Senate Bill 425: Revise principle residence property tax credit detail
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on November 6, 2013, to extend the Proposal A “homestead property tax” credit that exempts an individual’s principle residence from local school operating taxes (usually 18 mills) so that it also applies if the form of home ownership is a trust with the home occupant is the trust’s beneficiary.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674750
Senate Bill 628: Revise crime victim rights detail
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on November 6, 2013, 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=674753
Senate Bill 652: Establish state Appeals Court as venue for suits against the state
Passed 57 to 52 in the House on November 6, 2013, to establish that the venue for all legal claims against state agencies, commissions, boards, etc. (the state “court of claims”), will no longer be the Ingham County circuit court, and instead will be the state Court of Appeals (which consists of 24 judges elected in four regional elections). Specifically, the state Supreme Court would assign four Court of Appeals judges as the Court of Claims, who would have to come from at least two of the four COA regions.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674786
House Bill 4156: Expand free clinic liability exemption
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on November 6, 2013, to include nurses in a limited liability exemption for health care professionals who provide care at a free clinic.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674754
House Bill 4585: Authorize paperless architect, engineer and surveyor filings
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on November 6, 2013, to authorize the use by architects, professional engineers, and surveyors of electronic versions of the official “seals” that attest their licensed status on documents that they file electronically with public authorities.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674751
Senate Joint Resolution V: Call for “Article V” U.S. balanced budget amendment convention
Passed 26 to 12 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to submit an application to Congress to call an “Article V” constitutional convention, limited to proposing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that prohibits the federal government from spending more in any fiscal year than it collects in tax and other revenue (balanced budget amendment). Legislatures representing two-thirds of the states must request this to get a convention, and three-quarters of the states must approve any amendment proposed by an “Article V” convention for it to become part of the constitution. The resolution names 17 states that have submitted applications.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674868
Senate Bill 504: Revise liquor license law details
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to establish that rules, orders, bulletins, declaratory rulings, or other administrative directives issued by the state Liquor Control Commission are void and not enforceable if they are not consistent with state liquor control laws, or do not “protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens.” This is somewhat more restrictive on the commission than the current instruction that it construe the statute “liberally,” meaning in a way that gives the commission more discretion.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674861
Senate Bill 505: Revise liquor license law details
Passed 34 to 3 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to codify in law an administrative prohibition on alcohol manufacturers, sellers, and distributors of alcohol giving bars and restaurants items that promoted brands and prices of their products, including things like glasses with brand logos, etc.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674862
Senate Bill 506: Revise liquor license law details
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to prohibit requiring brewers and beer wholesalers from having to pay a state beer tax more than once every three months. The bill also revises details of which entities are required to deliver the tax.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674863
Senate Bill 507: Revise liquor license law details
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to prohibit requiring wineries, liquor makers or their wholesalers from having to pay a state wine or liquor tax more than once every three months. The bill also revises details of which entities are required to deliver the tax.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674864
Senate Bill 575: Prohibit licensure discipline board conflicts of interest
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to prohibit a member of a health profession occupational licensure board’s disciplinary subcommittee from participating in disciplinary procedures if he or she has a conflict of interest. It would also eliminate a provision related to hearings on “community service” as a sanction for violations, and revise investigation procedures.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674857
Senate Bill 576: Prohibit licensure discipline board conflicts of interest
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to require members of a government board, commission, or committee that has authority in regulatory actions concerning private individuals or entities, to disclose any personal or financial interest in a matter before the board, refrain from board discussions on the matter and not participate in any related votes.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674858
Senate Bill 577: Revise licensure discipline board procedures
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to require (rather than just “allow”) the state agency in charge of occupational licensure in the health care field to investigate allegations that grounds exist for disciplinary action against a health care professional. Also, to explicitly include any conduct with a patient that is sexual in any way in the grounds for investigation and disciplinary action, and increase potential administrative penalties (in addition to any criminal sanctions a prosecutor may seek).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674859
Senate Bill 578: Revise licensure discipline board procedures
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to establish specific procedures to be followed by a health profession occupational licensure board’s disciplinary subcommittee in making a final decision on disciplinary action against a health care professional.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674860
Senate Bill 650: Revise brewer regulation details
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to allow very small commercial brewers (ones that produce fewer than 1,000 barrels per year, labeled by the bill “qualified micro brewers”) to sell directly to a retail merchant, rather than being mandated to sell through a member of a state beer wholesaler cartel created by current liquor control laws. This is part of a package of modest liquor law reforms comprised of Senate Bills 504 to 507, 651, and House Bill 4277.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674865
Senate Bill 651: Revise brewer regulation details
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to increase the maximum production level that places a brewer under state “microbrewer” regulations (vs. more burdensome regular brewer regulations), from 30,000 barrels annually to 60,000 barrels. This is part of a package of modest liquor law reforms comprised of Senate Bills 504 to 507, 650, and House Bill 4277.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674866
House Bill 4277: Require expeditious liquor license issue
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to require the Liquor Control Commission to issue a conditional liquor license for a new beer-and-wine retail merchant, or the transfer of an existing restaurant or bar’s license, within 20 days of an applicant submitting all the necessary paperwork, fees, “proof of financial responsibility,” etc. This license would cost a business an extra $300 and expire after one year, or when the regular license is approved or denied, whichever comes first.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674867
House Bill 4484: Cap rental self-storage late fees, revise liability
Passed 89 to 20 in the House on November 7, 2013, to cap rental payment late fees to a self-storage space rental facility at $20 per month or 20 percent of the monthly rental amount, whichever is greater (with certain exceptions), allow additional means of disposing of property subject to sale for non-payment of rent, and revise details of the facility owner’s liability for stored documents or other media that is sold or destroyed when a tenant defaults on a rental agreement.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674923
House Bill 4858: Require financial institutions help enforce welfare benefit restrictions
Passed 108 to 1 in the House on November 7, 2013, to require a bank that operates automatic teller machines in a casino, liquor store, or “adult entertainment establishment” to ensure it does not allow a person to use a welfare benefits “bridge card” to withdraw cash from those ATMs.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674919
House Bill 4859: Require financial institutions help enforce welfare benefit restrictions
Passed 108 to 1 in the House on November 7, 2013, to require a savings bank that operates automatic teller machines in a casino, liquor store, or “adult entertainment establishment” to “work with” state agencies to find a way to stop a welfare recipient’s “bridge card” to withdraw cash from those ATMs.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674920
House Bill 5008: Revise business income tax details
Passed 109 to 0 in the House on November 7, 2013, to revise the details of certain definitions in the business income tax law. The bill affects deductible losses in certain situations where a firm acquires another corporation.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674914
House Bill 5010: Revise business income tax details
Passed 108 to 1 in the House on November 7, 2013, to exempt “domestic international sales corporations” from the state’s corporate income tax.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674916
House Bill 5011: Revise past business tax credit detail
Passed 108 to 1 in the House on November 7, 2013, to revise details of “claw back” provisions for a business that was granted a selective tax break under the repealed Michigan Business Tax in return for acquiring a certain asset, but which later sells that asset.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674917
House Bill 5014: Ban welfare “bridge card” ATM cash at liquor stores
Passed 106 to 3 in the House on November 7, 2013, to require liquor stores to “work with” state agencies to find a way to stop a welfare recipient’s “bridge card” from being used to withdraw cash from an ATM on the premises. This would not apply to grocery stores that also sell liquor. “Bridge cards” are debit cards that have replaced food stamps and cash welfare.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674921
House Bill 5015: Ban welfare “bridge card” ATM cash at race track
Passed 108 to 1 in the House on November 7, 2013, to require state agencies to “work with” ATM cash machine suppliers to establish a way to stop a welfare recipient’s “bridge card” from being used to withdraw cash at a horse racing track. “Bridge cards” are debit cards that have replaced food stamps and cash welfare.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674922
House Bill 5050: Ban credit card fraud “skimming” devices
Passed 109 to 0 in the House on November 7, 2013, to authorize criminal penalties for the use of a “skimmer” device to gain access to a person’s financial accounts (for example, when a person is using an ATM machine). This and other bills in a legislative package would authorize the same penalties as a 2012 law banning “automated sales suppression devices” for falsifying electronic cash register records, called “zappers” or “phantom-ware”: Five years in prison and a $25,000 fine for a first offense, increasing to 15 years for a third and subsequent offenses.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674927
House Bill 5051: Clarify identity theft penalties
Passed 109 to 0 in the House on November 7, 2013, to increase the penalties provided in the state criminal code for identity theft so they match those called for in a 2004 identity theft law.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674928
House Bill 5052: Clarify identity theft penalties
Passed 109 to 0 in the House on November 7, 2013, to establish sentencing guidelines for the increased identity theft penalties proposed by House Bill 5051.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674929
House Bill 5053: Clarify cash register “zapper” crime jurisdiction
Passed 109 to 0 in the House on November 7, 2013, to clarify jurisdiction details of a 2012 law banning the possession, manufacture or sale of an automated sales suppression device for falsifying the records of electronic cash registers (also called a “zapper” or “phantom-ware”).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674930