THIRD READING

SB 349 (Barcia)

Senate Bill 349 (S-1) would amend Part 435 (Hunting and Fishing Licensing) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to revise provisions concerning discounts on hunting and fishing license fees. Under Part 435, the DNR may discount the price of a license up to 15% for marketing purposes to increase participation in hunting and fishing activities. Additionally, the price of the anterless deer license may be reduced or eliminated in specific areas to help achieve the harvest of anterless deer. If a person purchases four or more licenses for the same person at the same time, a sportsperson discount of 15% must be provided. Waterfowl hunting licenses and limited fishing licenses are not eligible for the sportsperson discount. The bill would delete the provisions regarding the antlerless deer license and sportsperson discount, as well as the 15% limit on a discount offered for marketing purposes. Under the bill, the price of any license or application fee could be discounted or eliminated to achieve a harvest or management objective for that species.

• SB 349 was passed [RC 169: 37 yes]

SB 419 (Kuipers)

The bill would amend Public Act 22 of 1971 to allow a person who was 16 years old to donate blood in a voluntary and noncompensatory blood program with his or her parent's or legal guardian's permission or authorization.

• SB 419 was passed [RC 170: 37 yes]

SB 25 (Stamas)

The bill would amend the Youth Employment Standards Act to provide that a 16- or 17-year-old student could not work more than 20 hours in one week when school was in session. Currently, when school is in session, a student who is 16 or 17 may not work a combined school and work week of more than 48 hours. The Act also provides that a minor who is 16 or older may not work more than six days in one week; 10 hours in one day; or "a period longer than a weekly average of 8 hours per day or 48 hours in 1 week". Under the bill, the last provision would be changed to "an average of 8 hours per day in 1 week".

• SB 25 was passed [RC 171: 29 yes, 8 no]

GENERAL ORDERS – (TO PASSAGE)

SB 539 (Richardville)

Hire Michigan First: The bill would amend the Michigan Business Tax (MBT) Act to do the following:
-- Require the Michigan Film Office and the State Treasurer, beginning July 1, 2009, when determining whether to enter into an agreement for an MBT credit for a qualified film and digital media infrastructure project, to give preference to a taxpayer that agreed to hire, or contract with businesses that agreed to hire, only Michigan residents or individuals who planned to become Michigan residents, except as discussed below.
-- Require an agreement for a qualified film and digital media infrastructure project MBT credit to include a requirement that the taxpayer would not hire, or contract with businesses that hired, individuals who were not authorized under Federal law to work in the United States.
The hiring preference requirement would apply unless the Film Office and Treasurer determined that the project could not be completed by using only Michigan residents, or those who planned to become Michigan residents, for one or more of the following:
-- To the extent necessary to comply with Federal law or regulation concerning the use of Federal funds.
-- To the extent that key management personnel or individuals with special skills, who were not Michigan residents, were needed.
-- For projects located in a county that borders on another state, if the Office and Treasurer determined that the use of nonresidents for the construction, rehabilitation, development, or renovation would not have a significant adverse effect on the employment of Michigan residents.

• Allen substitute S-1 adopted
• Cassis 1A adopted
• Clarke 1B adopted
• Switalski 1C not adopted
• SB 539 advanced to 3rd Reading
• SB 539 was passed [RC 168: 37 yes]

GENERAL ORDERS

SB 321 (Kahn)

The bill would amend the Mental Health Code to allow a community mental health services authority or organization formed under Chapter 2 (County Community Mental Health Programs), by resolution, to authorize the formation of a nonprofit entity to provide information technology and other integral administrative support services for organizations engaged in providing mental and behavioral health services, social services, substance abuse services, human services, or other health care services. The CMH services authority or organization could do so in furtherance of the public purpose of meeting the needs of the populations served by that authority or organization in Michigan. The authority or organization also could enter into contracts with and provide funding for or receive funding from the nonprofit entity for those purposes. Funds that the authority or organization received from such a nonprofit entity would be considered local funds and could not be used to support or match any Federal programs. No funds from State appropriations allocated to the authority or organization or Federal funds could be used to establish the nonprofit entity.

• Kahn substitute S-1 adopted
• SB 321 advanced to 3rd Reading

SB 141 (Olshove)

The bill (S-1) would amend the General Property Tax Act to allow an owner of property who was absent from his or her principal residence while under the care his or her mother, father, sister, brother, spouse, child, stepchild, adopted child, grandchild, step-grandchild, or adopted grandchild to claim an exemption for his or her principal residence if that property were not occupied, not leased, and not used for any business or commercial purpose, if the owner did not claim an exemption for other property, and filed the required affidavit. Under the Act, a principal residence is exempt from the tax levied by a school district for school operating purposes to the extent provided under the Revised School Code. To claim the exemption, an owner of property must file an affidavit by May 1 with the local tax collecting unit in which the property is located. The affidavit must state that the property is owned and occupied as a principal residence by that property owner.

• Committee substitute S-1 adopted
• SB 141 advanced to 3rd Reading

SB 282 (Sanborn)

Senate Bill 282 would amend the General Property Tax Act to allow an owner who was residing in an assisted living facility or nursing home to retain an exemption on property previously exempt as his or her principal residence if that property were not occupied, not leased, and not used for any business or commercial purpose. The owner would have to file a conditional rescission form prescribed by the Department of Treasury with the local tax collecting unit by May 1. Under the Act, a principal residence is exempt from the tax levied by a school district for school operating purposes to the extent provided under the Revised School Code. If an owner is eligible for and claims an exemption for his or her current principal residence, he or she may retain an exemption for up to three tax years on property previously exempt as his or her principal residence if that property is not occupied, is for sale, is not leased, and is not used for any business or commercial purpose. To retain the exemption, the owner must file a conditional rescission form with the local tax collecting unit.

• Committee substitute not adopted
• Sanborn substitute adopted
• SB 282 advanced to 3rd Reading

SB 432 (Clarke)

The bill (S-1) would amend the Michigan Liquor Control Code to allow the Liquor Control Commission to issue a license to a private entity for the sale of alcoholic liquor for consumption on the licensed premises of a restaurant located on land owned by Wayne State University, if both of the following circumstances existed:

-- The land was leased or subleased at fair market value to a private entity that owned, leased, or subleased the restaurant.
-- The restaurant was located within an area designated for industrial, research, or commercial development by the WSU governing board.
Issuance of a license under the bill would be subject to Section 531 of the Code (which prohibits the granting of an on-premises license in excess of one license for each 1,500 of population and provides for the transfer of on-premises escrowed licenses).

• Committee substitute S-1 adopted
• SB 432 advanced to 3rd Reading

SB 490 (Gilbert)

The bill would amend the Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) law to permit the MBA to enter into an agreement with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to provide for the self-insurance of bridge assets and activities.

• SB 490 advanced to 3rd Reading

SB 358 (Kahn)

The bill would amend the Local Development Financing Act to allow the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to designate two additional certified technology parks between June 1, 2009, and December 31, 2009. Under the Act, a local government may create a local development financing authority to finance public improvements in a given area, by capturing increases in property tax revenue due to increased value. Public Act 248 of 2000 amended the Act to allow the MEDC to enter into agreements designating up to 10 certified technology parks (also known as SmartZones) in municipalities that had created an authority, if they applied to the MEDC and satisfied certain criteria.

• SB 358 advanced to 3rd Reading