PADMA KUPPA

I hope you and your loved ones are having a safe, healthy and enjoyable summer so far! In this edition of my Capitol & Community Update, you’ll find information on the upcoming school year, updates on important executive action taken by Gov. Whitmer, upcoming events and more. Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office by phone at (517) 373-1783 or email at PadmaKuppa@house.mi.gov; we’re here and ready to help.

Sincerely,

Padma Kuppa

State Representative, 41st House District

Upcoming Events

I hope you’ll be able to join me in-person Monday, August 24, for a socially-distanced community coffee hour in Clawson Park! Please remember to wear a mask or face covering, and come ready to follow the best practices outlined by public health professionals for the proper social distancing techniques. I look forward to seeing you then!

When: Monday, August 24, from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Where: Clawson Park

935 N. Custer Ave. in Clawson

Back to School Virtual Town Hall

On Tuesday, August 25, I’ll be hosting a virtual town hall to discuss our community and state’s back to school plans for the fall. To register for this important event, click here.

When: Tuesday, August 25, from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

How: Register here.

Back to School Decisions Forthcoming

Local school districts are currently deciding how to return to school this fall — if they will return in person, use a remote-learning model, or some combination of the two. The governor’s “Return to School” Roadmap” currently permits in-person learning for all areas of Michigan with recommendations for protecting public health. However, the roadmap allows local school boards to develop their own plans for the next school year. School districts must announce their decisions and their safety plan by August 17.

For the Troy School District Fall 2020 learning plan, visit their website at www.troy.k12.mi.us/home-covid-19/extended-learning.

Visit the Clawson Public Schools homepage for updates on their Return to School plan at www.clawsonschools.org.

Encouraging Safer Use of Fireworks Statewide

I’m proud to support a package of bills introduced by my House Democratic colleagues that would repeal the Michigan Fireworks Safety Act of 2011. Residents from communities across the state have spoken out against the nuisance and dangers resulting from the 2011 legislation, which removed many restrictions on amateur use of fireworks. This package, through House Bills 5964-5968, would also create safety guidelines to reduce property damage and the number of firework-related injuries.

Updating Michigan’s Marriage Statutes

Marriage equality has been the law of the land in the U.S. since the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in 2015. However, several state statutes still use outdated, gendered language when referring to marriage. That language would be updated by a 54-bill package recently introduced in the Michigan House. As part of the comprehensive package, I sponsored House Bill 6060 to update the language in the Rights and Liabilities of Married Women Act. You can read more about this bill package here.

In recent weeks, the governor signed bills that will make up for anticipated gaps in education, local government, and public health funding. This bipartisan budget agreement affects the current fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, 2020. The agreement addresses the $2.2 billion revenue shortage by shifting state funding, reducing spending, and utilizing federal CARES money.

Under the budget deal, Michigan will save $483 million through hiring and discretionary spending freezes, layoffs, and using other savings. Some highlights of the agreement include the following allocations of federal CARES funds:

• $512 million to K-12 schools;
• $200 million to universities and community colleges;
• $150 million to local governments;
• $53 million to provide hazard pay for teachers who work during the COVID-19 pandemic; and
• $475 million for public safety costs.

This federal funding will help offset the cuts that were made, including a $256 million cut in state aid to schools and a $97 million cut to local governments. Michigan still needs the U.S. Senate to act quickly to ensure our state’s essential programs and services remain available in the next fiscal year and the years ahead.

Limitations on Indoor Gatherings, Bar Service

Recently, Gov. Whitmer signed two executive orders to limit indoor gatherings to ten people or fewer and prohibit indoor service in bars. These new restrictions apply statewide, including Regions 6 and 8 of the MI Safe Start Plan. These changes are in response to the rise in COVID-19 cases and recent “super-spreading” incidents, where someone carrying the virus has attended a large event and infects a high number of attendees.

Recognizing our Summer Interns

As the summer months come to a close, I am incredibly grateful for the hard work and dedication to our community displayed by our college interns. To Uroosa Hassan (UMD) and Natasha Vasan (Northwestern) who are soon departing to return for the school year, I wish you a safe, healthy and successful semester! We’re lucky to have Tyler Pischel, Jillian Piotrowski and Justin Fernando (all MSU students) for a few more weeks.

If you or someone you know is interested in interning with our office for the coming semester, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with my staff and I by sending an email to PadmaKuppa@house.mi.gov or giving me a call at (517) 373-1783. We look forward to hearing from you!