Senate Joint Resolution V: Call for “Article V” U.S. balanced budget amendment convention
Passed 26 to 12 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to submit an application to Congress to call an “Article V” constitutional convention, limited to proposing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that prohibits the federal government from spending more in any fiscal year than it collects in tax and other revenue (balanced budget amendment). Legislatures representing two-thirds of the states must request this to get a convention, and three-quarters of the states must approve any amendment proposed by an “Article V” convention for it to become part of the constitution. The resolution names 17 states that have submitted applications.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674868
Senate Bill 504: Revise liquor license law details
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to establish that rules, orders, bulletins, declaratory rulings, or other administrative directives issued by the state Liquor Control Commission are void and not enforceable if they are not consistent with state liquor control laws, or do not “protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens.” This is somewhat more restrictive on the commission than the current instruction that it construe the statute “liberally,” meaning in a way that gives the commission more discretion.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674861
Senate Bill 505: Revise liquor license law details
Passed 34 to 3 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to codify in law an administrative prohibition on alcohol manufacturers, sellers, and distributors of alcohol giving bars and restaurants items that promoted brands and prices of their products, including things like glasses with brand logos, etc.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674862
Senate Bill 506: Revise liquor license law details
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to prohibit requiring brewers and beer wholesalers from having to pay a state beer tax more than once every three months. The bill also revises details of which entities are required to deliver the tax.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674863
Senate Bill 507: Revise liquor license law details
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to prohibit requiring wineries, liquor makers or their wholesalers from having to pay a state wine or liquor tax more than once every three months. The bill also revises details of which entities are required to deliver the tax.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674864
Senate Bill 575: Prohibit licensure discipline board conflicts of interest
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to prohibit a member of a health profession occupational licensure board’s disciplinary subcommittee from participating in disciplinary procedures if he or she has a conflict of interest. It would also eliminate a provision related to hearings on “community service” as a sanction for violations, and revise investigation procedures.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674857
Senate Bill 576: Prohibit licensure discipline board conflicts of interest
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to require members of a government board, commission, or committee that has authority in regulatory actions concerning private individuals or entities, to disclose any personal or financial interest in a matter before the board, refrain from board discussions on the matter and not participate in any related votes.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674858
Senate Bill 577: Revise licensure discipline board procedures
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to require (rather than just “allow”) the state agency in charge of occupational licensure in the health care field to investigate allegations that grounds exist for disciplinary action against a health care professional. Also, to explicitly include any conduct with a patient that is sexual in any way in the grounds for investigation and disciplinary action, and increase potential administrative penalties (in addition to any criminal sanctions a prosecutor may seek).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674859
Senate Bill 578: Revise licensure discipline board procedures
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to establish specific procedures to be followed by a health profession occupational licensure board’s disciplinary subcommittee in making a final decision on disciplinary action against a health care professional.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674860
Senate Bill 650: Revise brewer regulation details
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to allow very small commercial brewers (ones that produce fewer than 1,000 barrels per year, labeled by the bill “qualified micro brewers”) to sell directly to a retail merchant, rather than being mandated to sell through a member of a state beer wholesaler cartel created by current liquor control laws. This is part of a package of modest liquor law reforms comprised of Senate Bills 504 to 507, 651, and House Bill 4277.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674865
Senate Bill 651: Revise brewer regulation details
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to increase the maximum production level that places a brewer under state “microbrewer” regulations (vs. more burdensome regular brewer regulations), from 30,000 barrels annually to 60,000 barrels. This is part of a package of modest liquor law reforms comprised of Senate Bills 504 to 507, 650, and House Bill 4277.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674866
House Bill 4277: Require expeditious liquor license issue
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to require the Liquor Control Commission to issue a conditional liquor license for a new beer-and-wine retail merchant, or the transfer of an existing restaurant or bar’s license, within 20 days of an applicant submitting all the necessary paperwork, fees, “proof of financial responsibility,” etc. This license would cost a business an extra $300 and expire after one year, or when the regular license is approved or denied, whichever comes first.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674867
House Bill 4484: Cap rental self-storage late fees, revise liability
Passed 89 to 20 in the House on November 7, 2013, to cap rental payment late fees to a self-storage space rental facility at $20 per month or 20 percent of the monthly rental amount, whichever is greater (with certain exceptions), allow additional means of disposing of property subject to sale for non-payment of rent, and revise details of the facility owner’s liability for stored documents or other media that is sold or destroyed when a tenant defaults on a rental agreement.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674923
House Bill 4858: Require financial institutions help enforce welfare benefit restrictions
Passed 108 to 1 in the House on November 7, 2013, to require a bank that operates automatic teller machines in a casino, liquor store, or “adult entertainment establishment” to ensure it does not allow a person to use a welfare benefits “bridge card” to withdraw cash from those ATMs.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674919
House Bill 4859: Require financial institutions help enforce welfare benefit restrictions
Passed 108 to 1 in the House on November 7, 2013, to require a savings bank that operates automatic teller machines in a casino, liquor store, or “adult entertainment establishment” to “work with” state agencies to find a way to stop a welfare recipient’s “bridge card” to withdraw cash from those ATMs.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674920
House Bill 5008: Revise business income tax details
Passed 109 to 0 in the House on November 7, 2013, to revise the details of certain definitions in the business income tax law. The bill affects deductible losses in certain situations where a firm acquires another corporation.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674914
House Bill 5010: Revise business income tax details
Passed 108 to 1 in the House on November 7, 2013, to exempt “domestic international sales corporations” from the state’s corporate income tax.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674916
House Bill 5011: Revise past business tax credit detail
Passed 108 to 1 in the House on November 7, 2013, to revise details of “claw back” provisions for a business that was granted a selective tax break under the repealed Michigan Business Tax in return for acquiring a certain asset, but which later sells that asset.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674917
House Bill 5014: Ban welfare “bridge card” ATM cash at liquor stores
Passed 106 to 3 in the House on November 7, 2013, to require liquor stores to “work with” state agencies to find a way to stop a welfare recipient’s “bridge card” from being used to withdraw cash from an ATM on the premises. This would not apply to grocery stores that also sell liquor. “Bridge cards” are debit cards that have replaced food stamps and cash welfare.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674921
House Bill 5015: Ban welfare “bridge card” ATM cash at race track
Passed 108 to 1 in the House on November 7, 2013, to require state agencies to “work with” ATM cash machine suppliers to establish a way to stop a welfare recipient’s “bridge card” from being used to withdraw cash at a horse racing track. “Bridge cards” are debit cards that have replaced food stamps and cash welfare.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674922
House Bill 5050: Ban credit card fraud “skimming” devices
Passed 109 to 0 in the House on November 7, 2013, to authorize criminal penalties for the use of a “skimmer” device to gain access to a person’s financial accounts (for example, when a person is using an ATM machine). This and other bills in a legislative package would authorize the same penalties as a 2012 law banning “automated sales suppression devices” for falsifying electronic cash register records, called “zappers” or “phantom-ware”: Five years in prison and a $25,000 fine for a first offense, increasing to 15 years for a third and subsequent offenses.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674927
House Bill 5051: Clarify identity theft penalties
Passed 109 to 0 in the House on November 7, 2013, to increase the penalties provided in the state criminal code for identity theft so they match those called for in a 2004 identity theft law.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674928
House Bill 5052: Clarify identity theft penalties
Passed 109 to 0 in the House on November 7, 2013, to establish sentencing guidelines for the increased identity theft penalties proposed by House Bill 5051.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674929
House Bill 5053: Clarify cash register “zapper” crime jurisdiction
Passed 109 to 0 in the House on November 7, 2013, to clarify jurisdiction details of a 2012 law banning the possession, manufacture or sale of an automated sales suppression device for falsifying the records of electronic cash registers (also called a “zapper” or “phantom-ware”).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674930
Senate Bill 662: Revise seawall repair permit mandate
Introduced by Sen. David Robertson (R) on November 5, 2013, to authorize less restrictive permit requirements for the repair or replacement of a failed seawall than those which apply to erecting a new seawall.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161296
Senate Bill 663: Waive automaker liability for “automated vehicle” modifications
Introduced by Sen. Mike Kowall (R) on November 6, 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.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161300
Senate Bill 664: Revise “debt management services” regulations
Introduced by Sen. Mike Kowall (R) on November 6, 2013, to revise and update various definitions and prescribed procedures in a law that imposes licensure and regulations on “debt management services”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161301
Senate Bill 665: Transfer state Capitol upkeep to new commission
Introduced by Sen. Roger Kahn (R) on November 6, 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.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161302
Senate Bill 666: Transfer state Capitol upkeep to new commission
Introduced by Sen. Randy Richardville (R) on November 6, 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.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161303
Senate Bill 667: Ban use by minors of “e-cigarettes”
Introduced by Sen. Glenn Anderson (D) on November 7, 2013, to ban the use by minors of electronic cigarettes.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161324
Senate Bill 668: Ban selling “e-cigarettes” to minors
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on November 7, 2013, to ban the sale to minors of electronic cigarettes or any device that delivers nicotine.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161325
Senate Bill 669: Ban monkeys and apes as pets
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on November 7, 2013, to prohibit the ownership, possession, breeding, sale, or importation of nonhuman primates (monkeys and apes) as pets. The bill authorizes exemptions for possession by zoos, veterinarians or specified officials, and “grandfathers” existing owners.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161326
Senate Bill 670: Revise pre-term limits legislative pension detail
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on November 7, 2013, to repeal a statutory earmark of a small portion of court fees to a legislative retirement system. Conventional pensions for legislators were ended after term limits imposed by a popular initiative went into effect in the 1990s, but many surviving members of pre-term limits legislatures still collect pension benefits. Current lawmakers get 401(k) contributions instead.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161327
Senate Bill 671: Waive some licensure fees for veterans
Introduced by Sen. John Moolenaar (R) on November 7, 2013, to waive fees charged for state-imposed occupational licensure mandates if the applicant is an honorably discharged military veteran.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161328
Senate Bill 672: Waive some licensure fees for veterans
Introduced by Sen. Michael Green (R) on November 7, 2013, to waive fees charged for a state-imposed security guard or security system contractor licensure mandates if the applicant is an honorably discharged military veteran.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161329
House Bill 5126: Earmark some fees to school security measures
Introduced by Rep. Douglas Geiss (D) on November 5, 2013, to create a segregated state fund to receive the criminal penalty surcharges proposed by House Bill 5127, and require the Department of Education to distribute the money to school districts for a variety of specified security-related purposes, including school metal detectors, guards, bullet-proof windows, security audits and more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161305
House Bill 5127: Earmark some fees to school security measures
Introduced by Rep. Douglas Geiss (D) on November 5, 2013, to create a segregated state fund to receive the criminal penalty surcharges proposed by House Bill 5127, and require the Department of Education to distribute the money to school districts for a variety of specified security-related purposes, including school metal detectors, guards, bullet-proof windows, security audits and more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161306
House Bill 5128: Require teacher turnover reports
Introduced by Rep. Ken Yonker (R) on November 5, 2013, to require public schools to file and post on the internet annual reports of the number of teachers employed and the amount of teacher turnover since the preceding year.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161307
House Bill 5129: Require schools disclose ratio of students to teachers, counselors, etc.
Introduced by Rep. Jim Townsend (D) on November 5, 2013, to require public schools to file regular reports with the state on the number of students per teacher, per school nurse, per school counselor, per school psychologist and per school social worker.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161308
House Bill 5130: Revise school board meeting rules
Introduced by Rep. Jim Townsend (D) on November 5, 2013, to impose the same Open Meetings Act rules on charter school board of directors meetings as apply to the elected boards of conventional school districts, and require both kinds of boards to post meeting agendas on their websites at least 72 hours beforehand, post the meeting minutes within 72 hours afterwards, and hold meetings in a school or at a “readily accessible” location with sufficient capacity that is within two miles of a district school.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161309
House Bill 5131: Revise “Brownfields” authority board detail
Introduced by Rep. Harvey Santana (D) on November 5, 2013, to allow “brownfield” authority board members to be an elected or appointed government official, with their board membership ending at the same time their term or official position ends. These authorities were originally created to facilitate redevelopment of polluted industrial sites, but the law has been gradually revised to let them deliver more conventional direct and indirect “economic development” subsidies to particular developers.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161310
House Bill 5132: Revise local “economic development” authority board detail
Introduced by Rep. Harvey Santana (D) on November 5, 2013, to allow regional “economic development” agency board members to be an elected or appointed government official, with their board membership ending at the same time their term or official position ends. These agencies are essentially the local arms of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the state agency through which tax breaks and subsidies are delivered to particular companies and developers selected by political appointees on the MEDC board.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161311
House Bill 5133: Require agencies disclose federal aid requests to legislature
Introduced by Rep. Mike Shirkey (R) on November 5, 2013, to require state agencies that apply for any form of federal or other financial assistance to notify legislative leaders, relevant committees and the legislature’s fiscal agencies within 10 days, with the notice including any conditions or stipulations associated with receiving the assistance.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161312
House Bill 5134: Transfer state Capitol upkeep to new commission
Introduced by Rep. Sam Singh (D) on November 5, 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”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161313
House Bill 5135: Transfer state Capitol upkeep to new commission
Introduced by Rep. Jim Stamas (R) on November 6, 2013, to revise the law that establishes the duties of the state Department of Management and Budget to reflect the proposal in Senate Bill 665 to create a “Michigan Capitol State Commission” to take over the functions of maintaining, restoring and improving the Michigan state Capitol building, grounds and parking as a “historic site”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161314
House Bill 5136: Create standardized medical welfare mental health release form
Introduced by Rep. Matt Lori (R) on November 6, 2013, to require the state Department of Community Health to develop a standard release form for exchanging confidential mental health and substance abuse information between any public and private agency, department, corporation, or individual involved with treatment of a person with mental health or substance abuse problems.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161315
House Bill 5137: Authorize enhanced penalties for prison guard assaults
Introduced by Rep. Matt Lori (R) on November 6, 2013, to include prison and jail guards in a law that authorizes enhanced penalties of an extra two years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines for committing an assault in which the victim is a health care professional, peace officer, conservation officer, etc. who is acting within the scope of their official duties.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161316
House Bill 5138: Authorize breast cancer “awareness” specialty license plate
Introduced in the House on November 6, 2013, to authorize a specialty license plate for “breast cancer awareness,” and give the net revenue from its sale to a state government breast and cervical cancer control program.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161317
House Bill 5139: Authorize parenting time “right of first refusal”
Introduced by Rep. Douglas Geiss (D) on November 6, 2013, to establish that if a court awards parenting time in a child custody dispute (or orders joint custody), it may give one or both parents a “right of first refusal” to provide child care if the other parent intends to leave the child with a substitute child care provider for a significant period of time during his or her specified parenting time.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161318
House Bill 5140: Revise package liquor store quotas
Introduced by Rep. John Walsh (R) on November 7, 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.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161333