Add "Green Chemistry" Incentives to the Michigan Strategic Fund Act
HB 4817
The bill adds the definition of "green chemistry" to the Michigan Strategic Fund Act which would allow for approved economic development projects to be eligible for certain incentives. The Michigan Strategic Fund is an autonomous entity that assists in promoting economic development in the State.
Add "Green Chemistry" Incentives to the Michigan Economic Growth Authority Act
HB 4818
The bill adds the definition of "green chemistry" to the Michigan Economic Growth Authority Act which would allow for approved economic development projects to be eligible for certain incentives. The Michigan Economic Growth Authority was created in 1995 to promote high quality economic growth and job creation.
Add "Green Chemistry" Incentives Under the Centers of Energy Excellence
HB 4819
The bill adds the definition of "green chemistry" to the Michigan Strategic Fund Act which would allow for approved economic development projects to be eligible for certain incentives under the Centers of Energy Excellence portion of the Act. The Centers of Energy Excellence grant program brings businesses, universities and the state together to create jobs in the alternative and advanced energy industry.
Technical Changes to the Criminal Code
HB 4918
House Bill 4918 clarifies the effective date so that defendants who were placed on probation under the statutory language that existed before March 1, 2003 for an offense committed before this date are subject to the conditions of probation that are currently within the Code of Criminal Procedure. This change corrects a drafting error that has resulted in disparate treatment of some offenders; those who committed a crime prior to the effective date in 2003, but were convicted and sentenced after the date.
Technical Changes to Mandatory Minimum Law
HB 4919
House Bill 4919 clarifies the dispensation of cases for those convicted of offenses that previously required a mandatory minimum sentence. Additionally the bill repeals provisions which provide for a life sentence without the possibility of parole for a second or subsequent conviction of manufacture/delivery/possession, or conspiracy to commit the same, involving schedule 1 & 2 narcotics.
Drug Law Sentence Reform
HB 4920
House Bill 4920 will make individuals convicted of drug offenses eligible for parole earlier than they currently are; it allows a prisoner who has served 15 years of a life sentence for various drug offenses to have his or her case reviewed by the parole board.
Allows Drug Offenders to be Sentenced as Habitual Offenders
HB 4921
House Bill 4921 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to eliminate language that currently prohibits individuals convicted of major controlled substance offenses from being sentenced under the state's habitual offender provisions. With the removal of this language, individuals convicted of drug crimes can be subject to an enhanced sentence, depending upon the number of previous felony convictions.
Creates Bias-Motivated Crime within the Penal Code
House Bill 4836
House Bill 4836 creates a new bias-motivated crime within the Penal Code. The bill provides enhanced penalties if an individual is the victim of crime because they fall into one of the following protected classes: disability; gender; national origin or ancestry; race, color, or ethnicity; religion; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression of gender; age and status as a veteran.
Provides Sentencing Guidelines for Bias-Motivated Crime
House Bill 4835
House Bill 4835 adds the bias-motivated crime created in House Bill 4836 to sentencing guidelines.
Establish Falconry Season
SB 10
Senate Bill 10 would direct the Department of Natural Resources to establish a season or seasons for falconers to take live raptors for use in falconry.
Supplemental Budget Directing Stimulus Money
HB 4308
House Bill 4308 would authorize $193.6 million of federal stimulus dollars to be spent in FY 2008-2009. The spending is split between the Department of Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
Create a Use Tax Exemption for Certain Work Performed by Aviation Firms
HB 4929
House Bill 4929 would create a tax exemption from the Michigan Use Tax, for companies that do custom alterations and installations on new aircraft in the state prior to the plane being relocated outside of or sold outside of Michigan.
Create a Sales Tax Exemption for Certain Work Performed by Aviation Firms
HB 4930
House Bill 4930 would create a tax exemption from the Michigan Sales Tax, for companies that do custom alterations and installations on new aircraft in the state prior to the plane being relocated outside of or sold outside of Michigan.
Sentencing Guidelines for Fraudulent Beverage Container Returns
HB 4237
House Bill 4237 amends sentencing guidelines in the Code of Criminal Procedure to establish Class H felonies with a maximum five year sentence for individuals, beverage dealers, and beverage distributors who are prosecuted for a violation involving more than 10,000 non-returnable containers and a Class G felony with a maximum two year sentence for changing altering or modifying a reverse vending machine or data maintained by a reverse vending machine.
Revise County Road Revenue Provisions
HB 4848
HB 4848 increases from 30 percent to 50 percent, the amount of state transportation tax revenues returned to counties that may be used on the county local road system, rather than on the county primary road system.
Establish a Comprehensive Smoking Ban
HB 4377
House Bill 4377 expands current smoking prohibitions to any place of employment or public place. This means that smoking would be banned in most indoor areas, including restaurants and bars. The bill provides exemptions for private residences, cigar bars, tobacco specialty stores, casino game room floors and existing collectively bargained agreements. No new exemptions could be issued for cigar bars or tobacco specialty stores after December 31st, 2009.
Continuing Education for Hearing Aid Dealers
HB 4129
House Bill 4129 requires a hearing aid dealer or hearing aid salesperson to demonstrate continuing professional competency as a condition for the renewal of licensure.
Establish Penalties for Obstructing Roadway
HB 4205
The bill would make it a criminal offense to endanger another person by recklessly placing or causing the placement of an obstruction in a road.
Require DELEG to Promulgate Rules for the Course Content for Boiler Operators
SB 96
Senate Bill 96 would amend the Boiler Act to require the Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth (DELEG), rather than the board of boiler rules, to promulgate rules designating the course content for boiler operators and stationary engineers.
Refine Veterans Organization Gaming Regulation Definition
SB 108
Senate Bill 108 amends the Bingo Act to specify that the term "veterans' organization" includes an auxiliary of a nationally chartered veterans' organization allowing them to apply for a charitable gaming license.
Modify Hunter Orange Requirements
HB 4897
The bill removes the requirement to wear garments that are at least 50% orange while hunting fox, bobcat and coyotes.
Allow School Districts to Establish Recreational Authorities with One or MoreMunicipalities
SB 222
The bill amends the recreational authorities act by adding school districts to the definition of municipalities, allowing them to establish a recreational authority with one or more municipalities.
Expand Community Corrections
HB 4977 House Bill 4977 expands eligibility for community corrections programs by allowing high risk offenders who are likely to be sentenced to jail or prison to participate. The offender's risk to public safety will be determined by an objective risk and needs assessment that shows the offender can be safely treated and supervised in the community. The bill is part of the Council of State Governments Justice Reinvestment Project.
Stimulus Funding Supplemental Budget Bill for FY '08-'09
HB 4308
House Bill 4308 authorizes $248.5 million of federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money to be spent in the current fiscal year. The spending is split between the Department of Education, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
Authorize Liquor License for WayneState Facility
SB 432
Senate Bill 432 would allow an on-premise liquor license for a restaurant located on land owned by Wayne State University.
Updating the Uniform Trust Code
SB 383
SB 384
SB 385
SB 386
SB 387
This bill package amends various statutes to make them consistent with the Michigan Trust Code created in Senate Bill 387. The Code is based upon a uniform trust code created by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. Twenty states and the District of Columbia have adopted the uniform code.
Revise Carnival or Vending Machine Game Prize Cap
HB 4932
House Bill 4932 would raise the prize limit for a redemption game from $250 to $500 and prohibit gift cards from being awarded as prizes. Cash is currently prohibited. A redemption game is a single or multi player amusement device whose object is generally throwing, rolling, bowling, shooting, placing, propelling or stopping a ball or other object into a hole or other target (such as ski-ball).
Add Species to Statutory Lists of Prohibited and Restricted Invasive Species
SB 280
Senate Bill 280 adds several invasive species to statutory lists of restricted and prohibited species, which, in general, are non-native species that have the potential for causing severe harm to the state's natural or agricultural resources or harm to human health and safety. Species on these lists may not be possessed or introduced into the environment without approval from the Department of Natural Resources or Department of Agriculture. The bill also removes the Yellow Flag Iris from the list of prohibited species, which is an aquatic plant that has been shown not to be harmful and that has commercial value for the landscape industry.
Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Update
HB 4906
House Bill 4906 updates an administrative procedure in the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Administration Act to address a situation in which items are incorrectly classified as taxable/non-taxable. The bill implements a change that brings the state into compliance with the Streamlined Agreement.
Blue Water Bridge Plaza Expansion Renaissance Zone
HB 4723
House Bill 4723 allows the Michigan Strategic Fund Board to designate up to 25 additional Renaissance Zones for businesses within Port Huron and Port Huron Township to offset some of the costs to the community associated with the Blue Water Bridge Plaza Expansion. The Zones target businesses who would be unable to relocate within the community without these benefits or who are associated with international trade, shipping or freighting.
Blue Water Bridge Plaza Expansion Renaissance Zone
HB 4724
House Bill House Bill 4724 requires the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to provide written updates of all expenditures and explanations of the expenditures and budget of the Blue Water Bridge Plaza Expansion project at reasonable intervals electronically to: The standing House and Senate policy committees that deal primarily with transportation and local government issues; Each member of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee in the House and Senate; and elected official representing districts in the county in which the project is located.
School Loan Revolving Fund Interest Rates
SB 416
Senate Bill 416 would change the provisions for determining the rate of interest assessed to school districts that borrow from the School Loan Revolving Fund (SLRF). Under current law, the interest rate assessed on school loans is tied to the rate on State general obligation (G.O.) bonds that have previously been issued to fund school district loans. However, the bonds the State now issues to finance the School Loan Revolving Fund are non-G.O. bonds issued through the Michigan Municipal Bond Authority and the interest rate on these bonds may not be the same as the G.O. bond rate. So, the rates need to be increased so the SLRF can remain solvent to allow schools to continue borrowing.