House of Representatives Week in Review: August 25th - 29th and September 8th - 12th

Hello Friends,

Below please find an update on legislation passed by the House of Representatives since Session resumed on August 27th.  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

Provide Licensure of Pharmacy Technicians

SB 92 (H-5) (Green), 8/27/14, Passed: 101-7
The bill would amend the Public Health Code to provide for the licensure of pharmacy technicians.

Allow golf carts to be used on certain public streets

HB 5045 (H-3) (Cotter), 8/27/14, Passed: 103-5
This bill would allow golf carts to be used on the public streets of villages, cities, and townships (CVTs) that allow for the use, subject to certain conditions.

Citizen Initiative Petition: Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act/Wolf Hunt

Citizen Initiative Petition, 8/27/14, Passed: 65-43
This proposed initiated law would keep intact the state’s power to allow wolf hunts. Approval of this initiative would prevent Michiganders from voting on this issue in November.

Allow a foreclosing governmental unit to purchase certain state and federally-owned land

HB 5398 (H-4) (Bumstead), 9/9/14, Passed: 104-5 
Allows a foreclosing governmental unit to purchase certain state and federally-owned land, with the owner’s consent, in order to facilitate the sale of tax foreclosed land at auction.

Designate bridge in Monroe County as “Matt Urban Memorial Bridge”

HB 4814 (Zorn), 9/9/14, Passed: 109-0
House Bill 4814 designates the bridge on US-24 in Monroe County between North and South Custer Roads as the “Matt Urban Memorial Bridge.” As with all designations under the Memorial Highway Act, private contributions are required for the placement and maintenance of the signs marking the designation.

Designate bridge in Ottawa County as “Sgt. Henry E. Plant Memorial Grand River Bridge”

HB 4411(H-1) (Price), 9/9/14, Passed: 109-0
Designates the non-motorized bridge over the Grand River along M-231 in Ottawa County as the “Sgt. Henry E. Plant Memorial Grand River Bridge Nonmotorized Trail.”

Authorize county treasurer to create a delinquent property tax installment payment plan

HB 4882 (H-1) (Cavanagh), 9/9/14, Passed: 110-0
House Bill 4882 (H-1) authorizes a county treasurer to create a delinquent property tax installment payment plan for a principal residence, the title to which is held by a financially distressed person. The treasurer may withhold a property subject to a payment plan from a petition for foreclosure if the person makes the initial payment under the plan.

Specifies how a county treasurer may collect a hotel/motel tax

SB 758 (Hildenbrand), 9/9/14, Passed: 97-13
SB 758 specifies that a county treasurer may collect a county-imposed hotel/motel tax in the same manner as a delinquent special assessment, along with any associated interest, fees, and costs. This would allow the placement of a lien on a property and potential foreclosure.

Allow community service as an alternative to repayment of driver responsibility fees

SB 633 (S-4) (Caswell), 9/9/14, Passed: 110-0
Allows individuals that are assessed driver responsibility fees for certain offenses to engage in ten hours of community service as an alternative to repayment.

Extend sunset on certain DEQ hazardous waste management program user fees

SB 959 (Kahn), 9/9/14, Passed: 109-1
With SB 960, these bills would extend the sunset on various Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) hazardous waste management program user fees to 2017. These are budget implementation bills necessary for the FY 14-15 DEQ budget that was passed and enacted in June.

Repeals the Multistate Tax Commission retroactive to Jan. 1 2008

SB 156 (H-1) (Brandenburg), 9/9/14, Passed: 100-10
SB 156 (H-1) repeals the Multistate Tax Commission retroactive to January 1, 2008 in response to the recent Supreme Court ruling in favor of IBM that allowed the company to use the apportionment formula in the MTC instead of the Michigan Business Tax apportionment formula.

Amend the Next Michigan Development Act to authorize a 7^th entity

HB 4783 (H-1) (McBroom), 9/9/14, Passed: 83-27
With SB 398, these bills would amend the Next Michigan Development Act (Act) to authorize the designation of a 7th Next Michigan Development Corporation (NMDC) and give preference to an "eligible act 7 entity" that has a population that matches that of Detroit.

Extend sunset on certain DEQ hazardous waste management program user fees

SB 960 (Kahn), 9/9/14, Passed: 110-0
With SB 959, these bills would extend the sunset on various Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) hazardous waste management program user fees to 2017. These are budget implementation bills necessary for the FY 14-15 DEQ budget that was passed and enacted in June.