Whitmer Signs Markkanen Truck Driver Bill; Other Legislation Into Law - Radioresultsnetwork.com
A plan from State Rep. Greg Markkanen helping veterans use acquired skills to excel professionally has been signed into law by the governor.
House Bill 4787, now Public Act 148 of 2021, waives a knowledge test for a person with military experience who is applying for a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) in Michigan. CDL applicants must take a skills and knowledge test, and Michigan currently provides a skills test waiver for those who have at least two years of experience operating heavy military vehicles.
Since the state did not previously waive the knowledge portion, it was unable to access a federal program 14 other states participate in allowing for qualified drivers to easily obtain CDLs.
“This new law offers practicality, recognizes the experience these individuals have and allows Michigan to be competitive for workers,” Markkanen said. “This is going to save our military members, including ones in the U.P., time and hassle when they choose to enter this vital industry.”
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 40,000 service members and veterans have taken advantage of this program across the country.
House Bill 4787 waives the knowledge test required for a commercial driver license for an individual with military motor vehicle experience, honoring the skills developed during military service and helping to address the truck driver shortage.
House Bill 4787 was sponsored by Markkanen, R-Hancock, and a copy can be found here.
Whitmer also signed a bill that will help to address a shortage of health care workers. Senate Bill 759 amends the Public Health Code to allow qualified individuals authorized to practice a health profession in another state to practice in Michigan during an epidemic under certain circumstances, bolstering Michigan’s access to mobile medical professionals to help weather the COVID-19 pandemic.
Senate Bill 759 was sponsored by Sen. Curt VanderWall, R – Ludington, and a copy can be found here.
Bottle Bill Enforcement Fund
House Bill 4780, 4781, 4782 and 4783 amends the beverage container deposit law to create the Bottle Bill Enforcement Fund by taking the first $1 million from unclaimed bottle refunds to allow MSP to run a grant program for local law enforcement to prevent, investigate, and prosecute bottle fraud.
House Bill 4780 was sponsored by Rep. Mike Mueller, R-Linden, and a copy can be found here.
House Bill 4781 was sponsored by Rep. Andrew Fink, R – Adams Twp., and a copy can be found here.
House Bill 4782 was sponsored by Rep. Tim Sneller, D – Burton, and a copy can be found here.
House Bill 4783 was sponsored by Rep. Tyrone Carter, D – Detroit, and a copy can be found here.
Voting Equipment Maintenance
House Bill 4282, 4283, 4284, and 4295 amends the Michigan Election Law to make the $100 candidate filing fees nonrefundable for primary elections and directs that money to local governments to be used only for the purchase and maintenance of voting equipment.
“Most candidates didn’t even realize that their $100 filing fee could possibly be returned to them,” said Rep. Terry Sabo, D – Muskegon. “These bills remove that refund and make the jobs of our local clerks easier, while still allowing candidates the choice of gathering the signatures required or paying a now non-refundable filing fee.”
House Bill 4282 was sponsored by Rep. Julie Calley, R – Portland, and a copy can be found here.
House Bill 4283 was sponsored by Rep. Terry Sabo, D – Muskegon, and a copy can be found here.
House Bill 4284 was sponsored by Rep. Matt Koleszar, D – Plymouth, and a copy can be found here.
House Bill 4285 was sponsored by Rep. Ann Bollin, R – Brighton, and a copy can be found here.
Redistricting Commission
Senate Bill 728 amends the Open Meetings Act to clarify that the act does not permit the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (ICRC) to meet in a closed session for any purpose.
Senate Bill 728 was sponsored by Sen. Ed McBroom, R – Vulcan, and a copy can be found here.
Jail Diversion Fund
Senate Bill 637 creates the community crisis response grant program, in accordance with the recommendations of Governor Whitmer’s Mental Health Diversion Council. Under the new law, DHHS will distribute grants to local units to establish or expand community-based mobile crisis intervention services, giving priority to applications that demonstrate a commitment to best practices as identified by DHHS in coordination with the council.
“We must change how we respond to behavioral health emergencies — so that we get people the help they need in times of crisis,” said Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit. “Having more behavioral health professionals respond on scene with law enforcement will make a big difference for many. I am so grateful to have partnered with Senator Outman and many groups over the past year and a half on these bills which will help direct people to services they need, improve public safety, and keep people out of jail that really need our support.”
Senate Bill 637 was sponsored by Sen. Stephanie Chang, D – Detroit, and a copy can be found here.
Senate Bill 638 creates the Jail Diversion Fund. DHHS will distribute grants to local units to establish or expand behavioral health jail diversion programs in coordination between community agencies and law enforcement agencies
Senate Bill 638 was sponsored by Sen. Rick Outman, R – Six Lakes, and a copy can be found here.
Other Legislation
Together, House Bills 5502, 5503, 5504, and 5505 streamline the process for qualified manufacturers to file for these exemptions and for the state to review them.
House Bill 5502 was sponsored by Rep. Mark Tisdel, R – Rochester, and a copy can be found here.
House Bill 5503 was sponsored by Rep. Diana Farrington, R – Utica, and a copy can be found here.
House Bill 5504 was sponsored by Rep. Julie Calley, R – Portland, and a copy can be found here.
House Bill 5505 was sponsored by Rep. Mary Cavanagh, R – Redford, and a copy can be found here.
House Bill 5351 would amend the General Property Tax Act to increase the value of the eligible manufacturing personal property exemption to $180,000, from $80,000. HB 5506 prohibits the issuance of a new industrial facilities exemption certificate for any property that qualifies as eligible manufacturing personal property.
House Bill 5506 was sponsored by Rep. Jim Ellison, D – Royal Oak, and a copy can be found here.
House Bill 5351 was sponsored by Rep. Steve Johnson, R – Wayland, and a copy can be found here.
Part of the economic development and small business assistance package signed last week, House Bill 4082 would limit the power of the State Administrative Board to use its power to transfer funds between line items to move money out of the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve Fund created by 2021 PA 137, the Critical Industry Program created by 2021 PA 136, or the Michigan Strategic Site Readiness Program created by 2021 PA 134.
House Bill 4082 was sponsored by Rep. Ben Frederick, R – Owosso, and a copy can be found here.
Senate Bill 723 would amend the Neighborhood Enterprise Zone Act to allow an application for a neighborhood enterprise zone (NEZ) certificate to be filed after a building permit has been issued for the project, under specified circumstances.
Senate Bill 723 was sponsored by Sen. Ken Horn, R – Frankenmuth, and a copy can be found here.
Senate Bill 764 would amend the Income Tax Act to allow a taxpayer, for tax years beginning 2021, to deduct wagering losses claimed by the taxpayer on their Federal income tax return for that tax year.
Senate Bill 764 was sponsored by Sen. Curtis Hertel, D – East Lansing, and a copy can be found here.
Senate Bill 671 would amend the Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act to expand the transformational brownfield program to allow combination with other community development incentives, simplify reporting requirements, extend the sunset to 2027. The transformational brownfield program was at the heart of Bedrock’s redevelopment of Detroit’s historic downtown Hudson’s site and surrounding area, as well as the redevelopment of the Vicksburg Paper Mill.
Senate Bill 671 was sponsored by Senator Ken Horn, R – Frankenmuth, and a copy can be found here.
Senate Bill 212 would amend the requirements for affidavits of identity in the Michigan Election Law. Currently under the act, candidates must file an affidavit of identity when filing a nominating petition, qualifying petition, filing fee, or affidavit of candidacy. The bill would add that a candidate must also include information about the jurisdiction, term, party affiliation, and other details.
Senate Bill 212 was sponsored by Senator Ruth Johnson, R – Holly, and a copy can be found here.
Senate Bill 213 would amend the Older Michiganians Act to clarify and expand access to long-term care facilities for the long-term care ombudsman.
Senate Bill 213 was sponsored by Senator Kim LaSata, R – Coloma, and a copy can be found here.
Senate Bill 461 and Senate Bill 462 together would amend the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act to require as a condition for licensure that an applicant have a liability insurance policy meeting certain requirements and refer license applicants to the Marijuana Regulatory Agency instead of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and the Medical Marihuana Licensing Board.
Senate Bill 461 was sponsored by Sen. Curt VanderWall, R – Ludington, Senate Bill 462 was sponsored by Sen. Paul Wojno, D – Warren, and copies can be found here and here.
Senate Bill 698 would extend to 2022 a provision in the General Property Tax Act that taxable property located on tax day in an alternate location because of the COVID-19 pandemic may not be assessed in that alternate location, but instead must be assessed in its ordinary location.
Senate Bill 698 was sponsored by Sen. Jim Runestad, R – White Lake, and a copy can be found here.
source: https://www.radioresultsnetwork.com/2021/12/27/213168/
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