Senate Bill 328: Authorize more State Police officer grades
Passed 35 to 0 in the Senate on June 4, 2015, to create two new grades of State Police officer, called “inspector” and “recruit.” The current grades are colonel, lieutenant colonel, major, captain, lieutenant, sergeant and trooper.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714659
House Bill 4499: Increase civil asset forfeiture burden of proof
Passed 104 to 5 in the House on June 4, 2015, to require a more rigorous “clear and convincing evidence” burden of proof standard in a law that gives government the power to seize and sell an owner’s property if it is deemed a “nuisance” due to being associated with criminal activity. Under current law property may be taken under the least rigorous “preponderance of the evidence” standard. Other bills in the package (House Bills 4499 to 4507) make the same change to other criminal statutes and require more disclosures by agencies.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714786
House Bill 4500: Require police civil asset forfeiture disclosures
Passed 107 to 2 in the House on June 4, 2015, to amend the state law authorizing sanctions and remedies for identity theft to conform with the criminal asset forfeiture disclosures proposed by House Bill 4504.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714788
House Bill 4504: Require police civil asset forfeiture disclosures
Passed 107 to 2 in the House on June 4, 2015, to require law enforcement agencies to file annual reports on the number of civil asset forfeiture proceedings concluded, pending or “negotiated.” The reports would have to disclose the alleged violation; whether any person was charged or convicted; a description of the property; its value; whether there was a plea or other agreement; the property’s final disposition; whether the seizure was based on arrangements with federal, state or local agencies (“adoptive” seizure); how much the agency realized from the sale of the forfeited property; and more. The State Police would be required to compile these disclosures and post a report on the internet.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714790
House Bill 4505: Increase civil asset forfeiture burden of proof
Passed 103 to 6 in the House on June 4, 2015, to require a more rigorous “clear and convincing” burden of proof standard in the law that gives police agencies the power to seize and sell a person’s property if it may be connected with an illegal drug crime, even if the person is not charged or convicted. Under current law property may be taken under the least rigorous “preponderance of the evidence” standard. Other bills in the package (House Bills 4499 to 4507) make the same change to other criminal statutes and require more disclosures by agencies.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714787
House Bill 4506: Require police civil asset forfeiture disclosures
Passed 107 to 2 in the House on June 4, 2015, to amend the illegal drug law provisions of the Public Health Code to incorporate the requirements proposed by House Bill 4504 that law enforcement agencies file detailed annual reports on the number of criminal asset forfeiture proceedings they were involved in.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714791
House Bill 4507: Require police civil asset forfeiture disclosures
Passed 108 to 1 in the House on June 4, 2015, to amend the law that gives government the power to seize and sell a person’s property if it is deemed a “nuisance” because is connected with unlawful activity, so that it reflects the requirements proposed by House Bill 4504 that law enforcement agencies file detailed annual reports on the number of criminal asset forfeiture proceedings they were involved in.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714792
House Bill 4508: Limit civil asset forfeiture in minor marijuana crime
Passed 81 to 28 in the House on June 4, 2015, to revise illegal drug laws to establish that a vehicle used to transport one ounce or less of marijuana purchased for personal use is not subject to civil asset forfeiture provisions that give police agencies the power to seize and sell a person’s property even if the person is not charged or convicted of a crime.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714793
House Joint Resolution O: Make university boards subject to open records and meetings laws
Introduced by Rep. Martin Howrylak (R) on April 9, 2015, to place before voters in the next general election a constitutional amendment that would make the governing boards of state universities subject to the state Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Open Meetings Act.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169174
Senate Bill 356: Revise procedures for dissolving fiscally failed school district
Introduced by Sen. Kenneth Horn (R) on June 3, 2015, to allow the school districts that absorbed portions of the Buena Vista school district in Saginaw County, which was dissolved in 2012 after becoming fiscally unviable, to levy property taxes to pay off some of debt the failed district incurred to cover operational expenses, subject to restrictions specified in the bill (and in the state constitution). See also Senate Bill 173 and House Bill 4644.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169721
Senate Bill 357: Establish drunk driver vehicle interlock device regulatory regime
Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on June 3, 2015, to revise a state vehicle service and repair regulation law so it conforms with the proposal in Senate Bill 176 to establish regulations, procedures and fees for drunk driver vehicle interlock device installers.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169722
Senate Bill 358: Revise teacher certificate detail for out-of-state teachers
Introduced by Sen. Goeff Hansen (R) on June 3, 2015, to give the state Superintendent of Public Instruction more discretion in defining the “ongoing professional learning requirements” that a person with at least three years teaching experience in another state must also have received as a condition for getting a Michigan teaching certificate.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169720
Senate Bill 359: Create college saving plan for disabled students
Introduced by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D) on June 3, 2015, to prohibit the state from considering contributions, distributions, earnings or balances in a disabled person’s ABLE education and living expense savings account (see Senate Bill 361) in the formula used to determine financial eligibility for Medicaid benefits.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169723
Senate Bill 360: Create college saving plan for disabled students
Introduced by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D) on June 3, 2015, to increase from $235,000 to $500,000 the maximum balance allowed in Michigan “section 529” education savings plans for a particular beneficiary. This is part of a legislative package comprised of Senate Bills 359 to 362 and House Bills 4542 to 4544, which create a new type of such account.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169724
Senate Bill 361: Create college saving plan for disabled students
Introduced by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D) on June 3, 2015, to authorize a new “ABLE account” tax advantaged savings plan to cover education and living expenses for beneficiaries who are disabled. Mirroring the recent federal law that created these accounts, under House Bill 4544 and Senate Bill 359 balances and distributions from a beneficiary’s account would not be included in gross income or assets for purposes of caps limiting various state aid programs. Senate Bill 360 would increase the maximum balance allowed in these and other “529” savings plans to $500,000.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169725
Senate Bill 362: Create college saving plan for disabled students
Introduced by Sen. Jack Brandenburg (R) on June 3, 2015, to authorize a state income tax deduction of $5,000 for an individual, $10,000 for a joint account, for contributions to a disabled person’s “ABLE” education and living expense savings account that Senate Bill 361 would authorize.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169726
Senate Bill 363: Revise fees to build private harbor
Introduced by Sen. Tom Casperson (R) on June 3, 2015, to waive any lease charges to the state that might otherwise be owed by an waterfront property owner who erects breakwaters that create a private harbor, if the harbor is not used for commercial purposes, and if distressed mariners can seek refuge in it during a storm.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169727
Senate Bill 364: Exempt trigger locks from sales tax
Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on June 3, 2015, to exempt trigger locks, gun safes and lockboxes, and other home firearm safety devices from sales tax.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169728
Senate Bill 365: Exempt trigger locks from use tax
Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on June 3, 2015, to exempt trigger locks, gun safes and lockboxes, and other home firearm safety devices from use tax.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169729
Senate Bill 366: Impose regulation on government record services
Introduced by Sen. Curtis Hertel, Jr. (D) on June 3, 2015, to impose regulations, disclosure requirements, price caps and more on businesses that solicit a fee for providing copies of various government records.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169730
Senate Bill 367: Authorize a “Thin Blue Line” specialty license plate
Introduced by Sen. Mike Nofs (R) on June 4, 2015, to authorize a “Thin Blue Line” specialty license plate, with the net revenue going to the “Thin Blue Line” organization, to be used solely to assist and support the families of injured or deceased law enforcement officers within the state.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169731
Senate Bill 368: Revise income tax on pension income detail
Introduced by Sen. Kenneth Horn (R) on June 4, 2015, to slightly expand the scope of a state income tax exemption for pension income collected by person who worked for a government agency whose employees were not covered by Social Security (which means they paid no payroll tax and received no Social Security credits while employed there).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169732
Senate Bill 369: Authorize alcohol manufacturer retail shop tax breaks
Introduced by Sen. Wayne Schmidt (R) on June 4, 2015, to exempt from use tax the tools and equipment purchased by a brewer, winemaker or distilled liquor maker to create products it sells directly to customers at its own locations.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169733
Senate Bill 370: Authorize alcohol manufacturer retail shop tax breaks
Introduced by Sen. Jack Brandenburg (R) on June 4, 2015, to exempt from sales tax the tools and equipment purchased by a brewer, winemaker or distiller create products it sells directly to customers at its own locations.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169734
Senate Bill 371: Ban intent to sell ivory and rhinoceros horn products
Introduced by Sen. Steve Bieda (D) on June 4, 2015, to ban the importation, sale, purchase, barter, or possession with intent to sell of ivory or rhinoceros horns and products, subject to fines $5,000 or double the value of the products for second offenses.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169735
Senate Bill 372: Revise firefighter certification detail
Introduced by Sen. Dale W. Zorn (R) on June 4, 2015, to waive a state firefighter certification testing requirement for a person from another state where this certification is based on the same national standards.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169737
Senate Bill 373: Increase mandated minimum wage for tipped employees
Introduced by Sen. Coleman Young, II (D) on June 4, 2015, to mandate that employers pay workers who receive tips a base wage that is the same as the minimum wage mandated for non-tipped workers. Under current law the base rate for tipped employees is 38 percent of the minimum wage for other workers, but a tipped-worker’s employer must still pay the difference between this amount and the regular amount if tips come up short. The current regular minimum wage is $8.15 per hour, which rises to $9.25 in 2018.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169738
Senate Bill 374: Change “venereal disease” references to “sexually transmitted infection”
Introduced by Sen. Curtis Hertel, Jr. (D) on June 4, 2015, to change references to “venereal disease” in the state Health Code to “sexually transmitted infection.” The code has separate references to viral diseases like AIDS.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169739
Senate Bill 375: Change “venereal disease” references to “sexually transmitted infection”
Introduced by Sen. Peter MacGregor (R) on June 4, 2015, to change references to “venereal disease” in the state Health Code to “sexually transmitted infection.” The code has separate references to viral diseases like AIDS.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169740
Senate Bill 376: Change “venereal disease” references to “sexually transmitted infection”
Introduced by Sen. David Knezek (D) on June 4, 2015, to change references to “venereal disease” in the state Health Code to “sexually transmitted infection.” The code has separate references to viral diseases like AIDS.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169741
Senate Bill 377: Change “venereal disease” references to “sexually transmitted infection”
Introduced by Sen. Wayne Schmidt (R) on June 4, 2015, to change references to “venereal disease” in the state Health Code to “sexually transmitted infection.” The code has separate references to viral diseases like AIDS.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169742
Senate Bill 378: Change “venereal disease” references to “sexually transmitted infection”
Introduced by Sen. Margaret O’Brien (R) on June 4, 2015, to change references to “venereal disease” in the state Health Code to “sexually transmitted infection.” The code has separate references to viral diseases like AIDS.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169743
Senate Bill 379: Change “venereal disease” references to “sexually transmitted infection”
Introduced by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D) on June 4, 2015, to change references to “venereal disease” in the state Health Code to “sexually transmitted infection.” The code has separate references to viral diseases like AIDS.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169744
Senate Bill 380: Change “venereal disease” references to “sexually transmitted infection”
Introduced by Sen. Jim Marleau (R) on June 4, 2015, to change references to “venereal disease” in the state Health Code to “sexually transmitted infection.” The code has separate references to viral diseases like AIDS.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169745
Senate Bill 381: Change “venereal disease” references to “sexually transmitted infection”
Introduced by Sen. Coleman Young, II (D) on June 4, 2015, to change references to “venereal disease” in the state Health Code to “sexually transmitted infection.” The code has separate references to viral diseases like AIDS.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169746
House Bill 4658: Revise claims against the state procedures
Introduced by Rep. Michael McCready (R) on June 2, 2015, to revise the procedures used by both a plaintiff and a state agency for the plaintiff to collect on a successful judgement or allowance of a claim against the state.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169747
House Bill 4659: Require local zoning board approval of new school site
Introduced by Rep. Michael McCready (R) on June 2, 2015, to require the local government zoning board to approve the site of any new school.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169748
House Bill 4660: Eliminate obsolete or useless government reports
Introduced by Rep. Tom Leonard (R) on June 2, 2015, to eliminate a requirement that the state insurance commission prepare an annual report on Health Maintenance Organization enrollment figures, copays and more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169749
House Bill 4661: Eliminate obsolete or useless government reports
Introduced by Rep. Lana Theis (R) on June 2, 2015, to eliminate a requirement that the state insurance commission prepare an annual report on the medical malpractice insurance market and claim experience in Michigan.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169750
House Bill 4662: Eliminate obsolete or useless government reports
Introduced by Rep. Hank Vaupel (R) on June 2, 2015, to eliminate a requirement that the state insurance commission prepare an annual report on the state of competition in the commercial liability insurance market.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169751
House Bill 4663: Eliminate obsolete or useless government reports
Introduced by Rep. Jim Runestad (R) on June 2, 2015, to eliminate a requirement that the state insurance commission compile an annual report on details and the number of health insurance policies with a coverage period of less than six months.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169752
House Bill 4664: Eliminate obsolete or useless government reports
Introduced by Rep. Ray Franz (R) on June 2, 2015, to eliminate a requirement that the state insurance commission prepare an annual report on the degree of competition in the worker’s compensation insurance market statewide.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169753
House Bill 4665: Eliminate obsolete or useless government reports
Introduced by Rep. Robert Wittenberg (D) on June 2, 2015, to eliminate a requirement that providers of liability insurance covering a municipality or other government entity submit certain periodic reports to the state, and that the state insurance commission compile these into other reports.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169754
House Bill 4666: Eliminate obsolete or useless government reports
Introduced by Rep. Derek Miller (D) on June 2, 2015, to eliminate statutory references to the municipal claims reports that House Bill 4665 would eliminate.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169755
House Bill 4667: Eliminate obsolete or useless government reports
Introduced by Rep. Robert Kosowski (D) on June 2, 2015, to eliminate a requirement that the state insurance commission prepare an annual report on the availability of liquor licensee liability insurance.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169756
House Bill 4668: Eliminate obsolete or useless government reports
Introduced by Rep. Andrea LaFontaine (R) on June 2, 2015, to eliminate a provision that allows the liquor control commission to waive a requirement that liquor license applicants and renewals have proof of liability insurance, if the annual insurance availability report that House Bill 4667 would repeal indicated that it wasn’t available.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169757
House Bill 4669: Allow sports betting in Detroit casinos
Introduced by Rep. Robert Kosowski (D) on June 2, 2015, to allow sports betting in Detroit casinos.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169758
House Bill 4670: Allow horse race betting in Detroit casinos
Introduced by Rep. Robert Kosowski (D) on June 2, 2015, to allow simulcast horse race betting in Detroit casinos.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169759
House Bill 4671: Ban welfare-related prescription drug benefits for illegal drug violator
Introduced by Rep. Joel Johnson (R) on June 2, 2015, to prohibit giving an individual convicted of an illegal drug crime prescription drugs under the state’s medical welfare programs, including Medicaid.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169760
House Bill 4672: Ban smoking in car with minor
Introduced by Rep. Sam Singh (D) on June 2, 2015, to ban smoking in a vehicle with a minor present, subject to a $500 fine.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169761
House Bill 4673: Prescribe requirements for removing “squatters” from property
Introduced by Rep. LaTanya Garrett (D) on June 2, 2015, to prohibit a property owner from attempting to evict “squatters” from the property unless he or she is accompanied by a law enforcement officer who has been provided with proof that the person entering the premises is the owner.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169762
House Bill 4674: Revise mental health outpatient treatment procedures
Introduced by Rep. Tom Leonard (R) on June 2, 2015, to revise rules and procedures for assisted outpatient treatment under Michigan’s mental health assistance programs.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169763
House Bill 4675: Authorize removal of individual records from pistol purchase database
Introduced by Rep. Lee Chatfield (R) on June 2, 2015, to establish that if an individual requests his or her information be removed from a state “pistol entry database,” the State Police must remove that information within 14 days, and notify the individual by first-class mail that this has been done. Until a 2012 repeal, individuals were required to get a “purchase permit” from local police to buy a pistol. The current law no longer requires this for pistols purchased from a federally licensed firearms dealer, who run all purchases through a national “instant background check” database instead.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169764
House Bill 4676: Revise sentencing guideline references
Introduced by Rep. Tom Barrett (R) on June 2, 2015, to update references to specific criminal statutes in the state sentencing guidelines law to reflect various revisions to the state criminal code.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169765
House Bill 4677: Revise agricultural property splits
Introduced by Rep. David Maturen (R) on June 2, 2015, to permit agricultural property that is eligible for certain property tax breaks to be split into smaller parcels, with some of the land removed from agricultural use (with its associated tax breaks) and some of it remaining agricultural (and keeping the tax breaks).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169766
House Bill 4678: Give state flag to deceased legislators’ survivors
Introduced by Rep. Fred Durhal, III (D) on June 3, 2015, to create a new law called the “Legislative Funeral Act” that would require the state to give a state flag to the survivor of a current or former legislator who dies.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169767
House Bill 4679: Restrict injection well placement
Introduced by Rep. Bill LaVoy (D) on June 3, 2015, to prohibit locating an “injection” well for disposing of hazardous material, or for storing other material (potentially including carbon dioxide), in a region determined to have “Karst geology”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169768
House Bill 4680: Extend prison industry law
Introduced by Rep. David Pagel (R) on June 4, 2015, to extend for five years a law that allows a private business to market textiles produced cut and sewn by state prisoners if this does not compete with any other products made in Michigan.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169769
House Bill 4681: Authorize property tax “user fee” in specified situation
Introduced by Rep. Scott Dianda (D) on June 4, 2015, to permit local governments to impose a “user fee” on property owners as a means of collecting revenue that exceeds the amount the state property tax assessment laws provide, if the property taxes previously paid by the owner were based on an assessment methodology that valued the property as if it was vacant and available for purchase, when it was actually occupied being used for a “substantial business purpose”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169770
House Bill 4682: Give veterans hunting lottery preference
Introduced by Rep. Robert Kosowski (D) on June 4, 2015, to give veterans preference in getting those hunting permits that are allocated through a lottery process.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169771
House Bill 4683: Create regional electric utility “integrated resource plans”
Introduced by Rep. Scott Dianda (D) on June 4, 2015, to require the state Public Services Commission to create “integrated resource plans” for electric power generation in the different regions of the state as specified in the bill.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169772
House Bill 4684: Revise road funding allocations
Introduced by Rep. Andy Schor (D) on June 4, 2015, to “flip” the allocation of state road repair funding from 39.1 percent for state highways and 21.8 percent for cities and villages, to 39.1 percent for cities and villages and 21.8 percent for state highways. Counties would continue to get the same amount as currently, 39.1 percent.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169773
House Bill 4685: Revise sales tax on motor fuel detail
Introduced by Rep. Earl Poleski (R) on June 4, 2015, to revise details of the sales tax “prepayments” made by gasoline and diesel fuel refiners, wholesalers, distributors, etc., when these involve “bulk transfers” between such entities. Under current law most sales tax on fuel is not paid by consumers and collected by retailers “at the pump,” but is collected when the fuel is transferred to a distributor.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169774
House Bill 4686: Revise city sidewalk liability
Introduced by Rep. Harvey Santana (D) on June 4, 2015, to establish that a municipality being sued for an injury related to a sidewalk “discontinuity” may any use any common law defense available to regular people, including that the condition was “open and obvious.” Current law limits local government defenses in these suits.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169775
House Bill 4687: Eliminate cap on teacher certificate test fee
Introduced by Rep. Adam Zemke (D) on June 4, 2015, to eliminate a $50 cap on the amount the state can charge for taking a test required to obtain a state teacher certificate and related subject area “endorsements”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169776