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Senate Bill 284: Revise home heating welfare program
Passed 34 to 4 in the Senate on June 18, 2013, to authorize imposing a $1 per month surcharge on customer electric utility bills, and use the money to provide up to $60 million annually in low income home heating subsidies.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667062

Senate Bill 374: Create statewide school violence “hotline”
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on June 18, 2013, to require the Attorney General and the State Police to create a “hotline” manned 24 hours a day all year long to collect “confidential reports of unsafe, potentially harmful, dangerous, violent, or criminal activities.” These could include cell phone camera and video images. While the bill does not limit the hotline to school related threats, other parts of it require the information to be shared with local law enforcement and school officials.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667123

House Bill 4664: Allow pension double-dipping by some “retired” prison workers
Passed 20 to 18 in the Senate on June 18, 2013, to extend for two years a Sept. 30, 2013 sunset on a 2012 law that “temporarily” allowed retired prison employees to simultaneously collect pension benefits and a paycheck for going back to work in a prison. Under current law, prison guards can retire and begin collecting pension checks as young as age 51 in some cases.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667073

House Bill 4665: Extend “temporary” landfill tipping fee increase
Passed 20 to 18 in the Senate on June 18, 2013, to extend until Sept. 30, 2015 a “temporary” increase from 7 cents to 12 cents on the per-cubic yard state “tipping fee” tax imposed on dumping in landfills, which was authorized by a 2011 law.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667064

House Bill 4666: Extend “temporary” environmental permit fee increases
Passed 20 to 18 in the Senate on June 18, 2013, to extend until Sept. 30, 2014 “temporary” increases authorized in 2011 for various permit fees mandated by the state environmental protection law.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667065

House Bill 4669: Increase annual ORV tax
Passed 20 to 18 in the Senate on June 18, 2013, to increase the annual off road vehicle license tax from $16.25 to $26.25 for a license that does not authorize operation on state ORV trails, and $36.25 for one that does.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667079

House Bill 4670: Increase state disaster fund deposits
Passed 27 to 11 in the Senate on June 18, 2013, to require the legislature to annually appropriate enough money to maintain a balance of between $1 million and $4.5 million in a state disaster and emergency contingency fund; current statute requires between $30,000 and $750,000.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667067

House Bill 4671: Earmark cell phone 9-1-1 tax to administration
Passed 24 to 14 in the Senate on June 18, 2013, to permanently earmark $150,000 from a 9-1-1 service mobile phone provider tax to the Department of Treasury for administration of this tax.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667068

House Bill 4708: Revise hazardous material regulatory regime detail
Passed 21 to 17 in the Senate on June 18, 2013, to replace one state fund created to hold and disburse fee and fine revenue related to hazardous material permit mandates and regulations with another state fund.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667069

House Bill 4714: Accept federal health care law Medicaid expansion, with conditions
The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on June 13, 2013, to strip out the provision authorizing the Medicaid expansion.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159308

House Bill 4714: Accept federal health care law Medicaid expansion, with conditions
The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on June 13, 2013, to strip out one of the provisions enabling the Medicaid expansion.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159308

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Senate Bill 153: Revise certain Wayne County authority population threshold
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on June 19, 2013, to revise the population threshold in a law that gives the Wayne County clerk the authority to designate an employee to perform marriages. Under current law, only the clerk of “a county having more than 2 million inhabitants” has this authority. The Michigan constitution prohibits passing “local acts” with less than a two-thirds majority vote in the House and Senate, so the legislature has circumvented this by using these population thresholds, most often for granting special privileges or exemptions for Detroit.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667272

Senate Bill 301: Establish and impose minimum indigent defense standards
Passed 36 to 1 in the Senate on June 20, 2013, to revise the law that requires a court to assign counsel to an indigent person charged with a criminal offense so it conforms with the indigent defense reforms proposed by House Bill 4529.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667317

Senate Bill 301: Establish and impose minimum indigent defense standards
Passed 102 to 7 in the House on June 19, 2013, to revise the law that requires a court to assign counsel to an indigent person charged with a criminal offense so it conforms with the indigent defense reforms proposed by House Bill 4529.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667220

Senate Bill 367: Revise business profits tax detail
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on June 19, 2013, to revise details of the state tax on business profits to clarify when related companies are considered an “affiliated group” for tax purposes.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667273

Senate Bill 415: Cut tax on jet fuel
Passed 21 to 16 in the Senate on June 19, 2013, to cut from 6 percent to 4 percent the “use tax” imposed on sales of jet fuel.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667274

Senate Bill 416: Cut tax on jet fuel
Passed 21 to 16 in the Senate on June 19, 2013, to cut from 6 percent to 4 percent the sales tax imposed on sales of jet fuel.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667275

House Bill 4112: Appropriations: Supplemental budget
Passed 37 to 1 in the Senate on June 19, 2013, to make a number of adjustments to amounts already appropriated for various purposes, to reflect, among other things, reduced welfare and Medicaid caseloads. Also, to appropriate additional funds for various state departments and programs. All told, the bill reflects spending reductions of nearly $675 million, and spending increases of around $40 million. It also authorizes increasing government debt by $81.5 million to pay for proposed state university and college construction projects.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667290

House Bill 4112: Appropriations: Supplemental budget
Passed 105 to 2 in the House on June 6, 2013, to make a number of adjustments to amounts already appropriated for various purposes, to reflect, among other things, reduced welfare and Medicaid caseloads. Also, to appropriate additional funds for various state departments and programs. All told, the bill reflects spending reductions of more than $650 million, and spending increases of around $36 million.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666454

House Bill 4208: Revise “resort district” tax and infrastructure law
Passed 109 to 0 in the House on June 19, 2013, to revise a state law that lets local governments create “resort districts” in a waterfront area. These have the power to impose up to three mills in extra property tax on property owners in the district; borrow money for roads, sewers, flood control, streetlights and garbage collection; and use the increased tax revenue to make the debt service payments on these loans. The bill would revise details of the “district’s” board membership, requiring two of the members be residents.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667216

House Bill 4272: Authorize school “cardiac emergency response drills”
Passed 109 to 0 in the House on June 19, 2013, to allow schools to substitute a “cardiac emergency response drill” for one of the eight fire drills schools are required to hold each year, and require this if the school has defibrillator devices. Also, schools would have to have a “cardiac emergency response plan” with specified components, one of which is “a plan for training all high school students” in defibrillator use and CPR.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667212

House Bill 4284: Revise ORV shoulder-riding details
Passed 27 to 11 in the Senate on June 19, 2013, to authorize local governments to ask the Department of Transportation to allow ORVs on the shoulders of state trunk line highways where necessary to connect existing ORV networks, and establish criteria and deadlines for MDOT’s consideration of these requests. Also, to allow the department to allow ORV shoulder riding on designated highways (not including Interstates), and establish criteria for designating highways. See also House Bill 4299.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667260

House Bill 4297: Give free state park admission to disabled veterans
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on June 19, 2013, to waive state park and campground admission fees for disabled veterans, or ones who were prisoners of war, or who were awarded the Medal of Honor. Specifically, the bill grants these veterans the vehicle registration “recreation passport” without the $11 charge. The foregone revenue would have to be paid to the parks from general fund tax revenues.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667235

House Bill 4299: Expand ORV shoulder riding
Passed 27 to 11 in the Senate on June 19, 2013, to expand a 2008 law that allows local governments in the northern part of the state to allow off road vehicles to be driven on either the pavement or the shoulder of some or all streets and roads. The bill would extend the local option statewide. Also, to allow the department to allow ORV shoulder riding on designated highways (not including Interstates), and establish criteria for designating highways.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667264

House Bill 4303: Authorize other-state funeral director license reciprocity
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on June 19, 2013, to recognize as valid in Michigan a license in the field of “mortuary science” or funeral directing issued by Indiana, Ohio, or Wisconsin that has substantially the same standards. This would apply for up to two years, when presumably the person would get a Michigan license.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667244

House Bill 4307: Revise county commission vacancy detail
Passed 26 to 12 in the Senate on June 19, 2013, to eliminate a requirement that a special election must be held when a county commissioner vacancy occurs during an odd numbered year.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667281

House Bill 4329: Authorize other-state funeral director license reciprocity
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on June 19, 2013, to authorize fees for the “limited” funeral director license proposed by House Bill 4303.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667249

House Bill 4330: Authorize other-state funeral director license reciprocity
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on June 19, 2013, to recognize as valid in Michigan a license in the field of “mortuary science” or funeral directing issued by Indiana, Ohio, or Wisconsin that has substantially the same standards. This would apply for up to two years, when presumably the person would get a Michigan license. House Bill 4303 contains the main part of this proposal.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667252

House Bill 4409: Revise delinquent property tax interest detail
Passed 109 to 0 in the House on June 19, 2013, to permit county treasurers to waive the additional 0.5 percent per month interest that is assessed on persons redeeming tax-forfeited properties, if the property is withheld from process transferring title in the delinquent property to foreclosing local government. Properties are withheld in cases where the owner is experiencing “substantial financial hardship,” or is considered legally incompetent for certain reasons.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667218

House Bill 4439: Give free state park admission to disabled veterans
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on June 19, 2013, to revise vehicle registration tax forms to reflect the proposal in House Bill 4297 to waive the state park and campground admission fees included in such forms for disabled veterans, or ones who were awarded the Medal of Honor or were prisoners of war.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667237

House Bill 4529: Establish and impose minimum indigent defense standards
Passed 33 to 4 in the Senate on June 19, 2013, to create a Michigan indigent defense commission to establish statewide standards and accountability measures for court-appointed attorneys who represent indigent criminal defendants, and establish a process by which all counties in the state would be required to conform with the standards. If a local failed to adopt them, the commission could take over its indigent defense administration, and impose a gradually increasing portion of the state’s costs for this, up to 40 percent. Locals would be responsible for maintaining funding at current levels, and all this would be subject to a detailed mediation and appeals process. The bill authorizes but does not fund state grants to cover increased costs.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667271

House Bill 4574: Require funeral home buyers honor prepaid funeral contracts
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on June 19, 2013, to require the buyer of a licensed funeral establishment to assume the previous owner’s commitments under existing prepaid funeral contracts.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667256

House Bill 4575: Revise college scholarship “promise zone” criteria
Passed 99 to 10 in the House on June 19, 2013, to revise a 2008 law authorizing “promise zone” tax increment financing authorities (TIFA) to subsidize college tuition for students in low educational attainment areas, by allowing these authorities to more easily revise the academic performance standards they may or may not require students to meet; and also revise budget-related procedures, details of their board membership, minimum payment amounts, and more. It would also require annual audits of a zone’s budget.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667213

House Bill 4765: Extend foreclosure restrictions sunset
Passed 35 to 3 in the Senate on June 19, 2013, to extend until June 30, 2014 the sunset on a 2009 law that forces mortgage lenders to attempt to negotiate revisions in the terms of delinquent loans before they can proceed to a “foreclosure by advertisement” (instead of the more costly judicial foreclosure process). This would be the second time this “temporary” law has been extended.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667277

House Bill 4766: Revise foreclosure restrictions
Passed 35 to 3 in the Senate on June 19, 2013, to allow a mortgage borrower from an institution that was a defendant that entered into a consent judgment in United States of America, et al. v Bank of America Corp., et al, to request a face to face meeting with the lender to attempt to work out a modification to avoid foreclosure, and delay foreclosure until after the meeting.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667279

House Bill 4813: Establish procedures for dissolving fiscally failed school district
Passed 20 to 18 in the Senate on June 19, 2013, to establish criteria and procedures for dissolving a school district that has become so fiscally unviable that it can no longer educate students, and for attaching the failed district’s territory to one or more nearby school districts. The bill was introduced after the Buena Vista and Inkster school districts reached this state shortly before the end of the 2012-2013 school year.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667301

House Bill 4815: Establish procedures for dissolving fiscally failed school district
Passed 20 to 18 in the Senate on June 19, 2013, to revise school aid distribution provisions in the state school aid act to reflect the proposal in House Bill 4814 to establish procedures for dissolving a fiscally failed school district and attaching its territory to nearby districts, with its per-pupil state funding going to those districts. The bill appropriates $2.7 million to compensate the receiving districts for money diverted to pay the dissolved district’s debt, and another $2.2 million as a “bonus” for taking the failed district’s students, with this funding bump to continue for four years.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=667304