The following is a summary of legislation that recently passed the House 1.18.16-1.22.16. Feel free to contact me with any questions or if you need additional information (517-373-8692).

Emergency Contact Info on Driver Licenses and State ID Cards

HB 4459 (S-2) (Lucido) RC 5, 1/20/16 Passed 106-0

HB 4460 (S-2) (Lucido) RC 6, 1/20/16 Passed 106-0

Next: Presentation to the Governor

Committee: Transportation and Infrastructure
Description: HB 4459 (S-2) (Lucido) amends the Vehicle Code with respect to driver’s licenses to allow, upon request, for emergency contact information to be contained within electronic or machine readable codes within a digitized driver’s license or State personal identification card. The Secretary of State is not required to implement the provision until the date that digitized licenses are manufactured under a new vendor contract for the manufacture of digitized licenses.

Criminal Penalties for Vandalizing Traffic Control Devices, Signs

HB 4187 (H-3) (DURHAL) RC 7, 1/20/16 Passed 88-18

Next: Sent to the Senate

Committee: Criminal Justice
Description: HB 4187 (H-3) (DURHAL) would establish criminal penalties for vandalizing or removing a traffic control device, light post, sign, etc. on a road or highway.

Establishing Regulation for Certification of Ignition Interlock Device Manufactures, Service Centers, and Installers

HB 4980 (Kesto) RC 8, 1/20/16 Passed 92-14

Next: Sent to the Senate

Committee: Judiciary
Description: HB 4980 (Kesto) is the sentencing guidelines companion bill to Senate Bill 176 (H-1) (Schuitmaker), which would establish regulations and procedures for the certification of alcohol ignition interlock device (BAIID) manufacturers, service centers, and installers. House Bill 4980 is technical in nature and would not revise the criminal penalties for the BAIID-related criminal offenses referenced in the bill.

Sales/Use Tax on Difference Amendments

SB 232 (S-1) (Robertson) RC 9, 1/20/16 Passed 101-5

SB 233 (S-1) (Robertson) RC 10, 1/20/16 Passed 101-5

Next: Presentation to the Governor

Committee: Tax Policy
Description: Senate Bills 232 (S-1) (Robertson) and 233 (S-1) (Robertson) amend the Use Tax Act and Sales Tax Act, respectfully, to “clean up” provisions related to the “sales tax on the difference” legislation enacted last session regarding trade-in transactions for purchases of motor vehicles, RVs, and watercraft, including ensuring that the reduced sales/use tax burden applies to purchases from out-of-state dealers. In addition, language in each bill is stricken that links the annual increases in the tradein credit allowed to be claimed to offset sales/use tax liability on a purchase to maintaining Medicaid expansion.

Massage Therapist Licensing

HB 5001 (H-1) (Lauwers) RC 11, 1/20/16 Passed 105-1

Next: Sent to the Senate

Committee: Regulatory Reform
Description: HB 5001 (H-1) (Lauwers) amends the Public Health Code to remove the requirement that an applicant for a massage therapist license have completed high school, or its equivalent, to receive licensure. The legislation also increases the number of classroom instructional hours an applicant must have completed, if the applicant enrolled in a massage education program after August 1, 2016, from 500 hours to 625 hours. Applicants who enrolled in a massage education program prior to August 1, 2016 will still only be required to complete the current 500 hours of classroom training required.

Flint Water Crisis Supplemental

HB 5220 (H-1) (PHELPS) RC 12, 1/20/16 Passed 106-0

Next: Sent to the Senate

Committee: Appropriations
Description: HB 5220 (H-1) (PHELPS) is expected to provide supplemental appropriations to a number of state departments in order to address the ongoing Flint Water Crisis. The total appropriations includes $28M ($22.6 GF/GP)

• For MDE - $935k GF/GP to hire additional school nurses, provide Early On and special education services, coordinating wraparound services, providing nutritional snacks to elementary students, and providing/coordinating communications for parents, educators, and the community.
• For DEQ - $5,786,500 GF/GP for water system needs, potential payment to Flint to aid with utility issues, lab and testing costs, corrosion control procedures for one year, and an infrastructure integrity study using outside experts.
• For DHHS - $17,207,000 gross ($11.8M GF/GP, $2.5M restricted, $2.8M federal) for purchases of bottled water, water filters, and replacement cartridges ($8M – says more funding is expected to be necessary in FY 16), DHHS field operations costs, epidemiological analysis and case management of individuals with elevated blood levels, nutrition support and community education, support for child and adolescent health centers and the Children’s Healthcare Access Program, assessment of potential linkages to other diseases (specifically mentions Legionnaire’s), food inspections, and crisis counseling and behavioral health services.
• For LARA - $2M GF/GP to pay for plumbing fixture replacements in schools, child care and adult foster care centers, nursing homes, dialysis centers, and surgery centers within Flint.
• For DMVA - $2M GF/GP to support National Guard water support efforts. This includes costs for Guard member salaries, travel, and lodging for three months.
• For MSP - $100k GF/GP to provide operational funding for the Flint Water Interagency Coordinating Committee created in EO 2016-1.