Senate Bill 337: Revise certain tax collection procedures and deadlines
Passed 108 to 0 in the House on January 15, 2014, to require the Department of Treasury to release a business’s known tax liability to a purchaser of the business within 60 days if the owner waives confidentiality. If the department fails to do so, the buyer would not be liable for the firm’s unpaid taxes. Also, to establish notification requirements if the department initiates an examination of a taxpayer’s records, and establish deadlines for completing this. Finally, to establish that if a claim for tax overpayment refund is not approved within one year, it can be treated as denied, and the taxpayer can appeal to the state tax tribunal or court of claims.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=678714
House Bill 4288: Restrict use of “indirect” tax audits
Passed 107 to 0 in the House on January 15, 2014, to prohibit the Department of Treasury from levying a delinquent sales tax assessment on a person or business based on an “indirect audit,” if a taxpayer has filed all the required returns and has maintained and preserved adequate records as required. The bill also establishes minimum standards for such “indirect audits”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=678710
House Bill 4292: Restrict use of “indirect” tax audits
Passed 107 to 0 in the House on January 15, 2014, to prohibit the Department of Treasury from levying a delinquent use tax assessment on a person or business based on an “indirect audit,” if a taxpayer has filed all the required returns and has maintained and preserved adequate records as required. The bill also establishes minimum standards for such “indirect audits”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=678711
House Bill 4629: Authorize fees and regulations on electronic billboards
Passed 101 to 6 in the House on January 15, 2014, to authorize regulations for digital highway billboards, including a requirement that sign owners surrender three existing regular-sign permits to get one digital billboard permit, subject to certain exceptions and restrictions. The bill would also revise a wide range of other details of state billboard regulations, including conditions and restrictions on removing vegetation from in front of signs, increased fees and fines, and more..
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=678709
House Bill 4866: Authorize new bicycle rider hand signals
Passed 36 to 1 in the Senate on January 15, 2014, to establish new signals for bicycle riders. Left turns would be indicated by extending the left arm straight out; right turns by either extending the right arm, or the left arm with forearm raised (which is the current standard), and slowing or stopping by “extending the left hand and arm downward”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=678698
Senate Bill 735: Extend Cobo use tax exemption
Introduced by Sen. Jim Marleau (R) on January 14, 2014, to extend for another two years the 2014 sunset on a law that exempts from use tax material used to fix or renovate Cobo Hall in Detroit.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=162098
Senate Bill 736: Expand court authority over medical marijuana patients’ children
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on January 15, 2014, to expand the authority of a court to order actions that potentially could result in a medical marijuana patient losing his or her parental rights. Specifically, the bill would authorize the court to order an independent medical examination to determine that medical marijuana is indicated for the parent’s condition, order the parent to stop using it if the independent exam does not support this prescription, or impose “any other order” within the court’s authority that it considers “in the best interests of the child”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=162310
Senate Bill 737: Expand “lemon law” to include RV chassis
Introduced by Sen. Bruce Caswell (R) on January 16, 2014, to extend the state “lemon law” for cars to cover the chassis of recreational vehicles.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=162455
House Bill 5219: Exempt certain pension income from state income tax
Introduced by Rep. Scott Dianda (D) on January 14, 2014, to reverse the provision of the 2011 income and business tax overhaul that partially eliminated some state income tax exemptions for pension income.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=162120
House Bill 5220: Revise accounting firm licensure details
Introduced by Rep. Tim Kelly (R) on January 14, 2014, to revise details of the licensure mandate imposed on certain officers of public accounting firms.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=162123
House Bill 5221: Mandate school employees report student harm
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on January 15, 2014, to mandate that if a public school official or employee witnesses or receives information regarding the maltreatment or injury of a child at school, either intentional or accidental, then he or she must inform the child’s parent or legal guardian of the details, in writing, as soon as practicable.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=162311
House Bill 5222: Revise political speech regulation detail
Introduced by Rep. Anthony Forlini (R) on January 15, 2014, to revise the application of a regulation that requires sponsors of “issue ads” or flyers that reference a candidate or ballot initiative to disclose their sponsor if posted within 30 days of a primary election or 60 days of a general election. The bill would impose the 60 day mandate in both kinds of election.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=162312
House Bill 5223: Reduce “student growth” portion of teacher rating criteria
Introduced by Rep. Margaret O’Brien (R) on January 15, 2014, to delay and change many details in the teacher evaluation criteria specified in a 2011 legislative package overhauling the “teacher tenure” and ratings system, which unless amended goes into effect in the fall of 2015. Among other changes the bill would reduce the amount of a teacher’s performance rating based on empirical student growth data collected by the state from at least 50 percent to 20 percent, with 30 percent based on “locally” selected growth assessments whose details and rigor may vary. Also, the requirement that a teacher who is rated “ineffective” three years in a row must be dismissed would not apply if any changes were made to the rating system during that period. The bill is cosponsored by Republicans Bill Rogers and Lisa Posthumus Lyons, and Democrat Adam Zemke.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=162313
House Bill 5224: Revise school administrator rating criteria
Introduced by Rep. Adam Zemke (D) on January 15, 2014, to delay until the 2017-2018 school year a public school administrator rating system that under a 2011 law overhauling the “teacher tenure” and ratings system that without change goes into effect in the fall of 2015. Along with House Bill 5223, the bill would reduce the portion of these ratings that is based on empirical student growth data collected by the state.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=162314