Create the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Revolving Loan Fund

HB 5375

HB 5375 creates the "Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Revolving Loan Fund" within the Department of Treasury. This fund has no dedicated funding stream, but will be able to receive money or assets from any source, specifically federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding.

Create the Mozellle Medical Alert Act

HB 5190

This bill creates the "Mozelle Senior Medical Alert Act" to establish an alert mechanism to notify the public in cases of missing endangered seniors who are at least 60 years old and who are believed to be incapable of returning home without assistance and for vulnerable adults.

Reduce Unpaid Parking Ticket Threshold for Non-Renewal of Driver License

HB 4226

House Bill 4226 requires the Secretary of State (SOS) to deny the renewal of a driver's license for anyone with three or more unpaid parking tickets.  Currently a court may notify the SOS that an individual has six or more outstanding parking tickets, at which point the SOS shall not renew an individual's driver's license

Require More Details in Annual MEGA Reports

SB 71

Senate Bill 71 requires additional transparency reporting of job creation claims made by the Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA). This bill is tie barred to House Bill 4922 and Senate Bills 70 and 774.

Limiting the MBT MEGA Credit

SB 774

Senate Bill 774 limits the total amount of the credits under the Michigan Business Tax (MBT) that could be claimed annually and certified by the Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA). The bill would create an annual cap on the credits that could be approved at $95 million.

Require Treasury to Disclose Certain MBT Information

SB 70

Senate Bill 70 amends the Revenue Act to require Treasury to annually disclose certain information regarding the Michigan Business Tax to the chairs of the House and Senate committees on taxation and finance issues and the Directors of the House and Senate Fiscal Agencies. This bill would also allow a person to disclose information required to be reported under the Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) and supplies a $5,000 civil fine if this MEGA information is improperly divulged.

Modify the Income Tax Deduction for Advance Tuition Payment Fund Contribution

HB 4191

House Bill 4191 amends the Income Tax Act to create a new deduction for "charitable contributions" to the Advance Tuition Payment Fund in the Michigan Education Trust (MET) program for the 2010 tax year and thereafter. Prior to this bill, a deduction would only be allowed for payments made to a MET "advance tuition payment contract" specific to a particular child.

Modify the MBT Deduction for Advance Tuition Payment Fund Contribution

HB 4629

House Bill 4629 would amend the Michigan Business Tax Act by altering the definition of the business income tax base to create a new deduction for "charitable contributions" to the Advance Tuition Payment Fund (to the extent not already deducted federally) for the 2010 tax year and thereafter.

Allow for Expedited Forfeiture Proceedings

HB 5213

HB 5213 amends the Public Health Code to allow for a request for expedited property forfeiture proceedings on the grounds that a building or structure subject to forfeiture constitutes a health or safety hazard.  The bill would also allow a forfeited property to be donated to certain nonprofit and governmental organizations.

Increase the Number of Allowed Mega Credits

HB 4922

House Bill 4922 makes several updates to the Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) tax credits that are as economic incentives used to help keep businesses that are looking at re-locating outside of the state of Michigan from leaving the state. The bill will increase the credits available and also allow previously issued, unused credits to be reused.

Allow Minors in Possession of Alcohol Immunity if They Seek Emergency Medical Treatment

House Bill 4876

House Bill 4876 allows minors to avoid being penalized for consuming alcohol if they call for emergency assistance or go to an emergency room for care. Minors would also avoid penalties if they accompanied a person to the emergency room. There have been several situations where individuals have died because friends were too worried about prosecution to contact 9-1-1. The bill encourages people who have consumed too much alcohol to seek emergency treatment.

Allow a Liquor License for Western Michigan University in Grand Rapids

HB 5153

HB 5153 would amend the Michigan Liquor Control Code to allow the downtown Grand Rapids campus of Western Michigan University to be eligible for an on-premise license to sell liquor during regularly scheduled activities.

Allow a Liquor License for Henry Ford Community College, Jackson Community College, Monroe Community College and Washtenaw Community College

HB 4759

House Bill 4759 amends the Michigan Liquor Control Code to allow the Student Center Culinary Arts Building and the Administration Conference Center on the Dearborn Campus of the Henry Ford Community College, the George E. Potter Center and Community Events Center at Jackson Community College, the La-Z-Boy Center at Monroe County Community College and the Washtenaw Community College Morris Lawrence Building to be eligible for an on-premise license to sell liquor during regularly scheduled activities.

                            

Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform

HB 4997

House Bill 4997 amends multiple sections of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act. Briefly, the bill contains the following provisions:
  • Eliminates Annual Political Action Committee (PAC) Authorizing Signature
  • Allows Public Employee Payroll Deduction Voluntary Check-Off
  • Changes the Union Donation Cap to Allow Individual Local Union Contributions
  • Changes the Reporting Threshold to $20
  • Adds Quarterly Campaign Finance Filings in Non-Election Years
  • Violations Committed by the Attorney General must be referred to Ingham County Prosecutor
  • Prohibits Candidate Compensation from Candidate Committee
  • Requires Robo-Call Disclaimers

Revise PAC Payroll Deduction Rules

HB 4284

HB 4245

HB 4284 eliminates a requirement that employees affirm annually that they want paycheck deductions to go to a union or corporate political action committee (PAC). House Bill 4245 allows public employee payroll deductions for donations to union political action committees if the employees' collective bargaining unit pays full compensation to the public body for the use of their resources to process the deduction.

Exempt Certain Babysitting Services from Child Care Licensing

HB 5514

House Bill 5514 revises current law regarding a "family child care home" by requiring that care and supervision provided in a "family child care home" must be compensated and clarifying that a "Family child care home" does not include providing babysitting services. Babysitting services is defined as not exceeding $600.00 in annual compensation or an amount which would not obligate a parent to provide an Internal Revenue Service 1099 tax form.

Use Money from The 21st Century Jobs Fund Help Balance the FY '09 Budget

HB 5072

HB 5073

House Bill 5072 is necessary following Executive Order (EO) 2009-22, which made over $340 million in budget cuts from the FY '09 budget. Among other things, the EO stipulated that $12 million was to be transferred from the Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF) into the state General Fund. Since the TEDF is a restricted fund, statutory changes are necessary to fully effectuate this transfer. House Bill 5072 and 5073 are meant to work together. Each amends a different Act to make these technical changes.

Allow Local Governments to Inspect Rental Mobile Home

HB 4801

HB 4801 amends the Mobile Home Commission Act to allow local units of government to implement a process for inspecting rental mobile homes for safety purposes.

Eliminate DEQ Marina Operating Permit Program

HB 5055

House Bill 5055 implements an Executive Order from December 2008 to eliminate the Marina Operating Permit Program under the Inland Lakes and Streams Act.  The bill further establishes marina construction criteria in statute similar to criteria that are currently in administrative rules.  A person would no longer need to renew a 3-year permit to "maintain or operate" a marina and pay a $50 renewal fee.  The bill clarifies that a person needs a permit to "construct, reconfigure, or expand" a marina within an inland lake or stream.

Clarify Pistol Licensure Procedures

HB 4568

House Bill 4568 allows a person to transport an unlicensed pistol lawfully for the purposes of getting the pistol licensed or transporting the pistol to or from a law enforcement agency.

Remove Inaccurate Tie-Bar for Supportive Housing Act

SB 641

SB 641 removes an inaccurate tie-bar from last session, which will allow for the implementation of the Supportive Housing Act passed in 2008. The supportive housing act created a process which allows nonprofits that provide affordable housing to the low-income or mentally ill to have their rental properties treated as principal residences and exempted from the property tax levied by a local school district for operating purposes and from the mills levied for school operating purposes.

Repeals Broker Registration Requirements Associated with the Land Sales Act

HB 5200

House Bill 5200 repeals the registration provisions of the Occupational Code that requires a Michigan real estate broker to register with the Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth for the promotional sale of out of state lands that are exempt from the Land Sales Act.

Land Sales Act Repeal

HB 5201

House Bill 5201 repeals the state Land Sales Act, which regulates the advertising, promotion and sale of land in subdivisions, imposes fee and registration mandates, etc. The bill would not affect the regulations governing the creation and development of subdivisions themselves. This activity id regulated by federal law.

Counties May Operate Flea Markets or Farmers Markets

HB 5255

HB 5255 authorizes a county board of commissioners to establish a farmers market or flea market.  The bill also outlines the powers and duties of local officers and officials when operating such a market.

Restore Several Items Vetoed in the FY 09'-'10 Department of Agriculture Budget

HB 4288

HB 4288 appropriates $7 million in restricted funds and $601,000 from the general fund to pay for fairs, horse racing, producer security, the Office of the Racing Commissioner (ORC) and the agriculture development program. The majority of these funds will be used to ensure that horseracing will continue in the state of Michigan. The funds for the Department of Agriculture will result in 28 layoff notices being rescinded.

Duties of County Medical Examiners

HB 4893

HB 4893 clarifies the duties of a county medical examiner.  The bill would allow a county medical examiner to retain any portion of the body for the following reasons; to establish cause of death; to establish the conditions contributing to death; to establish the manner of death; as evidence of any crime. Upon determination that retention of the body portions are no longer necessary, the county medical examiners may dispose of the retained body portions as medical waste.

Require Clerks to Send Military and Overseas Absentee Ballots Electronically

HB 5279

House Bill 5279 amends Michigan Election Law to require a county, city, village or township clerk to transmit military and overseas voter's absentee ballots by electronic mail.

Require Ballots be Sent to Military and Overseas Voters 45 Days before the Election

HB 5530

HB 5530 revises the current deadlines for ballot delivery to increase the time prior to an election that absent voter ballots can be sent out. Absentee voter ballots would be delivered to the county clerk at least 47 days before all elections and to the city and township clerks 45 days before all elections, thereby allowing the city and township clerks to send out ballots 45 days in advance of all elections.

Standardize the Filing Deadline for Local Elections

HB 5560

House Bill 5560 amends Michigan Election Law to standardize the filing deadline for local elections in odd numbered years to the twelfth Tuesday before the primary and general elections. Currently the deadline can be specified in charter or by local ordinance, and the dates in some jurisdictions are set too close to the election to allow absentee voter ballots to be printed in time to reach overseas voters. Twelve weeks is the standard deadline in statute for cities, townships and petitions.

Support Centers of Energy Excellence

SB 418

Senate Bill 418 provides an additional $30 million in funding for Centers of Energy Excellence for Fiscal Years 2010 through 2012, from the 21st Century Jobs Fund. Under the bill, all of the funds would have to be used to match federal funding. This program promotes the development and commercialization of innovative energy technology in Michigan.

Restore Funding for the Bronson Methodist Hospital and Primary Care Providers

HB 5394

House Bill 5394 restores $2 million in funding for the Bronson Methodist Hospital, which provides funding to seven primary care service providers as follows:

• Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (Dearborn)
• Arab American Chaldean Council (Lathrop Village and Detroit)
• Center for Family Health (Jackson)
• Cherry Street Health Services (Grand Rapids)
• Community Health and Social Services (Detroit)
• Hamilton Family Health Center (Flint)
• North Oakland Medical Center (Pontiac)

This bill would maintain funding that had been cut in the Department of Community Health budget bill for low-income primary care clinics.

Require Nursing Home Employees To Report Instances Of Suspected Abuse

HB 5191

House Bill 5191 amends the Public Health Code and changes reporting guidelines to require nursing home employees who become aware of physical, mental, or emotional abuse, mistreatment, or harmful neglect of a patient to report these things directly to the Department of Community Health.

Require Quick Road Clearance After a Traffic Accident

HB 5140

HB 5140 requires the operator of or a licensed passenger within a vehicle that has been involved in a crash to move the vehicle to a median, shoulder or any other place off the main traveled portion of the roadway when no one is seriously injured and the vehicle is capable of being moved in a safe and reasonable manner.

Allow Pack And Saddle Animals Access To All Trails On State Land

HB 4610

House Bill 4610 would allow pack and saddle animals, mainly horses, access to all trailways and access trails on state owned land that was open for riding on January 1, 1999.

Historic Resource Credit

HB 5479

House Bill 5479 allows three projects to utilize credits under the Michigan Business Tax for the restoration of an historic resources. The first project is the Center for Creative Studies' Argonaut project, the second is the Broderick Towers project and the third is the Kendall Institute of Design's Federal Building project.

Various Supplemental Budget Items

HB 4311

House Bill 4311 contains various supplemental requests made by the State Budget Office.  The bill also restores a few items that were vetoed by the Governor, and that were not included in signed Conference Reports.  The bill contains changes affecting the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Community Health, the Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth, the Department of Environmental Quality, the Higher Education budget, the Department of Human Services, the Department of State, and the Department of Treasury.  In fiscal year '08-'09 the bill appropriates $13.6 million; and in fiscal year '09- '10 the bill appropriates $12.6 million.

Restore School Proration Cuts with Stimulus Funds

HB 4860

House Bill 4860 appropriates the remaining $184 million left from the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to the discretionary piece of the foundation allowance of the bill to help mitigate the proration and to use for bus inspections.  The bill would reduce the Governor's proration by $115 per pupil.  This means that schools would instead see a roughly $15 proration.  Additionally, the bill was amended to restore 1/2 of the cut to 20j, and to restore the cut to early childhood programs.  These latter two would not be funded with ARRA money, but rather would come from the newly created "Michigan Future Fund."

Remove Sunset for Vehicle Donation Credit

HB 5092

House Bill 5092 amends the Income Tax Act to remove the sunset on the vehicle donation credit scheduled to expire December 31, 2009. Taxpayers who donate vehicles to organizations intending to provide the vehicle to a recipient for employment-related use can claim a non-refundable income tax credit equal to $50 for single filers and $100 for a husband and wife filing jointly.

Stimulus Funding for Workforce Training

SB 608

Senate Bill 608 would appropriate $38 million in federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to the Department of Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth.  All of the funds would be used to help employ and train dislocated workers.  The funds must be used to support employment and training services for dislocated workers in the following three regions:

1.      Southeast Michigan - $18.6 M will be available.

2.      Mid-Michigan - $9 M will be available.

3.      West Michigan - $ 10.4 M will be available.

The funds will be used to support dislocated workers training in programs run by local community colleges during the 2010 winter semester.