Senate Bill 35: Authorize criminal penalties for nonpayment of “administrative hearing bureau” fines
Passed 105 to 5 in the House on November 14, 2013, to authorize additional penalties for failing to pay fines imposed by “administrative hearing bureaus” that most cities are allowed to create for enforcing “blight violations” under a 2003 law, with some exceptions. Under that law, cities already have the power to place a lien against the property. The bill would authorize additional fines of $500, 93 days in jail for a second offense, and up to a year for a third offense.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675385
Senate Bill 36: Authorize penalties for nonpayment of “administrative hearing bureau” fines
Passed 106 to 4 in the House on November 14, 2013, to allow a local government to ban giving an approval required under a local zoning ordinance to a property owner who has failed to pay fines imposed by “administrative hearing bureaus” that most cities are allowed to create for enforcing “blight violations” under a 2003 law. Under that law, cities already have the power to place a lien against the property. Senate Bill 35 would also authorize jail time for second offenses.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675386
Senate Bill 37: Authorize penalties for nonpayment of “administrative hearing bureau” fines
Passed 106 to 4 in the House on November 14, 2013, to allow a local government to ban giving an approval required under a building code ordinance to a property owner who has failed to pay fines imposed by “administrative hearing bureaus” that most cities are allowed to create for enforcing “blight violations” under a 2003 law. Under that law, cities already have the power to place a lien against the property.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675387
Senate Bill 38: Authorize wage garnishment for nonpayment of “administrative hearing bureau” fines
Passed 95 to 15 in the House on November 14, 2013, to allow a local government to garnish the wages of a property owner who has failed to pay fines imposed by “administrative hearing bureaus” that most cities are allowed to create for enforcing “blight violations” under a 2003 law. Under that law, cities already have the power to place a lien against the property.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675388
Senate Bill 39: Authorize foreclosure for nonpayment of “administrative hearing bureau” fines
Passed 106 to 4 in the House on November 14, 2013, to allow a local government to foreclose on property owned by a person who has failed to pay fines imposed by “administrative hearing bureaus” that most cities are allowed to create for enforcing “blight violations” under a 2003 law. Under that law, cities already have the power to place a lien against the property. Senate Bill 35 would also authorize jail time for second offenses.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675390
Senate Bill 169: Allow driverless car testing
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 14, 2013, to allow the operation on highways of an automated “driverless” vehicle for testing purposes, subject to narrow conditions. A human operator would have to to be present to monitor performance and intervene if necessary. Gov. Rick Snyder called for this in his 2013 State of the State address.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675314
Senate Bill 171: Increase fine for illegally shooting deer with big racks
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 14, 2013, to concur with the House-passed version of the bill.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675295
Senate Bill 172: Increase trespass while hunting penalties
Passed 106 to 4 in the House on November 13, 2013, to increase the restitution to a property owner for trespassing while hunting. Under current law, an owner can seek restitution of $250 or the amount of any property damage, whichever is greater. The bill would increase the former amount to $750.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675217
Senate Bill 174: Mandate credit agency “security freeze”
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on November 14, 2013, to require credit reporting agencies to honor a “security freeze” request made by a consumer or on behalf of a minor under age 16 or an incapacitated individual, which prohibits the release of information to a third party without prior express authorization from the consumer. The bill controls the prices the agencies may charge for this service.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675377
Senate Bill 396: Expand ban on replacement construction assessment hikes
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 14, 2013, to revise a provision restricting property tax assessment increases on construction that replaces parts of a structure damaged by accident or an act of God, so that no assessment would be imposed as long as the construction is of substantially the same materials and square footage. This cap would also apply to value-increasing improvements required to meet current health, sanitary, zoning, safety, fire, or construction codes and ordinances.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675306
Senate Bill 441: Let counties create electronic campaign finance disclosure systems
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 14, 2013, to allow counties to establish electronic versions of the local government campaign finance reporting requirements they are required to operate, and to require election campaigns that raise or spend an amount over either $1,500 or $5,000 (the county may choose one of these) to file mandated campaign finance reports by electronic means rather than on paper.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675288
Senate Bill 491: Restrict licensing golf carts for on-road travel
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 14, 2013, to prohibit licensing a vehicle that is manufactured exclusively for off-road use for on-road travel, including golf carts.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675309
Senate Bill 610: Revise state ban on short-barreled rifles and shotguns
Passed 36 to 2 in the Senate on November 14, 2013, to revise a state ban on short-barreled rifles or shotguns to state that it bans guns that are banned under federal law.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675307
Senate Bill 612: Trim mandated barber license instruction hours
Passed 31 to 7 in the Senate on November 14, 2013, to reduce from 2,000 to 1,800 the hours of instruction at a “licensed barber college” that an individual must accumulate before he or she is allowed by the state to earn a living at this trade.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675310
Senate Bill 641: Revise real estate license details
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 14, 2013, to allow inactive real estate salespersons and brokers to renew their license within three years, subject to conditions and requirements specified in the bill. Also, to revise a six-hour annual “continuing education” mandate to instead allow licensees to take 18 hours spread over three years.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675311
Senate Bill 661: Increase political contributions limits
Passed 20 to 18 in the Senate on November 14, 2013, to increase the maximum campaign contributions allowed by state election law, index these to inflation, and require additional finance reports from candidates. The bill would also establish that third party “issue ads” that do not expressly advocate the election of a candidate or issue need not include a disclosure of who paid for the ad, and allow the Republican and Democratic caucuses in the legislature to raise and spend money promoting their preferred candidates in primary elections.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675293
Senate Bill 663: Waive automaker liability for “automated vehicle” modifications
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 14, 2013, to waive the liability of a vehicle or parts manufacturer for damages resulting from a person trying to retrofit a vehicle into an automated vehicle (“driverless car”). See also Senate Bill 169.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675315
Senate Bill 665: Transfer state Capitol upkeep to new commission
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 14, 2013, to require the legislature to create a commission to employ a manager and staff that would take over the functions of maintaining, restoring and improving the state Capitol building, grounds and parking as a “historic site.” The bill would also require appointment of a “capitol architect” and create several statutory “funds” (accounts) to hold money for these purposes, but does not itself appropriate or earmark any specific revenue. Currently, these functions are generally performed by an existing staff using annual appropriations that are not mandated by statute.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675312
Senate Bill 666: Transfer state Capitol upkeep to new commission
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 14, 2013, to revise the current “legislative council” law to reflect the proposal in Senate Bill 665 to create a “Michigan Capitol State Commission” to take over management of the facility.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675313
House Bill 4257: Revise liquor license detail
Passed 105 to 5 in the House on November 14, 2013, to extend to counties, villages and townships the provisions of a law that authorizes “redevelopment project area liquor licenses” over and above a particular city’s liquor license quota if the local government’s “redevelopment project area” a meets certain capital investment thresholds.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675399
House Bill 4513: Revise public housing project allocation detail
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on November 14, 2013, to require the commissions that run government housing projects to offer current disabled tenants a right of first refusal to relocate to an available dwelling accommodation on a lower floor of the same project.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675380
House Bill 4546: Increase marketing “assessments” imposed on potato growers
Passed 73 to 37 in the House on November 14, 2013, to increase the maximum “assessment” that can be levied on growers under a government potato marketing scheme, with exceptions for smaller growers, and revise the constituents represented on the board of political appointees authorized to determine the level of assessments.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675407
House Bill 4624: Allow multi-department firefighter employment
Passed 59 to 51 in the House on November 14, 2013, to prohibit fire department from prohibiting its firefighters from also working as a volunteer, part-time or paid on-call firefighter with another department, if this does not conflict with the original employment. Also, to make this issue a prohibited subject of collective bargaining between a fire department and an employee union.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675379
House Bill 4633: Mandate license plate replacement after 10 years (as-passed version)
Passed 21 to 17 in the Senate on November 14, 2013, to mandate that vehicle owners must replace their license plate after 10 years, even if it is still legible. Under current law the state imposes a $5 extra charge to replace a plate.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675305
House Bill 4642: Repeal striking workers replacement ad disclosure mandate
Passed 59 to 51 in the House on November 14, 2013, to repeal a law that prohibits an employer from soliciting or advertising for replacements for striking workers unless the solicitation discloses that there is a strike.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675378
House Bill 4709: Revise beer brewer regulations
Passed 107 to 3 in the House on November 14, 2013, to increase the maximum production level that subjects a brewer to state “microbrewer” regulations (vs. regular brewer regulations), from 30,000 barrels annually to 60,000.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675394
House Bill 4710: Revise beer brewer regulations
Passed 106 to 4 in the House on November 14, 2013, to increase the number of “brewpubs” in which a single owner can have an interest, from three to six, with a maximum capacity between them of 18,000 barrels of beer per calendar year.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675395
House Bill 4711: Revise beer brewer regulations
Passed 106 to 4 in the House on November 14, 2013, to revise a law that prohibits a brewer from having more than one brewery in the state that sells beer at retail for on-premises consumption. The bill increases this to two.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675396
House Bill 4782: Expand another corporate/developer subsidy regime
Passed 87 to 23 in the House on November 14, 2013, to authorize creation of a sixth “Next Michigan Development Corporation,” which is a government agency that gives tax breaks and subsidies to particular corporations or developers selected by political appointees on the entity’s board for projects meeting extremely broad “multi-modal commerce” criteria (basically, any form of goods-related commerce). The new entity would be in the Upper Peninsula.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675391
House Bill 4788: Authorize fund-raising veterans license plate
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on November 14, 2013, to authorize a fund raising “collector” license plate recognizing Michigan veterans, with the proceeds going to various state veterans programs and tuition subsidies.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675402
House Bill 4918: Ban paying “bounties” to local parking enforcement “volunteers”
Passed 102 to 8 in the House on November 14, 2013, to prohibit local governments from paying “bounties” to individuals participating in local volunteer parking meter enforcement programs.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675381
House Bill 5046: Allow customer’s wine in restaurants
Passed 105 to 5 in the House on November 14, 2013, to allow a customer to bring his or her own bottle of wine to a restaurant that has a liquor license, and let the restaurant set and charge a fee for this.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675397
House Bill 5069: Authorize penalties on rental property “squatters”
Passed 89 to 21 in the House on November 14, 2013, to establish that the usual restrictions and penalties on a landlord interfering with a tenant’s legitimate possession of a rented residence do not apply in the case of “squatters,” defined by the bill as a person who took possession by “forcible entry, holds possession by force after a peaceable entry, or came into possession by trespass.” House Bill 5070 authorizes criminal penalties for some squatting violations.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675382
House Bill 5070: Authorize penalties on rental property “squatters”
Passed 91 to 19 in the House on November 14, 2013, to authorize criminal penalties for a “squatter” who illegally occupies a residence, including up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine for second and subsequent violations. “Squatter” is defined by the bill as someone who “at any time during that period of occupancy, occupied the property with the owner’s consent for an agreed-upon consideration” but not a “guest or a family member of the owner or a tenant”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675383
House Bill 5071: Authorize penalties on rental property “squatters”
Passed 91 to 19 in the House on November 14, 2013, to establish sentencing guidelines for the crime proposed by House Bill 5070 of “squatting,” defined as illegally occupying a residence.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675384
House Bill 5086: Revise homestead income tax credit
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on November 14, 2013, to establish that a person who is blind is considered equivalent to “disabled” for purposes of eligibility for an income tax credit against property taxes imposed on a person’s primary residence.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675401
House Bill 5134: Transfer state Capitol upkeep to new commission
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on November 14, 2013, to revise a “Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Act” to reflect the proposal in Senate Bill 665 to create a “Michigan Capitol State Commission” to maintain, restore and improve the Michigan state Capitol building, grounds and parking as a “historic site”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675400
House Bill 5140: Revise package liquor store quotas
Passed 103 to 7 in the House on November 14, 2013, to gradually phase-in a modest relaxation of package liquor store quota rules, to facilitate a store moving from one community to another community in the same or a neighboring county.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675398
Senate Bill 673: Designate road after fallen police officer
Introduced by Sen. Mark Jansen (R) on November 12, 2013, to designate a section of I-96 in Ottawa County as the “Officer Trevor Slot Memorial Highway”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161341
Senate Bill 674: Establish statutory right to breastfeed in public
Introduced by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D) on November 12, 2013, to establish in law that a woman has a right to breastfeed a baby in a “place of public accommodation” or public facility. A woman would be entitled to “the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations” in this places, and if denied them could sue for actual damages or up to $200 in “presumed” damages.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161342
Senate Bill 675: Revise crime of knowingly telling lies about a political candidate
Introduced by Sen. John Pappageorge (R) on November 12, 2013, to revise a law which makes it a crime to disseminate statements about a politician who running for office, if one knows the statements are “false, deceptive, scurrilous, or malicious,” and if this is done without disclosing who is circulating the assertions. The bill would revise this to make it a crime to recklessly and intentionally “participate in the preparation, dissemination, or broadcast of paid political advertising or campaign material,” or a letter to the editor, about the “political or personal character or acts” of a politician running for office, or about a ballot question, if one knows its statements are false, and if it is “designed or tends to elect, injure, promote, or defeat a candidate or a ballot question”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161343
Senate Bill 676: Impose drug information subscription service mandate on insurers
Introduced by Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D) on November 12, 2013, to mandate that health insurance companies or administrators of plans that cover prescription drugs or devices, must establish a free subscription service to notify beneficiaries about the cost and availability of drugs and medical devices.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161344
Senate Bill 677: Create exception to municipal liability for sewer backups
Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on November 12, 2013, to create an exception for an “extreme weather event” (more than 1.4 inches of rain in an hour or 2.9 inches in a day) in a 2001 law that gives local governments immunity from civil liability for noneconomic damages caused by sewer backups, as long as they are not “substantially” at fault. Also, to allow local governments to create an administrative hearings process to adjudicate these claims.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161345
Senate Bill 678: Revise tobacco tax revenue earmarks
Introduced by Sen. Roger Kahn (R) on November 12, 2013, to earmark $3 million of annual state tobacco tax revenue to the state Capitol upkeep fund proposed by Senate Bill 665; earmark $10.0 million to a state trauma system; and redirect some tobacco tax revenue from Wayne County indigent health care spending and into state Medicaid spending.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161346
Senate Bill 679: Establish scrap metal theft legal presumption
Introduced by Sen. Virgil Smith, Jr. (D) on November 13, 2013, to establish a “rebuttable presumption” that a person caught stripping more than $100 or 100 pounds of metal from a building or structure does not have the permission of the owner, and so is committing larceny as defined in a 2008 scrap metal theft law.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161355
Senate Bill 680: Exclude county road commissions as waterfront road end decision maker
Introduced by Sen. Mike Kowall (R) on November 13, 2013, to establish that county road commissions may not exercise the local government authority to permit and regulate seasonal public docks or wharf at road ends, as specified by a 2012 law.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161356
Senate Bill 681: Ban charter school managers from also leasing property to school
Introduced by Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D) on November 13, 2013, to prohibit charter schools from leasing property from a management company contracted to operate the school, or from a holding company affiliated with the management company.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161357
Senate Bill 682: Impose additional charter school restrictions, mandates and taxes
Introduced by Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D) on November 13, 2013, to impose property taxes on charter schools; prohibit for-profit firms from managing charter schools; prohibit charter school authorizing bodies from authorizing any new schools unless students in the ones they have already chartered outperform conventional schools in the same school district by at least 20 percent; prohibit one charter school authorizer from delegating its monitoring functions to another authorizer; require charter schools to post their management contracts online; and more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161358
Senate Bill 683: Ban credit card fraud “skimming” devices
Introduced by Sen. John Pappageorge (R) on November 13, 2013, to revise a 2012 law banning the possession, manufacture or sale of an automated sales suppression device for falsifying electronic cash register records (also called a “zapper” or “phantom-ware”), so that it also bans “skimming” devices intended to covertly obtain information allowing access to an individual’s financial accounts.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161359
Senate Bill 684: Ban credit card fraud “skimming” devices
Introduced by Sen. John Pappageorge (R) on November 13, 2013, to establish sentencing guidelines for the credit card fraud “skimming” device penalties proposed by Senate Bill 683.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161360
Senate Bill 685: Revise weights and measures law detail
Introduced by Sen. Darwin Booher (R) on November 14, 2013, to update a date reference in the state’s uniform weights and measures law.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161369
Senate Bill 686: Exempt employers of work visa aliens from unemployment payroll tax
Introduced by Sen. Howard Walker (R) on November 14, 2013, to exempt employers of legal aliens who have work visas from having to pay unemployment benefit payroll taxes (“assessments”) if certain conditions specified in the bill apply.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161370
Senate Bill 687: Prohibit government utility terminations
Introduced by Sen. Darwin Booher (R) on November 14, 2013, to prohibit a local government that provides water, sewer or electric service under contract to other communities or residents of the region from terminating the service or refusing to renew the contract, subject to certain conditions.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161371
Senate Bill 688: Authorize “patient centered” Medicaid alternative
Introduced by Sen. John Pappageorge (R) on November 14, 2013, to require the state Department of Community Health to seek permission (“waivers”) from the federal government allowing it to provide the “patient centered” alternative to the Medicaid medical welfare program proposed by Senate Bill 689.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161372
Senate Bill 689: Authorize “patient centered” Medicaid alternative
Introduced by Sen. Bruce Caswell (R) on November 14, 2013, to create a “patient centered” alternative to the Medicaid medical welfare program that would include low-cost “direct primary care” contracts between individuals and a physician for routine and preventative health care services, high-deductible type insurance plans, “health savings accounts” and more. The bill would also require the state to seek permission from the federal government to allow employers subject to the federal health care law (Obamacare) “employer mandate” to provide high-deductible insurance policies to workers as an alternative to paying the mandate’s penalties.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161373
Senate Bill 690: Revise physical therapist scope-of-practice
Introduced by Sen. John Moolenaar (R) on November 14, 2013, to repeal a ban on licensed physical therapists providing therapy unless it has been prescribed by a physician.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161374
Senate Bill 691: Revise physical therapist scope-of-practice
Introduced by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D) on November 14, 2013, to allow Blue Cross Blue Shield to not reimburse services provided by a licensed physical therapist unless the service has been prescribed by a physician. Senate Bill 690 would repeal a prohibition on physical therapists providing service that has not been prescribed, while Senate Bills 691 through 694 would establish that insurers can still require prescriptions if they choose.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161375
Senate Bill 692: Revise physical therapist scope-of-practice
Introduced by Sen. Tom Casperson (R) on November 14, 2013, to allow “prudent purchaser” type health care coverage plans to not reimburse services provided by a licensed physical therapist unless the service has been prescribed by a physician. Senate Bill 690 would repeal a prohibition on physical therapists providing service that has not been prescribed, while Senate Bills 691 through 694 would establish that insurers can still require prescriptions if they choose.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161376
Senate Bill 693: Revise physical therapist scope-of-practice
Introduced by Sen. Dave Hildenbrand (R) on November 14, 2013, to allow workers compensation insurance plans to not reimburse services provided by a licensed physical therapist unless the service has been prescribed by a physician. Senate Bill 690 would repeal a prohibition on physical therapists providing service that has not been prescribed, while Senate Bills 691 through 694 would establish that insurers can still require prescriptions if they choose.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161377
Senate Bill 694: Revise physical therapist scope-of-practice
Introduced by Sen. Michael Green (R) on November 14, 2013, to allow health insurance companies to not reimburse services provided by a licensed physical therapist unless the service has been prescribed by a physician. Senate Bill 690 would repeal a prohibition on physical therapists providing service that has not been prescribed, while Senate Bills 691 through 694 would establish that insurers can still require prescriptions if they choose.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161378
Senate Bill 695: Revise subsidized Detroit Woodward streetcar detail
Introduced by Sen. Randy Richardville (R) on November 14, 2013, to broaden the definition of “nonprofit street railway” operators authorized by a legislative package enacted in 2008 to create a Detroit “light rail” line (namely, a Woodward Avenue streetcar) that would be subsidized through Tax Increment Financing, public debt, state road tax money, etc.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161379
Senate Bill 696: Exempt Detroit Woodward streetcar from “legacy cost” liability
Introduced by Sen. Virgil Smith, Jr. (D) on November 14, 2013, to revise a Detroit “light rail” line legislative package enacted in 2008 to create a Woodward Avenue streetcar, so as to establish that the operator would not be liable for any “legacy costs” incurred by the Detroit Transportation Department (presumably including unfunded employee pension liabilities).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161380
Senate Bill 697: Exempt Detroit Woodward streetcar from property tax
Introduced by Sen. Tom Casperson (R) on November 14, 2013, to exempt the operator of a Detroit “light rail” line authorized by a legislative package enacted in 2008 from property taxes.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161381
House Bill 5141: Transfer state property to Kent county
Introduced by Rep. Peter MacGregor (R) on November 12, 2013, to transfer the state owned “Rogue River Streambank Access” property in Kent county to the county.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161351
House Bill 5142: Revise driver record commercial “look-up” service
Introduced by Rep. Michael McCready (R) on November 12, 2013, to allow the Secretary of State to contract-out operation of a commercial “look-up” service that (mostly) provides individual driver license records requested by insurance companies, and to charge an additional “web portal development fee” for this service in addition to fees already authorized by statute.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161352
House Bill 5143: Reduce allowable truck weights
Introduced by Rep. Marilyn Lane (D) on November 12, 2013, to reduce the maximum weight of trucks allowed on Michigan roads from 164,000 to 80,000 pounds. This would not necessarily reduce the maximum weight per axle, but would require more trucks and trailers to carry the same amount as currently on Michigan highways.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161353
House Bill 5144: Require more third grade reading interventions
Introduced by Rep. Thomas Stallworth, III (D) on November 12, 2013, to require the state Department of Education to develop and phase-in programs to achieve more student proficiency on the third grade state reading assessment test. The programs would have to include “diagnostic evaluation,” early intervention, tutoring, mentoring and more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161354
House Bill 5145: Revise professional employer organizations regulation detail
Introduced by Rep. Anthony Forlini (R) on November 12, 2013, to delay for one year certain provisions of a 2012 law that revised details of unemployment insurance premium assessments on professional employer organizations (PEOs) and their client firms. PEOs are companies that “lease” employees to other firms on a long term basis but remain the employer of record.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161362
House Bill 5146: Revise life insurance regulation detail
Introduced by Rep. Kate Segal (D) on November 12, 2013, to revise provisions of a law governing group life insurance policies provided by employers, so that it conforms with a national model.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161363
House Bill 5147: Revise life insurance regulation detail
Introduced by Rep. Ken Goike (R) on November 12, 2013, to establish that a variable life insurance or annuity product approved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is by definition compliant with Michigan’s state law governing these products.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161364
House Bill 5148: Allow insurance reserve Canadian stock and bond investments
Introduced by Rep. Marcia Hovey-Wright (D) on November 12, 2013, to revise the law governing the amount and type of assets insurance companies are required to maintain as reserves against future claims, so as to explicitly allow Canadian securities, stocks and governmental bonds.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161365
House Bill 5149: Revise life insurance regulation detail
Introduced in the House on November 12, 2013, to clarify that long-term care insurance benefits are not subject to state regulations on “accelerated benefits,” which are benefits that may be provided under life insurance policies in anticipation of a beneficiary’s death from specified life-threatening conditions.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161366
House Bill 5150: Revise life insurance regulation detail
Introduced by Rep. Ben Glardon (R) on November 12, 2013, to revise state life insurance regulations to permit electronic applications, and revise details of regulations on variable annuity contract refunds.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161367
House Bill 5151: Revise insurance claim payment regulation detail
Introduced by Rep. Tom Leonard (R) on November 12, 2013, to clarify details of a law that mandates insurance benefits be paid within a certain period of time after a claim is filed, and which imposes a statutory interest rate charge on late payments.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161368
House Bill 5152: Exempt voter registration-related Social Security numbers from FOIA
Introduced by Rep. Lisa Lyons (R) on November 14, 2013, to specifically include Social Security numbers among certain voter registration information that is exempt from disclosure under the state Freedom of Information Act, and establish that candidate nominating petition signatures are not valid if they do not contain the date and the signer’s street address in addition to the signature.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161385
House Bill 5153: Raise and index judges’ compensation
Introduced by Rep. John Walsh (R) on November 14, 2013, to increase judges’ salaries, and index them going forward to increases in the salaries paid to state “civil service” employees.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161386
House Bill 5154: Revise criminal prosecution preliminary procedures
Introduced by Rep. Tom Leonard (R) on November 14, 2013, to authorize and establish procedures for “probable cause” conferences in advance of the criminal prosecution “preliminary examinations” required under current law. The subject matter would include possible plea bargains, bail, procedural aspects of a case and more. These conferences could be waived if both sides agree. This and House Bill 5155 would also revise “preliminary examination” procedures, and timetables for both types of proceeding.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161387
House Bill 5155: Revise criminal prosecution preliminary procedures
Introduced by Rep. John Walsh (R) on November 14, 2013, to authorize and establish procedures for “probable cause” conferences in advance of the “preliminary examinations” authorized under current law for criminal prosecutions. The subject matter would include possible plea bargains, bail, procedural aspects of the case, and more. These conferences could be waived if both sides agree. This and House Bill 5154 would also revise “preliminary examination” procedures, and timetables for both types of proceeding.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161388
House Bill 5156: Court of claims change “cleanup” bill
Introduced by Rep. Mike Shirkey (R) on November 14, 2013, to establish that a person who has the right to a jury trial in a claim against the state can file the claim in their local circuit court. This is meant to clarify changes made in a new law enacted two weeks before this bills introduction, which changed the state’s “court of claims” from the Ingham County circuit court, instead making it the state Court of Appeals.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161389
House Bill 5157: Clarify “aggravated physical abuse” sentencing guidelines
Introduced in the House on November 14, 2013, to clarify “offense variables” included in the state sentencing guidelines for the crime of “aggravated physical abuse”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161390
House Bill 5158: Create state “human trafficking commission”
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on November 14, 2013, to create a government “human trafficking commission” to seek grants, fund research and training for criminal justice and social service personnel, recommend changes to current law and more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161391
House Bill 5159: Expand commercial smoking ban exceptions
Introduced by Rep. Tom McMillin (R) on November 14, 2013, to revise the 2009 law that prohibits a restaurant or business owner from choosing whether to allow smoking in his or her establishment, so as to permit them to allow smoking in an area that is “less than 50 percent enclosed”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161392
House Bill 5160: Allow local governments to transfer tax functions to county
Introduced by Rep. Amanda Price (R) on November 14, 2013, to allow cities, townships and villages to enter agreements with counties to administer functions related to property tax collections.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161393
House Bill 5161: Let township supervisors officiate marriages
Introduced in the House on November 14, 2013, to allow township supervisors to perform (“solemnize”) marriages.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161394
House Bill 5162: Allow funeral arrangements in wills and advance directives
Introduced by Rep. Kate Segal (D) on November 14, 2013, to allow an individual to designate in a will or other “advance directive” a person to serve as a “funeral representative,” and include directions for the funeral arrangements to be provided after his or her death, and the disposition of his or her remains.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161395