In the Capitol
Committee meetings of interest for the week of 2/14/05
2/16/05 House Judiciary
Agenda: HB 4210 Crimes; vehicle offenses; requirement for prosecution to show proof that a driver of a fleeing vehicle has knowledge of injuries; eliminate.
HB 4054 Courts; juries; juror qualification questionnaires; omit requirement of sending to certain individuals disqualified from jury service.
HB 4233 Gaming; horse racing; applicant for an occupational license; require state and federal criminal history check.

Complete Committee Meeting List

Capitol Agenda
(Detroit News, 2/12/05)

Legislation Introduced 2/8 – 2/10
Of Interest to the Legal Community
HB 4213 Juveniles; criminal procedure; forensic examinations of juveniles to determine competency; allow. TIE BAR WITH HB 4214'05, HB 4215'05

HB 4214 Juveniles; criminal procedure; forensic examinations of juveniles to determine competency; allow. TIE BAR WITH HB 4213'05, HB 4215'05

HB 4215 Juveniles; criminal procedure; provisions relating to the alibi defense; expand to include juveniles. TIE BAR WITH HB 4213'05, HB 4214'05

HB 4242 Probate; other; foreign adoption name changes; provide simplified process for.

HB 4244 Taxation; administration; right to an informal conference; clarify.

HB 4245 Family law; child support; treatment of payment in excess of support; clarify.

HB 4258 Law; contracts; use of fingerprint as a legal signature; allow for a person who is unable to sign.

SB 193 Courts; district court; election districts within the eighth judicial district; eliminate.

Of General Interest
HB 4217 Elections; petitions; ballot language printed on front of petition; require and establish that if circulator is being paid, it must be printed on front of petition.

HB 4226 Legislature; ethics; lobbying by former legislators; restrict.

HB 4228 Elections; absent voters; local clerk or secretary of a school board to maintain list of permanent absentee voters; require.

HB 4248 Occupations; lobbyists; individuals subject to the lobby registration act; expand to include at-will employees of the legislative and executive branches.

HB 4261 Elections; voting procedures; early voting in centralized polling place; provide for.

At the Bar
Nominations Open for Representative Assembly Awards

Nominations Open for Major State Bar Awards

Federal News
States See Growing Campaign to Change Redistricting Laws
(New York Times, 2/7/05)

Fast Track For Torts
(The Hill, 2/9/05)
See Also:
Senate Approves Measure to Curb Big Class Actions
(New York Times, 2/11/05)
Read S. 5 Class Action Fairness Act

Report: Thousands wrongly convicted each year
(USA Today, 2/11/05)

State News
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm Delivered The State Of The State Address On February 8, 2005.
Read Text Of Speech
(Detroit News, 2/9/05)

Granholm's $41.2B Budget Cuts Multiple State Programs
(Lansing State Journal, 2/11/05)
See Also:
Budget To Cut Funds For Colleges, Prisons
(Detroit Free Press, 2/11/05)

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