House of Representatives Week in Review: March 24th – March 26th

Hello Friends,

Below is a list of the legislation that came before the House this week (March 24th through March 26th).  Please feel free to contact me (517.373.0826; andyschor@house.mi.gov) if you have any questions or thoughts about any of the below bills.

Thank you!

Andy Schor

State Representative
68th District

Passed 3/24 – 3/26

Provides greater departmental and local oversight of mobile home parks

HB 4054, 3/24/15, Passed: 106-3
HB 4054 provides greater departmental and local oversight of mobile home parks, as well as improved remedies for health and safety violations.

Prohibit the use of an unmanned aerial or submersible vehicle to interfere with the taking of animal or fish

SB 54, 3/25/15, Passed: 110-0
SB 55, 3/25/15, Passed: 110-0
Senate Bill 54 amends the Natural Resources Environmental Protection Act, Part 401, by prohibiting the use of an unmanned vehicle, or an unmanned device that uses aerodynamic forces to achieve flight or that operates on the surface of the water or underwater to hinder or prevent the lawful taking of animal or fish. Senate Bill 55 amends the Natural Resources Environmental Protection Act to prohibit an individual from taking game or fish using an unmanned vehicle or an unmanned device that uses aerodynamic forces to achieve flight or that operates on the surface of the water or underwater.

Allow retired federal law enforcement officer to carry a concealed pistol in places listed as “no carry zones”

SB 53, 3/25/15, Passed: 73-37
Senate Bill 53 would allow a concealed pistol license (CPL) holder, who is a retired federal law enforcement officer, to carry a concealed pistol in places listed as “no carry zones” under Michigan’s CPL law.

Repeal the ban on the scalping of tickets for entertainment events

HB 4015, 3/25/15, Passed: 70-30
House Bill 4015 amends MCL 750.465 of the Michigan Penal Code to decriminalize the reselling of tickets for and at entertainment and sporting events for more than face value.

Update sentencing guidelines pertaining to changes of the definition of firearm in HB 4155

HB 4295, 3/25/15, Passed: 90-20
Update the sentencing guidelines to reflect changes anticipated in House Bill 4155, if enacted. HB 4155 would amend several sections of the Michigan Penal Code to align Michigan’s definition of “firearm” with the federal definition of firearm and create special provisions for pneumatic guns.

Allow the Governor to request conveyance of certain swamplands in Clarence Township

SB 18, 3/26/15, Passed: 108-2
SB 19, 3/26/15, Passed: 109-1
Senate Bill 18 allows the Governor to request conveyance of certain swamplands in Clarence Township (Calhoun County) from the United States to Michigan, to require the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to determine the de facto owners of this property, and to convey a portion of the property to those de facto owners. Senate Bill 19 is the complementary property tax pop-up exemption for land conveyances resulting from SB 18.

Require school attendance for all children in a FIP group in order to remain eligible for assistance

HB 4041, 3/26/15, Passed: 74-36
HB 4041 requires school attendance for all children in a Family Independence Program (FIP) group in order to remain eligible for assistance.

Provide immunity for persons or corporations donating food to nonprofit organizations

HB 4017, 3/26/15, Passed: 106-4
House Bill 4017 would provide immunity, under certain circumstances, to donors and nonprofit organizations that collect and donate food to other nonprofit organizations or nonprofit corporations.

Allows certain veterans to use military experience to obtain licensure as a boiler operator

HB 4134, 3/26/15, Passed: 110-0
House Bill 4134 amends the Boiler Act to allow a veteran to use his or her military experience to meet requirement for a license to inspect, install, or repair boilers, or register as a boiler operator.

Require universities to inform military members of their options for credit transfer and receiving credit for training

HB 4060, 3/26/15, Passed: 110-0
Require state public universities to inform those who are currently serving or have served as a member of the military, National Guard, or the military reserves of the options relating to the transfer of military education and training for college credit.

Allow for proof of insurance to be shown electronically

HB 4193, 3/26/15, Passed: 108-2
HB 4193 would amend the Vehicle Code to allow for proof of insurance to be shown electronically.

Stop collection of a filing fee for the annual statement of foreign and alien insurers by DIFS

HB 4224, 3/26/15, Passed: 105-5
HB 4224 would stop collection of a filing fee for the annual statement of foreign and alien insurers by the Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS).

Change the method of wage garnishment in Michigan

HB 4119, 3/26/15, Passed: 110-0
HB 4119 would change the way that wage garnishment is done in Michigan, specifically what is required when an order is directed to a third party (the garnishee/employer) to withhold periodic or non-periodic payment of assets.

House of Representatives Week in Review: March 17th – March 19th

Hello Friends,

Below is a list of the legislation that came before the House last week (March 17th through March 19th).  Please feel free to contact me (517.373.0826; andyschor@house.mi.gov) if you have any questions or thoughts about any of the below bills.

Thank you!

Andy Schor

State Representative
68th District

Passed 3/17 – 3/19

Cap the fee county treasurers charge to provide electronic property records
HB 4075, 3/17/15, Passed: 104-4
Many local realtor associations and listing services bulk purchase property tax records for their members. These records provide information such as special assessments and tax data, which help realtors list properties as well as enter into transactions for the purchase of properties for sale.

Allow for adoption agencies to deny services based on religious beliefs

HB 4188, 3/18/15, Passed: 65-44
HB 4198, 3/18/15, Passed: 65-44
HB 4190, 3/18/15, Passed: 65-44
These bills create a new act that will prohibit requiring child placing agencies from providing services if providing those services would violate the agency’s sincerely held religious beliefs. HB 4189 and HB 4190 amend various codes to comply with the new act.

Allow notices of evictions to be served electronically

HB 4038, 3/18/15, Passed: 85-24
House Bill 4038 would amend MCL 600.5718 of the “Revised Judicature Act of 1961” to allow a notice of eviction to be served electronically.

Changes to the Public Employee Retirement System Investment Act to be consistent with the Detroit Bankruptcy Plan of Adjustment

HB 4289, 3/18/15, Passed: 108-1
This bill changes some terms in Section 13g of the Public Employee Retirement System Investment Act to make the Act consistent with the Detroit Bankruptcy Plan of Adjustment.

Updates regulations regarding commercial driver’s license learner’s permits
SB 42, 3/19/15, Passed: 105-2
Senate Bill 42 amends the Vehicle Code to do four distinct things: (1) update regulations regarding commercial driver’s license learner’s permits to be consistent with federal requirements; (2) clarify that a driver under Graduated Driver’s License (GDL) provisions would not be delayed in attaining a higher level license if involved in an accident not associated with a moving violation; (3) allow the Secretary of State to suspend the license of a driver under their 3-year probationary period without a review hearing, unless a hearing is requested; and (4) remove language prohibiting issuance of a personalized license plate with a message that could be considered "offensive to good taste and decency" due to a court decision invalidating the language.

House of Representatives Week in Review: March 10th – March 12th

Hello Friends,

Below is a list of the legislation that came before the House this week (March 10th through March 12th).  Please feel free to contact me (517.373.0826; andyschor@house.mi.gov) if you have any questions or thoughts about any of the below bills.

Thank you!

Andy Schor

State Representative
68th District

Passed 3/10 – 3/12

Eliminate funding for the Film and Digital Media Production Assistance Program
HB 4122, 3/11/15, Passed: 58-51
Prohibits the MI Film Office from operating or funding expenditures for the Film and Digital Media Production Assistance Program as of October 1, 2015.

Amends regulations for elevator journeymen to exclude the installation of a residential stairway chair lift or residential platform lift

HB 4162, 3/11/15, Passed: 62-47
HB 4163, 3/11/15, Passed: 62-47
Exempts the installation of residential stairway chairlifts and platform lifts by a residential contractor from the elevator journeymen requirements and regulations.

Revisions to eligibility requirements for the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYTA)

HB 4069, 3/12/15, Passed: 98-12
House Bill 4069 makes revisions to eligibility requirements for the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYTA).

Prohibits courts from assigning HYTA to certain youth offenders

HB 4135, 3/12/15, Passed: 85-25
House Bill 4135 would prohibit a court from assigning HYTA to certain youth offenders. It would also require a court to revoke HYTA-status under certain circumstances.

Modify sentencing and MDOC placement for HYTA offenders

HB 4169, 3/12/15, Passed: 99-11
House Bill 4169 would retain, yet modify, how Holmes Youth Trainee Act (HYTA) –assigned offenders are sentenced to and placed in Michigan Department of Correction (MDOC) prison facilities.

Allows for an appropriation of $3M for various autism programs
SB 137, 3/12/15, Passed: 62-48
This bill would allow for a one-time appropriation and expenditure of $3M from the Autism Coverage Fund for FY15 to be used for university autism programs and autism family assistance services. (This is a budget implementation bill related to the recent supplemental, HB 4112).

Allow for an appropriation of $1.3M for a statewide trauma system

SB 138, 3/12/15, Passed: 58-52
This bill would allow for an additional $1.3M to be appropriated and expended from the Crime Victim’s Rights Fund to support a statewide trauma system. (This is a budget implementation bill related to the recent supplemental, HB 4112).

House of Representatives Week in Review: March 3rd - March 5th

Hello Friends,

Below is a list of the legislation that came before the House this week (March 3rd through March 5th).  Please feel free to contact me (517.373.0826; andyschor@house.mi.gov) if you have any questions or thoughts about any of the below bills.

Thank you!

Andy Schor

State Representative
68th District

Passed 3/3 – 3/5

Allow the State Treasurer to disclose the address of certain housing units exempt from property taxes under MSHDA

HB 4501, Passed: 110-0
House Bill 4051 amends the Revenue Act to allow the State Treasurer to disclose the address of housing units that are part of a housing project exempt from property taxes under the State Housing Development Authority Act or under the auspices of a Municipal Housing Commission, and whether the unit is subject to a service charge in lieu of property tax. The bill further allows the Treasurer to disclose the millage rates of property taxes.

Reestablish the teacher critical shortage list protocols

HB 4059, Passed: 108-2
Re-establishes the teacher critical shortage list protocols which allow school districts to hire retired teachers in identified subject areas without the teacher being required to forfeit their pension benefits to take the position.