In the Capitol
President George W. Bush will deliver in the State of the Union address at 9 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2006.

Text of Governor Jennifer Granholm's State of the State address (1/25/06)

Committee meetings of interest for the week of 1/30
1/31 Senate Judiciary
Agenda: Presentation by the Department of Corrections regarding Prisoner Population Projections. Hearing Only - No Voting: SB 542 Eliminate right to preliminary examination for certain crimes; SB 543 Eliminate right to preliminary examination for certain crimes; SB 544 Eliminate right to preliminary examination for certain crimes; SB 545 Eliminate right to preliminary examination for certain crimes; HB 4796 Eliminate right to preliminary examination for certain crimes; HB 4799 Eliminate right to preliminary examination for certain crimes; HB 4800 Eliminate right to preliminary examination for certain crimes.
SBM Position: Given the diversity of views from the legal community on the issue, the State Bar of Michigan takes no position but supports the involvement of State Bar sections and committees to advocate their positions on the legislation.
Criminal Jurisprudence & Practice Committee Position: Oppose.
Criminal Law Section Position: Adopted Resolutions.
Judicial Conference Section Position: Oppose.
Justice Initiatives Committee Position: Oppose the proposed legislation and work with others to find a more appropriate solution to the difficulties presented by the current preliminary exam laws.

2/1 House Judiciary
Agenda: HB 4171 Allow award of damages for repairs made by landlord to damaged property; HB 5490 Allow and clarify interest earned remains with forfeiture funds for deposit of forfeiture funds in a local financial institution; SB 128 Require notification by e-mail to certain individuals when a registered sex offender relocates into or within a certain proximity of a zip code; SB 561 Revise Good Samaritan law provisions relating to national ski patrol system.

Complete Committee Meeting List

Legislation Recently Signed into Public Acts

Legislation Introduced 1/24 - 1/26
Of Interest to the Legal Community
HB 5602 Probate; wills and estates; rights of inheritance of adopted individuals and adoptive and natural parents; remove conflict between EPIC and adoption code. Amends sec. 60, ch. X of 1939 PA 288 (MCL 710.60).

SB 1000 Insurance; no-fault; definition of "serious impairment of body function"; modify. Amends sec. 3135 of 1956 PA 218 (MCL 500.3135).

SB 1008 Corrections; parole; requirement for parole board to annually review prisoners subject to deportation; provide for. Amends sec. 34 of 1953 PA 232 (MCL 791.234).

Of General Interest
HB 5572 Campaign finance; contributions and expenditures; limitations on retroactive giving; eliminate. Amends sec. 52 of 1976 PA 388 (MCL 169.252).

HB 5595 Insurance; no-fault; explanation of Michigan catastrophic claims association assessment; require in certain cases. Amends sec. 2112 of 1956 PA 218 (MCL 500.2112).

HB 5614 Criminal procedure; sex offender registration; date listed offense was committed on sex offender registry; require. Amends sec. 8 of 1994 PA 295 (MCL 28.728).

SB 973 Elections; election officials; state board of canvassers and director of elections; revise duties concerning ballot question language. Amends sec. 32 of 1954 PA 116 (MCL 168.32) & repeals sec. 22e of 1954 PA 116 (MCL 168.22e). TIE BAR WITH: SB 0974'06, SB 0975'06, SB 0976'06

SB 974 Elections; election officials; state board of canvassers and director of elections; revise duties concerning ballot question petitions. Amends sec. 474 of 1954 PA 116 (MCL 168.474). TIE BAR WITH: SB 0973'06, SB 0975'06, SB 0976'06

SB 975 Elections; election officials; state board of canvassers and director of elections; revise duties concerning ballot questions. Amends sec. 474a of 1954 PA 116 (MCL 168.474a). TIE BAR WITH: SB 0973'06, SB 0974'06, SB 0976'06

SB 976 Elections; election officials; state board of canvassers and director of elections; revise duties concerning ballot question petitions. Amends sec. 476 of 1954 PA 116 (MCL 168.476). TIE BAR WITH: SB 0973'06, SB 0974'06, SB 0975'06

SB 999 Insurance; no-fault; explanation of Michigan catastrophic claims association assessment; require in certain cases. Amends sec. 2112 of 1956 PA 218 (MCL 500.2112).

SB 1009 Campaign finance; public funding; public financing for certain supreme court candidates; provide for. Amends secs. 3, 5, 7, 10 & 11 of 1976 PA 388 (MCL 169.203 et seq.) & adds secs. 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 103, 105, 107, 108 & 109.

At The Bar
Women In Law Leadership Academy Slated For March 30 - 31

ATJ Reception to Benefit Civil Legal Aid is Set for Feb. 16

ABA TECHSHOW Takes Place April 20-22 in Chicago

Sections and Committees
The Business Law Section submitted the following public policy report: Withdraw Support: HB 5322 Businesses; business corporations; effective date of documents filed with administrator; revise. Amends sec. 131 of 1972 PA 284 (MCL 450.1131).

The Real Property Law Section submitted the following public policy report: Oppose: SB 815 Civil procedure; evictions; property managers and other nonlawyers to represent businesses in certain eviction proceedings; allow. Amends 1961 PA 236 (MCL 600.101 - 600.9947) by adding sec. 5707.
SBM Position: Active Opposition

State News
Land Suggests Series of Election Process Reforms
(Detroit News, 1/28/06)

Granholm, Republicans Differ on Way to Help Businesses
(Detroit News, 1/28/06)

State Educators Want to Know How Granholm Plans to Pay for Projects
(Lansing State Journal, 1/27/06)

DeVos Declines to be Specific on Economic Plan for Michigan
(Lansing State Journal, 1/27/06)

Granholm Vows to Grow Economy
(Lansing State Journal, 1/26/06)

Granholm's Past Proposals have had Mixed Success Rates
(Lansing State Journal, 1/26/06)

Cavanagh to Seek Fourth Term on High Court
(Lansing State Journal, 1/25/06)

House Approves Small Business Tax Cuts, Hoping to Spur Economy
(Lansing State Journal, 1/25/06)

Links of Interest
Public Policy Resource Center | Michigan Supreme Court | Michigan Legislature | MCL Search Engines