Please note: Next week’s Public Policy Update will published on Tuesday, February 17 due to the holiday. Any interim questions can be directed to elyon@mail.michbar.org.

In the Capitol
Committee meetings of interest for the week of 2/9
2/10 Appropriations: Human Service Department
Agenda: Juvenile Justice Programs

2/11 House Judiciary
Agenda: HB 4071 Move administration of health care benefits to office of retirement; HB 4072 Provide for consolidation of employee retirement health care funds with employee health care funds; HB 4073 Provide for public employee retirement health care trust; HB 4074 Provide for bonding authority for prefunded retiree health care; HB 4075 Provide for bonding authority for prefunded retiree health care; HB 4076 Modify membership eligibility for retirement board; HB 4077 Provide for bonding authority for prefunded retiree health care; HB 4078 Provide for consolidation of employee retirement health care funds with employee health care funds; HB 4079 Provide for consolidation of employee retirement health care funds.

2/12 House Appropriations, Joint Meeting with Senate Appropriations
Agenda: 2010 Executive Budget Recommendations presented by the State Budget Director Robert L. Emerson.

Complete Committee Meeting List

New Public Acts

Legislation Introduced 2/3 - 2/5
Of Interest to the Legal Community
HB 4136 Mental health; community mental health; jail diversion program for certain individuals with mental illness or disability; revise. Amends secs. 401 & 406 of 1974 PA 258 (MCL 330.1401 & 330.1406); adds secs. 207a, 207b, 207c, 207d, 207e & 207f & repeals sec. 207 of 1974 PA 258 (MCL 330.1207).

HB 4140 Courts; reorganization; Detroit recorder's court; reestablish. Amends sec. 504 of 1961 PA 236 (MCL 600.504) & adds ch. 10B.

HB 4189 Environmental protection; other; legal actions by department of environmental quality; require department to pay defendant's legal fees if unsuccessful. Amends 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.101 - 324.901060) by adding sec. 1106.

SB 0168 Civil procedure; remedies; wrongful imprisonment; provide compensation for. Creates new act.

SB 0171 Mental health; other; priority for providing mental health services to individuals diverted from jail; require under certain circumstances. Amends sec. 208 of 1974 PA 258 (MCL 330.1208).

SB 0172 Criminal procedure; other; diversion from jail for certain individuals under certain circumstances; amend code of criminal procedure to allow. Amends 1927 PA 175 (MCL 760.1 - 777.69) by adding sec. 85 to ch. VII.

SB 0173 Criminal procedure; sentencing; sentencing individual convicted as a juvenile to imprisonment for life without parole eligibility; prohibit. Amends secs. 1 & 1b, ch. IX of 1927 PA 175 (MCL 769.1 & 769.1b).

SB 0174 Corrections; parole; parole of certain juvenile offenders sentenced to imprisonment for life; allow. Amends sec. 34 of 1953 PA 232 (MCL 791.234).

SB 0175 Crimes; penalties; penalties for certain crimes of imprisonment for life without parole eligibility; amend Michigan penal code to exclude application to juvenile offenders. Amends 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.1 - 750.568) by adding sec. 506b.

SB 0176 Criminal procedure; sentencing; sentencing juvenile to imprisonment for life without parole eligibility; amend probate code of 1939 to prohibit. Amends secs. 2d & 18, ch. XIIA of 1939 PA 288 (MCL 712A.2d & 712A.18).

SB 0188 Criminal procedure; warrants; issuance of certain search warrants; revise. Amends secs. 1, 2 & 4 of 1966 PA 189 (MCL 780.651 et seq.).

Of General Interest
HB 4192 Civil rights; general discrimination; sexual orientation and gender identity or expression; include as categories protected under the Elliott-Larsen civil rights act. Amends title & secs. 102, 103, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 209, 302, 302a, 402, 502, 504, 505 & 506 of 1976 PA 453 (MCL 37.2102 et seq.).

In the Hall of Justice
Volunteers Sought for Michigan Supreme Court Learning Center

State News
Granholm Wants to Streamline State Depts.
(Lansing State Journal, 2/3/09)

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