In the Capitol
Committee meetings of interest for the week of 2/13
2/14 House Tort Reform
Agenda: History of Tort Reform

2/15 House Appropriations
Agenda: Overview of the Executive Budget for fiscal years 2006-2007 by Mitch Bean, Director of the House Fiscal Agency

2/15 House Judiciary
Agenda: HB 5451 Prohibit and prescribe penalties for unlawful imprisonment; HB 5450 Clarify elements of crime of kidnapping; HB 5449 Enact sentencing guidelines for crime of unlawful imprisonment; SB 120 Allow prior acts of domestic violence to be admissible as evidence; SB 263 Exempt certain statements of domestic violence victims from hearsay rule.
Agenda items of interest:
SBM Position: Oppose in Principle SB 120
Criminal Jurisprudence and Practice Committee Position: Oppose SB 120
SBM Position: Oppose in Principle SB 263
Criminal Law Section Position: Oppose SB 263
Criminal Jurisprudence and Practice Committee Position: Oppose SB 263

Complete Committee Meeting List

Legislation Recently Signed into Public Acts

Legislation Introduced 1/24 – 2/2
Of Interest to the Legal Community
HB 5643 Corrections; jails; time for filing civil action for reimbursement by inmates to the county for cost of imprisonment and care; extend. Amends sec. 7 of 1984 PA 118 (MCL 801.87).

HB 5654 Corrections; parole; eligibility for parole for certain prisoners; revise. Amends sec. 34 of 1953 PA 232 (MCL 791.234). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5655'06HB 5656'06

HB 5655 Criminal procedure; probation; persons sentenced to lifetime probation for certain drug crimes; clarify applicability of statute. Amends secs. 7401 & 7403 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.7401 & 333.7403) & repeals sec. 7413 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.7413). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5654'06, HB 5656'06

HB 5656 Criminal procedure; probation; certain provisions regarding lifetime probationers; clarify. Amends sec. 2, ch. XI of 1927 PA 175 (MCL 771.2). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5654'06, HB 5655'06

SB 1032 Criminal procedure; sentencing; delayed sentencing for ordinance violations; allow. Amends sec. 1, ch. XI of 1927 PA 175 (MCL 771.1).

SB 1034 Civil rights; employment discrimination; time limitation of filing a lawsuit; clarify. Amends sec. 801 of 1976 PA 453 (MCL 37.2801).

SCR 39 A concurrent resolution to request the State Bar of Michigan and the National Legal Aid and Defender Association to issue a joint report to the Legislature on the number and types of cases and the costs resulting from court-appointed attorneys for indigent criminal cases in Michigan.

Of General Interest
HB 5642 Elections; campaign practices; automated campaign telephone calls; prohibit. Amends sec. 931 of 1954 PA 116 (MCL 168.931).

HB 5645 Health; death; final disposition of fetal remains; define and clarify authorization requirements. Amends secs. 2803, 2804, 2834 & 2848 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.2803 et seq.) & adds secs. 2836 & 2854.

HB 5646 Health; other; definition of products of conception as pathological waste; provide for. Amends sec. 13807 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.13807).

HB 5648 Elections; election officials; state board of canvassers and director of elections; revise duties concerning ballot question petitions. Amends sec. 478 of 1954 PA 116 (MCL 168.478). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5649'06, HB 5650'06, SB 0973'06, SB 0974'06, SB 0975'06, SB 0976'06

HB 5649 Elections; election officials; court review of determination made by state director of elections; revise to include. Amends sec. 479 of 1954 PA 116 (MCL 168.479). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5648'06, HB 5650'06, SB 0973'06, SB 0974'06, SB 0975'06, SB 0976'06

HB 5650 Elections; election officials; state board of canvassers and director of elections; revise duties concerning ballot question petitions. Amends sec. 477 of 1954 PA 116 (MCL 168.477). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5648'06, HB 5649'06, SB 0973'06, SB 0974'06, SB 0975'06, SB 0976'06

HB 5659 Elections; election officials; authority of local clerks to confirm and cancel voter registrations; expand. Amends secs. 509bb & 510 of 1954 PA 116 (MCL 168.509bb & 168.510) & adds secs. 515a & 764c.

HJR s Legislature; legislators; number of representatives and senators; reduce and increase term limits. Amends secs. 2, 3 & 54, art IV of the state constitution.

SB 1036 Elections; petitions; filing nominating or ballot question petitions with fraudulent signatures; increase penalties. Amends sec. 544c of 1954 PA 116 (MCL 168.544c).

In the Hall of Justice
Administrative Orders
Administrative Order No. 2006-2 - File No. 2005-02 Privacy Policy and Access to Court Records
Issued: February 10, 2006
Effective: March 1, 2006

Federal News
New Voting Systems Bode End to Levers, Punch Cards
(Washington Times, 2/7/06)

New House Leader Outlines His Role as a Moderator 
(Washington Times, 2/6/06)

Bush's '07 Budget Calls for $2.7 Trillion Spending
(Washington Times, 2/6/06)

State News
Governor Jennifer Granholm’s proposed budget for the 2006-2007 fiscal year was released on February 9.
Overview of the Budget
Full text of the Budget
See Related:
Highlights of Gov. Jennifer Granholm's Budget Proposal
(Lansing State Journal, 2/10/06)
Republicans Take Shots at Budget Plan
(Lansing State Journal, 2/10/06)

Petitions Seek $6.85 Minimum Wage
(Detroit Free Press, 2/11/06)

Granholm Calls Jobs Fund Key to Economic Growth
(Lansing State Journal, 2/11/06)

State's Congress Members Rack Up Privately Funded Trips
(Lansing State Journal, 2/10/06)

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