House of Representatives Week in Review: March 11th - March 13th

Hello Friends,

Below please find an update on legislation passed by the House of Representatives this week (March 11th through 13th).  Please feel free to contact me (517.373.0826; andyschor@house.mi.gov) if you have questions or thoughts about any of the below bills. 

Thank you! 

Andy Schor

State Representative

68th District

Awarding High School Diplomas to Certain Vietnam Veterans

SB 389 (Emmons), Passed: 110-0

Next: Sent to Governor for signature
SB 389 would permit school boards to award high school diplomas to certain Vietnam era veterans.

Requirement of Community Service Options for FIP Recipients

SB 276 (Hune), Passed: 91-19
Next: Sent to Governor for signature

SB 276 adds community service to options, in which a Family Independence Program (FIP) recipient may have to participate in order to receive benefits.

Revising Procedures for Discontinuing Basic Local Exchange

SB 636 (Nofs), Passed: 71-39

Next: Sent to Governor for signature

SB 636 would amend the Michigan Telecommunications Act to revise the procedures for the discontinuance of basic local exchange or toll service (after December 31, 2016). The bill would also make changes to the dates in which the Michigan Intrastate Switched Toll Access Restructuring Mechanism (ARM) is recalculated. Furthermore, the bill would eliminate a requirement that operator and payphone service providers renew their registration annually and pay an annual renewal fee.

Setting Circumstances for Security Officers at Nuclear Generating Facilities

HB 5282 (Pscholka), Passed: 102-6

Next: Sent to Senate for consideration

HB 5282 sets forth the circumstances under which security officers at nuclear generating facilities could use and threaten to use physical force (including deadly force) against an individual. The bill also includes a civil immunity clause for security officers (and their employers and owners/operators of a facility) for acting lawfully under the bill.

Exemption of Over-the-Counter Drugs from Use Taxes

HB 5342 (Lyons), Passed: 107-1

Next: Sent to Senate for consideration

HB 5342 would exempt over-the-counter drugs issued pursuant to a prescription from use taxes.

Revisions to the Liquor Control Code

SB 329 (Hildenbrand), Passed: 103-5

SB 504 (Hune), Passed: 108-0

SB 505 (Hune), Passed: 103-5

SB 506 (Hune), Passed: 107-1

SB 507 (Hune), Passed: 107-1

SB 650 (Hune), Passed: 105-3

Next: Sent to Senate for reconsideration

Senate Bill 504 (H-1) (Hune) severs any provision of the Liquor Control Code (Code) that is found to be unconstitutional, without any effect on the remaining sections of the Code. Senate Bill 505 (H-6) (Hune) allows manufacturers, sellers, and distributors of alcohol to give another licensee advertising items that promote brands and prices of alcohol, under certain circumstances. Senate Bill 506 (H-2) (Hune) makes changes to who pays the per-barrel beer tax levied against the brewer. Senate Bill 507 (H-2) (Hune) would amend how the taxes are paid and levied against wine and mixed spirit drink manufacturers and wholesalers. Senate Bill 650 (H-1) (Hune) allows a qualified micro brewer, or an out-of-state entity that is substantially the equivalent, to sell and deliver beer to a retailer in Michigan if certain conditions are met. SB 329 adds wine maker, distiller, and brandy manufacturer to the provision regarding the acquisition, sale, development, operation, or promotion of real property under certain circumstances.

“Automatic Enrollment” Option for Public Employers’ Retirement Plans

HB 4964 (Walsh), Passed: 106-2

Next: Sent to Senate for consideration

HB 4964 creates an “automatic enrollment” option for public employers for retirement plans for their employees.

FY 2014-2015 Multi-Departmental Supplemental

SB 608 (Haveman), Passed: 106-2

Next: Sent to Governor for signature

Senate Bill 608 (CR-1) (Kahn) is a multi-department supplemental that predominantly makes necessary changes associated with the delay in implementation of Healthy Michigan (Medicaid Expansion) and provides funding for necessary road projects, among other changes. The Conference Report represents a compromise between the two Chambers.

Increase of Barrel Threshold for Microbrewers

HB 4709 (Cotter), Passed: 106-3

HB 4710 (MacGregor), Passed: 106-3

HB 4711 (SCHOR), Passed: 106-3

Next: Sent to Governor for signature

HB 4709 (Cotter) increases the barrel threshold a micro brewer can produce from 30,000 to 60,000 barrels per year. HB 4710 (MacGregor) increases the number of other brewpubs a single brewpub can have an interest in. HB 4710 also increases the number of barrels that can be produced by the combined brewpubs from 5,000 to 18,000 barrels of beer per year. HB 4711 (Schor) allows brewers to sell beer for on-premises consumption at up to two locations where the brewer engages in the production of beer.

Mandate that Disclosure of Firearm Records Be Made According to a Statutorily Prescribed Protocol

HB 4155 (Nesbitt), Passed: 81-28

Next: Sent to Senate for consideration

HB 4155 amends Michigan’s gun licensure law to mandate that access to and disclosure of firearm records only be made according to a statutorily prescribed protocol.

Exemption of Gun Records from FOIA

HB 5324 (Jenkins), Passed: 88-21

HB 5325 (Crawford), Passed: 89-20

HB 5326 (McBroom), Passed: 87-22

HB 5327 (Rendon), Passed: 82-27

HB 5328 (Cotter), Passed: 89-20

Collectively, these bills amend several sections of Michigan’s gun licensure law to exempt certain information from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). HB 5327 limits law enforcement’s access to firearms records.

Revision of the Prohibition on Shotguns and Rifles

SB 610 (GREEN), Passed: 103-6

Next: Sent to Senate for reconsideration

SB 610 revises the general prohibition on manufacturing, selling, offering for sale, or possessing short-barreled shotguns or short-barreled rifles.

Definition of “Brandish” in Michigan Penal Code

HB 5091 (Johnson), Passed: 104-5

HB 5092 (DILLON), Passed: 105-4

Next: Sent to Senate for consideration

HB 5092 defines “brandish” in the Michigan Penal Code. HB 5091 exempts from criminal penalties an individual.

Revision of Restriction that Requires Minors Who Shoot a Pistol Be Under supervision of an Adult

HB 5085 (Potvin), Passed: 107-2

Next: Sent to Senate for consideration

HB 5085 would revise the restriction that requires minors shooting a pistol to do so only under the supervision of a parent or guardian, so as to allow this supervision to be provided by an adult age 21 or older who has successfully completed a pistol safety training course that meets the requirements of the state’s concealed pistol law.