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 May 19, 2014: House Votes
For votes of the full legislature, I will include a summary of each bill with the sponsor, the vote totals and the next step in the legislative process for the bill. If you would like to read more information about a given bill you can head to www.legislature.mi.gov.
Require DCH to use process for maximum allowable cost pricing reconsiderations
SB 656 (S-4) (Caswell), Passed: 110-0
Next: Returned to Senate
The bill would amend the Social Welfare Act to require the Department of Community Health (Department) and contracted health plans to use a process for maximum allowable cost pricing reconsiderations that would have to be available and provided to providers and pharmacists.
**Include dentists in the Michigan Essential Health Provider loan repayment program **
SB 648 (S-1) (Moolenaar), 104-6
SB 649 (Marleau), Passed: 105-5
Next: Returned to Senate
Senate Bills 648 and 649 (Moolenaar, Marleau) modify the Michigan Essential Health Provider program to include dentists in the loan repayment program; increase the annual loan repayment amount to $40,000 per participant; remove a four-year maximum for participation; cap total loan repayment amount to $200,000 per participant; and allow eligible dentists to participate in the minority grant program.
Require LARA to grant temporary licenses to spouses of active military members
SB 741 (Schuitmaker), Passed: 110-0
SB 742 (Schuitmaker), Passed: 110-0
Next: Returned to the Senate
The bill would amend the Occupational Code to require the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to grant a temporary occupational license or registration to a person license or registered in another jurisdiction who is married to an active duty member of the armed forces stationed in Michigan.
Allow for extended care services in a swing bed in certain cases
SB 446 (Booher), Passed: 107-1
Next: Returned to the Senate
The bill would amend a provision of the Public Health Code that prohibits a hospital from providing extended care services in a swing bed if the hospital owns or operates a long-term care unit that has beds available.
Clarify when closed meetings may occur as pertains to the Open Meetings Act
HB 5193 (McMillin), Passed: 96-12
Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration
HB 5193 amends the Open Meetings Act to make it clear that a closed meeting held by a public body for purposes of trial or settlement strategy may only occur in connection with current, pending litigation.
Amend OMA to prohibit a public body’s decisions from being used as a defense
HB 5194 (McMillin), Passed: 90-17
Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration
HB 5194 amends the Open Meetings Act to state that reenactment of a public body’s decision cannot be used as a defense to criminal or civil action against a public official who is accused of violating the Open Meetings Act.
Naming a portion of M-153 “Firefighter Brian Woehlke Memorial Highway.”
HB 4985 (Kosowski), Passed: 107-0
Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration
House Bill 4985 designates M-153 (Ford Road) in Wayne County, between Newburgh Road and Wayne Road, as the “Firefighter Brian Woehlke Memorial Highway.” As with all designations under the Memorial Highway Act, private contributions are required for the placement and maintenance of the signs marking the designation.
Phase out driver responsibility fees
HB 5414 (Haveman), Passed: 108-0
HB 5501 (Talabi), Passed: 108-0
Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration
These bills phase out and ultimately repeal the often criticized driver responsibility fees and their related effects. House Bill 5414 (Haveman) phases out the assessments and repeals them effective in FY 2017-18. House Bill 5501 (TALABI) removes driver responsibility fees from the licensing sanctions under the enhanced driver license.
Exempts individuals from wearing helmets while operating ORV on own land
HB 5191(S-3) (Rendon), Passed: 101-9
Next: Sent to governor’s office
House Bill 5191 (S-3) would create an exemption to the helmet and protective eyewear requirement when the property owner or other specific individuals are operating an ORV on their own land.
Prohibit renewal of DIA Millage
HB 5571 (Goike), Passed: 66-44
Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration
This bill is part of the Detroit settlement package, which is made up of eleven bills, seven of which provide additional oversight and four of which provide for state support of the settlement. House Bill 5571 (Goike) amends the Art Institute Authorities Act to prohibit renewal of the DIA millage that was approved to be levied in 2012. Under current law, an Art Institute Authority may levy a property tax of up to 0.2 mills for twenty years if the majority of the electors in the county voting on the tax approve it. In 2012, Macomb, Wayne, and Oakland counties approved a DIA millage of 0.2 mills for ten years. The bill would only allow the millage to be levied for up to ten years, and a new tax or its renewal will not be authorized after December 31, 2012 unless the art institute is municipally owned (which, once the Plan for Adjustment is approved, the DIA is anticipated to become a non-profit entity). This would prohibit renewal of the DIA millage approved in 2012.
Allows courts to appoint “parent coordinators” to resolve disputes
HB 5082 (H-1)(Heise), Passed: 106-4
Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration
House Bill 5082 (Heise) allows courts to appoint “parent coordinators” to resolve parenting disputes. According to Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, parent coordination is a child focused alternative dispute resolution process in which a mental health or legal professional with mediation training and experience assist high conflict parents with implementing their parenting plan, facilitating the resolution of disputes in a timely manner, and making decisions within the scope of the court order or appointment contract. There are some jurisdictions in Michigan that currently employ parent coordination to resolve disputes, however, there are no standards in place for it.
Regulate use of collaborative law
SB 714 (Schuitmaker), Passed: 101-9
Next: Returned to Senate
Senate Bill 714 (Schuitmaker) creates the “Uniform Collaborative Law Act (UCLA)” to regulate the use of collaborative law. Collaborative law is a form of alternative dispute resolution, where disputing parties and their attorneys work together to find an equitable resolution to a family law or domestic relations dispute.
Create article of Uniform Securities Act regarding Michigan Investment Markets
HB 5273 (H-4) (Jenkins), Passed: 110-0
Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration
This bill would create a new article of the Uniform Securities Act regarding Michigan Investment Markets, a type of local stock exchange.
Extend deadline to switch to the Qualified Forest Program
SB 59 (H-1)(Booher), Passed: 107-3
Next: Returned to the Senate
Senate Bill 59 is a bill to extend the deadline for individuals to switch from Commercial Forest Act (CFA) to the Qualified Forest Program (QFP) without penalty.
Prevent county road commissions from allowing installation of certain docks
SB 680 (S-1) (Kowall), Passed: 103-7
Next: Returned to the Senate
This bill would prevent county road commissions from allowing the installation and use of seasonal public docks or wharfs at public road ends.
Allow fur dealers to obtain beaver trapping licenses
SB 759 (Casperson), Passed: 102-8
Next: Returned to Senate
Senate Bill 759 (Casperson) amends the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to eliminate the prohibition that keeps licensed fur dealers from obtaining licenses to trap beavers.
Establish the “Sexual Assault Kit Evidence Submission Act”
HB 5445 (H-1)(Walsh), Passed: 110-0
Next: Sent to Senate for consideration
House Bill 5445 (H-1) (Walsh) establishes the “Sexual Assault Kit Evidence Submission Act.”
Restrict DEQ testing of backflow on installed residential lawn sprinkler
HB 5317 (H-1) (McCready), Passed: 60-50
HB 5318 (H-3) (McCready), Passed: 81-29
Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration
House Bills 5317 (H-1) and 5318 (H-3) (McCready) will reduce the number of times the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) can require testing of a backflow preventer on an already installed residential lawn sprinkler system.
Repeal registration regulations pertaining to auctioneers
SB 476 (H-1) (Hildenbrand), Passed: 106-4
SB 477 (H-1) (Hildenbrand), Passed: 105-5
Next: Returned to the Senate
Senate Bill 476 (Hildenbrand) amends the Occupational Code to repeal the registration and regulations relating to auctioneers, the section providing for the Board of Auctioneers, and the requirement that LARA issue a registration to a registered auctioneer.
Remove requirement for LARA to maintain list of interior designers in Michigan
SB 479 (H-1) (Jansen), Passed: 104-6
Next: Returned to the Senate
Senate Bill 479 (H-1) (Jansen) amends the Occupational Code to repeal sections that apply to the licensing and regulation of interior designers. Under this bill, LARA will no longer be required to maintain a list of interior designers in Michigan. This bill also repeals the section of the Occupational Code that created an advisory subcommittee on interior design.
Establish Michigan Financial Review Commission Act to oversee Detroit fiscal operations
HB 5566 (H-3) (Walsh), Passed: 103-7
Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration
House Bill 5566 would establish the Michigan Financial Review Commission Act which would create a nine-member commission to oversee the fiscal operations of the City of Detroit including, but not limited to, finances, budgets, debt issuance, and revenue estimates.
Require Detroit to appoint chief financial officer, adopt four-year financial plans, require compliance with MFRCA, and hold Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference
HB 5567 (H-2) (Kivela), Passed: 105-5
Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration
This bill is part of the Detroit settlement package, which is made up of eleven bills, seven of which provide additional oversight and four of which provide for state support of the settlement. This bill adds financial security strings to the bankruptcy settlement by requiring Detroit to appoint a chief financial officer, require compliance with the Michigan Financial Review Commission Act (HB 5566 (Walsh)), mandate adoption of yearly four-year financial plans, and require Detroit to hold biannual Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference (CREC) modeled after the state CREC.
Require Detroit to restrict pension benefits to city employees
HB 5568 (H-2) (Haines), Passed: 85-25
Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration House Bill 5568 amends the Home Rule City Act to require Detroit to restrict the calculation of pension benefits of city employees under an existing defined benefit system to base pay for future years of service, and restrict the city from contributing more than seven percent of an employee’s base pay to an appropriate retirement account.
Prevent Detroit from opting out of 80/20 health insurance
HB 5569 (LaFontaine), Passed: 100-10
Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration
House Bill 5569 would amend the Publically Funded Health Insurance Contribution Act to prevent the Detroit City Council and Mayor from opting out of the 80/20 employee health insurance.
Require city’s retirement system to establish investment committee
HB 5570 (H-3) (Yonker), Passed: 105-5
Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration
House Bill 5570 would amend the Public Employee Retirement System Investment Act to require the city’s retirement system to establish an investment committee, which would select, monitor, and evaluate the system’s chief financial officer and its advisors and consultants. The bill adds some expense reporting requirements and also puts restrictions on travel for the Boards.
Provide FRC ability to provide information on finances of local government
HB 5576 (H-2)(Haveman), Passed: 98-12
Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration
House Bill 5576 (H-2) (Haveman) amends PA 312 of 1969, which deals with binding arbitration for police and fire, to make a complementary change to the law to provide the Financial Review Commission (FRC) the ability to submit to the arbitration panel supplemental information on the financial position of the local unit of government.
State financial support to Detroit pension systems
HB 5574 (Stallworth), Passed: 74-36
HB 5575 (Durhal), Passed: 75-35
HB 5572 (Olumba), Passed: 75-35
HB 5573 (Talabi), Passed: 77-33
Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration
These bills are part of the Detroit settlement package, which is made up of eleven bills, seven of which provide additional oversight and four of which provide for state support of the settlement. HB 5572-5574, along with HB 5575, comprise the state support of the package, by appropriating and distributing a lump sum payment to the pension systems out of the rainy day fund and providing a mechanism by which the state will pay itself back.
Modify number of charter commissioners for large charter counties
HB 5457 (Lane), Passed: 108-1
Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration
House Bill 5457 (LANE) amends PA 293 of 1966, which deals with the establishment of charter counties, to modify the number of charter commissioners for counties of over 600,000 in population. Current law sets the number of charter commissioners for these counties as between 25 and 35. Under the bill, the number of charter commissioners could not exceed 35.
Excludes industrial hemp from the definition of marihuana
HB 5439 (Daley), Passed: 109-0
HB 5440 (Pettalia), Passed: 108-1
Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration
House Bill 5439 is a bill to authorize the growing and cultivating of industrial hemp for research purposes at colleges or universities and to authorize the receipt and expenditure of funding for research related to industrial hemp. House Bill 5440 updates the Public Health Code to exclude industrial hemp from the definition of marihuana.
Week of May 19, 2014: Committee Meetings
Energy and Technology
Agenda:
Testimony Only:
HB 5555 – (Rep. Nesbitt) – Public utilities; natural gas utilities; infrastructure expansion investment costs for certain underserved or unserved areas; allow natural gas utilities to recover.
HB 5556 – (Rep. Townsend) – Natural resources; gas and oil; administrative fines for certain pipeline violations; modify.
HB 5557 – (Rep. Nesbitt) – Public utilities; public service commission; assessment of certain fines or penalties; prohibit.
HB 5205 – (Rep. Nesbitt) – Energy; alternative sources; advanced waste energy recovery; allow.
Regulatory Reform
Agenda:
HB 5426 – (Rep. Hovey-Wright) – Liquor; licenses; scope of farmer’s market permits; expand to include micro brewers.
Reported from committee by a 13-2-0 vote
HB 5427 – (Rep. Schor) – Liquor; licenses; scope of farmer’s market permits; expand to include micro brewers.
Reported from committee by a 13-2-0 vote
HB 4573 – (Rep. Dianda) – Liquor; licenses; licensing and transfer fees; allow to prorate quarterly.
Testimony Only
Detroit’s Recovery and Michigan’s Future
Agenda:
Special Presentation by Richard Ravitch
Testimony Only:
HB 5566 – (Rep. Walsh) – State financing and management; authorities; oversight commission act; create.
HB 5567 – (Rep. Kivela) – Cities; home rule; chief financial officer for a city with a population of more than 600,000; require, and require 4-year financial plan.
HB 5568 – (Rep. Haines) – Cities; home rule; base pay to calculate pension benefit in a defined benefit plan established by a city with a population of more than 600,000; provide for, and provide a defined contribution plan and elimination of retiree health benefits for new hires after December 31, 2014.
HB 5569 – (Rep. LaFontaine) – Labor; public service employment; opt-out for public employee contribution to employer-provider health care benefits; modify.
HB 5570 – (Rep. Yonker) – Retirement; pension oversight; oversight of certain pensions of cities with a population of more than 600,000; provide for.
HB 5571 – (Rep. Goike) – Local government; authorities; art institute authorities act; remove authorization to levy a new tax or renew an existing tax.
HB 5572 – (Rep. Olumba) – State financing and management; funds; budget stabilization fund distributions; modify.
HB 5573 – (Rep. Talabi) – State financing and management; funds; Michigan trust fund act; allow allocation of certain revenues into the budget stabilization fund; provide for.
HB 5574 – (Rep. Stallworth) – State financing and management; funds; budget stabilization fund distribution; provide for.
HB 5575 – (Rep. Durhal) – State financing and management; authorities; Michigan settlement administration authority; create.
HB 5576 – (Rep. Haveman) – Labor; arbitration; certain local government arbitration awards; make subject to the oversight commission act.
Transportation and Infrastructure
Agenda:
HB 4723 – (Rep. Daley) – Traffic control; driver license; eligibility criteria for basic driver improvement course; broaden.
Testimony Only
HB 5168 – (Rep. Walsh) – Transportation; authorities; agreement between a regional transit authority and a street railway; allow, and provide other general revisions.
Testimony Only
HB 5169 – (Rep. Schmidt) – Transportation; authorities; definition of public transportation provider in regional transit authority act; amend to exclude street railways.
Testimony Only
HB 5543 – (Rep. Outman) – Highways; name; portion of M-57 within Montcalm county; designate as the “Joseph Prentler Memorial Highway”.
Reported from committee by at 12-0-30vote
Health Policy
Agenda:
SB 713 – (Sen. Booher) – Mental health; community mental health; powers of governing board of a community mental health services authority; expand.
Reported from committee by a 16-0-0 vote
HB 5176 – (Rep. Cotter) – Health; occupations; report or allegation of misconduct by a licensed health care professional; prohibit department from investigating if based on information seen on a reality television show
Testimony Only
Presentation on Physical Therapy Direct Access
Natural Resources
Agenda:
SB 444 – (Sen. Casperson) – Natural resources; nonnative species; permits for treatment of aquatic invasive species; revise, and authorize certain local ordinances.
Testimony Only
Agriculture
Agenda:
HB 5226 – (Rep. McBroom) – Natural resources; hunting; issuance of crop damage permits; expand to include bear.
Reported from committee by a 17-0-0 vote
Tax Policy
Agenda:
SB 425 – (Sen. Brandenburg) – Property tax; principal residence exemption; exemption for trust-owned property; revise.
Reported from committee by a 13-0-1 vote
SB 473 – (Sen. Brandenburg) – Individual income tax; withholding requirements; flow-through entities that have entered into certain housing agreements; eliminate withholding requirement.
Reported from committee by a 14-0-0 vote
HB 5421 – (Rep. Walsh) – Property tax; delinquent taxes; additional interest upon forfeiture; permit waiver under certain circumstances.
Reported from committee by a 14-0-0 vote
HB 5182 – (Rep. Zorn) – Property tax; exemptions; nonprofit housing property exemption; provide for.
Testimony Only
Military and Veterans Affairs
Agenda:
SB 741 – (Sen. Schuitmaker) – Occupations; health care professions; transfer of professional license or certification of out-of-state military spouses; allow.
Reported from committee by a 13-0-0 vote
SB 742 – (Sen. Schuitmaker) – Occupations; individual licensing and regulation; temporary license or registration for certain military spouses; allow.
Reported from committee by a 13-0-0 vote
HB 5529 – (Rep. Jenkins) – Courts; drug court; providing information to veteran regarding veteran benefits; require.
Testimony Only
HB 5530 – (Rep. Poleski) – Criminal procedure; probation; presentence report to disclose status of individual as veteran; require and provide for forwarding of information to department of military and veterans affairs.
Testimony Only
HB 5531 – (Rep. Kurtz) – Courts; other; veteran completing sobriety court program to meet with veteran service organization or county veteran counselor as part of program; require.
Testimony Only
HB 5532 – (Rep. Graves) – Criminal procedure; other; individual to meet with veteran service organization or county veteran counselor as condition of parole; require.
Testimony Only
HB 5533 – (Rep. Schmidt) – Criminal procedure; probation; veteran to meet with veteran service organization or county veteran counselor as condition of probation; require.
Testimony Only
HB 5534 – (Rep. Shirkey) – Human services; services or financial assistance; veteran applying for benefits; require to report to department of military and veterans affairs.
Testimony Only
HB 5535 – (Rep. Muxlow) – Human services; food assistance; veteran applying for benefits; require to report to department of military and veterans affairs.
Testimony Only
HB 5498 – (Rep. Lori) – Businesses; nonprofit corporations; certain fees under the nonprofit corporation act; waive for certain veterans.
Reported from committee by a 13-0-1 vote
HB 5497 – (Rep. Kosowski) – Occupations; electricians; certain veterans; revise experience requirements and waive certain license, registration, and application fees.
Reported from committee by a 13-0-1 vote
HB 5506 – (Rep. Santana) – Occupations; mechanical contractors; certain veterans; waive certain license fees.
Reported from committee by a 13-0-1 vote
HB 5491 – (Rep. Walsh) – Businesses; limited liability companies; certain fees under Michigan limited liability company act; waive for certain veterans.
Reported from committee by a 13-0-1 vote
Criminal Justice
Agenda:
SB 584 – (Sen. Emmons) – Criminal procedure; indictment; statute of limitations for child sex trafficking or commercial sexual exploitation of children offenses; eliminate.
Reported from committee by an 8-1-0 vote
SB 587 – (Sen. Gregory) – Children; services; counseling program for children found to be victims of human trafficking; provide for.
Reported from committee by a 9-0-0 vote
SB 590 – (Sen. Proos) – Civil procedure; civil actions; human trafficking; allow victims to sue violators for damages.
Reported from committee by a 9-0-0 vote
SB 592 – (Sen. Proos) – Human services; medical services; victims of human trafficking to receive medical and psychological care; establish.
Reported from committee by a 9-0-0 vote
SB 593 – (Sen. Warren) – Children; foster care; consideration within foster care system for minors who may be victims of human trafficking; allow.
Reported from committee by a 9-0-0 vote
SB 597 – (Sen. Warren) – Health; occupations; training requirements for medical professionals regarding human trafficking; implement.
Reported from committee by a 9-0-0 vote
SB 598 – (Sen. Casperson) – Crimes; definitions; definition of racketeering; include enticing away a female under 18 years of age.
Testimony Only
Education
Agenda:
HB 5581 – (Rep. Genetski) – Education; other; oversight for statewide assessments; transfer to department of treasury.
Reported from committee by an 11-0-5 vote
Families, Children and Seniors
Agenda:
HB 5473 – (Rep. Lori) – Family law; paternity; court refusal to enter an order setting aside a paternity determination revoking an acknowledgment of parentage; allow under certain circumstances.
Reported from committee by a 9-0-0 vote
HB 5510 – (Rep. Kurtz) – Family law; paternity; acknowledgment of parentage process; modify.
Reported from committee by a 9-0-0 vote
HB 5511 – (Rep. McCready) – Civil procedure; other; collection of court-ordered financial obligations from judgments against the state; allow.
Reported from committee by a 9-0-0 vote
HB 5508 – (Rep. Zorn) – Family law; child support; office of child support to develop an electronically accessible registry containing names of individuals with outstanding child support to intercept gambling winnings; establish.
Reported from committee by a 9-0-0 vote
HB 5509 – (Rep. MacGregor) – Gaming; casinos; distribution of casino winnings for child support arrearages; update to reflect payment to the state disbursement unit.
Reported from committee by a 9-0-0 vote
HB 5463 – (Rep. Denby) – Family law; paternity; certain genetic testing establishes paternity; provide for.
Reported from committee by a vote of 8-0-0 vote
HB 5464 – (Rep. Hooker) – Family law; paternity; genetic parentage act; create.
Reported from committee by a vote of 8-0-0 vote
HB 5465 – (Rep. Kurtz) – Family law; paternity; summary support and paternity act; establish.
Reported from committee by a vote of 8-0-0 vote
HB 5466 – (Rep. Kosowski) – Family law; paternity; consolidation of child support functions into 1 local agency; provide for in the paternity act.
Reported from committee by a vote of 8-0-0 vote
HB 5467 – (Rep. Hooker) – Family law; paternity; consolidation of child support functions into 1 local agency; provide for in the revocation of paternity act.
Reported from committee by a vote of 8-0-0 vote
HB 5468 – (Rep. Victory) – Family law; child support; consolidation of child support functions into 1 local agency; provide for in the family support act.
Reported from committee by a vote of 8-0-0 vote
HB 5469 – (Rep. Kurtz) – Family law; child support; consolidation of child support functions into 1 local agency; provide for in the uniform interstate family support act.
Reported from committee by a vote of 8-0-0 vote
HB 5470 – (Rep. Kesto) – Family law; child support; consolidation of child support functions into 1 local agency; provide for in the uniform reciprocal enforcement of support act.
Reported from committee by a vote of 8-0-0 vote
HB 5471 – (Rep. Outman) – Family law; child support; consolidation of child support functions into 1 local agency; provide for in the status of minors and child support act.
Reported from committee by a vote of 8-0-0 vote
HB 5583 – (Rep. Hovey-Wright) – Family law; paternity; paternity revocation process for genetic father; include in revocation of paternity act.
Reported from committee by a vote of 8-0-0 vote
Financial Services
Agenda:
SB 664 – (Sen. Kowall) – Consumer credit; debt management; debt management act; make general revisions.
Reported from committee by a 12-0-0 vote
Joint Committee on Administrative Rules
Agenda:
Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs: Elevators – (JCAR #14-08) (2012-009 LR)
Insurance
Agenda:
HB 4926 – (Rep. Callton) – Vehicles; title; access to salvage or scrap certificate of title; allow for insurance companies under certain circumstances.
Testimony Only
Local Government
Agenda:
Testimony Only:
HB 5560 – (Rep. Price) – Local government; other; publication of legal notices; revise, and create the local government public notice act.