In order to keep you and your neighbors better informed about the legislation we discuss, I am posting the agenda for any scheduled committee meetings at the beginning of the week and an update with any votes that were taken that week in committee or on the House floor. I hope you find this information helpful and please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance.
Week of March 2, 2015
Floor Votes
The following is a summary of legislation that recently passed the House. I have listed the analyst who worked on each issue and his/her telephone number. Feel free to contact staff directly with any questions or if you need additional information.
Allow the State Treasurer to disclose the address of certain housing units exempt from property taxes under MSHDA
HB 4501 (Farrington), RC 24, 3/3/15, Passed: 110-0
Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration
House Bill 4051 amends the Revenue Act to allow the State Treasurer to disclose the address of housing units that are part of a housing project exempt from property taxes under the State Housing Development Authority Act or under the auspices of a Municipal Housing Commission, and whether the unit is subject to a service charge in lieu of property tax. The bill further allows the Treasurer to disclose the millage rates of property taxes.
Reestablish the teacher critical shortage list protocols
HB 4059 (H-2) (Hughes), RC 25, 3/5/15, Passed: 108-2
Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration
Re-establishes the teacher critical shortage list protocols which allow school districts to hire retired teachers in identified subject areas without the teacher being required to forfeit their pension benefits to take the position.
Week of March 2, 2015: Committee Meetings
Health Policy
Agenda:
Presentation By:
Medicaid – The Michigan Department of Community Health
Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources
Agenda:
DNR Presentation: Belle Isle Park & Michigan state parks
Natural Resources
Agenda:
An overview given by Dan Wyant, Director of the Department of Environmental Quality, and the Office of Regulatory Reinvention (ORR) within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, on the status of the ORR’s Recommendations on Environmental Regulations.
Criminal Justice
Agenda:
HB 4069 – (Rep. Santana) – Criminal procedure; youthful trainees; eligibility criteria for youthful trainee program; modify.
Reported from committee by a 7-0-0 vote
HB 4135 – (Rep. Heise) – Criminal procedure; youthful trainees; revocation of trainee status under Holmes youthful trainee act for committing certain subsequent crimes; provide for.
Reported from committee by a 7-0-0 vote
HB 4169 – (Rep. Hovey-Wright) – Criminal procedure; sentencing; option of placing individual in prison under the Holmes youthful trainee act; eliminate.
Reported from committee by a 7-0-0 vote
Appropriations: Subcommittee on State Police
Agenda:
– Presentation by Capt. Kari Kuzmierz, Commander of the Training Division, describing the operations of the Training Division and discussing Trooper, Motor Carrier, and State Properties Security Officer Recruit Schools –
– Presentation by Lt. Col. W. Thomas Sands, Commander of the Field Services Bureau (FSB), and Capt. Gene Kapp, Commander of the Third District, describing the operations of the FSB and discussing the strength of enlisted ranks and implementation of the Regional Policing Plan and Secure Cities Partnership –
– Presentation by Ms. Harriet Miller-Brown, State 9-1-1 Coordinator, describing the operations of the State 9-1-1 Committee and discussing enhancements to 9-1-1 systems within the state
Commerce and Trade
Agenda:
HB 4162 – (Rep. Nesbitt) – Occupations; individual licensing and regulation; requirement for installation and repair of elevators by elevator journeymen; modify for installation and repair of residential lifts.
Reported from committee by a 12-5-0 vote
HB 4163 – (Rep. Pscholka) – Occupations; individual licensing and regulation; licensing of residential lift contractors; create as class of elevator contractors.
Reported from committee by a 12-5-0 vote
Testimony Only:
HB 4195 – (Rep. Pscholka) – Economic development; other; Michigan early stage venture corporation entering new investments or creating additional venture funds; prohibit.
HB 4196 – (Rep. McCready) – Economic development; other; venture capital authority fund; sunset.
Appropriations: Subcommittee on School Aid
Agenda:
Department of Community Health presentation on FY 2015-16 Executive Budget Recommendation – Medical Services, and Office of Services to the Aging
Appropriations: Subcommittee on Community Health
Agenda:
Department of Community Health presentation on FY 2015-16 Executive Budget Recommendation – Medical Services, and Office of Services to the Aging
Transportation and Infrastructure
Agenda:
SB 42 – (Sen. Casperson) – Vehicles; driver training; certain requirements applicable to commercial learner’s permit; amend to comply with federal regulations.
Testimony Only
Presentations by the following:
County Road Association of Michigan
Michigan Municipal League
Appropriations: Subcommittee on Human Services
Agenda:
– MISACWIS Update
– Foster Care Program Overview
Communications and Technology
Agenda:
HR 17 – (Rep. Tedder) – A resolution to memorialize the President of the United States, the U.S. Congress, and the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to refrain from regulating broadband Internet services as common carrier services under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934.
Reported from committee by a vote of 9-3-0
Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development
Agenda:
HB 4094 – (Rep. Pscholka) – Appropriations; zero budget; department of agriculture and rural development; provide for fiscal year 2015-2016.
Testimony only
Testimony on:
– Groundwater Protection Fee: Michigan Farm Bureau
– Sustainable Forestry Initiative program: Scott Robbins, Michigan Forest Products Council & Todd Johnson, Weyerhaeuser Forestry Services Manager
Judiciary
Agenda:
Testimony Only:
HB 4038 – (Rep. Forlini) – Housing; landlord and tenants; notification of evictions; allow by electronic mail.
SB 12 – (Sen. Jones) – Retirement; state employees; retired state employees to contract with department of attorney general in litigation matters involving this state; allow under certain circumstances without losing retirement allowance.
SB 53 – (Sen. Jones) – Weapons; other; exemption for retired federal law enforcement officers to carry weapon in weapon-free zones; provide for.
Appropriations: Subcommittee on Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Agenda:
-Presentation by Mr. Al Schefke, Director of the Corporations, Securities, and Commercial Licensing Bureau (CSCLB), describing the past and present operations of the CSCLB and discussing the
recent deregulation of various occupations
-Presentation by Mr. Irvin Poke, Director of the Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC), describing the past and present operations of the BCC and discussing demolition permitting in Detroit
Appropriations
Agenda:
Presentations Discussing Tax Credits
SB 137 – (Sen. Hildenbrand) – Insurance; health insurers; distribution and use of autism coverage fund revenues; modify.
Testimony Only
SB 138 – (Sen. Hildenbrand) – Crime victims; rights; distribution of crime victim’s rights funds; modify.
Testimony Only
Appropriations: Subcommittee on General Government
Agenda:
Testimony on proposed FY 2015-16 budgets:
– Michigan Economic Development Corporation/Michigan Strategic Fund
– Michigan State Housing Development Authority
– Land Bank Fast Track Authority
Families, Children, and Seniors
Agenda:
HB 4188 – (Rep. LaFontaine) – Children; adoption; objection to placements by child placing agency based on religious or moral convictions; allow.
Reported from committee by a vote of 5-3-0
HB 4189 – (Rep. Santana) – Children; adoption; objection to placements by child placing agency based on religious or moral convictions; allow.
Reported from committee by a vote of 5-3-0
HB 4190 – (Rep. Leutheuser) – Children; adoption; licensure of child placing agency that objects to placements on religious or moral grounds; allow.
Reported from committee by a vote of 5-3-0
HB 4037 – (Rep. Forlini) – Family law; marriage and divorce; persons authorized to solemnize marriage; allow township supervisor to perform.
Testimony Only
Appropriations: Subcommittee on Education
Agenda:
Overview of the Child Development and Care (CDC) program and proposed increases to programming
Financial Services
Agenda:
PRESENTATION BY:
Donald P. Mann, Regulatory Liaison, Community Bankers of Michigan
Mike Kus, Legal Counsel, Community Bankers of Michigan
Jim Wheeler, President, Mercantile Bank of Michigan – Alma Main Office
Tax Policy
Agenda:
Testimony Only:
HB 4122 – (Rep. Lauwers) – Taxation; administration; film credits; sunset.
HB 4124 – (Rep. Townsend) – Individual income tax; retirement or pension benefits; limitations and restrictions on retirement income deduction for a surviving spouse; clarify.
Agriculture
Agenda:
Presentation by the Michigan Pork Producers Association
Tourism and Outdoor Recreation
Agenda:
SB 54 – (Sen. Casperson) – Natural resources; hunting; use of unmanned aerial vehicles to interfere with or harass another individual who is hunting; prohibit.
Reported from committee by an 8-0-0 vote
SB 55 – (Sen. Pavlov) – Natural resources; hunting; use of unmanned aerial vehicles for taking game; prohibit.
Reported from committee by an 8-0-0 vote
Presentations given by the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Michigan Boating Industries Association
Appropriations Subcommittee on Judiciary
Agenda:
Overview of the Michigan State Appellate Defender Office and Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel System
– Dawn Van Hoek, Director
Overview of the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission
– Jonathan Sacks, Executive Director
Regulatory Reform
Agenda:
Testimony Only:
HB 4054 – (Rep. Schor) – Mobile homes; other; health and safety violations; provide for remedies and require posting of financial assurance.
HB 4220 – (Rep. Santana) – Occupations; athletics; Michigan unarmed combat regulatory act; revise to include amateur mixed martial arts.
HB 4221 – (Rep. Santana) – Criminal procedure; sentencing guidelines; sentencing guidelines for violations of certain Michigan amateur mixed martial arts regulatory act violations; provide for.
HB 4222 – (Rep. Santana) – Occupations; athletics; amateur mixed martial arts licensure; provide for.
Presentation By:
Charles Owens, Michigan State Director – National Federation of Independent Business
Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation
Agenda:
HB 4098 – (Rep. Pscholka) – Appropriations; zero budget; department of transportation; provide for fiscal year 2015-2016.
Testimony Only
– Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association (MITA)
– County Road Association of Michigan
– Michigan Association of Counties
– Michigan Municipal League
Appropriations Subcommittee on Capital Outlay
Agenda:
Presentations on FY 2014-15 Capital Outlay Supplemental
Request
– Ferris State University
– Lake Michigan College
– West Shore Community College
– Michigan State Police
Appropriations: Subcommittee on Higher Education
Agenda:
Presentations on:
– Michigan Independent Colleges and Universities
– Financial Aid
Insurance
Agenda:
Testimony Only:
HB 4193 – (Rep. Nesbitt) – Traffic control; violations; electronic proof of insurance; allow.
HB 4224 – (Rep. Barrett) – Insurance; insurers; filing fee for annual statement for foreign insurers; eliminate
Joint Committee Meeting on Appropriations: Subcommittee on School Aid
Agenda:
Quarterly Report by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan on Deficit Districts