HB 4664:  Would increase the penalties for obstructing traffic on a public highway while participating in an assembly.

Sponsor:  Rep. St. Germaine (R)                            

Passage:  61-42 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Protesters lying down in the public street create various health and safety risks, both to the general populace and to the protesters themselves. Further, they may argue that a civil infraction ticket with a simple monetary fine is an insufficient disincentive to prevent individuals from engaging in this conduct. Therefore, penalties should be increased, to provide an adequate disincentive.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 4713-4719:  Insurance Fraud Reform

Sponsors:  Reps. Robinson (R), Harris (R), McFall (D), B. Carter (D), Lightner (R), Tate (D), Aragona (R)                              

HB 4713-4717 Passages:  101-2 with Immediate Effect

HB 4718-4719 Passages:  102-1 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: HB 4713: With Michigan’s auto insurance also functioning, in part, as a health insurer, those making false claims through them should be subject to penalties associated with false claims.

HB 4715: This bill could allow for analysis, recommendations, or comparison on fraud statistics and strategies between states.

HBs 4714 & 4716: Current Michigan law provides little flexibility for prosecutors and judges to decide how to deal with a case of insurance fraud. Providing a wider range of offenses can allow us to increase punishment for the worst offenders and use lower offenses to secure plea deals that aid further investigation and enforcement.

HB 4717: This bill would provide another tool or option for law enforcement to penalize those involved in insurance fraud schemes.

HB 4718: Requiring insurers to report likely fraud to DIFS could help ensure law enforcement can crack down on crime more efficiently.

HB 4719: In addition to criminal penalties, civil fines through the Department could serve as a strong concurrent penalty to deter fraud.

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HB 4515:  Requires Michigan bridge cards (electronic benefit transfer card issued for food stamps, cash assistance etc.) to display a picture and signature of the authorized user(s).

Sponsor:  Rep. Woolford (R)                    

Passage:  60-38 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: If federal law changes, this bill enables Michigan to enforce more stringent fraud prevention immediately.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 4282 & 4595:  HB 4282 (Koleszar) allows the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) to issue a license to sell liquor to a grocery store or restaurant located on land owned by Schoolcraft college. HB 4595 (Linting) allows the MLCC to issue a Specially Designated Merchant (SDM) license to a grocery store on land owned by Schoolcraft College.

Sponsors:  Reps. Koleszar (D) & Linting (R)                       

HB 4282 Passage:  89-8 with Immediate Effect

HB 4595 Passage:  90-7 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Schoolcraft College offers a unique educational program in brewing and distillation, and this provides a method for learning the business side of the industry by putting products out to market.

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HB 4700:  Modifies the requirements for hotels to obtain liquor licenses.

Sponsor:  Rep. Schuette (R)                    

Passage:  94-3 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: This makes it easier for small boutique hotels to have a bar by removing an onerous and outdated barrier.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 4418-4419:  Would allow for surrogate decision makers for an individual’s health care decisions, when an adult or emancipated minor is unable to make those health care decisions for themselves.

Sponsors:  Reps. Thompson (R) & Witwer (D)                 

Passages:  98-0 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Proponents of the bill may argue that this change in law would help provide decision makers in situations where patients are unable to give consent to medical treatment.

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HB 4734:  Would allow the surrogate medical decision makers created under HB 4418to consent to medical treatment on behalf of a patient who cannot make decisions for themselves.

Sponsor:  Rep. BeGole (R)                        

Passage:  98-0 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Proponents of the bill may argue that the bill strikes the right compromise by retaining the requirement that medical professionals obtain consent to treat a patient, while also acknowledging the new surrogate medical decision makers that would be created by HB 4418.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 4694-4695 & 4798:  HBs 4694-4695 would add additional powers for existing and future authorities established under the Recreation Authorities Act. The bills seek to provide broadened capability for rural, forest-reliant communities, especially in Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula, to establish an authority that can effectively govern and manage local forest resources. HB 4798 amends mcl 324.1901 of NREPA to add ‘recreational authority’ to the definition of a local unit of government or public authority, to avoid an amendment by reference.

Sponsor:  Rep. Markkanen (R)                

Passage:  96-2 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: This will be particularly helpful to communities in the northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula where recreation and forests/natural resources needs occur concurrently. For example, local units of government could now join together in managing a public forest to achieve both recreational and commercial natural resources goals.