Replies

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