Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Welcome to my latest e-newsletter! It continues to be a privilege to represent Livonia, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve our community in Lansing. I encourage you to stay up to date on what’s going on in Lansing and continue to let me know about the issues that matter to you.
If there is anything I can do to help you and your family, please do not hesitate to call my office at (517) 373-3920 or email me at LauriePohutsky@house.mi.gov. You can also catch me on Facebook.
Legislative Update
Closing the Marital Rape Loophole
Last week, the Michigan House passed my bill, House Bill 4699, which strikes the “mentally incapacitated” exemption from the state’s ban on marital rape. This bill would close a glaring loophole in the Michigan Penal Code that permits marital rape when the perpetrator’s legal spouse is mentally incapacitated. State law currently precludes charges or convictions for criminal sexual conduct in such cases, leaving Michigan as one of the few remaining states to expressly allow marital rape in law.
Passing this bill out of the House is an important step in closing this loophole once and for all. While the law this legislation addresses is outdated, it still has very modern implications for survivors of marital rape seeking justice. I’m grateful for my colleagues’ support in passing this bill out of the House, and I look forward to continuing to work with my Senate partners to finally get it signed into law.
Session
To see what we’ve been voting on over the last couple of weeks, please click here. As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office at (517) 373-3920 or lauriepohutsky@house.mi.gov.
Constituent Resources
Fostering Futures Scholarship Application Priority Deadline
The Michigan Department of Treasury reminds young adults who have experienced foster care on or after their 13th birthday that they are eligible to apply for a scholarship from the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund.
The priority deadline for the Fostering Futures Scholarship application for the academic year 2022-23 is Aug. 1. Eligible students enrolled at a Michigan degree-granting college or university may now apply to receive scholarship funds for tuition, fees, room, board, books and supplies. Applications received after Aug. 1 may be placed on a waitlist.
Since 2012, fundraising efforts have totaled more than $1.3 million. This money has been raised through individual donations, group donations, sponsorships, ticket sales, auctions and many volunteer-based fundraising events.
Most of the funds raised have been awarded as scholarships, with a small portion being designated to an education endowment that supplies investment income for scholarships.
To learn more about the Fostering Futures Scholarship, go to www.fosteringfutures-mi.com.
Fostering Futures Scholarship applicants with questions should contact the state Treasury Department’s Student Scholarships and Grants area at mistudentaid@michigan.gov or call toll-free at (888) 4-GRANTS (888-447-2687).
Community Update
Healthy Livonia Farm Stand
Healthy Livonia, in partnership with Tollgate Farms and Michigan State University, has a farm stand scheduled for this summer and into the fall! Please stop and see them to buy some fresh, seasonal produce at the Kirksey Recreation Center (15100 Hubbard St. in Livonia) on July 7 and 21, Aug. 11 and 25, Sept. 8 and 22, and Oct. 6 and 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cash and credit are both accepted.
Events
Senior Resources Town Hall
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Join my office, with special guests Kari West of the Senior Alliance and Michelle Danou, the Wayne County Long-Term Care Ombudsman, for an evening of education on resources available to seniors in our area. We will provide a legislative update and a Q&A period to get all of your questions answered.
The event will be held at 6 p.m. at the Livonia City Hall Auditorium, 33000 Civic Center Drive in Livonia, on Thursday, June 30.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office at (517) 373-3920, or you can send me an email at LauriePohutsky@house.mi.gov.
Coffee Hours
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I hope you can join me for one of my upcoming in-person and virtual coffee hours! I look forward to having an informal conversation with you about the issues families face in our community. Please note that both July coffee hours will be held in-person at Coffee + Cream in Livonia.
Sunday, July 3, from 2-3 p.m.
Monday, July 18, from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Never hesitate to reach out to me or my staff if you have any questions or concerns!
Sincerely,
Laurie Pohutsky
State Representative
19th House District