Some of the bills that I have introduced in 2009-2010
Public Act 3 of 2009 (HB 4582) - Transportation Stimulus
This legislation was signed into law on March 31, 2009 and was the first of the stimulus bills to be signed in Michigan. This legislation authorized $873 million in federal stimulus funding for transportation projects across Michigan as part of President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This bill has the potential to create or maintain as many as 25,000 jobs in the state this year and help improve Michigan's ailing roads and bridges, ultimately helping to revitalize the state's economy. The funding is in addition to road spending money the state had allocated for this year.
HB 4326 - Strengthening Michigan's Identity Theft Laws
This legislation would expand Michigan's racketeering statute to include internet or computer crimes and include felony violations of the Identity Theft Protection Act. This is important because identity theft remains the number one consumer fraud complaint received by the Federal Trade Commission, with reported fraud losses totaling more than $1.2 billion. My bill would give an appropriate tool to prosecutors with which to charge offenders. By adding identity theft to Michigan's racketeering statute, we empower law enforcement to pursue the entire organization behind these crimes, not just the low hanging fruit.
HB 4326 has been referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.
HB 4137 - Michigan Renewable Energy Sources Act (RESA)
This legislation would create jobs and wealth, encourage entrepreneuship, stimulate the economy and expand the green energy marketplace. RESA promotes locally produced renewable energy and provides the infrastructure for businesses, farmers and individuals to generate and sell their own renewable energy sources into the power grid. In the United States this is known as Renewable Energy Payments (REP) and in Europe it is commonly known as Feed-In Tariff (FIT).
HB 4137 has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Technology.
HBs 4377 & 4419 - Smoking Ban
This legislation would prohibit smoking in public places, in places of employment, and in food service establishments (such as restaurants, cafeterias, food courts in shopping malls, and bars). Exceptions would be made for cigar bars and tobacco specialty retail stores, for gambling areas of casinos, and for home offices. HB 4419 would require an applicant to "comply with the requirements of other state or local laws, ordinances, codes, rules, or regulations."
HBs 4377 & 4419 have been referred to the House Committee on Regulatory Reform.
HB 4394 - Prohibit Texting While Driving
This legislation would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to prohibit text-messaging while driving. The bill specifies that a person shall not read, write or send a text massage on a wireless two-way communication device that is located in the person's hand or in the person's lap (including a wireless telephone used in cellular telephone service or personal communication service) while operating a motor vehicle that is moving on a highway or street in Michigan. Under the bill, a wireless, two-way communication device would not include a global positioning or navigation system that is affixed to the motor vehicle. This legislation also specifies that enforcement of the prohibition would be accomplished only as a secondary action when a driver had been detained for a suspected violation of another section of the Vehicle Code. Individuals who violate this section are responsible for a civil infraction and will have no points assessed.
HB 4394 has been referred to the House Committee on Transportation.
HB 4426 (H-1) - Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA) Performance Audit
This legislation would require the Insurance Commissioner to conduct an annual performance audit of the MCCA for the prior fiscal year and then report the results to the commissioner and the House and Senate Standing Committees on Insurance.
HB 4426 (H-1) has been referred to the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Regulatory Reform.
HB 4531 - Employee Privacy Protection
This legislation is part of a four bill package called the Employee Privacy Protection Package. HB 4531 would prohibit employers from making employment decisions based upon certain legal conduct that is unrelated to employment, off the employer’s premises and during non-work hours. It also provides remedies. All four bills also do not allow retaliation or discrimination against a person who has or will file a complaint or testify about a violation of the various acts. The bills would not protect an employee who was unable to perform their stated job duties. An employer would still be allowed to terminate such a person.
HB 4531 has been referred to the House Committee on Labor.
HB 4698 - Committing Perjury in front of the Legislature
This bill is part of a two bill package that amends the Michigan Penal Code to specify that an officer or employee of "the executive department of this state" who intentionally provides information that he or she knows to be false or misleading to any committee or subcommittee of the Legislature is guilty of perjury punishable by imprisonment for up to 15 years. This would apply whether or not the information was provided under oath. HB 4698 would make a complementary amendment to the sentencing guidelines provisions in the Code of Criminal Procedure (MCL 777.16v). The crime of perjury committed in committee or subcommittee of the State Legislature would be a Class C felony against the public trust with a maximum of 15 years.
HB 4698 has been referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.
HB 4551 - Economic Development Fund Projects
This legislation states that the State Transportation Commission shall not approve certain transportation economic development fund projects if the project is to accommodate a business that has failed to comply with section 3 of the Michigan Corporate Responsibility Act or has failed to disclose a civil or criminal offense as required by section 3 of the Michigan Corporate Responsibility Act.
HB 4551 has been referred to the House Committee on Commerce.
Bills I introduced that became law…
2007-2008
Public Act 580 of 2008 (HB 6611) - Tax Credits for Makers of High Tech Batteries
This plan supports the domestic auto industry and encourages companies to develop and manufacture advanced batteries and commercialize advanced battery technologies in Michigan, making our state a leader in producing high-tech batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles. This new law provides business tax credits in four categories related to the manufacture of advanced batteries such as the ones used in electric plug-in vehicles, including the VOLT. Specifically, the new law authorizes the Michigan Economic Growth Authority to provide refundable tax credits totaling up to $335 million over five years for: battery pack assembly, research and engineering to support battery use in vehicles, engineering of advanced battery technologies, and capital investment for construction of battery manufacturing facilities. \
Public Act 343 of 2008 (HB 6365) – Bringing Fresher Foods to Local Schools
This plan will make it easier for school districts to purchase food from local farmers for school lunch programs. It will also help streamline the bidding process for school food administrators by increasing schools districts' small purchase threshold (SPT) for food procurement to $100,000, up from $20,959. The SPT is the dollar value above which competitive, formal bids must be obtained for purchases. Purchases below the SPT may be obtained through a simple informal bidding process in which schools may accept bids or quotes in writing or by phone, typically from at least three vendors. Purchasing locally grown food from local farmers for school meal programs – known as "farm to school" – has other benefits. It can provide schoolchildren with greater access to fresh fruits and vegetables, hands-on educational opportunities about local agriculture and food systems, expanded market opportunities for Michigan farmers and economic development opportunities.
Public Act 275 of 2008 (HB 5808) - 2007-2008 FY Transportation Budget
This legislation allocates nearly $3.4 billion to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to support state and local highway programs, public transportation programs, aeronautics programs, and administration of MDOT. Approximately two-thirds of the budget is from constitutionally-restricted state revenue sources—primarily motor fuel taxes and vehicle registrations—which is credited to the Michigan Transportation Fund (MTF) for distribution to other state transportation funds and programs, and to local road agencies, in accordance with 1951 PA 51. Approximately one-third of the budget is federal revenue. There is no state GF/GP revenue in this budget.
Public Acts 15 (HB 4530), 16 (HB 4512) and 22 (HB 4766) of 2007 – Changes to the Public School Employee Retirement System
Public Act 15 and 16 would allow the state to make interest-only payments to worker pension systems and revalue the public school employees' pension, saving the state more that $350 million from both School Aid Fund and the General Fund. Public Act 22 makes language consistent with changes made to the State Employees' Retirement Act in HB 4512 and HB 4530. These public acts were crucial to help fix the 2006-2007 FY budget.
2005-2006
Public Act 626 of 2006 (HB 5717) - Transferring Money to the Land Reutilization Fund
The bill amends the General Property Tax Act to require that $5 of the $10 expense charge on tax-delinquent property, and the property tax administration fee paid to the State, be deposited in the Land Reutilization Fund rather than the Delinquent Property Tax Administration Fund. The bill also would authorize the State Treasurer to transfer to the Land Reutilization Fund any balance remaining in the Delinquent Property Tax Administration Fund. Without this bill the money would just sit in the Delinquent Property Tax Administration Fund and accumulate.