In the Capitol
Committee meetings of interest for the week of 2/28
3/1 Senate Appropriations: Judiciary
Agenda: FY 2011-2012 Governor's budget recommendation: State Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert P. Young, Jr.

3/1 House Appropriations: Human Services
Agenda: Presentation by Maura Corrigan, director of the Department of Human Services; Public testimony.

3/1 House Appropriations: Judiciary
Agenda: Presentation by the Honorable Robert P. Young, Jr., chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court; Presentation by the Honorable David H. Sawyer, chief judge pro tempore of the Michigan Court of Appeals.

3/1 Senate Judiciary
Agenda: SB 159 Revise eligibility requirements for setting aside convictions; SB 160 Prohibit partial-birth abortions; SB 161 Enact sentencing guidelines for crime of performing partial-birth abortion; SB 163 Modify methods for publication of legal notices; SB 164 Revise reference to definition of newspaper in natural resources and environmental protection act to reflect repeal of statutory definition; And any other business to come properly before the committee.
SBM Position on SB 159: Support expanding the opportunity for record expungement

3/1 House Appropriations: Corrections, Joint Meeting with Senate Appropriations: Corrections
Agenda: Marshall Clement, Council of State Governments: Updated CSG policy report; Best practices in other states.

3/2 House Appropriations
Agenda: Overview of Governor Snyder's budget proposal by John Nixon, State budget director.

3/3 House Judiciary
Agenda: HB 4231 Allow parent to sign waiver of claims of liability in connection with children's athletic and recreational activities; SB 19 Increase penalties for disrupting a religious service.

Complete Committee Meeting List

New Public Acts

Legislation Introduced 2/22–2/24
Of Interest to the Legal Community
HB 4305 Law enforcement; other; support our law enforcement and safer neighborhoods act; create. Creates new act.

HB 4313 Courts; district court; twentieth and twenty-first districts; combine. Amends sec. 8121 of 1961 PA 236 (MCL 600.8121).

HB 4319 Cities; home rule; posting of legal notices as alternative to publishing; provide for. Amends 1909 PA 279 (MCL 117.1–117.38) by adding sec. 4t.

HB 4322 Criminal procedure; evidence; electronic recording of certain custodial interrogation sessions; require, and revise procedures for determining admissibility as evidence. Amends 1927 PA 175 (MCL 760.1–777.69) by adding secs. 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11 to ch. III.

HB 4324 Appropriations; other; executive recommendation; provide for omnibus bill. Creates appropriation act.

HB 4327 Civil procedure; evidence; testimony of a vulnerable adult; allow to be presented by videotape or closed-circuit television under certain circumstances.

HB 4330 Probate; guardians and conservators; power of conservator to mortgage or place lien on protected individual's home; require prior court approval.

HB 4344 Probate; powers of attorney; written acknowledgment of responsibilities by agent appointed under a power of attorney; require.

SB 173 Appropriations; zero budget; department of corrections; provide for FY 2011-2012. Creates appropriation act.

SB 179 Appropriations; zero budget; department of human services; provide for FY 2011-2012. Creates appropriation act.

SB 180 Appropriations; zero budget; judiciary; provide for FY 2011-2012. Creates appropriation act.

SB 191 Civil procedure; costs and fees; attorney contingency fees; require to be based on a sliding scale. Amends sec. 919 of 1961 PA 236 (MCL 600.919).

Of General Interest
SB 190 Michigan business tax; surcharge; surcharge tax; repeal. Repeals sec. 281 of 2007 PA 36 (MCL 208.1281).

At the Bar
Reminder: Deadline is March 1 for Annual Representative Assembly Awards Nominations

Volunteers Urgently Needed for Michigan High School Mock Trial Tournament

Former SBM President James K. Robinson honored posthumously as Treasure of Detroit by Wayne Law

Federal News
As Mental Health Cuts Mount, Psychiatric Cases Fill Jails
(New York Times, 2/24/11)

House Passes Sweeping, $61 Billion Cut to Domestic Programs
(Detroit Free Press, 2/19/11)
See also:
Federal Funding for Legal Aid Takes 18% Hit in House Budget
(SBM Blog, 2/23/11)

State News
A Voice for Others: Michigan Courts Consider Whether to Certify Interpreters
(Detroit Free Press, 2/27/11)

Snyder Stands Firm on Budget
(Detroit News, 2/25/11)

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