2009 Senate Bill 731

Authorize unionization of home personal assistance providers

Introduced in the Senate

Aug. 5, 2009

Introduced by Sen. Jason Allen (R-37)

To empower the state to unionize 42,000 individuals hired by elderly or disabled Medicaid recipients to provide personal care services in their homes. These providers are not employees of the state, so the bill uses the legal device of creating a shell government “employer” that would transfer some $6.6 million in Medicaid money annually to the SEIU union (considered the “union dues” for these workers). The bill would also recognize in statute a “Michigan Quality Community Care Council,” which would create the shell corporation "employer" through an "interlocal agreement" with three counties. Note: A Mackinac Center "<a href="http://coa.courts.mi.gov/resources/asp/viewdocket.asp?casenumber=294087&inqtype=public&yr=0&yr=0&SubmitBtn=Search">stealth unionization</a>" lawsuit is pending regarding a similar arrangement imposed on home day care providers without the statutory authorization that this bill would provide.

Referred to the Committee on Senior Citizens and Veterans Affairs

June 1, 2010

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-3) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

June 8, 2010

Referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Reform