Dear Neighbor,
Welcome to the latest edition of my e-newsletter. I am excited to share with you updates from Lansing!
Remember, our government is most effective when we engage with it. I want to hear what matters most to you, how I can help address your needs and what you want me to fight for at the Capitol. My staff and I are always here to talk about ways we can improve our community. You can reach me at RepKellyBreen.com or (517) 373-0827.
In service,
Kelly Breen
State Representative, 38th House District
Michigan Court of Appeals Brings Much Needed Relief to Catastrophic Injury Survivors
Over 14 months after the no-fault auto insurance legislation went into effect, the Michigan Court of Appeals rightly decided that insurance companies could not retroactively restrict access to long-term care to individuals previously injured in car crashes.
The ruling was much-welcomed news. Eliminating essential care for those who had been catastrophically injured after they had paid for that benefit, in an original policy, was never the intent of the Legislature. But insurance companies came to a much different conclusion and retroactively applied the new auto no-fault insurance laws to people who had been in a catastrophic accident prior to the legislation taking effect.
That decision devastated a community of people in desperate need of care and support. Since July 2021, thousands of survivors lost access to vital health care, care providers have seen a drastic reduction in reimbursements, businesses have been forced to close, health care workers have lost jobs, and people have tragically died because of these changes.
In April, I introduced House Bill 6001 to require that when the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA) is statutorily mandated to issue refund payments to consumers, those payments must be issued within 30 days. HB 6001 was part of a 10-bill package aimed at addressing concerns related to transparency and accountability in Michigan’s auto no-fault law. Unfortunately, none of the bills in this package or any other legislation introduced during this term have been given a hearing in the House Committee on Insurance. Nevertheless, many of us, on both sides of the aisle, are ready to move on these bills, and we welcome all the help we can get.
With the Court of Appeals ruling released at the end of August, we are hopefully seeing a light at the end of the very dark tunnel so many have been forced to navigate over the last 14 months. While this ruling will almost certainly wind up in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals affirms that a party to a contract cannot unilaterally and retroactively modify an insurance policy. I will be following up with the providers and victims to ensure their medical care is provided as soon as possible.
I’m calling on the Michigan auto insurance companies and my colleagues in the Legislature to stop their opposition and work together with me to fix this disastrous consequence of a “reform.” We owe Michiganders, survivors and providers better than this.
School Safety Task Force Report
As a mother to two school-aged children, and the wife of a teacher, I know all too well how essential it is that we ensure that schools are a safe place for everyone. This is one of the many reasons why I was honored to serve as the Democratic lead for the School Safety Task Force. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the epidemic of violence we have seen in schools throughout the country, I am proud that I was able to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find solutions to make our schools a safer place.
Over the course of several months, the Schools Safety Task Force met with numerous organizations and experts in mental health and school hardening to determine the best solutions for Michigan schools. Together, my colleagues and I created a School Safety Task Force Report that we will be circulating to share what we have learned, and what legislation we are hoping to implement to make our schools a safer place. I look forward to continuing my work with the School Safety Task Force so that students and teachers can rightfully feel safe in schools again.
Upcoming Capitol Conversations:
One thing I enjoy most about my job is getting out into the community to talk with neighbors and hear what issues matter to them. I’m hosting a series of conversations this year, and I invite you to stop by to express your thoughts on the issues that surround our community. Feel free to join either virtually via Facebook Live or in person. You can check out the events on my Facebook page to see where I’ll be if you’d like to join me.
Saturday, Oct. 28, at 11 a.m. via Facebook Live.
Saturday, Nov. 25, at 11 a.m. via Facebook Live.
Helpful Resources
Coronavirus Info – Michigan.gov/coronavirus
Michigan 2-1-1 – mi211.org
State Emergency Relief (SER) – michigan.gov/mibridges
Apply for a Home Heating Credit at michigan.gov/treasury
Unemployment Benefits – Michigan.gov/UIA
Small Business Assistance – michiganbusiness.org/covid19
State Rep. Kelly Breen – RepKellyBreen.com
State Senate – senate.michigan.gov
State House of Representatives – house.mi.gov
Michigan Legislature – legislature.mi.gov
U.S. Senate – senate.gov
U.S. House of Representatives – house.gov