July 27, 2012 Weekly Roll Call Report

The House and Senate are in the midst of a summer break, so rather than votes, this report instead contains several newly introduced bills of interest.

Y = Yes, N = No, X = Not Voting

Senate Bill 1144: Restrict no fault auto insurance gamesmanship
Introduced by Sen. Roger Kahn (R), to prohibit an auto insurer from issuing an auto insurance policy for a term less than one month. This is intended to prevent individuals from purchasing a policy required under Michigan’s no-fault insurance law to register a vehicle, and then cancelling it after he or she gets the license plate or tab. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

Senate Bill 1147: Allow pension double dipping by certain “retired” school employees
Introduced by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D), to repeal a provision that mostly prohibited a school employee hired after July 1, 2010 from collecting a school pension check while also getting paid as a school "contractor" performing “core” educational services. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

Senate Bill 1152: Increase income tax personal exemption
Introduced by Sen. Gretchen Whitmer (D), to increase the state income tax personal exemption from $3,700 to $4,300, and repeal the means-tested phase-out of this exemption that was enacted as part of the 2011 law repealing the Michigan Business Tax and limiting a personal income tax exemption for some pension income. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

Senate Bill 1162: Authorize fine union for illegal government employee strike
Introduced by Sen. Jack Brandenburg (R), to authorize fines of $5,000 per day against government and school employee unions for each day of an illegal strike, and additional sanctions on striking employees. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

Senate Bill 1171: Allow municipalities to revise employee pension systems
Introduced by Sen. John Pappageorge (R), to allow a municipality to revoke or change its employee retirement plan or benefits with a majority vote of its governing body, rather than also requiring a majority vote in a public election (as required under current Municipal Employees' Retirement System rules). The “accrued” pension benefits already earned by existing employees are guaranteed by the state constitution and would not be affected, but other post-employment benefits could be changed. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

Senate Bill 1177 and House Bill 5624: Prohibit employment for less than specified wage
Introduced by Sen. Bert Johnson (D) and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D), respectively, to make it unlawful to employ a worker for less than $7.90 an hour beginning in 2013, increasing in steps to $10 an hour in 2015, notwithstanding any voluntary agreement between the employer and employee. The current state minimum wage level required for hourly employees not covered by a federal wage mandate is $7.40 an hour. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 5593: Authorize corporate internship tax break for internships
Introduced by Rep. Kenneth Horn (R), to authorize a $600 prt-intern corporate income tax credit for a company that provides a paid internship to a student enrolled in a Michigan college, university or trade school, if the terms of the internship meet specified criteria. The credit would be increased by $75 per intern if the company provides three or more internships. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 5594: Impose licensure on “naturopathic physicians”
Introduced by Rep. Lisa Lyons (R), to impose licensure and regulation on “naturopathic physicians,” with license fees, education requirements, and more. The bill defines “naturopathic” medicine as “a system of practice that is based on the natural healing capacity of individuals.” Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 5602: Ban future benefits for food stamp scammers
Introduced by Rep. Anthony Forlini (R), to make a person ineligible for future food stamps (now provided through “bridge cards”) who as a means of obtaining cash uses this welfare benefit to buy products (presumably beverages) that come in containers with deposits, throws out the product, and returns the containers for the deposit money. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 5608: Give some lottery money to Detroit instead of schools
Introduced by Rep. Jimmy Womack (D), to create a new state lottery game from which the proceeds go to Detroit rather than to the state school aid fund like current lottery proceeds. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 5622: Authorize state child care subsidies and tax breaks
Introduced by Rep. Dian Slavens (D), to authorize a means-tested “refundable” state income tax credit (essentially a cash subsidy in many cases) that would be a percentage of a federal income tax child care credit the individual can claim. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 5625: Mandate Michigan employers provide paid sick leave
Introduced by Rep. Jim Ananich (D), to mandate that employers grant employees one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, up to 40 hours annually for small businesses, and 72 hour annually for larger employers.. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

Interested in a cumulative list of all weekly Roll Call Report Votes for 2012?