Aug. 6 Michigan Legislature Roll Call Report

The Legislature did not meet this week. Instead of votes, this report contains several newly introduced bills of interest.

Senate Bill 1441 (Allow Spartan Stores (but not competitors) to hold wine tastings)
Introduced by Sen. Mark Jansen (R) on July 28, 2010, to allow the Spartan Stores grocery chain (but not other grocery chains like Meijer, Kroger, etc.) to hold wine tastings in its stores.

Senate Bill 1433 (Increase certain State Police pensions)
Introduced by Sen. Michael Prusi (D) on July 28, 2010, to increase the monthly pension payment to certain retired State Police employees by $300.

Senate Bill 1437 (Increase length limit on recreational vehicle-and-trailer combos)
Introduced by Sen. Mike Nofs (R) on July 28, 2010, to increase the maximum vehicle-and-trailer combination length for recreational vehicles from 65 feet to75 feet. This would include things like pickup trucks with fifth-wheel house trailers, boat trailers, etc.

House Bill 6354 (Create “Health Care Freedom” statute)
Introduced by Rep. Tom McMillin (R) on July 28, 2010, to prohibit any “government act” that would directly or indirectly “compel any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in any health care system” (individual or employer mandate), or that would ban the private practice of medicine.

House Bill 6330 (Authorize “good time” off sentences for prisoners)
Introduced by Rep. Alma Smith (D) on July 21, 2010, to authorize five days-per-month time off his or her sentence for good behavior by prisoners with single, fixed terms of imprisonment.

House Bill 6331 (Suspend teacher evaluation if union contract does not allow it)
Introduced by Rep. Alma Smith (D) on July 21, 2010, to suspend the “rigorous, transparent, and fair” teacher performance evaluation system required under Senate Bill 981, now Public Act 205 of 2009, if the current union labor contract with a school district prohibits such evaluations. The evaluations would only go into effect after the contract expires. This system was one of the provisions adopted when the state was trying to make itself eligible for federal “race to the top” grants.

House Bill 6332 (Limit new government employee "pension spiking")
Introduced by Rep. Douglas Geiss (D) on July 21, 2010, to prohibit new city employees from being enrolled in a defined benefit pension system that pays retirement benefits more than 55 percent of their “base pay.” (This would not necessarily limit additional non-pension post-retirement health benefits.) “Base pay” would not include overtime, accrued sick or vacation pay, bonuses, the value of active employee health insurance or other fringe benefits, or any lump sum payments. These provisions would not apply to employees hired before the bill goes into effect if passed.

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