FOCUS: Tax on Legal Services
Legislation to implement Governor Granholm’s proposal to tax services, including legal services, was introduced on March 1 by Rep. George Cushingberry, Jr (D-Detroit) and Sen. Liz Brater (D-Ann Arbor):
HB 4368 (Cushingberry) Sales tax; collections; tax on services and admission transmission transactions; provide for.
SB 307 (Brater) Sales tax; collections; tax on services and admission transmission transactions; provide for.

Action Alert – Stop the Proposed Tax on Legal Services
The State Bar of Michigan strongly urges you to contact your State Representative and State Senator and ask for their opposition to the proposed tax on legal services. Use the State Bar’s position to communicate why a tax on legal services is harmful to Michigan citizens and businesses.
Find Your Elected Officials

In the Capitol
Committee meetings of interest for the week of 3/5
3/6 Senate Judiciary
Agenda: SB 88 Provide immunity for liability of a peace officer for injuries caused while rendering assistance outside jurisdiction;
SB 275 Provide for exemption for nursing mothers from jury duty.

3/7 House Judiciary
Agenda: HB 4301 Define and provide for general amendments to serious impairment of body function; HB 4167 Increase penalties for intentionally discharging a firearm from vehicle under certain circumstances; HB 4168 Enact sentencing guidelines for increased penalties for crime of intentionally discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle causing serious impairment of a body function; HB 4228 Allow drug analysis field test as admissible evidence in preliminary hearings.
Negligence Law Section Position: Support HB 4301

3/8 Senate Appropriations: Judiciary and Corrections
Agenda: Honorable Clifford W. Taylor, Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court; Honorable William C. Whitbeck, Chief Judge of the Michigan Court of Appeals

Complete Committee Meeting List

New Public Acts

Legislation Introduced 2/27 – 3/1
Of Interest to the Legal Community
HB 4332 Crimes; vehicle offenses; definition of reckless driving that causes the death of another; include driving while fatigued. Amends sec. 324 of 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.324).

HB 4355 Appropriations; judiciary; judiciary budget; provide for fiscal year 2007-2008. Creates appropriation act.

HB 4368 Sales tax; collections; tax on services and admission transmission transactions; provide for.

HB 4386 Taxation; other; nexus standard; modify.

SB 275 Courts; juries; exemption for nursing mothers from jury duty; provide for. Amends sec. 1307a of 1961 PA 236 (MCL 600.1307a).

SB 291 Crimes; definitions; gang felony crimes; create. Amends 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.1 - 750.568) by adding sec. 411u.

SB 292 Criminal procedure; sentencing guidelines; sentencing guidelines for gang felonies; enact. Amends sec. 16t, ch. XVII of 1927 PA 175 (MCL 777.16t).

SB 298 Consumer protection; privacy; social security numbers in documents submitted to register of deeds for recordation; require redaction in certified copies unless prohibited by law.

SB 299 Consumer protection; privacy; social security numbers in documents submitted to register of deeds for recordation; require redaction by person submitting document unless prohibited by law.

SB 300 Consumer protection; privacy; social security numbers in documents submitted to register of deeds for recordation; require redaction by register of deeds unless prohibited by law.

SB 301 Consumer protection; privacy; social security numbers in judgments submitted to register of deeds for recordation; require redaction unless prohibited by law.

SB 302 Consumer protection; privacy; social security numbers in affidavits submitted to register of deeds for recordation; require redaction unless prohibited by law.

SB 303 Consumer protection; privacy; social security numbers in recorded documents made available for inspection by register of deeds; require redaction unless prohibited by law.

SB 304 Health; research; immunity for providing data or other information to a peer review entity or the use of that information by the peer review entity with the intent to defraud or knowingly violate the law; clarify and require to comply with the public health code. TIE BAR WITH: SB 0305'07

SB 305 Health; occupations; judicial review of final determinations, orders, or decisions of a peer review entity and release of certain records, data, and knowledge relevant to that review pursuant to a subpoena; provide for under certain circumstances.

SB 307 Sales tax; collections; tax on services and admission transmission transactions; provide for.

SB 325 Taxation; other; nexus standard; modify.

Of General Interest
HB 4328 Insurance; unfair trade practices; penalties for engaging in unfair or deceptive acts or practices; increase. Amends sec. 2038 of 1956 PA 218 (MCL 500.2038).

HB 4367 Single business tax; replacement; Michigan business tax act; create. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4368'07, HB 4369'07, HB 4370'07, HB 4371'07, HB 4372'07

HB 4377 Taxation; estates; tie between estate tax and the federal tax; modify.

SB 306 Single business tax; replacement; Michigan business tax act; create. TIE BAR WITH: SB 0307'07, SB 0308'07, SB 0309'07, SB 0310'07, SB 0311'07

SB 314 Taxation; estates; tie between estate tax and the federal tax; modify.

In the Hall of Justice
Money Seized in Speeding Stop at Issue in Oral Arguments Next Week; Claimant Argues That Fourth Amendment Bars Forfeiture

At the Bar
Skate for Justice Event to Benefit ATJ Fund for Civil Legal Aid Programs

Federal News
NPR to Test Smarts of Top Court Judge
(Washington Times, 3/5/07)

State News
House Dems to Trim Health Benefits
(Detroit Free Press, 3/5/07)

Granholm to Talk Taxes
(Detroit Free Press, 3/4/07)

Bishop says GOP, Dems Discussing Fixes for State Budget
(Lansing State Journal, 3/2/07)

Granholm, Bishop Meet on Budget
(Lansing State Journal, 3/1/07)

Lobbyists Spent Nearly $30M
(Lansing State Journal, 2/27/07)

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