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By Jack McHugh
The Legislature did not meet this week, so the Roll Call Report continues its review of key votes from the 2015-2016 session.
Senate Bill 434, Authorize highway drug testing pilot program: Passed 28 to 10 in the Senate on January 20, 2016
To authorize a one year pilot program in five counties for roadside drug testing, to determine whether drivers are operating vehicles while under the influence of a controlled substance (marijuana in particular) by means of “oral fluid analysis” (saliva test). After the first year the State Police could continue the pilot programs in other counties.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
Senate Bill 434, Authorize highway drug testing pilot program: Passed 70 to 37 in the House on June 9, 2016
The House vote on the bill described above.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
Senate Bill 501, Require alien drivers have visa or passport while driving: Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on February 4, 2016
To require resident aliens who drive a vehicle in Michigan to have both a valid drivers license issued by their native land and a passport or valid visa. Current law only requires a valid drivers license. (A legal alien can also get a Michigan drivers license.)
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
Senate Bill 501, Require alien drivers have visa or passport while driving: Passed 90 to 18 in the House on May 12, 2016
The House vote on the bill described above.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
Senate Bill 302, Ban nude entertainment in bars: Passed 27 to 10 in the Senate on February 10, 2016
To ban fully nude performers at topless bars, or bars showing videos that depict this. This relates to a 2007 federal appeals court ruling that struck down Michigan’s previous law banning fully nude performers in bars, holding it was a violation of the First Amendment. The House has not voted on this bill.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
House Bill 5219, Permit local tax hike electioneering: Passed 60 to 46 in the House on February 23, 2016
To allow local government and school district communications to reference property tax hike measures they place on the ballot in taxpayer-funded communications during the 60 days before the election. This repeals a ban on these communications within 60 days of an election. The Senate has not voted on this bill
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
House Bill 5070, "Push back" against Obama NLRB franchise unionization rule: Passed 59 to 47 in the House on December 16, 2015
To establish that under state occupational safety and health regulations, the actual owner of a business franchise rather than the franchisor is considered the sole employer of the local company's workers. This is part of a package of bills responding to a 2015 action by National Labor Relations Board appointees to make it easier to unionize fast-food franchises by declaring the franchisor is the employer.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
House Bill 5070, "Push back" against Obama NLRB franchise unionization rule: Passed 26 to 11 in the Senate on February 11, 2016
The Senate vote on the bill described above.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
House Bill 4578, Authorize school recreation taxes: Passed 108 to 0 in the House on April 19, 2016
To add school districts to a law that lets several local governments organize a recreational authority with the power to levy up to one-mill of property tax for swimming pools, recreation centers, public auditoriums, public conference centers and parks. The law is silent on whether the recreational facilities could be school facilities if the bill becomes law, but does require them to be open to the public.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
House Bill 4578, Authorize school recreation taxes: Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on May 31, 2016
The Senate vote on the bill described above.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
Senate Bill 564, Criminalize selling aborted fetuses or body parts: Passed 26 to 10 in the Senate on April 27, 2016
To make it a crime to receive a financial benefit or any type of compensation for transferring or selling an embryo, fetus or neonate, including organs, tissues or cells, if this was obtained as the result of an elective abortion. The House has not voted on this bill.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
House Bill 4962, End "tried as an adult" for some serious juvenile offenses: Passed 90 to 19 in the House on April 28, 2016
To no longer automatically prosecute and sentence 17 year olds charged with serious crimes as if they were an adult. The Senate has not voted on this bill.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
House Bill 4138, Authorize presumptive parole: Passed 67 to 39 in the House on October 1, 2015
To require that parole be granted to prisoners who have served their minimum time if the person has a high probability under a "validated risk assessment instrument" of not being a risk to public safety, and also meets other criteria specified in the bill and current law, subject to a number of restrictions and exceptions. The Senate has not voted on this bill.
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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