FOCUS: ABA Report on the Quality of Legal Representation for Parents in Michigan
The Michigan State Court Administrative Office, Child Welfare Services Division contracted with the ABA, Center on Children and the Law to conduct an independent study of legal representation for parents in Michigan and to make recommendations for improvement.

In the Capitol
The Michigan House of Representatives and Senate are currently scheduled to be in session on Tuesday, October 6 through Thursday, October 8. Both Chambers are scheduled to meet at 10:00 a.m. each day.
House Session Schedule
Senate Session Schedule

Committee meetings of interest for the week of 10/5
10/6 Senate Judiciary
Agenda: Discussion on the Performance Audit of the Bureau of Correctional Industries, Department of Corrections; Discussion on the Performance Audit of Prisoner Transportation, Department of Corrections.

Complete Committee Meeting List

New Public Acts

Legislation Introduced 9/29–10/1
Of Interest to the Legal Community
HB 5482 Mental health; forensic; restoration of juvenile to competency to proceed; clarify. Amends 1974 PA 258 (MCL 330.1001 - 330.2106) by adding secs. 1060c & 1072.

HB 5483 Juveniles; criminal procedure; restoration of juvenile to competency to proceed; clarify. Amends sec. 1, ch. XIIA of 1939 PA 288 (MCL 712A.1) & adds sec. 18s.

HB 5484 Juveniles; criminal procedure; certain statements made during juvenile competency evaluation; clarify. Amends 1939 PA 288 (MCL 710.21 - 712A.32) by adding sec. 18r to ch. XIIA.

HB 5485 Juveniles; criminal procedure; juvenile competency definitions; clarify. Amends sec. 1, ch. XIIA of 1939 PA 288 (MCL 712A.1).

HB 5486 Juveniles; criminal procedure; juvenile competency hearing; require. Amends 1939 PA 288 (MCL 710.21 - 712A.32) by adding sec. 18q to ch. XIIA.

HB 5487 Juveniles; criminal procedure; juvenile competency and evaluation; clarify. Amends 1939 PA 288 (MCL 710.21 - 712A.32) by adding sec. 18n to ch. XIIA.

HB 5488 Juveniles; criminal procedure; juvenile competency evaluation; require use of a qualified examiner. Amends 1939 PA 288 (MCL 710.21 - 712A.32) by adding sec. 18o to ch. XIIA.

HB 5489 Juveniles; criminal procedure; juvenile competency evaluation and report; clarify. Amends 1939 PA 288 (MCL 710.21 - 712A.32) by adding sec. 18p to ch. XIIA.

SB 0880 Criminal procedure; preliminary examination; right to preliminary examination for certain crimes; eliminate. Amends secs. 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16 & 17, ch. VI of 1927 PA 175 (MCL 766.1 et seq.) & adds sec. 2 to ch. VI.

Of General Interest
HB 5492 Criminal procedure; bail; apprehension of accused by surety or bail bondsman; require to comply with bail enforcement agent regulation act. Amends sec. 26, ch. V of 1927 PA 175 (MCL 765.26).

HB 5493 Occupations; other; licensure of bail enforcement agents; provide for. Creates new act.

In the Hall of Justice
The Michigan Supreme Court will be holding a Public Administrative Conference on October 8, 2009.

At the Bar
SBM Names Members of Judicial Crossroads Task Force

Charles Toy and SBM Delegation to Tour Upper Peninsula Oct. 5-8

State News
High Court to Hear Michigan Case About Juries
(Detroit Free Press, 10/1/09)

Partial Shutdown Ended in Michigan
(New York Times, 10/1/09)
See Related:
Michigan Slides Toward Partial Government Shutdown
(Washington Post, 10/1/09)
Mich. Shutdown Ends, Lawmakers OK Interim Budget
(USA Today, 10/1/09)
Brief State Shutdown Ends
(Detroit News, 10/1/09)
Budget Deal Reached After 2-Hour State Shutdown
(Detroit Free Press, 10/1/09)
Michigan Legislators, Gov. Jennifer Granholm Buy Time, But Budget Disagreements Linger
(Mlive.com, 10/1/09)

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