Governor Snyder's wrist may hurt this evening. He signed or vetoed hundreds of bills today.
Snyder received hundreds of bills to review just before the Christmas holiday. These bills come from a busy lame duck session – and the clock is running out on Snyder’s time in office.
Snyder approved bills ranging from changes to the state’s medical marijuana law, to a major supplemental spending bill, to sexual assault and school safety measures.
He has also vetoed dozens of bills. One would have permanently banned the use of telemedicine for women seeking the abortion pill. Snyder said the move prevent women from getting safe and proper medical care during a time sensitive period.
An (almost, sort of) complete list of what the Governor signed today is below. (Yes - it's too long to read).
Gov. Rick Snyder signs supplemental budget bill including funding for environmental cleanup, roads, school safety, rainy-day fund
Gov. Rick Snyder today signed a supplemental investment plan of more than $500 million that was a result of increased revenue collections and lapsed funding from state agencies.
“There are a number of critically important investments that were agreed upon,” said Gov. Snyder. “I am extremely pleased we now have ongoing revenue for cleaning up contaminated sites across our state, and I am also excited about another healthy deposit into the state’s rainy-day fund which puts the balance at more than $1.1 billion.”
A total of $69 million in ongoing revenue from online sales tax will be used to clean up the more than 3,000 contaminated sites across Michigan, providing a reliable and alternative solution to the solid waste tipping fees originally proposed by the governor.
A total of $100 million is being added to the rainy-day fund, an action that will be applauded by rating agencies and help the continued improvement of Michigan’s credit rating. Another $43.1 million will go to eliminate unfunded liabilities for the military and judiciary retirement systems, meaning that those two state-managed retirement systems will now be fully funded at 100 percent.
“This is what working together is all about,” added Snyder. “I proposed an idea for finding a long-term solution to cleaning up contaminated sites, and the Legislature had some of their own ideas, and we came together to solve the problem. It’s not about a debate over who’s idea is best, it’s about working together to get solutions to problems, and that’s exactly what happened.”
A total of $20 million is provided in the supplemental budget to continue to respond to and address PFAS contamination, with money designated for water system remediation, contaminant mapping, and laboratory staff. Michigan has been proactive in responding to this environmental threat and this funding will help the state stay ahead of what has become a national issue. The supplemental budget also includes $8 million for the Brandon Road lock and dam project, aimed at keeping Asian Carp out of Lake Michigan and the entire great lakes water system.
To address findings from a recent audit by the Office of Auditor General, $20 million is provided for additional staff to reduce caseload ratios within Child Protective Services at the Department of Health and Human Services, helping to ensure that improved care is provided for one of Michigan’s most vulnerable populations.
The funding will also help to provide needed technology enhancements and address other issues identified in the audit. DHHS will also receive more than $7 million to continue a coordinated response to Hepatitis A.
“At the end of every dollar is a Michigan resident, community or project that effects the health and welfare of our great state,” said State Budget Director John Walsh. “This is more than just numbers and decimal points and dollar signs, this is about making a positive difference in people’s lives.”
The state’s commitment to funding the new construction at the Soo Locks is included at $52 million, something that is long overdue and vital to protecting jobs and our economy. The federal government has committed to partnering with the state to fund this important infrastructure project. The supplemental budget also includes $4.5 million to support the Mackinac Straits tunnel project, with funding designated for mapping radar, project oversight, legal services, and environmental threat mitigation.
More than $100 million from added online sales tax revenue will go to fund Michigan roads, which puts the state two years ahead of schedule when it comes to reaching the established goal of an additional $1.2 billion for transportation. An additional $25 million for school safety grants was also agreed upon, helping to provided for added security measures at school buildings across the state. Another $18 million is provided in education funding for at-risk youth, as well as $1.5 million for First Robotics.
Other highlights of the supplemental budget include $20 million for the expansion of broadband to rural areas, and another $20 million focused on economic development in Detroit to help continue the city’s resurgence which has become one of the greatest comeback stories in American history.
Gov. Snyder vetoed section 759(33) in the Department of Talent and Economic Development for Michigan Enhancement Grants as the language does not state a public purpose for the funds allocated in that subsection.
Gov. Rick Snyder signs legislation creating juvenile mental health courts in Michigan
To improve mental health treatment options for minors, Gov. Rick Snyder today signed legislation creating mental health courts and expanding access to assisted outpatient treatment in Michigan.“Michiganders going through our problem-solving courts have had great success and focusing specifically on mental health treatment for minors will further improve outcomes for our younger residents,” Snyder said. House Bills 5806-5808, sponsored by state Rep. Julie Calley, move participation of minors from traditional problem-solving courts into specific juvenile mental health courts.
Gov. Rick Snyder signs legislation improving access to medical forensic examinations, health care for sexual assault survivors
Survivors of sexual assault will have enhanced access to medical forensic examinations and health care services under legislation signed today by Gov. Rick Snyder.
“Survivors of sexual assault deserve access to medical resources that will help them find healing and justice,” Snyder said. “These bills enhance access to medical forensic examinations and other critical health care services, and I’m proud that Michigan continues to strengthen support for survivors throughout our state.”
House Bill 4505, sponsored by state Rep. Diana Farrington, modifies reimbursement for medical procedures and services related to sexual assault medical forensic examinations. House Bill 4506, sponsored by state Rep. Sue Allor, modifies use of expenditures from the sexual assault victims' medical forensic intervention and treatment fund.
Snyder also signed 44 other bills:
SB 404, sponsored by state Sen. Margaret O’Brien, provides for a waiver on state identification cards for veterans.
SBs 906 and 907, sponsored by state Sen. Jack Brandenburg, provides for a sales and use tax exemption for the purchase or lease of a school bus or school bus service under certain circumstances.
SB 991, sponsored by state Sen. Dale Zorn, requires a school’s governing body to update the Michigan State Police biannually of the emergency contact points through which an official for the school is able to receive information acquired by a school safety hotline.
SB 1034, sponsored by state Sen. Darwin Booher, modifies language relating to property tax exemptions for qualified forest property.
SB 1136, sponsored by state Sen. Dave Robertson, establishes an inland lake aquatic invasive plant species control and eradication program.
SBs 1195-1196, sponsored by state Sens. Rebekah Warren and Tom Casperson, will impose a fee on the disposal of certain radioactive waste in landfills as well as regulating the disposal of certain radioactive waste in landfills.
HB 4067, sponsored by state Rep. Jim Tedder, creates the interstate medical licensure compact and modifies the licensing process to incorporate the compact.
HB 4608, sponsored by state Rep. Jeff Noble, excludes painters and decorators from the licensing requirement for residential maintenance and alteration contractors.
HB 5018, sponsored by state Rep. Peter Lucido, enacts sentencing guidelines for cyberbullying in Michigan.
HB 5025, sponsored by state Rep. Wendell Byrd, provides for administrative procedures for withholding tax refunds for unpaid city income taxes.
HB 5152 and 5153, sponsored by state Reps. Sam Singh and Ed Canfield, respectively, creates a form to opt out of being prescribed or administered an opioid and allows guardians to fill it out for minors.
HB 5411, sponsored by state Rep. Tom Barrett, provides for classification definitions for corrections security inspector and corrections security representative.
HBs 5505-5506, sponsored by state Reps. Frank Liberati and Daire Rendon, respectively, modify the licensing of adult foster care facilities.
HB 5542, sponsored by state Rep. Jim Runestad, eliminates requirements that police officers take security from nonresident motorists for civil infractions in Motor Carrier Safety Act.
HB 5606, sponsored by state Rep. Jim Lilly, allows for the sale of nonalcoholic beverages by a licensed wine maker.
HBs 5854 and 5855, sponsored by state Reps. Gary Howell and Joe Bellino, respectively, create a voluntary wetland restoration permit.
HB 5866, sponsored by state Rep. Joe Bellino, moves certain authority from the Department of Natural Resources to the Natural Resources Commission.
HB 5913, sponsored by state Rep. John Bizon, provides for tax-exempt status for 501(c)(19) organizations.
HB 5926, sponsored by state Rep. Steve Marino, removes the term of validity for certificates of employability for parolees.
HB 5942 sponsored by state Rep. Beau LaFave, provides penalties for threatening a school with a firearm or other deadly or dangerous weapon.
HB 5945, sponsored by state Rep. Donna Lasinksi, provides for exemption in truck routes designated for local authorities and county road commissions for agricultural equipment.
HB 5609, sponsored by state Rep. Lisa Love, allows up to $100 to insured from property-casualty insurer.
HB 5622, sponsored by state Rep. John Reilly, designates portion of M-15 as the "Purple Heart Trail."
HB 5647, sponsored by state Rep. Frederick, allows for use of handheld dental X-ray systems under certain circumstances.
HB 5672, sponsored by state Rep. Jim Tedder, designates portion of M-15 in Oakland County as the "Deputy Eric Overall Memorial Highway."
HB 5718, sponsored by state Rep. Jim Lilly, provides for disposal of certain stolen or abandoned property by donation in certain circumstances.
HB 5725, sponsored by state Tom Rep. Barrett, designates portion of M-5 as the "Staff Sergeant Duane J. Dreasky Memorial Highway."
HBs 5828-5829, sponsored by state Reps. Jason Wentworth and Pam Hornberger, provide for a comprehensive school safety plan and fund as well as requiring public schools, public school academies and nonpublic schools to designate school safety liaisons and submit to inspections by state police.
HB 5850, sponsored by state Rep. Brandt Iden, eliminates the sunset in the student safety act.
HB 5851, sponsored by state Rep. Beau LaFave, requires reporting of attempted acts of school violence.
HB 5852, sponsored by state Rep. Joe Bellino, adds active shooter training in the Michigan commission on law enforcement standards.
HBs 6016, 6018-6020, 6022-6023, sponsored by state Reps. Ed Canfield (6016), Hank Vaupel (6018), Abdullah Hammoud (6019), Jon Hoadley (6020), John Bizon (6022), and Kevin Hertel (6023), respectively, updates HIV testing and reporting procedures.
HB 6052, sponsored by state Rep. Thomas Albert, creates the economic development incentive act.
HBs 6053 and 6054, sponsored by state Rep. Thomas Albert, modify the penalties for filing essential services assessment late.
HB 6063, sponsored by state Rep. Jason Wentworth, prevents local ordinances from prohibiting signage for veterans or first responders who die in the line of duty.
HBs 6087-6088, sponsored by state Rep. Ben Frederick and Gary Howell, respectively, allows municipalities to borrow money from the state infrastructure bank and exempts loans from the state infrastructure bank from the definition of municipal security under the Revised Municipal Finance Act.
HB 6123, sponsored by state Rep. Scott VanSingel, creates the Water Use Advisory Council.
HB 6360, sponsored by state Rep. Ed Canfield, removes the sunset on requirement for auto insurers to provide policy information to Department of Health and Human Services.
HB 6361, sponsored by state Rep. Ed Canfield, expands requirement to notify Department of Health and Human Services of legal action in which Medicaid may have a right to recover.
HB 6378, sponsored by state Rep. Scott VanSingel, creates a procedure for granting service credit to certain employees of a tax-supported community or junior college and revises method to calculate unfunded actuarial accrued liability.
HB 6400, sponsored by state Rep. Jeff Noble, exempts certain adult care facilities from special or conditional use permits.
HB 6403, sponsored by state Rep. Jason Wentworth, modifies county veteran service fund distribution.
HBs 6428-6430, sponsored by state Reps. James Lower, Beau LaFave, and Aaron Miller, respectively, modify provisions on delivery of electric service outside of corporate limits of a city.
HB 6472, sponsored by state Rep. Triston Cole, modifies issuance of floodplain permits for minor and general projects.
HB 6487, sponsored by state Rep. VanderWall, allows electronic title for vehicles with a lienholder for off-road vehicles.
HB 6520, sponsored by state Rep. Lana Theis, enacts corporate governance annual disclosure model act.
HB 6573, sponsored by state Rep. Jim Runestad, modifies law enforcement separation from service record act and allows Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards to obtain records.
HB 6572, sponsored by state Rep. Jim Runestad, modifies the employment record information employers can release for a law enforcement employee.
HB 6582, sponsored by state Rep. Jim Lilly, requires certain identifying information from Freedom of Information Act requests.
HB 4319, sponsored by state Rep. Curt VanderWall, allows the surviving spouse of a totally disabled veteran to use disabled veteran registration plate.
HB 4333, sponsored by state Rep. Tommy Brann, enacts sentencing guidelines for crimes of animal cruelty.
HB 4474, sponsored by state Rep. Gary Glenn, allows for possession of concealed pistols on military premises.
HB 4747 and 4748, sponsored by state Reps. Kim LaSata and Julie Calley, respectively, allow candidates for township offices to pay a filing fee in lieu of nominating petition and makes the fee nonrefundable.
HB 4780, sponsored by state Rep. Klint Kesto, designates the Michigan Compiled Laws Database as an official source of law.
HB 4990, sponsored by state Rep. Tommy Brann, revises vehicle registration fees for vehicles owned and operated for nonprofit food banks and food pantries.
HB 5090, sponsored by state Rep. Scott VanSingel, modifies penalties for certain vehicles failure to stop at weigh station.
HB 5372, sponsored by state Rep. Joe Bellino, allows medication assisted treatment program to be required for certain individuals as part of their sentence.
HB 5439, sponsored by state Rep. Mary Whiteford, creates a psychiatric bed registry.
HB 5639, sponsored by state Rep. Brett Roberts, requires the Secretary of State to issue a vehicle identification number and title under certain circumstances.
HB 5801, sponsored by state Rep. Kathy Crawford, modifies the information required for a notice of an election concerning a millage increase.
HB 5810, sponsored by state Rep. Hank Vaupel, replaces certain alternative mental health treatments with assisted outpatient treatment.
HBs 5818-5819, sponsored by state Reps. Vanessa Guerra and Klint Kesto, respectively, allow guardians authority to consent to mental health treatment.
HB 5820, sponsored by state Rep. Klint Kesto, revises procedures for involuntary mental health treatment and judicial admissions.
HB 5837, sponsored by state Rep. Aaron Miller, allows qualifying out-of-state municipalities/political subdivisions and Canadian provinces to become members in a Michigan joint agency.
HB 6049, sponsored by state Rep. James Lower, provides for a shift of certain assessment functions to county equalization departments.
HB 6108, sponsored by state Rep. Jim Lilly, sets sentencing guidelines for signing a petition with multiple names.
HB 6129-6131, sponsored by state Reps. Klint Kesto, Julie Calley and Brandt Iden respectively, provides for powers and duties of a directed trustee.
HB 6147, sponsored by state Rep. Pat Green, designates a portion of M-53 as the "Sergeant Wouters Memorial Highway”.
HB 6344, sponsored by state Rep. Sam Singh, consolidates district courts in East Lansing, Lansing and Ingham County to one countywide district court.
HB 6465, sponsored by state Rep. Dan Lauwers, adopts Coast Guard standards for permits for ballast water discharge from oceangoing vessels.
HB 6475, sponsored by state Rep. Thomas Albert, provides for general amendments to the State Police Retirement Act.
HBs 6476-6481, sponsored by state Reps. Tom Albert, Steve Johnson, and Rob VerHeulen, updates references to the state police retirement act.
HB 6484, sponsored by state Rep. Triston Cole, provides exception to abolition of tort liability for damage to property.
HB 6486, sponsored by state Rep. Curt VanderWall, allows electronic title for vehicles with a lienholder for watercraft.
HB 6491, sponsored by state Rep. Lana Theis, enacts insurance data security model law.
HB 6498, sponsored by state Rep. Brandt Biden, revises regulation of motor vehicle manufacturers and dealers and requirements for dealer agreements.
The bills above have been filed with the Office of the Great Seal.
Snyder also vetoed some bills:
SB 1176, sponsored by state Sen. Mike Shirkey, would have prohibited the disclosure of certain donor information. In his veto letter, Gov. Snyder wrote that the broad prohibitions in this bill will impair the executive branch’s ability to protect donors. In addition, he wrote that he believes this legislation is a solution that is in search of a problem that doesn’t exist in Michigan.
Governor Rick Snyder has vetoed a controversial bill that would have increased the powers of the state Legislature.
The bill would have allowed the state Legislature to intervene in court proceedings challenging state laws. Right now the Attorney General defends the state laws, but lawmakers and others can ask a judge to be a part of the proceeding. This would have taken away the judge’s discretion when it comes to the Legislature.
In his veto letter, Snyder said that the current process works and ensures that the Legislature’s position is considered. He also said quote – “I do not believe it prudent to sign this legislation as my term as governor comes to an end.”
Governor Rick Snyder vetoed a handful of gambling and gaming bills today.
One would have created an act to regulate betting on fantasy sports. Snyder says he doesn’t think the move would mean positive results for Michigan.
Snyder also vetoed amendments to the bingo and charitable gaming millionaire parties, because he says the changes would make the parties ripe for potential fraud and abuse.
And Snyder says there needs to be more study and comparison with other states before Michigan is ready to allow internet gaming.
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