The Legislature is on a summer break with no sessions scheduled until Aug. 16. Rather than votes this report contains some interesting or noteworthy legislative proposals to amend the constitution. To become law these require a two-thirds vote in the House and Senate and approval by voters.

House Joint Resolution L: Allow private school vouchers for special needs children

Introduced by Rep. Tim Kelly (R), to place before voters in the next general election a constitutional amendment to require the state to provide financial support for children with special needs to attend the school of their choice, including a nonpublic school, up to the amount that would be provided if the child were enrolled in a regular public school. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Joint Resolution M: Eliminate state board of education

Introduced by Rep. Tim Kelly (R), to place before voters in the next general election a constitutional amendment that would eliminate the current structure of an elected state board of education that selects a superintendent of public instruction who also directs the state Department of Education, and replace it with a governor-appointed department director like other state departments. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Joint Resolution N: Reduce number of legislators

Introduced by Rep. Michael McCready (R), to place before voters in the next general election a constitutional amendment to change the number of state representative districts from the current 110 to 76, which is twice the number of state senate districts.

House Joint Resolution O: Place Democrat election law proposals in constitution

Introduced by Rep. Jon Hoadley (D), to place before voters in the next general election an amendment that would place in the constitution a number of election law changes that Democratic lawmakers have pursued with bills amending state statutes, including streamlined voter registration and absentee ballot procedures, automatic voter registration when getting a driver license and, early voting by means of no-reason absentee ballots and more.

House Joint Resolution P: Define legislature’s authority to rein in state university speech restrictions

Introduced by Rep. Jim Runestad (R), to place before voters in the next general election a constitutional amendment establishing that the legislature may provide by law for the protection of free speech, expression, and assembly rights at state colleges and universities, which shall supersede any inconsistent restriction prescribed by one of these institutions. Referred to committee, no further action at this time. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

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 www.MichiganVotes.org.

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