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By Jack McHugh
While the Legislature is on a summer break the Roll Call Report is reviewing key votes of the 2013-2014 session.
Note: There will be no Roll Call Report next week. The House has a session scheduled for Aug. 27, and if there are any noteworthy votes they will be reported in the following week's report.
House Bill 4782, Expand a corporate/developer subsidy regime: Passed 87 to 23 in the House on November 14, 2013
To authorize creation of a sixth “Next Michigan Development Corporation,” which is a government agency that gives tax breaks and subsidies to particular corporations and developers selected by political appointees, for projects meeting extremely broad "multi-modal commerce" criteria (basically, any form of goods-related commerce). The new entity would be in the Upper Peninsula.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
House Bill 4688, Repeal licensure mandates for dietitians and nutritionists: Passed 71 to 39 in the House on November 13, 2013
To repeal a law that imposes a licensure mandate on dietitians and nutritionists. The mandate has not been enforced since it was authorized in 2006 because the state licensure agency was unable to devise acceptable credentialing and education requirements.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
House Bill 4044, Ban mandating all health insurance go through the "exchange": Passed 72 to 37 in the House on December 12, 2013.
To prohibit a state “exchange” created under the federal health care law from mandating that insurance companies must sell all health insurance policies through the exchange. The Michigan legislature elected to let the federal government create an exchange here rather than create a state-run version, so the measure would only have effect if that choice is later reversed. The Senate has not taken up this bill.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
House Bill 4816, Require insurers disclose federal health care law price hikes in bills: Passed 67 to 42 in the House on December 12, 2013
To require that customer health insurance bills include an estimate of how much of any price increase was caused by mandates and regulations imposed by the federal health care law. The Senate has not taken up this bill.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
House Bill 4576, Regulate federal health care law “navigators”: Passed 102 to 7 in the House on December 12, 2013
To impose regulation and a "certification" requirement on the “navigators” authorized by the federal health care law to assist persons applying for government-subsidized health insurance benefits through the "exchange." The bill authorizes background checks, testing and training requirements, and more. The Senate has passed a similar bill (Senate Bill 324), but neither bill has yet been passed by the other body.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
House Bill 5104, Authorize medical “marijuana infused products”: Passed 100 to 9 in the House on December 12, 2013
To authorize the use of “marijuana infused products” under the state’s voter-initiated medical marijuana law. This is defined to include any "topical formulation, tincture, beverage, edible substance, or similar product intended for human consumption in a manner other than smoking." The bill is currently pending on the Senate floor.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
House Bill 4271, Authorize and regulate medical marijuana dispensaries: Passed 95 to 14 in the House on December 12, 2013
To authorize and establish a comprehensive regulatory regime for medical marijuana dispensaries, including municipal licensure or prohibition, with civil and criminal penalties for violations. The provisions of the state's voter-initiated medical marijuana law were ambiguous about dispensaries, and the state Supreme Court banned them early in 2013. The bill is pending on the Senate floor.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
House Bill 4486, Authorize involuntary treatment for substance abuse: Passed 102 to 8 in the House on February 13, 2014
To allow relatives or a health care professional to petition a court to take an individual abusing drugs or alcohol into protective custody for involuntary treatment if there is clear and convincing evidence that the person presents an imminent danger or threat to himself or others. The bill prescribes specific procedures, requirements and limitations on involuntary treatment.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
House Bill 4782, Expand a corporate/developer subsidy regime: Passed 31 to 6 in the Senate on December 11, 2013
The Senate vote on the bill described above. This was signed into law on Dec. 21, 2013.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
House Bill 4688, Repeal licensure mandates for dietitians and nutritionists: Passed 26 to 12 in the Senate on June 11, 2014
The Senate vote on the bill described above. This was signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder on July 1.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
House Bill 4486, Authorize involuntary treatment for substance abuse: Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on June 3, 2014
The Senate vote on the bill described above. This was signed into law on June. 24.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
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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