In
the Capitol
FOCUS: Senate
Concurrent Resolution 39
The
State Bar of Michigan appreciates the recent actions by Senator Alan Cropsey
and his colleagues in the State Legislature leading to the adoption of
SCR 39. Consistent with the state and federal constitutions and our
responsibilities under court rule, the State Bar has long been an advocate
for improving the delivery of legal services to our state’s
indigent residents. We believe that the initiative described in SCR 39
for the collection of comprehensive information is a crucial step in
determining the appropriate course toward major improvement. It is our
pleasure to work jointly with the National Legal Aid and Defender Association
and the State Court Administrative Office to collect this information,
and to have the bipartisan support of so many Michigan legislators.
Committee
Meetings of Interest for the week of 6/19
6/20
House Tort Reform
Agenda: No voting, testimony only on: HB
5527 Provide for rebuttable presumption rather than absolute defense
and provide grace period for bringing certain actions previously barred
by the defense for FDA approval defense for drug products.
6/20
Senate Judiciary
Agenda: HB
5953 Modify provision regarding property rights in marriage and
divorce; SB
701 Revise procedures for reports of missing endangered seniors
with the law enforcement information network (LEIN); HB
4870 Establish priority and related procedures persons entitled
to make funeral and burial arrangement for a deceased; HB
4891 Revise language in occupational code to reflect changes in
estates and protected individuals code for persons entitled to make
funeral and burial arrangements for a deceased; HB
5836 Revise language in public health code to reflect changes in
estates and protected individuals code for persons entitled to make
funeral and burial arrangements for a deceased; Pending Referral: HB
5800 Revise use of the Michigan youth correctional facility.
6/20
Economic Growth Joint Select Committee
Agenda: Organizational
Meeting
FOCUS: Senate
Majority Leader Ken Sikkema and House Speaker Craig DeRoche announced
the formation on the Economic Growth Joint Select Committee on May
30. Its focus is to study alternatives to Michigan’s Single Business
Tax and to recommend a replacement plan to the Legislature by December
1, 2006. Committee members include Sen. Nancy Cassis, R-Novi; Sen.
Alan Sanborn, R-Richmond Township; Sen. Buzz Thomas, D-Detroit; Reps.
Fulton Sheen, R-Plainwell, Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland; and Andy Dillon
D-Redford Township. See Senate
Concurrent Resolution 45
Complete
Committee Meeting List
Legislation
Recently Signed into Public Acts
Legislation
Introduced 6/13– 6/15
Of
Interest to the Legal Community
HB
6197 Occupations;
notaries public; technical amendments; provide for. Amends secs. 5, 11,
13, 15, 19, 21, 25, 31, 35, 51 & 53 of 2003
PA 238 (MCL 55.265 et
seq.).
Of
General Interest
HB
6192 Public employees
and officers; ethics; restrictions on political activity for certain public
offices; establish. Amends secs. 71, 191 & 342
of 1954
PA 116 (MCL 168.71 et
seq.) & adds sec. 931a.
HB
6193 Elections; absent voters; absent voter ballot; issue upon
voter's request without requiring justification. Amends secs. 758,
759 & 759b of 1954
PA 116 (MCL 168.758 et
seq.).
HB
6194 Insurance; other; board of directors of domestic insurer;
provide for general amendments. Amends sec. 5238 of 1956
PA 218 (MCL 500.5238).
HB
6195 Insurance; other; action by board of directors and board committees;
permit without a meeting in certain cases. Amends sec. 5245 of 1956
PA 218 (MCL 500.5245).
HB
6196 Insurance; other; certain compensation paid by domestic insurer;
provide for general amendments. Amends sec. 5248 of 1956
PA 218 (MCL 500.5248).
HB
6199 Housing; condominium; office of condominium ombudsman; create.
Amends 1978
PA 59 (MCL 559.101 - 559.276)
by adding sec. 63a.
HB
6213 Labor; hours and wages; minimum wage; maintain status quo
with respect to federal minimum wage and overtime exemptions when state
minimum wage increases. Amends sec. 14 of 1964
PA 154 (MCL 408.394).
HB
6214 Traffic control; driver license; suspension of driver license
for furnishing alcohol to a minor; provide for under certain circumstances.
Amends sec. 319 of 1949
PA 300 (MCL 257.319).
SB
1301 Single business tax; credit; certain single business tax credits;
allow to be claimed after repeal of the single business tax act. Creates
new act.
SB
1302 Single business tax; credit; brownfield and historic preservation
credits; provide for claiming of credits accrued after the repeal of
the single business tax act. Amends secs. 38g & 39c of 1975
PA 228 (MCL 208.38g & 208.39c).
SB
1305 Education; school districts; gender based classrooms; allow
under Elliott-Larsen civil rights act. Amends 1976
PA 453 (MCL 37.2101 - 37.2804)
by adding sec. 404a.
SB
1309 Crimes; drunk driving; sunset on body alcohol content limit;
eliminate. Amends secs. 625, 625a, 625g & 625m of 1949
PA 300 (MCL 257.625 et
seq.).
SB
1310 Criminal procedure; sentencing guidelines; offense variables
for certain alcohol-related driving violations; revise to reflect elimination
of sunset on lower blood alcohol levels. Amends secs. 33 & 48,
ch. XVII of 1927
PA 175 (MCL 777.33 & 777.48).
TIE BAR WITH: SB
1309'06.
| In
the Hall of Justice
Attorney
Grievance Commission Appointments, Reappointments Announced by Michigan
Supreme Court
Rule
Amendments
2006-02
- Amendment of Rule 3.602 of the Michigan Court Rules (Arbitration)
Subrules (I)-(N), which were deleted in error in the order dated February 23,
2006, are reinstated.
Issued: June 15, 2006
Effective: June 15, 2006
Other
Actions
2006-01
- Appointments to the Attorney Grievance Commission
Issued: June 13, 2006
Federal
News
Court
Limits Protection Against Improper Entry
(New York Times, 6/15/06)
High
Court Allows Injection Challenges
(Washington Times, 6/13/06)
State
News
GPS
to Keep Eye on Sex Offenders
(Detroit Free Press, 6/19/06)
Workers
Would Lose New Overtime Under Bill
(Lansing State Journal, 6/15/06)
Group
Asks Top State Court to Reject Affirmative Action Vote
(Detroit News, 6/13/06)
Race
for Governor Costing Millions: Campaigns Likely to Set New Record in
2006 Elections
(Lansing State Journal, 6/12/06)
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