Some of the bills that I have introduced…
HB 5159 – Infertility Treatment Coverage
This bill would amend the Michigan Insurance Code to require that all employer health care insurers that currently provide pregnancy coverage also provide infertility treatment coverage. Only 25 percent of health plan sponsors with at least 10 employees provide any level of coverage for infertility treatment. There are couples who desperately want to have children, but are unable to do so because they cannot afford infertility treatments. This is due to a gap in availability of infertility coverage—it is more available to those with higher levels of income and education. This legislation would help close this gap. Currently 15 states have laws requiring insurance coverage for infertility treatment.
HB 5159 was referred to the House Judiciary Committee.
HB 4024 – Tenant Inventory Checklist Notification
This bill would amend the Tenant and Landlord Act to allow for tenants, upon their moving out, to be notified of the opportunity to be present during the landlord's final walk-through with the inventory checklist. Often times tenants receive damage claims months after moving out that they were not aware of, or deny, and there are no current requirements set in place to allow for tenants to be present when the landlord completes the termination inventory checklist. This legislation provides that the landlord notify the former tenants at least 10 days prior to the inspection with the option to be present during the final walk-through.
HB 4024 has been assigned to the Committee on Intergovernmental and Regional Affairs
House Bill 4025 – Sex Offender Registry
This bill requires sex offenders found guilty by reason of insanity or mental illness to register on the state Sex Offenders Registry. The current law exempts sex offenders from registering if they plead guilty by reason of insanity or mental illness, even though these individuals pose a potential threat to our families and our children. Michigan citizens deserve access to information about these individuals and their whereabouts.
House Bill 4026 – State Fire Marshal Fees
This proposal would authorize the state Fire Marshal to establish the mechanisms to allow the State Fire Safety Board to assess the feasibility of reasonable fees for services such as inspections, testing and appeals hearings. The State Treasurer would collect these fees and use any surplus for suitable investments. The bill provides the resources to ensure that facilities that hold 50 or more people are inspected each year, a cautionary measure that is currently not happening. This legislation will increase public safety for our residents.
HB 4027 - Voting Locations
This legislation would increase the distance that campaign workers and volunteers must maintain from the entrance of a polling location on Election Day. Campaigns often set up camp at various polling locations as a last-ditch effort to gain votes. Currently, Michigan's law mandates that campaign staff must stay a minimum of 100 feet away from an entrance to avoid issues of election fraud and voter intimidation. However, many voters still feel a sense of intimidation and even harassment as they walk into the polls. This bill would change the distance from 100 feet to 500 feet, allowing for a more neutral environment as voters arrive.
House Bill 4073 - Public Employee Retirement Health Care Funding
This plan would create a trust under the "Public Employee Retirement Health Care Funding Act." It is part of a package of bills that deals with several components of securing the state's retiree healthcare and protecting the benefits that workers deserve. The trust itself must be approved by the IRS, and creates the vehicle by which contributions can be securely made into an account. States must express their current liability, including future obligations such as retiree healthcare costs, as required by the federal government. The state cannot continue to sustain retiree healthcare under the current plan. Securing this trust fund strengthens Michigan’s financial position and lowers the cost of doing business here. The trust will not only help us meet federal requirements, but will also help to ensure that Michigan keeps its commitment to retirees. The trust would secure funds and not allow the state to dip into the fund – as has been done in the past.
House Bill 4128 - Property Tax Reform
This bill, along with House Joint Resolution E (introduced by Rep. Richard LeBlanc, D-Westland), would amend the General Property Tax Act to prohibit the taxable value of a home from increasing if the State Equalized Value decreases. Currently, property taxes are allowed to increase 5% annually or at the rate of inflation, whichever is less. During these difficult economic times, with the rate of foreclosures on the rise, this legislation will help homeowners who are burdened with having their property taxes increase while their home value decreases.
House Bill 4271 - Pop-Up tax Disclosure
This legislation would help prevent foreclosures and stimulate the real estate market by requiring a separate disclosure statement stating the anticipated amount of property taxes a new home buyer will pay after the transfer of ownership. This legislation would also require a full disclosure statement be signed by the buyer and seller, real estate agent, or closing agent. Currently, the assessed taxable value of a home has strict limits on how much it can increase annually – either by 5 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower. However, when the property is sold, its assessment is uncapped, resulting in an often unexpected “pop-up tax.”
Some of the bills that have been signed into law…
P.A. 542 of 2008 – County Jail Overcrowding
This bill will help alleviate overcrowding in county jails while still protecting our communities. In the event of a county jail overcrowding emergency, the Chief Judge would be given the authority to address the bonds of unsentenced, non-violent offenders if they do not present a threat to public safety. This option would prevent the release of violent offenders who have not yet been sentenced in the event of an overcrowding emergency.
P.A. 360 of 2008 – Community Colleges and Job Training Programs
These bills create an economic development tool known as the "Michigan New Jobs Training Program." This program will help residents, many of them unemployed, acquire training for new jobs in emerging industries by managing tuition costs. Under the plan, community colleges will be able to borrow money on behalf of employers to pay for specialized job training for new employees. The community college would pay off the debt by redirecting the income tax of the new workers to the college instead of the state. In many cases, this redirection of income tax would only be from employees who have been through this program and in many instances, who have not been previously employed.
You can follow the status of all legislation in the state House and Senate at www.legislature.mi.gov.