March 8, 2013, MichiganVotes.org Weekly Roll Call

Y = Yes, N = No, X = Not Voting

Senate Bill 94, Prohibit Michigan National Guard executing federal “indefinite detention”: Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate
To prohibit members of the Michigan National Guard or other state and local government employees from participating in the investigation, prosecution, or detention of any person under a recent federal law giving the current or a future President the power to order the indefinite detention of persons arrested on U.S. soil, without charge or trial (“Section 1021 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Year 2012”).

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 123, Expand local convention facility authorities: Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate
To allow the Grand Rapids and Kent County convention facility authorities to borrow and spend more to build or buy a second facility, including a "market," or a sports facility (which could mean an arena or stadium). The bill would also eliminate the 12 year term limits on members of these entities' boards.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 78, Restrict setting aside state land for “biological diversity”: Passed 26 to 11 in the Senate
To prohibit the Department of Natural Resources from designating an area of state land specifically for the purpose of achieving “biological diversity;" no longer require the DNR to manage forests in a manner that promotes "restoration;" and remove from statute a legislative "finding" that most losses of biological diversity result from human activity.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 48, "Grandfather" bear cub petting zoos; ban new ones: Passed 56 to 52 in the House
To exempt current operations that permit the public to come into contact with bear cubs less than 36 weeks old and 90 pounds, but ban new ones. Reportedly the bill was introduced after Oswald's Bear Ranch in Newberry was ordered to halt this activity.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Noteworthy Committee Hearings and Action

The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced to the full body a package of bills (Senate Bills 35 to 39) that would add criminal penalties and other sanctions (including wage garnishment) for failing to pay fines imposed by “administrative hearing bureaus” that some cities are allowed to create to enforce "blight violations."

The House Commerce Committee heard testimony on a bill that would preempt local governments from adopting ordinances or policies that require private sector employers to provide paid or unpaid employee leave that is not required under state or federal law (House Bill 4249).

The House Education Committee held a hearing a bill on House Bill 4369, which would to codify in statute the powers and structure of a state “education achievement authority” (already created by means of an administrative “interlocal agreement”), which is an office in the Department of Education tasked with managing, overseeing or contracting-out the operations of public schools deemed to have failed academically.

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

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