Sept. 3 Michigan Legislature Report

Every week, MichiganVotes.org sends a report to newspapers and TV stations showing how just the state legislators in each publication's service area voted on the most important and interesting bills and amendments of the past seven days. The version shown here instead contains a link to the complete roll call tally in either the House or Senate. To find out who your state senator is and how to contact him or her go here; for state representatives go here.

The Senate did not meet this week, and in the House there was no quorum and no votes. Because there were no votes, this report instead contains several newly introduced bills of interest.

House Bill 6398 (Authorize county gas tax)
Introduced by Rep. Gabe Leland (D) on August 23, 2010, to give counties the power to impose a 3 cents per gallon motor fuel tax, or up to 7 cents per gallon if adjacent counties go in on it. The tax would require a vote of the people. See also House Bill 6396, which would authorize a county drivers license tax. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

2010 House Bill 6396 (Authorize county drivers license tax)
Introduced by Rep. Pam Byrnes (D) on August 23, 2010, to give counties the power to impose a $25 tax on individual residents when they get or renew a drivers license, and $35 for a chauffeurs license. The tax would require a vote of the people. See also House Bill 6398, which would authorize county gas taxes. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Joint Resolution JJJ (Authorize local sales taxes)
Introduced by Rep. Marie Donigan (D) on August 23, 2010, to place on the ballot a Constitutional amendment that would authorize local 1 percent local sales taxes for roads, buses or non-motorized transportation. A vote of the people in a county would be required to actually impose a tax. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Joint Resolution KKK (Require three-day rule for bill passage)
Introduced by Rep. Tom McMillin (R) on September 1, 2010, to place on the ballot a Constitutional amendment to prohibit the House or Senate from passing a bill within three days of it having been reported or discharged from a committee, with the exact text available for at least three days. A ¾ supermajority could waive this. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

Senate Bill 1459 (Authorize criminal penalties for “cyberbullying”)
Introduced by Sen. Tupac Hunter (D) on August 17, 2010, to make it a crime to post a message online about a person under age 18 if the poster knows it is false or intentionally misleading; if a reasonable person would find it damaging to character or reputation; and it is posted with the intent to intimidate, frighten, harass or cause emotional distress. Also banned would be intentionally concealing one’s identity while posting such a statement; and posting a statement urging, recommending, or soliciting a minor to injure or kill himself or herself. Penalties would range from fines to 20 years in prison depending on the age of the violator and whether any actual physical harm occurs to the “cyberbully” target. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 6374 (Mandate “continuing education” for all licensed professionals)
Introduced by Rep. Pam Byrnes (D) on August 19, 2010, to revise the state law that prohibits an individual from making a living at any of hundreds of specified professions without first getting permission from the government in the form of a license, and meeting standards that are generally written by current practitioners of each particular profession. The bill would prohibit license renewals unless an individual has taken a “continuing education course.” Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 6384 (Authorize private swine hunting reserves)
Introduced by Rep. James "Jase" Bolger (R) on August 19, 2010, to authorize and establish regulations for “sporting swine livestock estates.” Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

Senate Bill 1474 (Suspend business license for hiring illegal alien)
Introduced by Sen. Glenn Anderson (D) on August 24, 2010, to suspend the business license of an employer who knowingly hires an illegal alien. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 6394 (Ban medical marijuana clubs or bars)
Introduced by Rep. Rick Jones (R) on August 23, 2010, to ban medicinal marijuana clubs or bars. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, nonpartisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, nonpartisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Please visit https://www.michiganvotes.org.

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