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 (13 N. Capitol Avenue, Lansing, Michigan) 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 9, 2015: Committee Meetings

Appropriations: Subcommittee on Community Health

Date: Monday, March 9, 2015

Time 9 a.m.

Location: Room 352, House Appropriations, State Capitol Building

Agenda:

Public Testimony – FY 2015-16 Department of Community Health Executive Budget Recommendation on Public Health, Health Policy, Crime Victim Services Commission, and Office of Services to the Aging

Criminal Justice

Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Time: 9 a.m.

Location: Room 327 House Office Building

Agenda:

Testimony Only:
HB 4015 – (Rep. Kelly) – Crimes; other; resale of event tickets at higher or lower prices; allow.

Joint Committee on Natural Resources

Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Time: 9 a.m.

Location: Senate Appropriations, State Capitol

Presentations will be offered regarding past legislative changes related to Parts 201 and Part 213 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act concerning remediation programs.

Health Policy

Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Time 9 a.m.

Location: Room 519, House Office Building 

Agenda:

Presentations By:

Michigan Association of Health Plans

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

Appropriations: Subcommittee on Natural Resources  

Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Time 9 a.m.

Location: Room 426, State Capitol Building

Agenda:

DNR Presentations: Law enforcement, Fisheries, and Great Lakes research vessel updates

Appropriations: Subcommittee on State Police  

Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Time 9 a.m.

Location: Room 308 House Office Building

Agenda:

– Presentation by Capt. Chris Kelenske, Commander of the Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division, describing the past and present operations of the Division and
discussing recent appropriations and expenditures for disaster assistance

– Presentation by Mr. Michael Prince, Director of the Office of Highway Safety Planning describing the past and present operations of the Office and discussing recent appropriations and
expenditures for the Secondary Road Patrol Program

Transportation and Infrastructure

Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Time 10:30 a.m.

Location: Room 521, House Office 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:

Michigan Association of Counties

Clark Harder, Executive Director of the Michigan Public Transit Association

Appropriations: Subcommittee on School Aid

Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Location: Room 426, State Capitol Building

Agenda:

Consolidation of School Districts and Intermediate School Districts

Transportation and Infrastructure

Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2015

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 Community Health

Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Location: Room 352, House Appropriations, State Capitol Building

Agenda:

Department of Community Health presentation on FY 2015-16 Executive Budget Recommendation – Public Health, Health Policy, and Crime Victim Services Commission

Appropriations: Subcommittee on Human Services

Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Time: Noon

Location: Room 352, House Appropriations, State Capitol Building

Agenda:

– Family Independence Program
– Executive Recommendation: Office Consolidations
– Payroll Taxes and Fringe Benefits Line Item Update

Judiciary

Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Time: Noon

Location: Room 521, House Office Building

Agenda:

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.

HB 4038 – (Rep. Forlini) – Housing; landlord and tenants; notification of evictions; allow by electronic mail.

TESTIMONY ONLY:

HB 4244 – (Rep. Pettalia) – Torts; premises liability; liability for recreational user; include aviation activities.

OR ANY BUSINESS PROPERLY BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE

Judiciary

Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2015

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.

Communications and Technology

Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Time: Noon

Location: Room 519, House Office Building

Agenda:

Presentations by:

Michigan Cable Association
Connect Michigan

Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development

Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2015

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 by the department on proposed fee changes

Appropriations: Subcommittee on Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Time: 3 p.m.

Location: Room 424, State Capitol Building

Agenda:

– Presentation by Mr. Kevin Elsenheimer, Director of the Worker’s Compensation Agency (WCA), describing the past and present operations of the WCA and discussing the status of settlements with

former employees of the Delphi Corporation and historical and anticipated expenditures from the Compensation Supplement Fund

– Presentation by Mr. Andrew Deloney, Chairman of the Liquor Control Commission (LCC), describing the past and present operations of the LCC and discussing the status of upgrades to its IT system and the adequacy of revenues collected by and expended for the LCC

Joint Committee: Oversight and Ethics and Tax Policy

Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Time: 3 p.m.

Location: Room 519, House Office Building

Agenda:

Performance Audit of the Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Program-Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Michigan Strategic Fund, and Michigan Department of Treasury

Families, Children, and Seniors

Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Time: 9 a.m.

Location: Room 327, State Capitol Building

Agenda:

HB 4041 – (Rep. Pscholka) – Human services; services or financial assistance; family independence assistance program group’s compliance with compulsory school attendance; require in order to receive assistance.

Appropriations

Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Location: Room 352, State Capitol Building

Agenda:

Testimony Only:

SB 18 – (Sen. Nofs) – Property; conveyances; certain land in Calhoun county; provide for conveyance after obtaining from United States.

SB 19 – (Sen. Nofs) – Property tax; assessments; definition of transfer of ownership; exclude certain transfers.

Appropriations: Subcommittee on General Government

Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Location: Room 307, House Office Building

Agenda:

Testimony on proposed FY 2015-16 budgets:
– Department of Treasury
– Michigan Gaming Control Board

Agriculture

Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Location: Room 519, House Office Building

Agenda:

HB 4017 – (Rep. Farrington) – Food; other; persons donating food to nonprofit organizations or corporations that distribute donated food; provide immunity for.

Presentation by the Michigan Soybean Association

Appropriations: Subcommittee on Education

Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Location: Room 426, State Capitol Building

Agenda:

Library of Michigan and public libraries’ programs and services

Regulatory Reform

Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2015

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 4134 – (Rep. Barrett) – Occupations; other; use of certain military experience as the basis for licensure; authorize for boiler installer, boiler repairer, and boiler special inspector.

Presentations By:

Mr. Scott Ellis, Executive Director- Michigan Licensed Beverage Association.

Mr. Andrew Deloney, Chairman- Michigan Liquor Control Commission, regarding MLCC fee structures.

Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation

Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2015

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.

Testimony on:
– Public Transit Programs
– State Aeronautics Programs

Workforce and Talent Development

Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Time: 3 p.m.

Location: Crystal Room at the Wharton Center. 750 East Shaw Lane, East Lansing

Agenda:

PRESENTATIONS BY:

Farm Bureau

FFA

Appropriations: Subcommittee on Higher Education

Date: Thursday, March 12, 2015

Time 9 a.m.

Location: Room 352, House Appropriations, State Capitol Building

Agenda:

Presentations from:

– MSU Extension/MSU AgBioResearch

– Workforce Development Agency (King-Chavez-Parks programs)

– Business Leaders for Michigan

Appropriations: Subcommittee on Corrections

Date: Thursday, March 12, 2015

Time 10:30 a.m.

Location: Room 307, House Office Building

Agenda:

Discussion on Reentry Programs and Services

Appropriations: Subcommittee on Human Services

Date: Thursday, March 12, 2015

Time 1 p.m.

Location:  Room 352, House Appropriations, State Capitol Building

Agenda:

Public Testimony