Dear Neighbor,
Here is some information that I hope you will find helpful, including updates and news from your state government.
Press Conference Highlights Legislation to Combat Sextortion of Minors
My colleagues and I recently held a press conference to talk about bills to combat the growing threat of online “sextortion” targeting minors and other vulnerable individuals. The bill I sponsored in the package, House Bill 5888, outlines sentencing guidelines for sexual extortion and aggravated sexual extortion. Other legislation in the package encourages prevention through education and how to recognize and respond to a sextortion attempt. We were joined at the press event by Jordan DeMay’s mother and father from Marquette. Sadly, 17-year-old Jordan took his own life after being victimized by a sextortion scam. The proposed laws are named in his honor.
Legislature Passes Additional Funding for School Safety
The Legislature passed $125 million for school safety and mental health last week. An additional million dollars will go towards the creation of educational materials on safe storage of firearms for schools and an anonymous tip line for students to report improperly stored firearms that children might have access to. The school safety and mental health funding will be allocated on a per-pupil basis for student mental health.
This funding is in addition to the $25 million for school safety and mental health in the school aid budget that passed in June. These investments will make classrooms stronger and kids better equipped to learn.
Women in Workforce Panel
I participated in Capital Area Michigan Works’ (CAMW) Women in Workforce show last week with Lansing City Council member Tamera Carter. We discussed challenges women in the workforce face, how to best address gender disparities in the workforce and what we are doing to help develop the region’s workforce. The show will be available on CAMW’s YouTube channel soon.
State Bar Sections Joint Program Participant
I spoke to the Criminal Law, Immigration Law and LGBTQ+ law sections of the State Bar of Michigan at their joint program last week. I shared some of the highlights of what we have accomplished in the Criminal Justice Committee this term and our priorities in the last months of the term. I was able to talk with bar members about some of their ideas to improve our legal system. Special thanks to fellow “Cooleygan” Takura Nyamfukudza, chair-elect of the SBM Criminal Law section, for inviting me.
Sincerely,
Kara Hope,
State Representative, District 74