In the Capitol
Committee meetings of interest for the week of 5/5
5/6 House Appropriations: Corrections
Agenda: Testimony from Michigan Association of Counties and Kent County Re-Entry Employment Resource Center. Presentation on Michigan Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative, FY 2008-09 Department of Corrections.

5/6 Senate Judiciary
Agenda: HB 4602 Limit statutory rule against perpetuities application to real property; HB 5909 Create personal property trust perpetuities act. A presentation on "Blueprint for a Safer Michigan: Work in Progress."

5/7 House Judiciary
Agenda: For testimony only: HB 4564 Mandate joint custody in every custody dispute between parents except in certain circumstances.
State Bar of Michigan Position: Oppose in Principle
Family Law Section Position: Oppose
Judicial Conference Section Position: Oppose

Complete Committee Meeting List

New Public Acts

Legislation Introduced 4/29 – 5/1
Of Interest to the Legal Community
HB 6024 Criminal procedure; sentencing; habitual offender statute; expand to include certain drug offenses. Amends sec. 10, 11 & 12, ch. IX of 1927 PA 175 (MCL 769.10 et seq.).

Of General Interest
SB 1278 Insurance; no-fault; personal insurance protection coverage; provide for different benefit levels. Amends secs. 2111, 3101, 3104, 3107, 3114, 3115, 3163 & 3172 of 1956 PA 218 (MCL 500.2111 et seq.).

SB 1279 Insurance; no-fault; fee schedules for medical costs paid by personal injury protection; provide for. Amends secs. 3107 & 3157 of 1956 PA 218 (MCL 500.3107 & 500.3157).

SB 1280 Corrections; jails; emergency overcrowding release procedures; modify as to unsentenced prisoners. Amends sec. 6 of 1982 PA 325 (MCL 801.56).

In the Hall of Justice

Michigan Supreme Court: May 1 is Michigan Law Day 2008

Michigan Law Day Resolution 2008

Child Support Leadership Council Appointments Made by Michigan Supreme Court

Proposed Amendments
2007-24 - Proposed Amendment of Rules 2.301, 2.302, 2.401 and 2.506 of the Michigan Court Rules

This proposal, submitted by the State Bar of Michigan, would amend Michigan’s discovery rules concerning electronically stored information, and would make the rules consistent with the federal rules. 

Issued: April 29, 2008

Comment period expires: August 1, 2008

Public hearing: To be scheduled

Other Actions
2008-01 - Supreme Court Appointments to the Child Support Leadership Council
Issued: April 29, 2008

At The Bar
Real Estate is Focus of SBM Real Property Law Section Summer Conference

Sections and Committees
The Negligence Law Section submitted public policy positions on the following items:

Support: HB 4836 Insurance; no-fault; uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage; provide for. Amends 1956 PA 218 (MCL 500.100 - 500.8302) by adding sec. 3160.

 Support: HB 4994 Insurance; no-fault; notice and statute of limitations; provide for general amendments. Amends secs. 3141 & 3145 of 1956 PA 218 (MCL 500.3141 & 500.3145).

Support: HB 5838 Insurance; no-fault; mini-tort recovery; increase. Amends sec. 3135 of 1956 PA 218 (MCL 500.3135).

Oppose: HB 5994 Torts; liability; limitation of liability for certain injuries from liquefied petroleum gas; provide for. Amends 1961 PA 236 (MCL 600.101 - 600.9947) by adding sec. 2977.   

Oppose: SB 1260 (Garcia) Torts; liability; payment of damages, including veterinary expenses caused when one dog bites another; provide for under certain circumstances. Amends title & sec. 1 of 1939 PA 73 (MCL 287.351) .

State News
Mich. Prison Costs Could Reach $500M
(Detroit News, 5/3/08)

County to Pay Fees in Abood Case
(Lansing State Journal, 4/30/08)

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