Saturday, May 2, 2015

House of Representatives Week in Review: April 27th – May 1st

Hello Friends,

Below is a list of the legislation that came before the House this week (April 27th through May 1st). 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 4/27- 5/1

Omnibus budget for Fiscal Year 16
HB 4102 (H-1) 4/28/15, Passed 59-51
House Bill 4102 (H-1) is the general government omnibus budget bill that provides the FY 15-16 House budget recommendation for the general governmental departments and agencies. These include: Agriculture and Rural Development; Community Health; Corrections; Education; Environmental Quality; Attorney General; Civil Rights; Executive Office; Legislature (including the Legislative Auditor General); State; Technology, Management, and Budget; Treasury (including MSF and MSHDA); Human Services; Insurance and Financial Services; Judiciary; Licensing and Regulatory Affairs; Military and Veterans Affairs; Natural Resources; State Police; and Transportation.

Sunset Fee Extensions
HB 4363 (H-1) 4/29/2015, Passed 100-10
HB 4364 (H-1) 4/29/2015, Passed 96-14
HB 4382 4/29/2015, Passed 92-18
HB 4383 (H-1) 4/29/2015, Passed 92-18
HB 4381 (H-1) 4/29/2015, Passed 88-22
HB 4384 (H-1) 4/29/2015, Passed 88-22
HB 4397 (H-1) 4/29/2015, Passed 94-16
HB 4398 (H-1) 4/29/2015, Passed 98-12
HB 4363 will extend sunset on mechanical contractor licensing fee. HB 4364 will extend sunset on plumbing contractor licensing fees. HB 4382 will extend sunset on electrical license fees. HB 4383 will extend sunset on building inspector licensing fee. HB 4381 will extend sunset on various license fees. HB 4384 will extend sunset on nonprofit corporation act licensing fees. HB 4397 will extend sunset on Business Corporation act licensing fees. HB 4398 will extend sunset on uniform security licensing fees.

Fiscal Year 2015-2016 School Aid Budget
HB 4115 4/29/15, Passed 60-50
HB 4115 is the fiscal year 2015-2016 omnibus appropriations for school aid, higher education, and community colleges
Sunset Fee Extensions
HB 4399 (H-1) 4/29/2015, Passed 98-12
HB 4400 (H-1) 4/29/2015, Passed 99-11
HB 4439 (H-1) 4/29/2015, Passed 102-8
HB 4441 4/29/2015, Passed 109-1
HB 4443 (H-1) 4/29/2015, Passed 106-4
HB 4445 4/29/2015, Passed 104-6
HB 4446 4/29/2015, Passed 103-7
HB 4448 4/29/2015, Passed 107-3
HB 4363 will extend sunset on mechanical contractor licensing fee. HB 4364 will extend sunset on plumbing contractor licensing fees. HB 4382 will extend sunset on electrical license fees. HB 4383 will extend sunset on building inspector licensing fee. HB 4381 will extend sunset on various license fees. HB 4384 will extend sunset on nonprofit corporation act licensing fees. HB 4397 will extend sunset on Business Corporation act licensing fees. HB 4398 will extend sunset on uniform security licensing fees. HB 4399 will extend sunset on MI LLC licensing fees. HB 4400 will extend sunset on livestock dealer licensing fees. HB 4439 will extend sunset on vehicle code fees. HB 4441 will extend sunset on DEQ fees. HB 4443 will extend fingerprint processing and criminal history check fee. HB 4445 will extend sunset on Department of State Fees. HB 4448 will extend sunset on DEQ fees.

MDOT Fund transfer to match federal highway funding
HB 4440 (H-1) 4/29/2015, Passed 107-3
House Bill 4440 (H-1) is a Fiscal Year (FY) 2015-2016 budget implementation bill for the Department of Transportation. The bill amends PA 231 of 1987, the Act which creates and governs the Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF), to redirect $12.0 million from the TEDF to the State Trunkline Fund (STF) for FY 2016. The reduction would be taken from the Targeted Industry program or “Category A” projects, which are consider state projects. The intent of the shift is to match available federal aid highway funds.

Eligibility updates for grant program for independent part-time students at state-approved Michigan degree-granting institutions
HB 4442 (H-2) 4/29/2015, Passed 108-2
House Bill 4442 (H-2) amends PA 180 of 2004, which provides a grant program for independent part-time students at state-approved Michigan degree-granting institutions.

Clean up existing provisions in law to reflect the transfer of the UIA to the Talent Investment Agency and would clarify the use of these funds
HB 4404 4/29/2015, Passed 107-3
House Bill 4404 amends the Michigan Employment Security Act (MESA) to allow contingent funds to be used for developing and executing workforce training programs. Under current law, unemployment insurance solvency taxes and interest, penalties, and damages are deposited into a MESA contingent fund. Solvency taxes are used for the payment of interest on federal advances, and the penalties and interest (P&I) are appropriated for the administration of the unemployment agency (UIA) and for the payment of interest on federal advances. Under the bill, these P&I funds would be appropriated for the administration of the Talent Investment Agency, under which the UIA now falls due to Executive Reorganization Order 2014-6, including, but not limited to, the development and execution of workforce training programs.

Repeal the Extended Family Independence Program, which provides a $10 per month benefit to individuals exiting FIP
HB 4409 (H-1) 4/29/2015, Passed 110-0
House Bills 4409 (H-1) is a Fiscal Year (FY) 2015-2016 budget implementation bill for the Department of Human Services (DHS) budget. It amends the Social Welfare Act to repeal the Extended Family Independence Program (EFIP), which provides a $10 per month benefit to individuals exiting FIP. Under current law, individuals who leave FIP due to no longer meeting the financial eligibility criteria may receive $10 per month in benefits for six months if they continue to meet federal guidelines for work participation. However, the tradeoff for receiving these benefits is that these six months counted against the individual’s 48-month lifetime benefit cap. The FY 2016 DHS budget eliminates the program, saving $116,400. This bill would repeal this provision in the Social Welfare Act to eliminate the program.

Eliminate sunsets on mandates that the state cover 100% of administrative rates for providers of foster care services and instead make these requirements subject to appropriations
HB 4434 (H-2) 4/29/2015, Passed 109-1
House Bill 4434 (H-2) amends the Social Welfare Act to eliminate sunsets on mandates that the state cover 100% of administrative rates (including the $3.00 increase for providers of foster care services, the administrative rate for providers of foster care services for new foster cases, and the rate increase to providers of residential foster care services under a DHS contract) for providers of foster care services and instead make these requirements subject to appropriations. Currently, whenever the state is able to cover these costs, the Act must be updated to reflect this. Under the bill, the state would be required to cover these costs subject to appropriations. It would eliminate the need to regularly amend the Act to implement the DHS budget

Prohibit local units of government from regulating pneumatic guns (such as BB, air, or pellet, or certain paintball guns) except in certain circumstances
SB 85 4/29/2015, Passed 79-31
Senate Bill 85 would prohibit local units of government from regulating pneumatic guns (such as BB, air, or pellet, or certain paintball guns) except in certain circumstances.

Align MI’s definition of firearm with the federal definition
HB 4154 (S-1) 4/30/2015, Passed 89-21
HB 4155 (S-2) 4/30/2015, Passed 90-20
HB 4156 (S-1) 4/30/2015, Passed 89-21
HB 4161 (S-1) 4/30/2015, Passed 108-2
House Bill 4154 would amend sections of the National Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) to align Michigan’s definition of firearm with the federal definition of firearm.. 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. House Bill 4156 will amend various statutes to align Michigan’s definition of firearm with the federal definition of firearm. House Bill 4161 defines in the Michigan Penal Code what it means to “brandish” a firearm.

Regulate amateur mixed martial arts (MMA)
HB 4220 (H-1) 4/30/2015, Passed 100-10
HB 4286 (H-1) 4/30/2015, Passed 99-11
HBs 4220 and 4286 would regulate amateur mixed martial arts (MMA).


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