 2013, to designate January 30 as “Fred Korematsu Day” in the state of Michigan. Korematsu was an American-born citizen of Japanese descent who resisted the internment of Japanese Americans in World War II.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159293
Senate Bill 357: Revise corporation voting share detail
Introduced by Sen. John Pappageorge (R) on May 9, 2013, to revise details of when shares of a corporation are considered to be “beneficially owned” for purposes of exercising the voting rights associated with those shares. Specifically, the bill would establish that shares are not “beneficially owned” by a person unless the corporation’s board passes a resolution to that effect before the person acquires the share.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159294
Senate Bill 358: Authorize certain manufacturing & mining electrician licensure exemptions
Introduced by Sen. Arlan Meekhof (R) on May 9, 2013, to exclude certain work in manufacturing and mining operations, or at an “independent power producer” facility, from a state licensure mandate that prohibits an individual from earning a living as an electrician without a state license (which among other things requires at least four years of apprenticeship in which 8,000 hours of experience must be accumulated).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159295
Senate Bill 359: Require license plates be made with digital printing
Introduced by Sen. Darwin Booher (R) on May 14, 2013, to require the Secretary of State to use a digital printing method to create all standard design license plates.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159378
Senate Bill 360
Introduced by Sen. Goeff Hansen (R) on May 14, 2013, Revise business trailer registration tax detail to change the expiration date for the registration (license plate or tab) issued to a trailer or semitrailer owned by a business, to January 1 instead of the last day of February. The expiration date for a registration issued to other commercial vehicles would continue to be the last day of February. For pickup trucks or vans owned by individuals, registrations would still expire on the owners birthday.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159379
House Bill 4635: Ban insurance ownership of body shop
Introduced by Rep. Greg MacMaster (R) on April 30, 2013, to prohibit auto insurance companies from owning auto repair shops. The bill also prohibits an auto insurance provider from requiring an insured customer to use a particular shop, or having a “preferred facility” list, or requiring repairs that use “non-original” parts, and more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158943
House Bill 4636: Clarify criminal restitution detail
Introduced by Rep. Tom Leonard (R) on April 30, 2013, to clarify wording in a law that requires convicted criminals to pay restitution to the victim, or if the victim dies, to his or her estate.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158944
House Bill 4637: Allow communities to opt-out of regional transit authority (and tax)
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on April 30, 2013, to allow local communities and counties to withdraw from the Detroit area regional transportation authority created by a 2012 law, and presumably from the extra property and vehicle taxes this authority is authorized to impose. Withdrawal would require a two-thirds vote of the local governing body.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158945
House Bill 4638: Revise deed recording detail
Introduced by Rep. Peter Pettalia (R) on April 30, 2013, to establish a legal presumption that a property conveyance (deed or easement) recorded with the county register of deeds is valid if the conveyance meets the statutory requirements proposed by House Bill 4640, and other legal requirements.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158946
House Bill 4639: Revise deed recording detail
Introduced by Rep. Marilyn Lane (D) on April 30, 2013, to revise the law requiring registers of deeds to maintain an index of recorded deeds and related instruments, so that it conforms with the provisions proposed by House Bill 4640.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158947
House Bill 4640: Revise deed recording detail
Introduced by Rep. Peter Pettalia (R) on April 30, 2013, to establish standards for the affidavit that is required when recording an unrecorded property conveyance (deed or easement) with the county register of deeds.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158948
House Bill 4641: Prohibit occupational licensure exceeding public health and safety interest
Introduced by Rep. Tom McMillin (R) on April 30, 2013, to prohibit the state or local governments from imposing a form of occupational licensure, registration, certification, bond-posting, inspection mandate or other restriction on an individual seeking to perform a lawful occupation, if it is more restrictive than required for public health and safety. Instead, governments would be allowed only to impose the “least restrictive” burden required for public health and safety. Individuals would have a right to sue if an occupational regulation excessively burdens their right to earn a living in a lawful occupation.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158949
House Bill 4642: Repeal striking workers replacement ad disclosure mandate
Introduced by Rep. Amanda Price (R) on April 30, 2013, to repeal a law that prohibits an employer from soliciting or advertising for replacements for striking workers unless the solicitation discloses that there is a strike.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158950
House Bill 4643: Establish legal recourse for target of illegal union picket
Introduced by Rep. Tom McMillin (R) on April 30, 2013, to revise a law that makes it illegal to picket a business for purposes of blocking access to individuals doing or seeking work there. The bill would allow an employer to ask for a court injunction to stop the picketing, and a union that disobeyed the injunction could be fined $10,000 per day, and $1,000 for individuals.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158951
House Bill 4644: End state subsidies to film producers
Introduced by Rep. Joel Johnson (R) on April 30, 2013, to sunset the 2008 law authorizing state subsidies for film producers and facilities, as of Oct. 1, 2013.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158952
House Bill 4645: Require headlights on all the time in rain
Introduced by Rep. George T. Darany (D) on April 30, 2013, to require the use of headlights while driving whenever it is raining or snowing enough to require the use of windshield wipers.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158953
House Bill 4646: Revise child adoption/placement details
Introduced by Rep. Mike Shirkey (R) on April 30, 2013, to authorize and specify procedures under which a parent could execute an out-of-court consent to an adoption after the child’s birth.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158954
House Bill 4647: Revise child adoption/placement details
Introduced by Rep. Margaret O’Brien (R) on April 30, 2013, to establish that three months after formal an adoption placement of adoptee who is less than one year old, a court could enter an order of adoption, unless it determined that circumstances had arisen that make adoption undesirable.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158955
House Bill 4648: Revise child adoption/placement details
Introduced by Rep. Kenneth Kurtz (R) on April 30, 2013, to revise details of a law that describes when parental rights can be terminated and when they cannot, so as to establish procedures for when the parental rights of a mother have not been officially terminated, and the court finds that the best interest of the child would be served by granting custody to the putative father.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158956
House Bill 4649: Create foster care parents “bill of rights”
Introduced by Rep. Kevin Cotter (R) on April 30, 2013, to create a foster care parents “bill of rights” that among other things would require state authorities to provide “timely financial reimbursement for foster children in the foster parent’s care,” a “fair, timely, and impartial investigation of complaints concerning the foster parent’s licensure,” due process during any investigation, and more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158957
House Bill 4650: Create foster care parents “bill of rights”
Introduced by Rep. Ben Glardon (R) on April 30, 2013, to give the state “children’s ombudsman” the duty of investigating matters related to the proposal in House Bill 4649 to create a foster care parents “bill of rights”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158958
House Bill 4651: Further restrict commercial smoking ban exemptions
Introduced by Rep. Sam Singh (D) on April 30, 2013, to revise the exemption of“cigar bars” and tobacco specialty retail stores from the 2009 law that prohibits a business owner from choosing whether to allow smoking in his or her establishment. Under the bill, these exemptions could not be transferred from an existing cigar bar or specialty store to any other. Also, if one of these establishments moved, it would lose the exemption unless the governing body of the new location approves it.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=158959
House Bill 4705: Require tax “refund” from school district that collected tax for retired debt
Introduced by Rep. Edward McBroom (R) on May 7, 2013, to require a school district that collected a property tax millage for bonds that were already paid off (retired) to transfer excess revenue collected to the state, and to credit the overcharged revenue against the state school property tax liability of property owners in the district.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159162
House Bill 4714: Accept federal health care law Medicaid expansion, with conditions
Introduced by Rep. Matt Lori (R) on May 9, 2013, to expand Medicaid eligibility to families and childless adults up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, but make this contingent on the federal government allowing the state to implement specified Medicaid reforms. Under the federal health care law (aka “Obamacare”), expansion was originally mandatory for states, but the Supreme Court ruled it can only be optional for states. Under current provisions, the feds are supposed to pay 100 percent of the expansion’s cost during the first three years (not counting administration costs), with the state responsible for not more than 10 percent of the costs starting in 2020.
In its current form, the reforms required by the bill appear to be “poison pill” ones the Obama administration would not approve. They include: A four year cap on Medicaid benefits for non-disabled adults; a requirement that non-disabled adult beneficiaries must contribute “up to” 5 percent of their income as deductibles, copays, etc.; allow Health Savings Accounts for non-disabled adult beneficiaries; allow non-disabled adults to choose a “contracted health plan” through the agency styled as the “exchange” (most Michigan Medicaid recipients are already enrolled in contracted managed-care plans, so without the other reforms this would not appear to represent a significant change in the status quo); allow the state to impose “healthy behavior incentives” on non-disabled adults; require the federal government to permanently assume 100 percent of the state’s expansion-related costs (the language is unclear as to whether this applies to administrative or benefit costs, and sponsors say their intent is the latter).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159308