In order to help make our state government more transparent and accessible to my constituents, each week that there is session I am going to post to my website a synopsis of the work each House committee will do for the week. This will include the time and location for the meeting as well as any bills or presentations the committee will hear. Each agenda item will include the bill number, the sponsor, and a brief summary of the legislation. If you would like to read in greater detail about any of these bills, you can read them in their full-text at www.legislature.mi.gov.
Please also note that you and your neighbors are welcome to observe any committee meeting or legislative session. Most House committee meetings are in the House Office Building (134 N. Capitol Ave. in Lansing) but some convene in the Capitol across the street.
As your elected officials, it is our job to conduct legislative business with efficiency and transparency. I hope you find these posts helpful and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any additional questions or concerns.
Week of March 2, 2015: Committee Meetings
Health Policy
Date: Tuesday, March 3
Time 9 a.m.
Location: Room 519, House Office Building
Agenda:
Presentation By:
Medicaid – The Michigan Department of Community Health
Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources
Date: Tuesday, March 3
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: Room 426, State Capitol Building
Agenda:
DNR Presentation: Belle Isle Park & Michigan state parks
Natural Resources
Date: Tuesday, March 3
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: Senate Appropriations, State Capitol
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
Date: Tuesday, March 3
Time 9 a.m.
Location: Room 327, House Office Building
Agenda:
HB 4069 – (Rep. Santana) – Criminal procedure; youthful trainees; eligibility criteria for youthful trainee program; modify.
HB 4135 – (Rep. Heise) – Criminal procedure; youthful trainees; revocation of trainee status under Holmes youthful trainee act for committing certain subsequent crimes; provide for.
HB 4169 – (Rep. Hovey-Wright) – Criminal procedure; sentencing; option of placing individual in prison under the Holmes youthful trainee act; eliminate.
Appropriations: Subcommittee on State Police
Date: Tuesday, March 3
Time 9 a.m.
Location: Room 308, House Office Building
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
Date: Tuesday, March 3
Time 10:30 a.m.
Location: Room 519, House Office Building
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.
HB 4163 – (Rep. Pscholka) – Occupations; individual licensing and regulation; licensing of residential lift contractors; create as class of elevator contractors.
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
Date: Tuesday, March 3
Time 10:30 a.m.
Location: Room 426, State Capitol Building
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
Date: Tuesday, March 3
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Location: Room 352, State Capitol Building
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
Date: Tuesday, March 3
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Location: Room 521, State Capitol Building
Agenda:
SB 42 – (Sen. Casperson) – Vehicles; driver training; certain requirements applicable to commercial learner’s permit; amend to comply with federal regulations.
Presentations by the following:
County Road Association of Michigan
Michigan Municipal League
Appropriations: Subcommittee on Human Services
Date: Tuesday, March 3
Time: Noon
Location: Room 352, State Capitol Building
Agenda:
– MISACWIS Update
– Foster Care Program Overview
Communications and Technology
Date: Tuesday, March 3
Time: Noon
Location: Room 519, House Office Building
Agenda:
Presentations on cyber security by:
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.
Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development
Date: Tuesday, March 3
Time: Noon
Location: Room 307, House Office Building
Agenda:
HB 4094 – (Rep. Pscholka) – Appropriations; zero budget; department of agriculture and rural development; provide for fiscal year 2015-2016.
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
Date: Tuesday, March 3
Time: Noon
Location: Room 521, House Office Building
Agenda:
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
Date: Tuesday, March 3
Time: 3 p.m.
Location: Room 424, State Capitol Building
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
Date: Wednesday, March 4
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: Room 352, House Office Building
Agenda:
Presentations Discussing Tax Credits
SB 137 – (Sen. Hildenbrand) – Insurance; health insurers; distribution and use of autism coverage fund revenues; modify.
SB 138 – (Sen. Hildenbrand) – Crime victims; rights; distribution of crime victim’s rights funds; modify.
Appropriations: Subcommittee on General Government
Date: Wednesday, March 4
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Location: Room 307, State Capitol Building
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
Date: Wednesday, March 4
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: Room 327, House Office Building
Agenda:
HB 4188 – (Rep. LaFontaine) – Children; adoption; objection to placements by child placing agency based on religious or moral convictions; allow.
HB 4189 – (Rep. Santana) – Children; adoption; objection to placements by child placing agency based on religious or moral convictions; allow.
HB 4190 – (Rep. Leutheuser) – Children; adoption; licensure of child placing agency that objects to placements on religious or moral grounds; allow.
HB 4037 – (Rep. Forlini) – Family law; marriage and divorce; persons authorized to solemnize marriage; allow township supervisor to perform.
Appropriations: Subcommittee on Education
Date: Wednesday, March 4
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Location: Room 426, State Capitol Building
Agenda:
Overview of the Child Development and Care (CDC) program and proposed increases to programming
Financial Services
Date: Wednesday, March 4
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Location: Room 326, House Office Building
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
Date: Wednesday, March 4
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Location: Room 521, House Office Building
Agenda:
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
Date: Wednesday, March 4
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Location: Room 519, House Office Building
Agenda:
Presentation by the Michigan Pork Producers Association
Tourism and Outdoor Recreation
Date: Wednesday, March 4
Time: Noon
Location: Room 326, House Office Building
Agenda:
SB 54 – (Sen. Casperson) – Natural resources; hunting; use of unmanned aerial vehicles to interfere with or harass another individual who is hunting; prohibit.
SB 55 – (Sen. Pavlov) – Natural resources; hunting; use of unmanned aerial vehicles for taking game; prohibit.
Presentations given by the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Michigan Boating Industries Association
Appropriations Subcommittee on Judiciary
Date: Wednesday, March 4
Time: Noon
Location: Room 308, House Office Building
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
Date: Wednesday, March 4
Time: Noon
Location: Room 519, House Office Building
Agenda:
HB 4054 – (Rep. Schor) – Mobile homes; other; health and safety violations; provide for remedies and require posting of financial assurance.
Testimony Only:
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
Date: Wednesday, March 4
Time: Noon
Location: Room 521, House Office Building
Agenda:
HB 4098 – (Rep. Pscholka) – Appropriations; zero budget; department of transportation; provide for fiscal year 2015-2016.
– Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association (MITA)
– County Road Association of Michigan
– Michigan Association of Counties
– Michigan Municipal League
Appropriations Subcommittee on Capital Outlay
Date: Wednesday, March 4
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Room 352, House Office Building
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
Date: Thursday, March 5
Time 9 a.m.
Location: Room 352, House Appropriations, State Capitol Building
Agenda:
Presentations on:
– Michigan Independent Colleges and Universities
– Financial Aid
Insurance
Date: Thursday, March 5
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: Room 519, House Office Building
Agenda:
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
Date: Thursday, March 5
Time 9 a.m.
Location: Room 352, House Appropriations, State Capitol Building
Agenda:
Quarterly Report by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan on Deficit Districts