Dear Neighbor,

I hope you are enjoying the warm weather. I am excited to share with you the legislation I have been working on for you and all Michiganders in Lansing.

In this issue:

  • Protecting Young People
  • Motor Vehicle Legislation
  • Community Summer Events

Protecting Young People

Continuing my efforts to ensure the safety of young workers, I testified in front of the House Labor Committee on my bill, House Bill 5594, which shifts the responsibility of issuing work permits for minors from school administrators to the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), making the permitting process more efficient and consistent.

Unfortunately, here in Michigan — including in our own West Michigan communities — we have already seen the devastating consequences of ineffective child labor laws. Michigan’s children need to be protected everywhere. It is our duty as legislators to defend young people from exploitation in the workplace.

The current system of issuing work permits is antiquated and severely limits the enforcement of child labor laws, which can result in the exploitation of young workers. Under the current, outdated system, minors apply for permits at their local high school. Since the permits are spread throughout the state at each individual high school, enforcement of child labor laws is nearly impossible, because state agencies simply do not know where children are working. My bill modernizes the youth work permitting process by having kids apply directly to LEO. Plus, the proposed new system streamlines the work permit process for businesses and will shorten the period between job offers and employees at work.

I will always put kids first and defend young Michiganders from anyone who wants to make child exploitation easier.

Motor Vehicle Legislation

I gave testimony on my bill package to modernize the Motor Vehicle Sales Finance Act (MVSFA). Technology has advanced significantly since the act became law in 1950, but Michigan’s regulation of the sale of new and used cars and trucks and the licensing for financing such sales has not.

My bill package will modernize supervisory enforcement tools to ensure consumer protection, streamline operations by enabling relationships and contracts through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System, and update the funding mechanism to ensure fees are sufficient and reasonable.

Community Events

  • Chalk the Park: Saturday, June 1, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pinewood Park (1999 Wolfboro Drive SE)
  • Kickoff to Summer Celebration: Saturday, June 8, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Kentwood City Hall (4900 Breton Southeast)
  • Cascade Township Fire Department Open House: Wednesday, June 12, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Buttrick Station No. 2 (2990 Buttrick Ave. SE)
  • 45th annual Reeds Lake Run: Saturday, June 22, at 8 a.m. at East Grand Rapids Community Center (750 Lakeside Drive SE)

Thank you for reading. If you need support or resources or have any questions regarding legislation, or state government in general, please feel free to reach out to me at my office via email at PhilSkaggs@house.mi.gov or by calling (517) 373-0836.

Sincerely,

Phil Skaggs

State Representative, 80th House District