Following are some of the bills voted on by the House of Representatives in February and March that I thought would be of interest to you. For more information on these or other bills, please contact my office toll-free at (888) 833-6636.
Protecting Struggling Homeowners: Earlier this year, the House passed a plan that will impose a 90 day "freeze" on the foreclosure proceedings, if the borrower requests a meeting with the lender to attempt to modify their mortgage. The bills would also provide that if the parties could not reach a modified mortgage agreement and certain financial calculations show that the borrower should have been eligible for an agreement, the lenders would be required to proceed with judicial foreclosure, instead of foreclosure by advertisement.
The Senate versions of the bills, which the House rejected, stripped the references to judicial foreclosure. The bills will now go before a conference committee where the differences between the House and Senate versions will be resolved.
Department of Community Health Budget: The House passed the Department of Community (DCH) Health budget to provide funding for Medical Services, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Maternal and Child Health, Public Health, Services to the Elderly and Disabled, and Crime Victims Services.
Revising Keg Beer Sale Procedures: The House passed a plan to require retailers to attach identification tags to beer kegs over six gallons and require the purchaser of a keg to fill out a receipt. Thirty one states at have similar requirements to register kegs.
Allowing Lottery Revenue to be Invested in State Bonds: The plan passed by the House would allow the lottery to invest undistributed money from state lottery revenue to be invested in state bonds and notes.
Prohibit the Disposal of Mercury-Added Products in Incinerators and Landfills: The House passed a plan that will prohibit waste haulers from delivering, and landfill and incinerator operators from accepting, mercury-added products for disposal beginning January 1, 2011 for incinerators and January 1, 2013 for landfills.
Labeling for Mercury-Added Products: The House passed a plan to require manufacturers to label mercury-added products sold in the state beginning July 1, 2010 and to inform purchasers of the presence of mercury and that the product should not be placed in the waste stream.
Prohibiting the Sale of Mercury-Added Novelties and Button Cell Batteries: The House passed a plan to prohibit the sale of mercury-added novelties beginning January 1, 2010 and most mercury-added button cell batteries beginning July 1, 2011 and all remaining button cell batteries beginning January 1, 2015.
Regulating the Sale of Elemental Mercury: The House passed a plan that will require sellers, providers and recipients of elemental mercury for medical, dental, research, or manufacturing purposes to take certain actions to ensure that recipients are aware of the hazards of using mercury.
Prohibiting the Sale of Certain Mercury-Added Measurement Devices: The plan passed by the House will prohibit the sale of mercury-added barometers and manometers beginning January 1, 2011 and mercury-added flow meters, hydrometers, hygrometers, psychrometers, switches and relays beginning January 1, 2012. The bill also allows the DEQ to grant an exemption from these prohibitions if certain conditions are met.
Allowing Banks to Charge Off Past Due Debt as "Bad Debt": The House passed two plans that would amend the Savings Bank Act and Banking Code of 1999 to change the time frame in which past due debt must be charged off as "bad debt" (from six months to twelve months), and clarify that only the portion of the debt that is not well secured must be charged off.
Allowing Public Corporations to Invest in Certain Certificates of Deposit at Credit Unions: The House passed a plan that will allow public corporations to invest in certain certificates of deposit in insured credit unions. Public Act 308 of 2008 was enacted last session to give public corporations the ability to invest funds in certificates of deposit in depository institutions which participate in programs such as the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service Program (CDARS).
Recreational Vehicle Registration: The House passed a plan to several types of recreational vehicles, or RVs, and clarify the type of registration and certification necessary for each.
Creating the "Recreational Vehicle Franchise Act":
The House passed a plan that will create the "Recreational Vehicle Franchise Act" to regulate the relationship between dealers and manufacturers of recreational vehicles (RVs).
No Reason Absentee Voting: The House passed a plan that will permit a qualified Michigan voter to vote by absentee ballot without requiring a justification when applying for the ballot.
Establishing Equal Pay Day: The House passed a resolution to proclaim April 28, 2009, as Equal Pay Day in the State of Michigan and urges the citizens to recognize the full value of women's skills and their significant contribution to the labor force. It also urges businesses to conduct an internal pay evaluation to ensure women are being paid fairly.
Urging the Governor to Divest in Hedge Funds that Hold Chrysler Bonds: The House passed two resolutions to call on the Governor to divest all state money from hedge funds that refuse to accept a settlement on the Chrysler bonds that they hold.
Leave Time for Adoptive Parents: The House passed a plan to require an employer that provides leave with pay to an employee following the birth of the employee's child shall provide the same leave with pay to an employee when a child under one year of age is placed with the employee for adoption.
Restricting Certain Parental Rights Terminations: Currently, DHS can initiate termination proceedings against a parent who has voluntarily terminated his or her parental rights to a prior child. The plan passed by the House will amend the Probate Code to prevent these proceedings from beginning with a subsequent child, unless the previous voluntary termination involved an intentional act such as severe abuse, sexual assault or the death of a child. House Bill 4820 adds the same language to the Child Protection Law. This changes means that DHS will not be required to initiate termination proceedings unless the prior termination involved the same severe intentional acts as are in HB 4525.
Creating a Michigan New Markets Tax Credit Program: The House passed a series of bills that would create a state-level New Markets Tax Credit program to supplement the federal program and encourage investment in underserved areas in the state. The bills would create tax credits for individuals or businesses that invest in federally-approved "Community Development Entities," which are organizations that manage and facilitate investments in designated low-income and distressed communities.
Deductions for Contributions to Advance Tuition Payment Fund: The House passed a plan to create corresponding deductions in the income tax and the Michigan Business Tax for taxpayers that make charitable contributions to the Advance Tuition Payment Fund in the Michigan Education Trust (MET) program.
Awarding Restitution for the Replacement Value of an Object: The Hosue passed a plan to permit the court to allow the replacement value of property to be ordered as part of a defendant's restitution to a victim. The legislation makes the same change in the William Van Regenmorter Crime Victims Rights Act. The court would order fair market value in typical situations, but where this cannot be assessed or is impractical, the replacement value could be ordered.
Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights: The House passed a resolution urging Congress to pass the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights (H.R. 627).
Federal Toxic Substances Control Act: The House passed a resolution urging Congress to comprehensively rewrite the Toxic Substances Control Act to improve the screening of existing and new chemicals to ensure their safety with respect to public health and the environment.
Allowing school districts to Establish Recreational Authorities: The House passed a plan to amend the recreational authorities act by adding school districts to the definition of municipalities, allowing them to establish a recreational authority with one or more municipalities.
Memorializing Congress to Increase Funding for Autism Research: The House passed a resolution memorializing the United States Congress to increase funding for research into the causes and treatment of autism and to improve training and support for individuals with autism as well as those who care for individuals with autism.
Register and Regulate Trauma Scene Waste Management Practitioners: Under legislation passed by the House, trauma scene waste management practitioners, who engage in the cleanup, handling, and transport of waste from a trauma scene would be required to register with the Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth; establish registration and renewal fees; and prescribe various duties of a practitioner and the department.
Regulating Trauma Scene Clean-Ups: The House passed a plan to add trauma scene clean-ups under the Medical Waste Act, impose new regulations on medical waste disposal procedures and require new medical waste treatment technology to be reviewed and approved by the state.
Updating References to the Uniform Securities Act: The House passed a series of bills to amend various statutes to update references in the acts to refer to the new Uniform Securities Act that passed last session. The new Uniform Securities Act, was designed to coordinate federal and state securities legislation, and regulate the issuance, sale, and purchase of securities, and prohibits fraudulent practices in relation to securities.
Prohibiting Insurance Hikes: The House passed a plan to prohibit an auto or home insurer from increasing the premium during the term of a policy once the premium has been paid in part or in full, unless the premium was based on incorrect information provided by the insured.
To monitor legislation, visit www.legislature.mi.gov.