In the Capitol
The Michigan House of Representatives revised its session schedule for August. The House is scheduled to meet on August 1, 8, 22, and 29 with additional tentative days scheduled throughout the month. The Michigan Senate is scheduled to tentatively meet each Wednesday in August.
View Michigan House of Representatives Session Schedule
View Michigan Senate Session Schedule

Committee meetings of interest for the week of 7/30
8/1 Senate Judiciary
Agenda: SCR 16 A concurrent resolution to urge the Honorable John Conyers, Jr., chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary in the United States House of Representatives, to conduct hearings on the fitness of United States District Court Judge Richard Enslen to serve; SR 83 A resolution to urge the Honorable John Conyers, Jr., chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary in the United States House of Representatives, to conduct hearings on the fitness of United States District Court Judge Richard Enslen to serve.
Presentation by Hope Network

Complete Committee Meeting List

New Public Acts

Legislation Introduced 7/24 – 7/26
Of Interest to the Legal Community
HB 5050 Family law; friend of the court; bank accounts of self-employed child support payers; require payers to disclose and allow friend of court to obtain information regarding. Amends sec. 5a of 1982 PA 295 (MCL 552.605a) & adds sec. 27a.

HB 5051 Liens; construction; right of a subcontractor, laborer, or supplier to a construction lien on residential property; eliminate. Amends secs. 107, 108a, 109, 110, 115, 119 & 203 of 1980 PA 497 (MCL 570.1107 et seq.).

HB 5054 Crime victims; other; sexual assault victims' forensic medical intervention and treatment act; create and provide funding for. Creates new act. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5055'07, HB 5056'07, HB 5057'07

HB 5055 Criminal procedure; other; minimum state costs assessed in certain criminal cases; increase, and provide for distribution of proceeds to assist victims of criminal sexual conduct. Amends sec. 1j, ch. IX of 1927 PA 175 (MCL 769.1j). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5054'07, HB 5056'07, HB 5057'07

HB 5056 Criminal procedure; other; minimum state costs assessed in certain criminal cases involving juveniles; increase, and provide for distribution of proceeds to assist victims of criminal sexual conduct. Amends sec. 18m, ch. XIIA of 1939 PA 288 (MCL 712A.18m). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5054'07, HB 5055'07, HB 5057'07

HB 5057 Law enforcement; other; distribution of certain justice system funds to pay for certain costs associated with criminal sexual conduct; provide for. Amends sec. 181 of 1961 PA 236 (MCL 600.181). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5054'07, HB 5055'07, HB 5056'07

HB 5060 Civil procedure; evidence; provisions in the RJA regarding affidavit of person residing in another state or country; eliminate. Repeals sec. 2102 of 1961 PA 236 (MCL 600.2102).

SB 645 Family law; child support; use of substitute service for complaint under family support act; allow. Amends sec. 1 of 1966 PA 138 (MCL 552.451).

SB 659 Insurance; no-fault; credit rating; exclude medical industry codes and prohibit use of no-fault claims to increase premiums. Amends sec. 2111 of 1956 PA 218 (MCL 500.2111) & adds sec. 2110c.

SB 660 Criminal procedure; sentencing guidelines; gang activity; prohibit and provide penalties. Amends 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.1 - 750.568) by adding sec. 411u.

SB 661 Criminal procedure; sentencing guidelines; sentencing guidelines for crimes involving gangs; enact, and assign 50 points under offense variable 13 under certain circumstances. Amends secs. 16t & 43, ch. XVII of 1927 PA 175 (MCL 777.16t & 777.43). TIE BAR WITH: SB 0660'07 

Of General Interest
SB 662 Income tax; credit; Michigan earned income tax credit; make conditional. Amends sec. 272 of 1967 PA 281 (MCL 206.272).

At The Bar
SBM Announces Results of 2007 Elections

Federal News
Great Lengths Taken to Fill the Jury Box
(New York Times, 7/29/07)

State News
State Will Help Clerks Execute Photo ID Law
(Detroit News, 7/26/07) 

Prison Proposal Worries Local Sheriffs
(Lansing State Journal, 7/24/07) 

Bills Propose Help for Mentally Ill in Criminal Cases, Instead of Prison
(Lansing State Journal, 7/24/07)

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