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• Introduced by Sen. Randy Richardville (R) on February 15, 2012, to establish that state university graduate students who work as research assistants are not considered government employees for purposes of enrolling them into a union. This relates to a Mackinac Center lawsuit filed on behalf of graduate student research assistants (GSRAs) at the University of Michigan. See also House Bill 4003, which would more broadly prohibit “stealth unionizations,” including an ongoing one involving home heath care aides and the SEIU union.
  • Referred to the Senate Government Operations Committee on February 15, 2012.
    • Reported in the Senate on February 22, 2012, with the recommendation that the amendment be adopted and that the bill then pass.
  • Amendment offered in the Senate on February 22, 2012, to only exempt grad student research assistants from being deemed "employees" subject to unionization if the work they do does not meet an IRS "20 factor test" of employee status. The amendment passed by voice vote in the Senate on February 22, 2012.
• Passed 26 to 12 in the Senate on February 22, 2012, to establish that state university graduate students who work as research assistants are not considered government employees for purposes of enrolling them into a union, if their work terms do not meet an IRS "20 factor test" for employee status. This relates to a Mackinac Center lawsuit filed on behalf of graduate student research assistants (GSRAs) at the University of Michigan. See also House Bill 4003, which would more broadly prohibit “stealth unionizations,” including an ongoing one involving home heath care aides and the SEIU union.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the House on February 22, 2012.
  • Referred to the House Government Operations Committee on February 22, 2012.
    • Reported in the House on February 29, 2012, without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill pass.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Vicki Barnett (D) on March 1, 2012, to leave the decision on whether student research assistants are "employees" who can be forced to pay union dues or fees to the Michigan Employment Relations Commission, which is essentially the status quo without the bill. The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on March 1, 2012.
• Passed 62 to 45 in the House on March 1, 2012, to establish that state university graduate students who work as research assistants are not considered government employees for purposes of enrolling them into a union, if their work terms do not meet an IRS "20 factor test" for employee status. This relates to a Mackinac Center lawsuit filed on behalf of graduate student research assistants (GSRAs) at the University of Michigan. See also House Bill 4003, which would more broadly prohibit “stealth unionizations,” including an ongoing one involving home heath care aides and the SEIU union.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"