BILL PACKAGE HBs 5035-5039:  Fertility Fraud

Sponsors:  Reps. Roth (R), Steckloff (D), & St. Germaine (R)                   

HBs 5035 & 5037 Passages:  61-48 with Immediate Effect

HBs 5036 & 5038 Passages:  60-49 with Immediate Effect

HB 5039 Passage:  88-21 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Penalties associated with assisted reproduction fraud requiring strengthening.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 4530 & 5220:  Child mental health records and mandated reporter training

Sponsors:  Reps. Pohutsky (D) & Rigas (R)                        

Passages:  108-1 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: A 14-day window for mental health professionals to provide mental health records pertinent to a child protective services investigation leaves the child in a potentially dangerous situation for a significant period of time. Mandated reporters should remain up to date on signs of abuse and the responsibilities they are charged with, especially as responsibilities could change.

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HB 4981:  Redesignates “limited licensed counselors” as “limited licensed professional counselors.”

Sponsor:  Rep. Fairbairn (R)                    

Passage:  109-1with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: This change could help avoid confusion, establish consistency and could improve professional identification.

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HB 5317:  Allows counties with a population of less than 100,000 to reduce the size of their Parks and Recreation Board to seven members.

Sponsor:  Rep. Cavitt (R)                           

Passage:  108-0 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Counties should have the flexibility to eliminate waste within their own budgets and reallocate those funds towards other essential local services instead.

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HB 4279:  Creates the Michigan Army National Guard and Air National Guard apprenticeship act.

Sponsor:  Rep. Greene (R)                        

Passage:  99-9 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: The program could help servicemembers nearing or post separation find suitable employment opportunities related to on the job skills obtained.

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HB 4402:  Requires the development and dissemination of informational material on cytomegalovirus (CMV), mandates testing of newborns and requires reporting positive tests to MDHHS.

Sponsor:  Rep. VanderWall (R)               

Passage:  102-6 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: A positive CMV test must be reported to MDHHS. Mandatory data sharing will not mitigate CMV rates, but will increase information the MDHHS has on people and result in charging a fee if they conduct the test.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 4079 & 4080:  Increases the income threshold for the special assessment deferment.

Sponsors:  Reps. Schuette (R) & Hoadley (R)                  

Passages:  98-10 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: This program helps assist senior citizens and disabled individuals on low/fixed incomes with the high costs of special assessments.