House of Representatives Week in Review: May 13th - May 15th

Hello Friends,

Below please find an update on legislation passed by the House of Representatives this week.  I hope you’ll 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

Revise preliminary examination procedure in criminal cases, “probable cause conference”

HB 5154(S-1) (Leonard), Passed: 110-0

HB 5155 (Walsh), RC 222, 5/13/14, Passed: 110-0

Next: Sent to the Governor

Together, the bills would revise the procedure for preliminary examinations in criminal cases and establish in statute a “probable cause conference,” which is already in practice in many jurisdictions throughout Michigan.

Add in-laws to family members no subject to tax when transferring a vehicle

HB 5261 (Cotter), Passed: 110-0

Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration

House Bill 5261 would amend the Use Tax Act to add in-laws to the list of family members who are not subject to the use tax when transferring a vehicle, effective January 1, 2014. Relationships to be included for the exemption under the bill are: father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and grandparent-in-law.

Requiring Public Service Commission to examine cost allocation methods and rate designs

HB 5476(H-4) (Stamas), Passed: 104-6

Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration

House Bill 5476 would require the Michigan Public Service Commission (PSC) to commence a proceeding for certain electric utilities to examine cost allocation methods and rate design methods used to set rates. These utilities would file proposals to modify existing methods and the details of the proposal requirements and relevant timeframes are set forth in the bill. The purpose of the bill is to modify rates to better reflect the cost of service as contained in current law (which would likely lower rates for energy intensive industrial customers).

Amending the definition of “victim”

SB 749 (Schuitmaker), Passed: 110-0

Next: Returned to Senate

Senate Bill 749 amends the definition of “victim” under the William Van Regenmorter Crime Victim’s Rights Act to include a parent of a minor victim for the purposes of making an impact statement only at sentencing, after the victim reaches the age of majority.

Allow temporary liquor licenses for university on-campus outdoor stadiums

SB 862 (Schuitmaker), Passed: 105-5

Next: Returned to Senate

Senate Bill 862 (Schuitmaker) allows a university with an on-campus outdoor stadium to be issued a temporary liquor license by the Liquor Control Commission (LCC) in conjunction with a professional international soccer match.

Revise provisions regarding library governing boards

SB 546 (Robertson), Passed: 110-0

Next: Returned to Senate

Senate Bill 546 would amend Public Act 164 of 1877, which governs city, village, and township libraries, to revise provisions regarding library governing boards.

Appoint Doug A. Ringler as Auditor General

HCR 28 (Bolger), Passed: 108-0

Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration

A concurrent resolution to appoint Doug A. Ringler, C.P.A., C.I.A., as Auditor General.

Changes regarding employment of certain nursing home medical professionals

HB 5376 (Haines), Passed: 109-0

HB 5377 (Haines), Passed: 109-0

Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration

These bills amend the Public Health Code to make changes regarding employment or contracts of certain health professionals in the nursing home setting.

Implementing a dining assistance program in nursing homes

HB 5389 (CLEMENTE), Passed: 93-16

Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration

The bill would amend the Public Health Code to implement a dining assistance program in nursing homes.

Tuition assistance to National Guard members

HB 5451 (Rendon), Passed: 109-0

Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration

The bill would create a new Act known as the “Michigan National Guard Tuition Assistance Act” to provide tuition assistance to members of the Michigan National Guard.

In-district community college tuition rates for veterans and active members of the armed forces

HJR M (KNEZEK), Passed: 108-1

Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration

House Joint Resolution M would amend the State Constitution to require state community college or junior college boards to consider veterans of the armed forces as in district residents when determining tuition rates.

In-state university tuition rates for veterans and active members of the armed forces

HJR N (Stamas), Passed: 108-1

Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration

House Joint Resolution N would amend the State Constitution to require University Boards to consider veterans of the armed forces as residents of the state of Michigan when determining tuition rates.

Opportunity for counties to act as their own FGUs

SB 574 (S-2) (Jones), Passed: 109-0

Next: Returned to the Senate

This bill provides counties that elected to designate the state as the foreclosing governmental unit (FGU) for that county the opportunity to rescind the resolution and begin acting as its own FGU.

Amend licensing requirements for barbers

SB 612 (HOPGOOD), Passed: 106-3

Next: Returned to Senate

SB 612 (HOPGOOD) will amend the licensing requirements for barbers, including barbers applying for licensure from out-of-state, out-of-jurisdiction, or from another country.

Changes regarding employment of certain nursing home medical professionals

HB 5375 (H-1) (Haines), Passed: 109-0

Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration

The bill amends the Public Health Code to make changes regarding employment or contracts of certain health professionals in the nursing home setting.

Appropriations placeholder: Department of Agriculture

SB 760 (S-1) (Green), Passed: 109-0

Next: Returned to Senate

Appropriations placeholder: Community Colleges

SB 762 (S-1) (Booher), Passed: 109-0

Next: Returned to Senate

Appropriations placeholder: Department of Community Health

SB 763 (S-1) (Moolenaar), Passed: 109-0

Next: Returned to the Senate

Appropriations placeholder: Department of Corrections

SB 764 (S-1) (Proos), Passed: 109-0

Next: Returned to the Senate

Appropriations placeholder: Department of Education

SB 765 (S-1) (Walker), Passed: 109-0

Next: Returned to the Senate

Appropriations placeholder: Department of Environmental Quality

SB 766 (S-1) (Green), Passed: 109-0

Next: Returned to the Senate

Appropriations placeholder: General Government

SB 767 (S-1) (Pappageorge), Passed: 108-1

Next: Returned to the Senate

Appropriations placeholder: Department of Higher Education

SB 768 (S-1) (Schuitmaker), Passed: 109-0

Next: Returned to the Senate

Appropriations placeholder: DHS

SB 769 (S-1) (Caswell), Passed: 109-0

Next: Returned to the Senate

Appropriations placeholder: Insurance and Financial Services

SB 770 (S-1) (Jansen), Passed: 109-0

Next: Returned to the Senate

Appropriations placeholder: Judiciary

SB 771 (S-1) (Proos), Passed: 108-0

Next: Returned to the Senate

Appropriations placeholder: LARA

SB 772 (S-1) (Jansen), Passed: 108-0

Next: Returned to the Senate

Appropriations placeholder: Veterans’ Affairs

SB 773 (S-1) (Colbeck), Passed: 108-0

Next: Returned to the Senate

Appropriations placeholder: Department of Natural Resources

SB 774 (S-1) (Green), Passed: 108-0

Next: Returned to the Senate

Appropriations placeholder: Department of School Aid

SB 775 (S-1) (Walker), Passed: 108-0

Next: Returned to the Senate

Appropriations placeholder: State Police

SB 776 (S-1) (Colbeck), Passed: 108-0

Next: Returned to the Senate

Appropriations placeholder: Department of Transportation

SB 777 (S-1) (Pappageorge), Passed: 108-0

Next: Returned to the Senate

Provisions for teacher evaluations

HB 5223 (H-4) (O’Brien), Passed: 95-14

Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration

HB 5223 (H-4) (O’Brien) is the teacher evaluation bill in the teacher/administrator evaluation package. The bill was developed through a work group process involving many stake holders, including: MEA, AFT, MASSP, MASA, MAISA, GLEP, MAPSA, MDE, Ed Trust-Midwest, and Students First. The basis of the bills continues to be the Michigan Council on Educator Effectiveness (MCEE) report delivered at the end of the summer/beginning of fall 2013.

Provisions for administrator evaluations

HB 5224 (H-4) (ZEMKE), Passed: 96-13

Next: Sent to the Senate for consideration

HB 5224 (H-4) (ZEMKE) is the administrator evaluation bill in the teacher/administrator evaluation package. The bill was developed through a work group process involving many stake holders, including: MEA, AFT, MASSP, MASA, MAISA, GLEP, MAPSA, MDE, Ed Trust-Midwest, and Students First. The basis of the bills continues to be the Michigan Council on Educator Effectiveness (MCEE) report delivered at the end of the summer/beginning of fall 2013.

Omnibus budget: zero budget

HB 5313 (Haveman), Failed: 0-109

Next: To conference committees

Education omnibus budget: zero budget

HB 5314 (Rogers), Failed: 0-109

Next: To conference committees

Revise licensing requirements for barbers

HB 5396 (S-1)(LaFontaine), Passed: 102-7

Next: Sent to the Governor’s office

House Bill 5396 decreases the number of hours a barber college must provide classroom study and practical barber training, while still being qualified for licensure in Michigan. The Senate S-1 substitute tie-bars HB 5396 to SB 612 (Hopgood).

Eliminates prescribed open season for black bass

SB 869 (Hansen), Passed: 108-0

Next: Returned to the Senate

Senate Bill 869 (Hansen) amends the Sport Fishing section of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to eliminate the prescribed open season for black bass. This will allow the Natural Resources Commission the exclusive authority to regulate fishing, by issuing orders.