Month in Review
HB 5447 Prohibit Certain New Workplace Safety Rules
This bill prohibits the formulation of any workplace safety rules by Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) that would set any ergonomic standards for Michigan workers. Ergonomic standards would help protect workers from crippling repetitive motion injuries or other injuries caused by poor workplace design. Ergonomic standards would also save Michigan businesses from increased costs associated with loss of work time, increased insurance, and worker compensation claims that are the result from such injuries. The bill passed 56-45.
HB 5374 Revise Number of Circuit Court Judges
This bill revises the number of circuit, probate and district judges in a number of counties, according to recommendations in the 2005 Judicial Resources Report. Specifically, the bill adds one judge in the 6th circuit (Oakland County), one in the 7th circuit (Genesee County) one in the 49th circuit (Mecosta and Osceola Counties), and one in the 49th circuit (Clare and Gladwin Counties). Bill passed 101-0.
HB 4889 Reporting Crash Data of Highway Employees
This bill would prohibit the Michigan Secretary of State from releasing information on traffic crashes caused by a "public highway authority employee" for which they are adjudicated or found responsible. The bill also requires crash data be reported in all cases where it is found that the driver was operating the vehicle while impaired or under the influence. Bill passed 74-26.
HB 5240 Revise State-wide Speed Limit Formulas
The bill establishes specific state-wide speed limits based on the number of access points to that road. These numbers were established based on an empirical and scientific study conducted by the Michigan State Police in order to develop this legislation. This approach eliminates the problems created in previous attempts which tried to use population as the benchmark. Bill passed 101-0.
HB 5241 Revise School Bus Speed Limits
This bill establishes a maximum speed limit of 55 miles per hour for individuals operating a school bus, a vehicle drawing another vehicle or trailer, or a truck or truck-tractor with a gross weight of 10,000 pounds or more. School buses are currently limited to traveling no faster than 50 miles per hour. Bill passed 101-0.
SB 788 Farm Equipment Safety Standards
This bill would require farming equipment on public roads to meet national standards for slow moving vehicle identification. Bill passed 105-0.
SB 736 Reimbursement for Inmate Medical Expenses
This bill would require that an individual's health insurance be made primary for reimbursement of medical expenses that occur during that person's stay in a county jail. Bill passed 105-0.
HB 5281 IntercountyDrain Boards
This bill would give local governments in Wayne County membership on certain intercounty drainage and sewer project governance boards, and make other revisions to the makeup of those boards. Bill passed 71-33.
SB 621, SB 622, HB 5448 and HB 5168 Nursing Home Background Checks
This package of bills will require criminal background history checks and fingerprinting checks on adult foster care, psychiatric facility, nursing home, county medical care facility, hospice facility, hospitals with long term care beds, and home for the aged, home health agency employees who provide direct care or have direct access to patients. All four bills passed as follows: SB 621 (98-4), SB 622 (99-3), HB 5448 (101-3), HB 5168 (101-2).
HB 5154 State Aeronautics Fund
This bill would allow the State Aeronautics Fund to use part of its $6 million allocation of the Airport Parking Tax for non-federal airport safety and security projects. Bill passed 102-0.
HB 5104 Increase Speed Limits for Trucks
This bill would increase the maximum speed limit for trucks to 60 miles per hour on freeways where the speed limit for automobiles is 70 m.p.h. Bill passed 90-13.
SB 351 Create Michigan Board of Acupuncture
This bill would register acupuncturists in Michigan and a Michigan Board of Acupuncture would be created that would determine the levels of education required and practice guidelines for acupuncturists in Michigan. Bill passed 91-12.
HB 5494 Update the Pupil Transportation Act
This bill would modify and update the law regulating school buses, including inspections, driver licensure standards and testing, vehicle standards, and more. Bill passed 104-0.
SB 579 Retroactive Tax Abatement Certificate
This bill allows a tax abatement certificate under the "Plant Rehabilitation and Industrial Development Districts Act" to be applied retroactively to 2001 for a Port Huron facility. This corrects an error that was made by the local government in 2001. Bill passed 104-0.
HB 4855 Aircraft Sales Tax Exemptions
This bill exempts from sales tax the purchase of an aircraft or parts and materials affixed to an aircraft that is not based or registered in Michigan. Bill passed 104-0.
HB 5355 Prohibit Retroactive Rulings from the Dept. of Treasury
This bill prohibits the Michigan Department of Treasury from issuing retroactive rulings on the application or interpretations of a tax law. Passed 77-29.
HBs 5356 & 5358 Tax Refund Notification and Appeal Process
These bills would require state tax auditors to inform taxpayers of tax refund opportunities that are discovered during an audit. If the taxpayer disputes the findings of the audit, the taxpayer would have to notify the department within 30 days of the department's notice, and would be entitled to an informal conference. Both bills passed 106-0.
HB 5357 Allow Tax Overpayments to Offset Any Underpayments
This bill would allow taxpayers to use any credit for a tax overpayment discovered in a state tax audit to offset any debit from a tax underpayment. Any fines or interest resulting from the audit would be applied to the net amount owed after overpayment credits are subtracted, not just to the gross underpayment debit amount. Passed 106-0.
HBs 5359, 5360 & 5361 Informal Conference Process for Taxpayers
HB 5359 would allow a taxpayer to continue in an informal conference process with the Department of Treasury even if he/she pays the amount Treasury claims is owed. HB 5360 requires that the Department of Treasury issue a final order and determination on an informal conference within 180 days of the day the taxpayer requests the informal conference, or the request for the conference will be considered denied. HB 5361 extends from 30 days to 60 days the deadline for a taxpayer to request a Department of Treasury informal conference process after the department sends a notice to assess in a tax dispute. All three bills passed unanimously.
HB 5362 Revenue Administrative Bulletins and Letter Rulings
This bill would require that a taxpayer may not be penalized for relying on a Revenue Administrative Bulletin (RAB) or Letter Ruling issued after September 30, 2006. The Department of Treasury issues RABs and Letter Rulings to provide taxpayers guidance and assistance in interpreting state tax laws. RABs state the official position of the Department on issues of general taxpayer concern. Letter Rulings are usually issued in response to a particular issue raised by a taxpayer. Bill passed 106-0.
HB 5363 Authority for State Treasurer to Settle Tax Disputes
This bill would give the State Treasurer the authority to reduce taxes or penalties in order to settle with a taxpayer. Under this bill, the State Treasurer would have the authority to settle if reductions in taxes and penalties are less than $50,000. If the settlement involves a reduction in taxes or penalties of more than $50,000, the Treasurer must submit the recommended settlement to the Attorney General for review. Currently the power to reduce taxes or penalties rests entirely with the Tax Tribunal and the Attorney General. Bill passed 84-22.
HB 5364 Personal Property Tax Appeals
This bill would allow businesses to resolve mistakes on reported personal property taxes with their local property tax assessor and Board of Review rather than having to go to the State Tax Commission. Passed 106-0.
HB 5386 Revise Use Tax
This bill would prevent Use Tax from being levied on transactions that were already subject to Sales Tax. This opens a potential loophole for consumers to avoid paying taxes and businesses to avoid collecting them. Bill passed 71-35.
SB 957 Cut Small Business Alternative Rate
The bill would reduce the alternative Single Business Tax rate that qualifying small businesses pay from 2% to 1%. It would also expand eligibility for the small business credit/alternative rate by raising the limit on officer income from $115,000 to $125,000. Three Democratic amendments were defeated before the bill passed 65-40. The three amendments were:
- Rep. Condino offered an amendment to close a loophole which allows a limited liability company (LLC) to file as a small business with no limits on officer salaries. The amendment failed 49-57.
- Rep. Bieda offered an amendment to close a loophole which allows businesses to file for the reduced small business rate even if they have larger business operations in another state. The amendment failed 49-57.
- Rep. Angerer offered an amendment that would prohibit this tax cut from going to any business that outsourced Michigan jobs. The amendment failed 52-54.
SB 956 Supplemental Budget
This bill would transfer $116.3 million from the last fiscal year to the Budget Stabilization Fund (BSF), and would appropriate $21.5 million to the Low Income Energy Efficiency Program that would help low income households with their home heating bills this winter. Representative Sak offered an amendment that would have provided the money for home heating assistance, but would not have deposited any money into the BSF. It was argued that the $116 million dollars is needed to fully fund the current fiscal year budget. Rep. Sak's amendment failed 49-57, and the bill passed 68-38.
HB 5559 Tax Credits for BioPort
This bill would allow the BioPort Corporation in Lansing to be eligible for certain tax credits in order to retain the company in Michigan. BioPort is looking consolidate their Maryland and Michigan facilities. The bill passed 105-0.
HB 4976 Update Bank Emergency Law
The bill expands the ability of the Office of Financial and Insurance Services (OFIS) to authorize or order the suspension of business of certain financial institutions in case of an emergency. "Emergency" is defined as a condition or occurrence that directly or indirectly interferes physically with the conduct of normal business operations and poses a threat to safety and security. This might include fires, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, wind, labor disputes or strikes, and rain. The bill expands this definition to include snowstorm, fuel shortage, or terrorist attack. The bill passed 106-0.
HB 5045 Mobile Home Certificate of Title Endorsements
The bill removes the requirement that the owner of a mobile home endorse the back of a certificate of title to indicate an assignment or transfer or the owner's title or interest. The endorsement can now legally appear on the front of the title. Bill passed 106-0.
SB 366 Notice of ShootingRanges at State Parks
This bill would require the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to post a notice at the entrance of any State Park or Recreation Area that contains a designated shooting range. Bill passed 106-0.
HR 190 Encourage Teaching of the Holocaust
This resolution encourages the schools throughout the state to emphasize the history of the Holocaust in their history course offerings. The resolution was adopted by voice vote.
SBs 850, 851, 852, 854, & 857 Regulation of Large-Quantity Water Withdrawals
The package provides, for the first time, a legal framework for preventing adverse environmental impacts from large-quantity water withdrawals, bringing the state into compliance with obligations it agreed to in the Great Lakes Charter over 20 years ago. Water bottlers in particular will face significantly more rigorous protection standards than other water users. The package provides additional legal protections against the diversion of water outside of the Great Lakes Basin by pipeline, canal, tunnel, aqueduct, channel, modification of the direction of a watercourse, tanker ship, tanker truck, rail tanker, or similar means, and the package requires public input opportunities for Michigan citizens regarding any proposed diversion of water outside of the Great Lakes Basin. The entire package passed as follows: SB 850 (100-4); SB 851 (103-1); SB 852 (97-7); SB 854 (103-1); and SB 857 (101-3).
Commercial Forestry Incentive Package (HBs 5453-5456)
HB 5453 Require DNR Sale of Timber
This bill would require that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) put up for sale, all timber from state forests that meets criteria that are designed to maximize forest economics and forest growth. All timber that is "evaluated" by the DNR would have to be offered for sale unless restricted by state or federal law or any requirements necessary to maintain forest certification. An amendment offered by Rep. Adamini was adopted which tie-barred this bill to HB 4622 which would require the DNR to grant an access easement across state-owned lands to the owner of a parcel which is "landlocked." The bill passed 63-42.
HB 5454 Penalties for Withdrawing from the Commercial Forestry Act
House Bill 5454 modifies the method by which a financial penalty is imposed on property that is withdrawn from the Commercial Forest Act (CFA). The bill also requires some commercial forest property owners to provide certain documentation as to how that property can be accessed by the public for hunting and fishing purposes. Additionally, the bill freezes the specific tax rate on CFA property at $1.10/acre, and the state payment on CFA property at $1.20/acre. Bill passed 66-39
HB 5455 Criteria for Entering into the Commercial Forestry Act
This bill revises the criteria for entering property in the commercial forest act program. The bill would establish a minimum 40 contiguous acres size threshold, and require landowners who sign up for the tax break to provide documentation that public access to the land for hunting and fishing is possible. Bill passed 66-39.
HB 5456 Forestry Products Renaissance Zones
This bill would allow the creation of twenty "Forestry Products Processing Facility" renaissance zones that would allow for tax breaks for forest products processing facilities in the zone. Bill passed 84-21.
HBs 5462, 5457, 5458 and 5628 Qualified Forestry Program
This package of bills to creates a "Qualified Forestry Program." Under the package, qualified forest property would be exempt from the 18 mill school operating mills in the same way that principal residences and agricultural property are exempted (HB 5458). HB 5462 would require the General Fund to reimburse the School Aid Fund so that schools would not lose money. In addition, HB 5628 would annually give the first $2.2 million earned on the sale of the first 90,000 cords of wood harvested from state forests to local governments in counties with commercial forest land, the next $2.2 million to the School Aid Fund, and the balance to the state general fund. Finally, HB 5457 creates a Qualified Forest Property Recapture Tax (penalty) for a person who converted their qualified forest property to another use. Rep. Gillard offered an amendment to HB 5462 that would have required property owners who receive these tax breaks under the Qualified Forestry Program to allow public access of their land for hunting and fishing. Rep. Gillard's amendment failed 48-57. The four bills in the package passed as follows: HB 5462, 5457 & 5458 passed 65-40, and HB 5628 passed 69-37.
SB 794 Newborn Screening Quality Assurance Committee
The bill would create the Newborn Screening Quality Assurance Advisory Committee. The committee would make recommendations regarding additions to and deletions from the list of required newborn screening tests. The bill also would require reporting on the results of hearing tests performed on infants and children younger than three. Bill passed 95-8.
HB 5258 Community Action Agency Board Membership
This bill would allow Community Action Agencies to establish term limits for members of their boards of directors and nullify an administrative rule that establishes 5-year term limits for CAA boards. CAAs have difficulty finding qualified board members; members are volunteers who must learn about all the programs and services CAAs provide. Five-year term limits are forcing CAAs to lose experienced board members who are willing to continue serving. Bill passed 103-0.
HB 4670 Volunteer License for Retired Physicians
This bill authorizes a special volunteer license for retired physicians which would allow them to provide unpaid treatment to indigent or needy patients. Bill passed 103-0.
HB 5559 Tax Credits for BioPort
This bill would allow the BioPort Corporation in Lansing to be eligible for certain tax credits in order to retain the company in Michigan. BioPort is looking consolidate their Maryland and Michigan facilities. The bill passed 106-0.
HB 5624 Accounting Practices for Life Insurance Valuation
This bill would establish a valuation formula for an insurance company that acquires another insurance company's life insurance business. The law requires insurers to hold a certain amount of assets from which future claims will be paid, and how the value of those assets is determined affects whether the amount meets state standards. The intent of this bill is to make it easier for Michigan-based life insurance companies to acquire insurance companies based in other states. Bill passed 94-10.
SB 310 Emergency Plans for Health Clubs
This bill would create a new act to require that health clubs employ at least one individual who was certified in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and automated external defibrillator (AED) use on the premises, and develop and implement an emergency plan, or face civil penalties. Bill passed 81-25.
HB 5498 Agricultural Equine Industry Fund Transfer
This bill would allow a portion of the Agricultural Equine Industry to be used to fund grants for research projects that are beneficial to the horse racing industry. The bill also transfers $2 million from the Agricultural Equine Industry Fund to the General Fund in FY 2005-06 only. Bill passed 59-46.
HB 5313 Alternate Members for Property Tax Board of Review
This bill would allow townships and cities to appoint up to two alternate members to the Board of Review in case a regular member is absent, has abstained, or has a conflict of interest. The Board of Review is comprised of voters selected by the board of supervisors, and annually reviews property tax assessment rolls. Bill passed 105-0.
HB 4262, HB 4311 and HB 4312 Registered Interior Designer Package
This three bill package will create a designation of Registered Interior Designer, an annual fee, and a Registered Interior Designers scope of practice. All three bills passed 97-8, 96-9, and 95-11, respectively)
HB 4893 Licensing Athletic Trainers
This bill would license athletic trainers in Michigan. As with the other licensure bills, this bill designates titles that can only be used by licensed trainers, prescribes a fee structure, and requires continuing education for licensed trainers (80 class hrs. within a 3 yr. licensing cycle). Bill passed 71-31.
HB 4536 Remove DNR-owned Land from Tax Equalization
This bill would remove DNR-owned land from the property tax equalization process to prevent the artificial inflation of agricultural land taxable values. Bill passed 106-0.
SB 179 Youth Employment Hours
This bill revises the law that restricts the maximum number of hours that minors age 16 and 17 who are in school can work. The bill sets the limit at 20 hours of work a week, rather than the current law's maximum of 48 hours combined school and work a week. Bill passed 72-33.
SB 128 Email Notifications of Sex Offender Addresses
The bill allows citizens to request electronic notice from the Michigan State Police when sex offenders relocate to a designated zip code. Bill passed 94-12.
HB 5562 Alcohol Licenses for Gas Stations
This bill would make available more package beer and wine licenses to gas stations in small towns in rural counties by modestly increasing the population threshold of towns that are permitted to have gas stations sell alcohol. Bill passed 94-12.
HB 5627 Liquor License Requirements
This bill is a technical clarification bill. This bill amends the Michigan Liquor Control Code by expanding the definition of "consideration" in the Liquor Control code to include ticket purchases and providing any service or item. (Example: Cabaret parties where a cover charge is paid and entertainment is provided and alcohol is consumed, whether brought in or provided, this party would require a temporary liquor license.) Bill passed 105-1.
HBs 4544 and 4727 Prohibit Use of Police Scanner to Commit a Crime
These bills prohibit a person from carrying or having in his or her possession a radio receiving set that receives signals sent on a frequency assigned by the Federal Communications Commission for police, fire fighting, or emergency medical purposes, if the individual is committing or attempting to commit a crime. HB 4727 includes the sentencing guidelines for this crime. Both bills passed 106-0.
SBs 569 and 570 Historic Preservation Tax Credits
These bills eliminate a requirement that a community have a population of less than 5,000 in order for structures within it to qualify for certain historic preservation income tax credits and Single Business Tax credits. Both bills passed 103-2.
SB 651 Civil Immunity for National Ski Patrol Members
The bill would amend the Good Samaritan law to revise the section granting civil immunity to members of the National Ski Patrol system for injuries that result due to acts or omissions in rendering emergency care. Bill passed 105-0.
HB 5602 Inheritance Rights for Adopted Individuals
The bill would clarify that when a step-parent adopts a child, the child may still inherit from the biological parent. This is a technical change to correct an error in the existing language which would have (if applied strictly by a judge) eliminated the child's inheritance rights. Bill passed 105-0.
HB 5497 Continuing Education Requirements for Insurance Agents
This bill would exempt agents who provide limited line credit insurance for lenders or financial institutions from continuing education requirements that apply to regular insurance agents. Bill passed 106-0.
SB 658 Increase Acreage for Summer Communities
This bill increases the amount of land acreage a summer community corporation may own from 350 acres to 1000 acres. The bill would help these associations (such as the Bay View Association near Petoskey) to acquire additional land to prevent encroaching commercial development. Bill passed 105-1.
SB 751 Summer Resort Corporation Voting Procedures
This bill clarifies the current law that any proposal by a summer resort corporation's board of trustees to increase dues or levy special assessments must be approved by a majority vote of all the members of the corporation, unless the bylaws specifically allow approval with just a majority of the votes cast (but less than a majority of all members). Bill passed 106-0.
HB 5675 FOIA Requests for School Employee Criminal Records
The bill makes the list provided by the Department of Education containing names of teachers and school personnel with misdemeanor and felony convictions on their criminal records subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This information would be subject to FOIA after the school has had 14 days to verify the list of names and correct any errors. Bill passed 105-0.
HB 5620 VeteransMemorial Park
This bill would expand the area around the Veterans Memorial Park in Lansing for the Purple Heart Recognition Monument. Bill passed 103-0.
HBs 5449 & 5451 New Crime of Unlawful Imprisonment
These bills create the new crime of unlawful imprisonment, which is defined as to knowingly restrain another person by means of a weapon or dangerous instrument, or to restrain a person in secret confinement, or to restrain a person to facilitate committing another felony or to facilitate flight after committing a felony. Violators would be subject to up to 15 years in prison. Both bills passed 105-0.
HB 5450 Clarify Crime of Kidnapping
This bill updates and clarifies the elements for the crime of kidnapping. Specifically, kidnapping would occur if an individual knowingly restrained another person with the intent to hold that person for ransom or reward, use that person as a shield or hostage, engage in criminal sexual contact with that person, facilitate the commission of another felony or flight after the commission of another felony, or hold that person in involuntary servitude. Bill passed 105-0.
HB 4278 High School Community Service Requirements
This bill would require that, if a school district has community service requirements for high school graduation, the parents have the right to appeal those requirements. Bill passed 60-43.
HR 185 Resolution to Control the Cormorant Population
The resolution urges the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to work with the federal government to implement the most aggressive means of controlling the double-crested cormorant population pursuant to authority extended by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Concerns have been raised regarding the relationship between increasing cormorant populations and decreasing fish populations, especially in the upper parts of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. The resolution was adopted by voice vote.
SB 783 and HB 5176 Prohibit Foreign Trash with Congressional Approval
These bills are part of a package to prohibit landfills or incinerators from accepting foreign municipal solid waste contingent on the U.S. Congress granting states such authority (HB 5176). SB 783 specifically provides that a court shall order a person violating the prohibition to return or, if necessary, reimburse the state for returning the waste to the country in which it was generated. SB 783 passed 104-1, and HB 5176 passed 70-4.
HB 5606 High School Curriculum Standards
This bill would create new high school curriculum requirements. The bill includes requirements in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Civics, Economics, U.S. History and Geography, World History and Geography, Health and Physical Education and Visual and Performing Arts. Many Democrats opposed the bill because it included politicized course content descriptions that were not necessarily developed by educators. Additionally the bill was tie-barred to legislation that would allow school districts to defer compliance with regulations. The bill passed 70-31.
HBs 5043 & 5044, and SB 1024 Update Law on Malicious Use of Phones
These bills update and expand the law addressing willfully and maliciously cutting, breaking, tapping or unauthorized use of telephones and computer systems. The current law on the issue was written in 1931, and as a result deals with individuals who willfully and maliciously cut, break, tap telephone lines or instruments. These bills would help the law keep pace with technological advances like computers, cell phones, and Blackberries. All bills passed unanimously.
HB 4423 Prohibit Telemarketers from Leaving Certain Messages
This bill would prohibit telemarketers from leaving a message on a person's answering machine misrepresenting that the person has an existing customer relationship or transaction with a business and asking that the person call back regarding this. Bill passed 107-0.
HBs 5630 & 5631 Pandemic Influenza Plan Package
These bills would require the Department of Community Health, assisted by the Department of Agriculture, to establish and maintain a Pandemic Influenza Plan. The Department of Agriculture is included in case an epidemic involved bird or avian flu. Both bills passed 106-1.
HBs 5744 & 5745 and SBs 1026-1027 Rules that Favor Collective Bargaining Units in Geriatric Facilities
These bills would prevent any rule from being promulgated under the Mental Health Code, Public Health Code, Administrative Procedures Act, the Social Welfare Act, or the Adult Foster Care Facility Licensing Act that discriminated for or against providers, facilities, or employers based on whether they had a collective bargaining agreement with employees; or that used collective bargaining status, level or wages, or fringe benefits to demonstrate or excuse compliance with State licensing or regulatory requirements. All bills passed 56-45.
HB 4228 Absentee Voter Lists and Inactive Voter File
The bill would prohibit a city, village or township clerk from furnishing an absent voter ballot application to a voter unless the voter had requested one. However, the Secretary of State could give electors a form to request an application to receive absentee ballots applications for all elections. The bill was amended to require city, village and township clerks to create an Inactive Voter File. If a voter missed five consecutive elections, they would be placed in this file, and they would be given a provisional ballot if they try to vote in any subsequent election. The bill was also amended to require the Secretary of State to review the Qualified Voter File periodically to remove non-citizens and convicted felons from the voter file. The bill passed 70-31.
HB 5624 Accounting Practices for Life Insurance Valuation
This bill would establish a valuation formula for an insurance company that acquires another insurance company's life insurance business. The law requires insurers to hold a certain amount of assets from which future claims will be paid, and how the value of those assets is determined affects whether the amount meets state standards. The intent of this bill is to make it easier for Michigan-based life insurance companies to acquire insurance companies based in other states. Bill passed 100-7.
SB 795 Make Older Vital Records Available for Geneaology
This bill would allow the State Registrar to transmit to the Library of Michigan or post online death, marriage, and divorce records that were at least 75 years old, and birth records at least 110 years old. These records would be made available for genealogical research by the public. Bill passed 105-0.
SB 52 Rehabilitation of Obsolete Property
This bill expands the rehabilitation of obsolete property to also include adding stories to commercial buildings. This would allow such projects to receive rehabilitation tax credits. Bill passed 105-0.
SB 932 Update the Pupil Transportation Act
This bill would modify and update the law regulating school buses, including inspections, driver licensure standards and testing, vehicle standards, and more. Bill passed 105-0.
HB 4893 Licensing Athletic Trainers
This bill would license athletic trainers in Michigan. As with the other licensure bills, this bill designates titles that can only be used by licensed trainers, prescribes a fee structure, and requires continuing education for licensed trainers (80 class hrs. within a 3 yr. licensing cycle). Bill passed 73-31.
HB 4171 Landlord Repair Reimbursement Rates
The bill would require landlords and tenants to be paid at professional rates for repairs to rental properties where the repairs were necessitated by damage caused by tenants or by the landlord's failure to make repairs. Bill passed 107-0.
HB 5114 Municipal Forestland Reversionary Interest
This bill "cleans up" language in . This would remove deed restrictions on municipal forest property conveyed by the state, and allow more parcels to be sold. Bill passed 107-0.
HBs 5245 & 5248 Allow Nurse Practitioners to Perform State Mandated Physicals
These bill are part of a package of bills that extends to certified nurse practitioners the authority to conduct physical examinations mandated by various statutes, which under current law must be conducted by a physician. A nurse practitioner is a type of nurse who has advanced training beyond that required for initial licensure and who has demonstrated competency through examinations. Specifically, HB 5245 covers physical examinations ordered by a court, board, commission, public body or officer (5245); and HB 5248 covers the medical examiner's certificate required to operate a commercial motor vehicle. Both bills passed 103-4, and 106-1, respectively.
HB 4566 Real Estate Broker Licensing
This bill will extend the amount of time the Department of Labor and Economic Growth has for notification of an incomplete real estate broker's and associate broker's license application from 15 calendar days to 15 business days. Bill passed 97-1.
HB 4259 Prohibit Apology as Admission of Liability
This bill would prohibit considering an expression of an expression of sympathy, compassion, commiseration, or a general sense of benevolence with regard to the pain, suffering, or death of an individual as evidence of liability in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
SB 839 Budget Transfer
This bill would remove $11.1 million from the Comprehensive Transportation Fund and place it in the General Fund for the current fiscal year. This was part of the budget agreement made last fall. Bill passed 73-32.
SB 960 Budget Transfer
This bill would divert $15 million from the Commercial Mobile Radio Services Fund to cover a portion of the debt service obligation of the State Building Authority for bonds issued to finance the Michigan Public Safety Communications System. Bill passed 78-27.
SB 959 Budget Transfer
This bill would allow for a one time transfer of $15 million from the State Survey and Remonumentation Fund to the General Fund for the FY 2006 budget. It is part of the current budget agreement. Bill passed 77-30.
SB 1005 Adjust School Bond Loan Fund Interest
This bill adjusts the interest rate formula for the school bond loan fund. This corrects a drafting error in . Bill passed 102-3.
SB 120 Allow Prior Acts of Domestic Violence as Evidence
The bill would all allow the use of evidence that the defendant had committed prior acts of domestic violence against a person who was accused of an offense involving domestic violence. Bill passed 106-0.
SB 263 Allow Hearsay Evidence in Domestic Violence Cases
This bill would allow hearsay evidence that refers to a threat of physical violence made near in time to the crime to be admissible in domestic violence court cases. This would apply to the statements victims make to emergency responders, but then may recant under pressure from the perpetrator. Bill passed 107-0.
HB 5508 Motor Fuel Vapor Pressure for Southeast Michigan
The bill changes the required vapor pressure in motor fuel dispensed in southeast Michigan during the summer ozone season to bring southeast Michigan into compliance with the Clean Air Act. Bill passed 105-2.
SB 728 Michigan Care Improvement Registry
This bill would rename the "Childhood Immunization Registry" as the "Michigan Care Improvement Registry," and expand it to include information on child lead screening. This is a state database of vaccination records. The bill would permit a significant expansion of the Michigan Childhood Immunization Registry to include all Michigan residents, and integrate it with other public health data. Bill passed 101-5.
HB 5082 Minor Party Presidential Candidate Filing Deadline
This bill would require minor political parties to submit the names of their presidential and vice presidential candidates to the Secretary of State 60 days before the general election. Bill passed 59-46.
HB 5704 Certification of School Ballot Questions
This bill would require a school board that wishes to submit a ballot question to the voters to adopt the resolution calling for this at least 70 days before the election. Under current law the deadline in 60 days. Bill passed 66-40.
SB 462 Filing Deadline for Write-in Candidates
This bill changes the deadline to file a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate from 4 p.m. on the Friday immediately preceding the election to 4 p.m. on the Tuesday immediately before the election. Bill passed 106-1.
HB 4642 Carrying a Concealed Weapon
This bill would allow an individual to carry, possess, use, or transport a pistol belonging to another individual, if the other individual's pistol were properly licensed and inspected, and the individual carrying or transporting the pistol had obtained a license to carry a concealed pistol. Bill passed 99-8.
HBs 5648-5650 Eliminate Certain Authority of the State Board of Canvassers
This package of bills transfers certain powers from the Board of State Canvassers to the 4th District of the State Court of Appeals. Specifically, the bills eliminate the authority of the State Board of Canvassers to "pre-approve" the language of statewide ballot question, determine whether sufficient petition signatures have been turned in to place a statewide ballot question or initiative on the ballot, and to ensure that ballot petitions meet the required standards. Also, HB 5650 would require a fiscal analysis of the cost of each ballot proposal, should it be adopted, to be prepared by state budget authorities, and have that analysis placed on the ballot with the proposal. All three bills passed 57-49.
HB 4502 Increase Penalties for Fraudulent Gasoline Stations
This bill would increase the fines for gasoline stations that intentionally short consumers on gasoline. Bill passed 104-0.
HB 4446 Require Option to View Ultrasound Prior to Abortion
This bill requires that if prior to or during the performance of an abortion a patient undergoes an ultrasound examination, the physician must provide the patient with the opportunity to view, or not to view, an active ultrasound image and a hard-copy image of the fetus prior to the performance of the abortion. Bill passed 84-21.
HB 4455 Minority Health Disparities Research and Education
This bill would establish a "minority health disparities research and education act" in which the Department of Community Heath would be required to monitor minority health progress; establish a minority health policy; fund minority health programs, research, and other initiatives; staff a minority health hotline that establishes linkages with other health and social service hotlines and local coalitions; and develop and implement an aggressive recruitment and retention program to increase the number of minorities in the health and social services professions. Bill passed 99-7.
HB 5603 Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Work Group
This bill would establish a Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy/Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (RSD/CRPS) work group to develop and coordinate an education and public awareness program for RSD/CRPS. Bill passed 102-4.
SB 208 Local Jail Inmate Reimbursements
This bill would authorize local governments to seek reimbursement of up to $60 per day from prisoners kept in their jails. Bill passed 107-0.
HB 4807 Traffic Law Enforcement on Private Roads
This bill would allow local law enforcement agencies to enter onto private roads not open to the general public, regardless of where the violation occurred, to enforce the uniform traffic code if signs meeting the requirements of the Uniform Manual of Traffic Control Devices are posted on the private road by the person who is in charge of the private road. Bill passed 108-0.
HB 5580 Selection of CountyBoard of Canvassers
This bill would allow a county board of commissioners or county clerk to request specific information from individuals nominated by political parties to serve on the county board of election canvassers. Bill passed 108-0.
HB 5640 Redefine "Rural Business" Tax Break
This bill redefines "rural business" in the law authorizing Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) tax breaks, so as to make a particular firm in the Upper Peninsula eligible. Specifically the bill would allow eligible businesses located in a county with a population of 90,000 or less. Under current law, eligible businesses must be located in counties with population of 80,000 or less. Bill passed 108-0.
SB 372 Detroit Water and Sewerage Department
This bill would take control of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department away from the City of Detroit by requiring that the Detroit water and sewer system to be overseen by a regional authority, with membership consisting of three representatives from Detroit, and one from Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Genesee counties each. Bill passed 61-44.
SB 179 Youth Employment Hours
This bill revises the law that restricts the maximum number of hours that minors age 16 and 17 who are in school can work. The bill sets the limit at 20 hours of work a week, rather than the current law's maximum of 48 hours combined school and work a week. Bill passed 72-33.
SB 128 Email Notifications of Sex Offender Addresses
The bill allows citizens to request electronic notice from the Michigan State Police when sex offenders relocate to a designated zip code. Bill passed 94-12.
HB 5562 Alcohol Licenses for Gas Stations
This bill would make available more package beer and wine licenses to gas stations in small towns in rural counties by modestly increasing the population threshold of towns that are permitted to have gas stations sell alcohol. Bill passed 94-12.
HB 5627 Liquor License Requirements
This bill is a technical clarification bill. This bill amends the Michigan Liquor Control Code by expanding the definition of "consideration" in the Liquor Control code to include ticket purchases and providing any service or item. (Example: Cabaret parties where a cover charge is paid and entertainment is provided and alcohol is consumed, whether brought in or provided, this party would require a temporary liquor license.) Bill passed 105-1.
HBs 4544 and 4727 Prohibit Use of Police Scanner to Commit a Crime
These bills prohibit a person from carrying or having in his or her possession a radio receiving set that receives signals sent on a frequency assigned by the Federal Communications Commission for police, fire fighting, or emergency medical purposes, if the individual is committing or attempting to commit a crime. HB 4727 includes the sentencing guidelines for this crime. Both bills passed 106-0.
SBs 569 and 570 Historic Preservation Tax Credits
These bills eliminate a requirement that a community have a population of less than 5,000 in order for structures within it to qualify for certain historic preservation income tax credits and Single Business Tax credits. Both bills passed 103-2.
SB 651 Civil Immunity for National Ski Patrol Members
The bill would amend the Good Samaritan law to revise the section granting civil immunity to members of the National Ski Patrol system for injuries that result due to acts or omissions in rendering emergency care. Bill passed 105-0.
HB 5602 Inheritance Rights for Adopted Individuals
The bill would clarify that when a step-parent adopts a child, the child may still inherit from the biological parent. This is a technical change to correct an error in the existing language which would have (if applied strictly by a judge) eliminated the child's inheritance rights. Bill passed 105-0.
HB 5497 Continuing Education Requirements for Insurance Agents
This bill would exempt agents who provide limited line credit insurance for lenders or financial institutions from continuing education requirements that apply to regular insurance agents. Bill passed 106-0.
SB 658 Increase Acreage for Summer Communities
This bill increases the amount of land acreage a summer community corporation may own from 350 acres to 1000 acres. The bill would help these associations (such as the Bay View Association near Petoskey) to acquire additional land to prevent encroaching commercial development. Bill passed 105-1.
SB 751 Summer Resort Corporation Voting Procedures
This bill clarifies the current law that any proposal by a summer resort corporation's board of trustees to increase dues or levy special assessments must be approved by a majority vote of all the members of the corporation, unless the bylaws specifically allow approval with just a majority of the votes cast (but less than a majority of all members). Bill passed 106-0.
HB 5675 FOIA Requests for School Employee Criminal Records
The bill makes the list provided by the Department of Education containing names of teachers and school personnel with misdemeanor and felony convictions on their criminal records subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This information would be subject to FOIA after the school has had 14 days to verify the list of names and correct any errors. Bill passed 105-0.
HB 5620 VeteransMemorial Park
This bill would expand the area around the Veterans Memorial Park in Lansing for the Purple Heart Recognition Monument. Bill passed 103-0.
HBs 5449 & 5451 New Crime of Unlawful Imprisonment
These bills create the new crime of unlawful imprisonment, which is defined as to knowingly restrain another person by means of a weapon or dangerous instrument, or to restrain a person in secret confinement, or to restrain a person to facilitate committing another felony or to facilitate flight after committing a felony. Violators would be subject to up to 15 years in prison. Both bills passed 105-0.
HB 5450 Clarify Crime of Kidnapping
This bill updates and clarifies the elements for the crime of kidnapping. Specifically, kidnapping would occur if an individual knowingly restrained another person with the intent to hold that person for ransom or reward, use that person as a shield or hostage, engage in criminal sexual contact with that person, facilitate the commission of another felony or flight after the commission of another felony, or hold that person in involuntary servitude. Bill passed 105-0.
HB 4278 High School Community Service Requirements
This bill would require that, if a school district has community service requirements for high school graduation, the parents have the right to appeal those requirements. Bill passed 60-43.
HR 185 Resolution to Control the Cormorant Population
The resolution urges the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to work with the federal government to implement the most aggressive means of controlling the double-crested cormorant population pursuant to authority extended by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Concerns have been raised regarding the relationship between increasing cormorant populations and decreasing fish populations, especially in the upper parts of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. The resolution was adopted by voice vote.
SB 783 and HB 5176 Prohibit Foreign Trash with Congressional Approval
These bills are part of a package to prohibit landfills or incinerators from accepting foreign municipal solid waste contingent on the U.S. Congress granting states such authority (HB 5176). SB 783 specifically provides that a court shall order a person violating the prohibition to return or, if necessary, reimburse the state for returning the waste to the country in which it was generated. SB 783 passed 104-1, and HB 5176 passed 70-4.
HB 5606 High School Curriculum Standards
This bill would create new high school curriculum requirements. The bill includes requirements in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Civics, Economics, U.S. History and Geography, World History and Geography, Health and Physical Education and Visual and Performing Arts. Many Democrats opposed the bill because it included politicized course content descriptions that were not necessarily developed by educators. Additionally the bill was tie-barred to legislation that would allow school districts to defer compliance with regulations. The bill passed 70-31.
HBs 5043 & 5044, and SB 1024 Update Law on Malicious Use of Phones
These bills update and expand the law addressing willfully and maliciously cutting, breaking, tapping or unauthorized use of telephones and computer systems. The current law on the issue was written in 1931, and as a result deals with individuals who willfully and maliciously cut, break, tap telephone lines or instruments. These bills would help the law keep pace with technological advances like computers, cell phones, and Blackberries. All bills passed unanimously.
HB 4423 Prohibit Telemarketers from Leaving Certain Messages
This bill would prohibit telemarketers from leaving a message on a person's answering machine misrepresenting that the person has an existing customer relationship or transaction with a business and asking that the person call back regarding this. Bill passed 107-0.
HBs 5630 & 5631 Pandemic Influenza Plan Package
These bills would require the Department of Community Health, assisted by the Department of Agriculture, to establish and maintain a Pandemic Influenza Plan. The Department of Agriculture is included in case an epidemic involved bird or avian flu. Both bills passed 106-1.
HBs 5744 & 5745 and SBs 1026-1027 Rules that Favor Collective Bargaining Units in Geriatric Facilities
These bills would prevent any rule from being promulgated under the Mental Health Code, Public Health Code, Administrative Procedures Act, the Social Welfare Act, or the Adult Foster Care Facility Licensing Act that discriminated for or against providers, facilities, or employers based on whether they had a collective bargaining agreement with employees; or that used collective bargaining status, level or wages, or fringe benefits to demonstrate or excuse compliance with State licensing or regulatory requirements. All bills passed 56-45.
HB 4228 Absentee Voter Lists and Inactive Voter File
The bill would prohibit a city, village or township clerk from furnishing an absent voter ballot application to a voter unless the voter had requested one. However, the Secretary of State could give electors a form to request an application to receive absentee ballots applications for all elections. The bill was amended to require city, village and township clerks to create an Inactive Voter File. If a voter missed five consecutive elections, they would be placed in this file, and they would be given a provisional ballot if they try to vote in any subsequent election. The bill was also amended to require the Secretary of State to review the Qualified Voter File periodically to remove non-citizens and convicted felons from the voter file. The bill passed 70-31.
HB 5624 Accounting Practices for Life Insurance Valuation
This bill would establish a valuation formula for an insurance company that acquires another insurance company's life insurance business. The law requires insurers to hold a certain amount of assets from which future claims will be paid, and how the value of those assets is determined affects whether the amount meets state standards. The intent of this bill is to make it easier for Michigan-based life insurance companies to acquire insurance companies based in other states. Bill passed 100-7.
SB 795 Make Older Vital Records Available for Geneaology
This bill would allow the State Registrar to transmit to the Library of Michigan or post online death, marriage, and divorce records that were at least 75 years old, and birth records at least 110 years old. These records would be made available for genealogical research by the public. Bill passed 105-0.
SB 52 Rehabilitation of Obsolete Property
This bill expands the rehabilitation of obsolete property to also include adding stories to commercial buildings. This would allow such projects to receive rehabilitation tax credits. Bill passed 105-0.
SB 932 Update the Pupil Transportation Act
This bill would modify and update the law regulating school buses, including inspections, driver licensure standards and testing, vehicle standards, and more. Bill passed 105-0.
HB 4893 Licensing Athletic Trainers
This bill would license athletic trainers in Michigan. As with the other licensure bills, this bill designates titles that can only be used by licensed trainers, prescribes a fee structure, and requires continuing education for licensed trainers (80 class hours within a 3-year licensing cycle). Bill passed 73-31.
HB 4171 Landlord Repair Reimbursement Rates
The bill would require landlords and tenants to be paid at professional rates for repairs to rental properties where the repairs were necessitated by damage caused by tenants or by the landlord's failure to make repairs. Bill passed 107-0.
HB 5114 Municipal Forestland Reversionary Interest
This bill "cleans up" language in Public Act 377 of 2004. This would remove deed restrictions on municipal forest property conveyed by the state, and allow more parcels to be sold. Bill passed 107-0.
HBs 5245 & 5248 Allow Nurse Practitioners to Perform State Mandated Physicals
These bill are part of a package of bills that extends to certified nurse practitioners the authority to conduct physical examinations mandated by various statutes, which under current law must be conducted by a physician. A nurse practitioner is a type of nurse who has advanced training beyond that required for initial licensure and who has demonstrated competency through examinations. Specifically, HB 5245 covers physical examinations ordered by a court, board, commission, public body or officer (5245); and HB 5248 covers the medical examiner's certificate required to operate a commercial motor vehicle. Both bills passed 103-4, and 106-1, respectively.
HB 4566 Real Estate Broker Licensing
This bill will extend the amount of time the Department of Labor and Economic Growth has for notification of an incomplete real estate broker's and associate broker's license application from 15 calendar days to 15 business days. Bill passed 97-1.
HB 4259 Prohibit Apology as Admission of Liability
This bill would prohibit considering an expression of an expression of sympathy, compassion, commiseration, or a general sense of benevolence with regard to the pain, suffering, or death of an individual as evidence of liability in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
SB 839 Budget Transfer
This bill would remove $11.1 million from the Comprehensive Transportation Fund and place it in the General Fund for the current fiscal year. This was part of the budget agreement made last fall. Bill passed 73-32.
SB 960 Budget Transfer
This bill would divert $15 million from the Commercial Mobile Radio Services Fund to cover a portion of the debt service obligation of the State Building Authority for bonds issued to finance the Michigan Public Safety Communications System. Bill passed 78-27.
SB 959 Budget Transfer
This bill would allow for a one time transfer of $15 million from the State Survey and Remonumentation Fund to the General Fund for the FY 2006 budget. It is part of the current budget agreement. Bill passed 77-30.
SB 1005 Adjust School Bond Loan Fund Interest,
This bill adjusts the interest rate formula for the school bond loan fund. This corrects a drafting error in Public Act 92 of 2005. Bill passed 102-3.
SB 120 Allow Prior Acts of Domestic Violence as Evidence
The bill would all allow the use of evidence that the defendant had committed prior acts of domestic violence against a person who was accused of an offense involving domestic violence. Bill passed 106-0.
SB 263 Allow Hearsay Evidence in Domestic Violence Cases
This bill would allow hearsay evidence that refers to a threat of physical violence made near in time to the crime to be admissible in domestic violence court cases. This would apply to the statements victims make to emergency responders, but then may recant under pressure from the perpetrator. Bill passed 107-0.
HB 5508 Motor Fuel Vapor Pressure for Southeast Michigan
The bill changes the required vapor pressure in motor fuel dispensed in southeast Michigan during the summer ozone season to bring southeast Michigan into compliance with the Clean Air Act. Bill passed 105-2.
SB 728 Michigan Care Improvement Registry
This bill would rename the "Childhood Immunization Registry" as the "Michigan Care Improvement Registry," and expand it to include information on child lead screening. This is a state database of vaccination records. The bill would permit a significant expansion of the Michigan Childhood Immunization Registry to include all Michigan residents, and integrate it with other public health data. Bill passed 101-5.
HB 5082 Minor Party Presidential Candidate Filing Deadline
This bill would require minor political parties to submit the names of their presidential and vice presidential candidates to the Secretary of State 60 days before the general election. Bill passed 59-46.
HB 5704 Certification of School Ballot Questions
This bill would require a school board that wishes to submit a ballot question to the voters to adopt the resolution calling for this at least 70 days before the election. Under current law the deadline in 60 days. Bill passed 66-40.
SB 462 Filing Deadline for Write-in Candidates
This bill changes the deadline to file a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate from 4 p.m. on the Friday immediately preceding the election to 4 p.m. on the Tuesday immediately before the election. Bill passed 106-1.
HB 4642 Carrying a Concealed Weapon
This bill would allow an individual to carry, possess, use, or transport a pistol belonging to another individual, if the other individual's pistol were properly licensed and inspected, and the individual carrying or transporting the pistol had obtained a license to carry a concealed pistol. Bill passed 99-8.
HBs 5648-5650 Eliminate Certain Authority of the State Board of Canvassers
This package of bills transfers certain powers from the Board of State Canvassers to the 4th District of the State Court of Appeals. Specifically, the bills eliminate the authority of the State Board of Canvassers to "pre-approve" the language of statewide ballot question, determine whether sufficient petition signatures have been turned in to place a statewide ballot question or initiative on the ballot, and to ensure that ballot petitions meet the required standards. Also, HB 5650 would require a fiscal analysis of the cost of each ballot proposal, should it be adopted, to be prepared by state budget authorities, and have that analysis placed on the ballot with the proposal. All three bills passed 57-49.
HB 4502 Increase Penalties for Fraudulent Gasoline Stations
This bill would increase the fines for gasoline stations that intentionally short consumers on gasoline. Bill passed 104-0.
HB 4446 Require Option to View Ultrasound Prior to Abortion
This bill requires that if prior to or during the performance of an abortion a patient undergoes an ultrasound examination, the physician must provide the patient with the opportunity to view, or not to view, an active ultrasound image and a hard-copy image of the fetus prior to the performance of the abortion. Bill passed 84-21.
HB 4455 Minority Health Disparities Research and Education
This bill would establish a "minority health disparities research and education act" in which the Department of Community Heath would be required to monitor minority health progress; establish a minority health policy; fund minority health programs, research, and other initiatives; staff a minority health hotline that establishes linkages with other health and social service hotlines and local coalitions; and develop and implement an aggressive recruitment and retention program to increase the number of minorities in the health and social services professions. Bill passed 99-7.
HB 5603 Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Work Group
This bill would establish a Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy/Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (RSD/CRPS) work group to develop and coordinate an education and public awareness program for RSD/CRPS. Bill passed 102-4.
SB 208 Local Jail Inmate Reimbursements
This bill would authorize local governments to seek reimbursement of up to $60 per day from prisoners kept in their jails. Bill passed 107-0.
HB 4807 Traffic Law Enforcement on Private Roads
This bill would allow local law enforcement agencies to enter onto private roads not open to the general public, regardless of where the violation occurred, to enforce the uniform traffic code if signs meeting the requirements of the Uniform Manual of Traffic Control Devices are posted on the private road by the person who is in charge of the private road. Bill passed 108-0.
HB 5580 Selection of CountyBoard of Canvassers
This bill would allow a county board of commissioners or county clerk to request specific information from individuals nominated by political parties to serve on the county board of election canvassers. Bill passed 108-0.
HB 5640 Redefine "Rural Business" Tax Break
This bill redefines "rural business" in the law authorizing Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) tax breaks, so as to make a particular firm in the Upper Peninsula eligible. Specifically the bill would allow eligible businesses located in a county with a population of 90,000 or less. Under current law, eligible businesses must be located in counties with population of 80,000 or less. Bill passed 108-0.
SB 372 Detroit Water and Sewerage Department
This bill would take control of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department away from the City of Detroit by requiring that the Detroit water and sewer system to be overseen by a regional authority, with membership consisting of three representatives from Detroit, and one from Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Genesee counties each. Bill passed 61-44.
SB 318 Increase the Minimum Wage
This bill increases the minimum wage over a two year period. Under the bill the minimum wage in the state of Michigan would be $6.95 beginning Oct. 1, 2006, $7.15 beginning July 1, 2007 and $7.40 beginning July 1, 2008. Bill passed 73-34.
HBs 5412 & 5422 Increase Penalties for Crimes Against Minors
These bills would increase to 25 years the minimum sentence that must be served before becoming eligible for parole for certain serious sex crimes committed against minors under age 13. The bills also require a life in prison with no chance of parole sentence for a person convicted of the rape of a child involving the use of a weapon, force or coercion has a previous criminal sexual conduct conviction. The bills passed 103-3 and 102-3, respectively.
HBs 5531, 5532 & 5533 Lifetime Monitoring of Certain Sex Offenders
This package of bills would require mandatory lifetime electronic monitoring of persons convicted of serious sex crimes against children under the age of thirteen. The monitoring would use a satellite Global Positioning System to track the offender's location at all times for the rest of his life. The bills passed 102-3, 102-3 and 103-3, respectively.
HB 5743 Elimination of the Single Business Tax
This bill would repeal the Single Business Tax (SBT), effective December 31, 2007. The SBT is Michigan's primary tax on businesses, and it collects between $1.8 and $2 billion per year. The bill does not provide for a replacement for this revenue. Democrats offered a series of amendments that would have required a replacement before the tax would be repealed, and that would have tied the replacement to funding colleges and universities in the state. Currently the state spends slightly more than $2 billion on higher education. These Democratic amendments were blocked by Republicans. The bill passed 63-42.
SB 242 Budget Supplemental
This bill is a budget supplemental and contains changes to various sections of the state budget.
The bill contains gross funding of $201.2 million with $72.9 million federal funds, $103.7 million other state restricted funds and $21.8 million from the General Fund. Highlights of the bill include: $37.3 million Natural resources Trust Fund recreation development and acquisition projects; $32.6 million federal for a new automated unemployment claims system; Increase Child Protective Services staff by 51 positions; $4.4 million federal for the Medicaid Adult Benefits Waiver; $2 million federal for military base security enhancements; $3.1 million to State Police for criminal background checks; and $5 million restricted for grants and loans from the Agriculture Development Fund. Bill passed 100-6.
HB 5181 Commission on Renewable Fuels
This bill would create a Commission to investigate strategies to promote the development and use of alternative fuels. The Commission would be composed of representatives from agriculture, auto manufacturers, higher education, state governmental agencies, the petroleum industry and biofuels producers. Bill passed 96-8.
HB 5751 Alternative Fuels Tax
This bill would provide a twelve cent per gallon motor fuel tax on fuel/gasoline that is at least 85% fuel ethanol and on diesel fuel that is at least a 5% biodiesel blend. The motor fuel tax is currently nineteen cents on a gallon of gasoline and fifteen cents on a gallon of diesel fuel. Bill passed 103-0.
HB 5752 Renewable Energy Facility Renaissance Zones
This bill would create ten new renaissance zones for "renewable energy facilities." A "renewable energy facility" is defined in the bill as a system that creates energy from a process using residue from corn, soybeans, wood, paper products industries, and food production and processing; trees and grasses grown specifically as energy crops; and gaseous fuels produced from solid biomass, animal wastes, municipal wastes, or landfills. Bill passed 104-0.
HB 5754 Grants for Fuel Station Alternative Fuel Upgrades
This bill requires the Michigan Strategic Fund to create a matching grant program for service stations to purchase equipment to dispense E85 fuel and for bulk plants to purchase equipment to create biodiesel fuel blends. The matching grants would be for up to fifty percent of the cost. Bill passed 97-6.
HB 5755 Establish Standards for Alternative Fuels
This bill would require the Department of Agriculture to establish standards for diesel fuel, biodiesel fuel blends and hydrogen fuel. Bill passed 102-0.
HB 5325 Flu Vaccines for Senior Citizens
The bill would require hospitals to offer flu vaccinations during the flu season to all patients over 65 years of age who are admitted to the hospital for at least 24 hours. Bill passed 101-3.
SB 506 Ban Open Water Disposal of Contaminated Dredge Materials
The bill prohibits the disposal of dredge materials contaminated with toxic substances into the waters of the state. Bill passed 104-0.
SB 764 Purple Heart Monument
This bill would require the erection of a monument to honor Michigan citizens who have received the Purple Heart Medal. The monument would have to be located in Veterans Memorial Park in Lansing. This would be financed by the Michigan Chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. Bill passed 107-0.
SB 371 Industrial Pattern Manufacturing Tax Break
This bill expands the types of businesses eligible for "tool and die renaissance zone" tax breaks to include firms engaged in industrial pattern manufacturing (tool and die shops). Bill passed 106-0.
HB 5461 Discounted Trailer Registration for Wood Harvesters
This bill would specify what equipment loggers can haul under their discounted trailer registration by revising the definition of "wood harvester" to include a person hauling or transporting wood harvesting equipment. Bill passed 107-0.
HB 4086 Allow CountyClerks to Perform Marriages
This bill would allow county clerks in all counties to perform marriages. Bill passed 105-2.
HB 5643 Inmate Reimbursements for County Jails
This bill extends from one year to three years the time limit that counties have to seek reimbursement from an inmate of the county jail for the cost of imprisonment and care. Bill passed 107-0.
HB 5240 Establish Speed Limit Rules
The bill establishes specific state-wide speed limits based on the number of access points to the road. These numbers were established based on an empirical and scientific study conducted by the Michigan State Police in order to develop this legislation. This approach eliminates the problems created in previous attempts which tried to use population as the benchmark. Bill passed 107-0.
SB 477 Eliminate Electronic Filing Advisory Board for Campaigns
This bill eliminates the campaign finance statements and reports electronic filing advisory board created in 1999 to develop standards for the electronically filed campaign finance statements that are now required for campaigns that spend or raise $20,000 or more. Bill passed 105-0.
HB 5336 Health Information Technology Commission
This bill would create a new section of the law for health information technology, and would create a Health Information Technology Commission which would be charged with the development of a statewide interoperable health care information infrastructure. Bill passed 102-2.
HB 5653 Allow Podiatrists to Supervise Physician's Assistants
This bill would allow podiatrists to join the list of health care professionals that can supervise physician's assistants (PAs). Bill passed 103-0.
HB 5813 Nominating Petitions for Village Elections
This bill would require that the nominating petitions for village elections shall be filed with the appropriate township clerk by 4p.m. on the 12th Tuesday before the General November Election. Bill passed 103-0.
HR 67 Resolution for Increased Petroleum Refineries
This is a House Resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to encourage expansion of existing, or the construction of new petroleum refineries in the United States and to urge the leaders of the petroleum industry to construct new refineries to meet our increasing energy needs. Resolution was adopted by a vote of 99-5.
HBs 5490, 5823 & 5824 Allow Deposit of Forfeiture Funds in Financial Institution
These bills clarify that money subject to forfeiture (typically seized in connection with a crime) can be deposited into an interest-bearing account in a financial institution. The bills further clarify that the interest accrued on the funds remains with the money. All three bills passed unanimously.
SBs 883, 907, 925, 946 & 955 Increase Circuit Court Judgeships
These bills would add a circuit court judgeship to circuit courts in the following counties: Oakland, Genesee, Macomb, Kent, Mecosta, Osceola, Clare, and Gladwin. The bills implement a portion of the 2005 Judicial Resources Report, which makes recommendations concerning the number and distribution of judges within the state. All bills passed unanimously.