To require drivers to slow to 10 mph below the posted speed limit when passing police or emergency vehicles on the side of the road, and also require this when passing roadside tow trucks, garbage trucks, maintenance and utility vehicles that have amber lights flashing. Violations would be a civil offense subject to a $400 fine. The bill does not define which posted limit on freeways would apply (the one for cars, for trucks, for work-zones, etc.).
The House vote on the bill described above.
The House vote on the bill described above.
To revise Michigan campaign finance laws that violate the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in the Citizens United case, which limited the power of congress and state legislatures to restrict election-related political speech by corporations, including non-profit groups motivated by ideological or political concerns.
To allow auto insurance companies to offer policies with less-than unlimited personal injury protection (PIP) coverage; prohibit hospitals and other providers from charging full "chargemaster" rates in these auto insurance cases; add restrictions on pursuing crash-related lawsuits in court (which the no-fault system was intended to minimize), and adopt other reforms likely to lower insurance rates.
To authorize a new program to give up to $50 million in state taxpayer subsidies to some private business owners through a device the bill would create called a “rural development fund.”
To repeal a state law that bans ticket “scalping” at sports and entertainment events, but also authorizes jail time for interfering with an internet-based ticket distribution system used by an event's promoter.
To exempt owners of private general aviation aircraft from having to pay sales tax on parts. Fiscal agency projections indicate this and a related use tax exemption will save aircraft owners $4 million annually, and reduce state revenue by the same amount.
To allow the indefinite continuation of special discounted electricity rates granted by Consumers Energy to the Hemlock Semiconductor subsidiary of Dow Corning, which under a 2010 law was exempted from a ban on cross-subsidization between residential and commercial/industrial customers.
To amend and potentially expand a law that authorizes private convention and tourism bureaus in various regions to impose a room tax on local hotel and motel owners to pay for the bureaus' marketing programs. The bill was introduced after the progress of a Mackinac Center Legal Foundation lawsuit appeared to place the authority of these private bureaus to impose the fees in legal jeopardy.
To enroll Michigan in a national driver license compact that shares traffic violation records with other states. Under the compact, a traffic violation in another state would generate "points" on a Michigan driver's license, and vice versa.
To require drivers to slow to 10 mph below the posted speed limit when passing police or emergency vehicles on the side of the road, and also require this when passing roadside tow trucks, garbage trucks, maintenance and utility vehicles that have amber lights flashing. Violations would be a civil offense subject to a $400 fine. The bill does not define which posted limit on freeways would apply (the one for cars, for trucks, for work-zones, etc.).
The House vote on the bill described above.
To require the Secretary of State to develop a “Choose Life” license plate, with the profits from its sale spent on "life-affirming programs and projects."
This bill was vetoed by Gov. Rick Snyder.
To mandate that all employers in the state (except federal agencies) grant employees one hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked, up to a total of 40 hours annually for small businesses, and 72 hours annually for larger employers. The leave could be used for individual or family medical issues, domestic violence issues, school meetings and more. Employers would be required to keep relevant records for five years, and under procedures specified in the measure, a violation claim by an employee could potentially subject an employer to a legal presumption of having broken the law.
Note: The measure was placed before the legislature by an initiated law petition drive, which requires it either be passed legislatively or placed on the ballot. If placed on the ballot and approved, any future amendments would require a ¾ supermajority vote in the House and Senate. But if enacted by the legislature, it can be amended later with a simple majority vote. Negotiations are underway over amending the measure after the November, 2018 election so as to require employers to provide paid leave but with less burdensome record keeping and legal liability provisions.
The House vote on the measure described above.
To make it unlawful to pay a worker less than $12.00 per hour by 2022, by gradually increasing the current $9.25 per hour wage mandate. Also, to eliminate a lower minimum wage for tipped workers by 2024. (Under current law, while the mandated minimum is lower for tipped workers, if tips come up short then employers must still pay the difference between it and the regular minimum wage.) A lower minimum wage for 16- and 17-year-olds would also go up.
Note: The measure was placed before the legislature by an initiated law petition drive, so the same procedural issues described above are in play. In this case, negotiations are underway over amending the measure after the election by removing its elimination of a separate minimum wage for tipped workers.
The House vote on the measure described above.
To require that any parole board departure from state parole guidelines be for substantial and compelling reasons that are "objective" and stated in writing. The bill prescribes a list of circumstances that would constitute substantial and compelling objective reasons for departing for the guidelines when considering a particular case and prisoner.
To require school districts to give students a regional “career outlook” forecast document created by a government Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives. This would be part of a process that seventh-graders must undergo of creating an educational development plan with school officials.
To eliminate a cap on the amount of acres the state can own in the northern part of the state, but require additional procedures for new land acquisitions. Acquisitions would not be allowed if the state fails to make full “payments in lieu of property taxes” (PILT) on state land to local governments. Other changes generally facilitate making acquisitions that increase access to state land for recreation and resource use, and revise other state land management details.
The state education budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct 1, 2018. This appropriates $16.843 billion, including $1.843 billion of federal money. Of this, $14.765 billion goes to K-12 public schools, up from $14.580 billion this year. Another $1.669 billion is for state universities, compared to $1.629 billion this year. Community colleges get $408 million, up from $399 million. The bill increases the basic state "foundation allowance" grants to public schools by $120 per pupil for higher-spending districts, and $240 per pupil for districts that get less funding.
To convert a registration mandate now imposed on acupuncturists into a more comprehensive licensure regime, including training and apprenticeship requirements, license fees, regulations specified in the bill and additional ones that the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs would be authorized to impose, and more.
To impose licensure, fees, certification through a nationally recognized agency, and more on “genetic counselors” as they are defined in the bill.
To require second-hand goods and junk dealers that use an “automatic recycling kiosk” to obtain a license from the local government in each jurisdiction where one is located. “Automatic recycling kiosk” is defined as one that verifies identity by “remote examination of a seller's government-issued identification card by a live representative during all hours of operation,” and that captures and stores images of the seller and goods.
To prohibit local governments from imposing new licensure mandates on individuals seeking to earn a living in a particular occupation if the state already imposes its own licensure mandate on that occupation. Locals could keep their current licensure mandates but not impose any new ones.
To repeal the state prevailing wage law, which prohibits awarding government contracts to contractors who submit the lowest bid unless the contractor pays wages based on union pay scales that local union officials represent as prevalent in a particular area. The voter-initiated legislation was placed before the legislature by petition, and does not require the Governor's approval to become law.
The House vote on the prevailing wage law repeal described above.
To exempt a person age 65 or above from having to buy the unlimited personal injury protection (PIP) coverage mandated by the state’s no fault auto insurance law. Specifically, these individuals could buy either unlimited coverage or a policy that caps medical coverage at $50,000, with injury expenses above that amount covered by the individual's Medicare and related coverage. By the same margin the Senate also passed Senate Bill 1014, which restricts charges for long term attendant care provided by family members to crash victims under the standard unlimited medical benefit coverage.
To require state welfare officials to seek federal permission to allow requiring able-bodied individuals enrolled in the Medicaid expansion authorized by the federal health care law to work at least 80 hours a month for at least nine months a year, or be in school, job-training or volunteer work. The bill authorizes exceptions for a parent with children under age six, individuals getting disability benefits or above age 62, a disabled person's caretaker and more.
The Senate vote to concur with the House-passed version of the bill described above.
To spend $100 million on government job and career training programs, scholarships, program grants and more, which would be labeled a “Marshall plan for talent.” Senate Bill 942 would authorize paying for this with money borrowed against revenues from a 1998 state tobacco lawsuit settlement.
To create a state environmental permit appeal panel comprised of certain officials and representatives of specified interests including business and environmentalist organizations. A permit applicant aggrieved by permit denial could appeal to the panel, which would have the authority to revise or reject state environmental regulators' decision or conditions of a permit.
To expand a law that requires individuals who apply for a school job to sign a document that authorizes the applicant’s current or former employers to disclose any unprofessional conduct to the school. The bill would require the school to report to the Department of Education any information obtained this way about sex or other crimes involving a minor, or inappropriate conduct involving a minor. This would also apply if a school receives similar information about a current employee. The department would be required to keep these reports for six years.
To extend the statute of limitations to 10 years on filing civil lawsuits related to criminal sexual conduct offenses, or if the victim was a minor, until the individual turns 28 years of age. This would be retroactive for cases going back to 1997 that match the profile of offenses committed by convicted MSU sports doctor Larry Nassar, except a victim would have to file a suit within three months of the bill becoming law.
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.”
To establish streamlined procedures and timetables for a mining company getting revisions to restrictions in its state operating permit, with many exceptions. This would apply to determinations that a permit amendment does not “result in environmental impacts that are materially increased or different” from those specified in the original permit.
To revise a 2008 law that imposed a comprehensive regulatory regime and restrictions on industrial, commercial and agricultural groundwater uses that might have a negative impact. The bill would allow a more streamlined process for agricultural and other withdrawals that meet certain conditions, and establish deadlines for state officials to process permit requests. It would also repeal a requirement that landowners make public certain agricultural well use information.
To expand the taxing power of local authorities created to deliver direct and indirect subsidies to business property owners in “principal shopping districts” and “business improvement districts,” by letting them impose property taxes styled as “special assessments” on home and residential property owners. Under current law residential property is excluded from the levies these entities are authorized to impose.
To allow the indefinite continuation of special discounted electricity rates granted by Consumers Energy to the Hemlock Semiconductor subsidiary of Dow Corning, which under a 2010 law were exempted from a ban on cross-subsidization between residential and commercial/industrial customers (meaning residential customers pay more while Hemlock pays less). The styles the discount as a privilege potentially available to all industrial customers, but details that limit it to just this one company. Note: Hemlock makes photovoltaic solar cells, which were recently granted tariff protection against foreign competition by the Trump administration.
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Contact my lawmakers
Sen. Curtis Hertel, Jr., D-East Lansing, District 23. 517-373-1734. senchertel@senate.michigan.gov
Rep. Andy Schor, D-Lansing, District 68. 517-373-0826. AndySchor@house.mi.gov
SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, non-partisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, non-partisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Please visit www.MichiganVotes.org.
Permission to reprint this legislative summary in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided that www.MichiganVotes.org is properly cited.
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