In the Capitol
Committee meetings of interest for the week of 9/10
9/11 Senate Appropriations
Agenda: Budget Briefing - Gary Olson, director, Senate Fiscal Agency.

9/11 Senate Families and Human Services
Agenda: SB 668 Clarify termination of parental rights and parenting time; SB 669 Clarify permanency plan and permanent placement of a child; SB 670 Revise notice regarding termination of parental rights; SB 671 Allow alternate permanency plan to be made concurrently with reasonable efforts to reunify child and family; SB 672 Require review of permanency plan.

9/12 House Judiciary
Agenda: Testimony from Rich Robinson, executive director, Michigan Campaign Finance Network
regarding judicial conflicts of interest and recusal under Article VI of the Michigan Constitution.

Complete Committee Meeting List

New Public Acts

Legislation Introduced 9/4 - 9/7
House Majority Floor Leader Steve Tobocman introduced a group of bills that could be used to enact a revenue enhancement as part of the ongoing budget negotiations. Two of the bills, HB 5196 and HB 5199, could potentially enact a 6% sales tax on services. The State Bar of Michigan has been closely monitoring the potential for a renewal of the debate on taxing legal services. Possible revenue enhancements have included an increase in the personal income tax, a sales tax on all services, a sales tax on a limited number of luxury or discretionary services, and an increase in the income tax rate. The threat of a tax on legal services remains throughout the budget talks. The State Bar of Michigan continues to be actively engaged in efforts to oppose a tax on legal services.

HB 5191 Sales tax; collections; electronic sales tax filing program; require.

HB 5192 Use tax; credits and deductions; definition revisions and reference to new business tax; provide for.

HB 5193 Revenue sharing; other; references to single business tax; revise.

HB 5194 Income tax; rate; single business tax references and rate provisions; clean up.

HB 5195 Income tax; rate; single business tax references and rate provisions; clean up.

HB 5196 Use tax; rate; general amendments; provide for.

HB 5197 Use tax; exemptions; certain exemptions; eliminate.

HB 5198 Use tax; exemptions; certain exemptions; eliminate.

HB 5199 Use tax; rate; general amendments; provide for.

HB 5200 Sales tax; rate; general amendments; provide for.

HB 5201 Sales tax; rate; general amendments; provide for.

Of Interest to the Legal Community
HB 5186 Probate; guardians and conservators; appointment of conservator; require court to consider if person under a guardianship has liquid assets of more than certain limit. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5187'07, HB 5188'07

HB 5187 Probate; guardians and conservators; power of conservator to mortgage or place lien on protected individual's home; require prior court approval. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5186'07, HB 5188'07

HB 5188 Probate; guardians and conservators; bond; require if protected individual has liquid assets over certain limit. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5186'07, HB 5187'07

SB 704 Criminal procedure; jurisdiction; prosecutorial jurisdiction for certain counterfeit debit, credit card, and driver license offenses; expand. Amends sec. 10c, ch. II of 1927 PA 175 (MCL 762.10c). TIE BAR WITH: SB 0703'07, SB 0705'07, SB 0706'07

SB 709 Retirement; fire and police; definition of spouse; clarify. Amends sec. 6 of 1937 PA 345 (MCL 38.556).

SB 710 Health; anatomical gifts; uniform anatomical gift act; create. Amends heading of pt. 101 & secs. 10101, 10102, 10103, 10104, 10105, 10106, 10107, 10108, 10109, 10204 & 20165 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.10101 et seq.) & adds secs. 10110, 10111, 10112, 10113, 10114, 10115, 10116, 10117, 10118, 10119, 10120, 10121, 10122 & 10123 & repeals sec. 10102a of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.10102a). TIE BAR WITH: SB 0711'07, SB 0712'07, SB 0713'07, SB 0714'07, SB 0715'07

SB 715 Health; anatomical gifts; amendments regarding revised uniform anatomical gift act; provide for in estates and protected individuals code. Amends secs. 3206, 5506, 5507, 5508 & 5510 (MCL 700.3206 et seq.). TIE BAR WITH: SB 0710'07

SB 716 Health; medical records; medical record access; revise. Amends sec. 3 of 2004 PA 47 (MCL 333.26263).

Of General Interest
HB 5160 Crimes; other; use of certain out-of-state violations to enhance drunk driving penalties; allow.

At the Bar
State Bar to Honor 2007 Award Winners at Annual Meeting

SBM Justice Initiatives Division Announces Annual Meeting Programs

State News
'I'd Say It's 50-50 Odds on a State Shutdown'
(Oakland Press, 9/10/07)

Legislators Miss Ballot Deadline, Budget Stalemate Continues
(AP/Mlive.com, 9/6/07)

Mich. Presidential Primary Set for Jan. 15
(Lansing State Journal, 9/5/07)

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