No. 19

STATE OF MICHIGAN

Journal of the Senate

101st Legislature

REGULAR SESSION OF 2022

 

 

 

 

 

Senate Chamber, Lansing, Thursday, February 24, 2022.

 

10:00 a.m.

 

 

The Senate was called to order by the Assistant President pro tempore, Senator Lana Theis.

 

The roll was called by the Secretary of the Senate, who announced that a quorum was present.

 

 

Alexander—present                             Horn—present                                 Polehanki—present

Ananich—present                                Huizenga—present                           Runestad—present

Barrett—present                                  Irwin—present                                 Santana—present

Bayer—present                                    Johnson—present                             Schmidt—present

Bizon—present                                    LaSata—present                              Shirkey—excused

Brinks—present                                   Lauwers—present                            Stamas—present

Bullock—present                                 MacDonald—present                       Theis—present

Bumstead—present                              McBroom—excused                        VanderWall—present

Chang—present                                   McCann—present                            Victory—present

Daley—present                                    McMorrow—present                        Wojno—present

Geiss—present                                    Moss—present                                 Wozniak—present

Hertel—present                                   Nesbitt—excused                             Zorn—present

Hollier—present                                  Outman—present                            


 

Senator Dan Lauwers of the 25th District offered the following invocation:

Heavenly Father, thank You for this day. May we live it well. Hear our prayers for the people of Ukraine. Help us all in our discernment of what is best, what is right, and what is Your will. Bless all who work here and their families. Keep us safe and give us the humility of spirit to turn our anxieties over to You. Amen.

 

The Assistant President pro tempore, Senator Theis, led the members of the Senate in recital of the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

 

Motions and Communications

 

 

Senators Schmidt and Alexander entered the Senate Chamber.

 

Senator Lauwers moved that Senator Johnson be temporarily excused from today’s session.

The motion prevailed.

 

Senator Lauwers moved that Senators McBroom, Nesbitt and Shirkey be excused from today’s session.

The motion prevailed.

 

Senator Chang moved that Senators Bullock, Geiss and Hertel be temporarily excused from today’s session.

The motion prevailed.

 

Senator Johnson entered the Senate Chamber.

 

 

The following communication was received and read:

Office of the Auditor General

February 18, 2022

Enclosed is a copy of the following reports:

•    Report on Internal Control, Compliance, and Other Matters of the Michigan Judges’ Retirement System (071-0153-22).

•    Report on Internal Control, Compliance, and Other Matters of the Michigan Military Retirement Provisions (071-0158-22).

                                                                                       Sincerely,

                                                                                       Doug Ringler

                                                                                       Auditor General

The audit reports were referred to the Committee on Oversight.

 

 

The following communications were received:

Joint Committee on Administrative Rules

Notices of Proposal That a Rule Be Changed

February 23, 2022

As provided in MCL 24.245a(1)(b), the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules is, by a concurrent majority vote, proposing that the following rule set be changed:

JCAR No. 21-72

MOAHR No. 2021-60ST

Department of State,

Bureau of Elections & Campaign Finance

Specifically, the Committee respectfully proposes that the Secretary of State consider changing R 168.2 and R 168.3 in the following ways and for the following reasons:

1.  R 168.2(2) requires a candidate to disclose every Michigan jurisdiction where the candidate sought elected office. The Secretary should strike this provision. First, this isn’t a requirement under Michigan’s election law. Second, there is no central or easily searchable database with such filing information; thus, verifying it would unreasonably burden filing officials. Third, the rule says that failing to comply won’t disqualify a candidate, so there appears to be no purpose to the rule.

2.  R 168.2(3) requires a filing official to verify the affidavit using state and county records. The Secretary should change this rule to require a filing official to review only state campaign finance records. First, many counties may not have these records. And even if they do have records, many will not be easily accessible, meaning filing officials may not have sufficient time to meet these requirements if a candidate files at the last minute.

3.  R 168.2(4) requires a filing official to disqualify a candidate for false statements on an affidavit of identity but does not allow the candidate to cure. The Secretary should change this provision. First, this is an excessively strict disqualification requirement that could disqualify otherwise qualified candidates for simple, benign mistakes. Second, MCL 168.558 already establishes fines and criminal penalties for false averments, so this extra punishment is unnecessary. Candidates should be allowed to cure an incorrect affidavit before the filing deadline.

4.  R 168.3(1) requires certain information on the affidavit of identity. The Secretary should strike this provision. It nearly duplicates Michigan election law but has just enough changes to create confusion. It should either mirror the law or be stricken.

5.  R 168.3(3) should be changed for the same reasons articulated for R 168.2(4).

Under MCL 24.245c, if the Committee suggests that a proposed rule be changed, the agency shall, within 30 days, do one of the following:

(a) Decide to change the rule and, within the 30 days, resubmit the changed rule to the committee. If the agency decides to change the rule, the agency shall withdraw the rule, which is treated as a withdrawal with permission under MCL 24.245a(10), and follow the procedures in MCL 24.245c(2)–(5).

(b) Decide to not change the rule. If the agency decides to not change the rule, the agency shall within the 30-day period notify the Committee of the decision and the reasons for the decision and file the notice with the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules. After the notice is filed, the Committee has 15 session days in which to consider the agency’s decision and take 1 of the actions listed in MCL 24.245a(1).

These proposed changes are offered for the purpose of facilitating deliberation between the Secretary and the Legislature regarding this rule set and should not be construed as waiving any bases for filing a notice objection under MCL 24.245a(2).

 

February 23, 2022

As provided in MCL 24.245a(1)(b), the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules is, by a concurrent majority vote, proposing that the following rule set be changed:

JCAR No. 21-73

MOAHR No. 2021-61ST

Department of State,

Bureau of Elections & Campaign Finance

Specifically, the Committee respectfully proposes that the Secretary of State consider changing R 168.2 and R 168.3 in the following ways and for the following reasons:

1.  R 168.21(1)(d) expands the definition of “signature on file” to include an absent-voter-application signature that agrees sufficiently with the QVF or the mastercard. The Secretary should change this rule. MCL 168.766 requires a board of election inspectors to search the QVF for a digital signature. Only if the QVF lacks a digital signature may the board then use the mastercard signature. This rule contradicts MCL 168.766 by treating the QVF signature and mastercard signature as interchangeable. The Secretary should change this definition to say that a signature on file is limited to the QVF digital signature and that a mastercard signature be considered a signature on file only when a QVF digital signature is missing.

2.  R 168.22(1) creates a presumption that a signature is valid. The Secretary should strike this presumption. Michigan election law (e.g., MCL 168.766) nowhere creates a presumption of validity or invalidity. Rather, MCL 168.761 and 168.766 require the clerks to use available information to determine the validity of every signature. The rule should not put a thumb on the scale but should mirror the statute and allow a clerk and a board of election inspectors to weigh each signature on its own merits.

3.  R 168.22(3) says that when an election official has “genuine concerns” about a signature’s validity, they “may contact the voter to address those concerns.” The Secretary should amend this provision. First, the phrase “genuine concerns” is vague and confusing in this context. Second, an election official should be required to contact an individual if they have concerns about a signature. By using may, this provision appears to say that even if an election official has genuine concerns about a signature, they need not contact a voter. Finally, the second to last sentence says that voter contact made under this provision does not count as notification for purposes of R 168.25. This seems inefficient and inexplicable and should be changed.

4.  R 168.23(2) provides several “redeeming qualities” election officials must consider when determining a signature’s validity. The Secretary should amend this provision. First, this list is overly broad. Second, many of the listed “redeeming qualities” are vague and confusing. For example, it is not clear at all what the “redeeming quality” “more matching features than nonmatching features” means. Third, that this list is noncomprehensive means an election official could create and apply a much more expansive list of redeeming qualities. Given that the rule allows such customization, it seems likely that it will be disparately applied. Election officials should instead be given a list of objective signature features to compare—e.g., whether capital letters match; similarity in drop-down letters (e.g., g or p); how the letter i is dotted and how t is crossed; how open round letters like o are, etc.

5.  R 168.24(1) requires election officials to consider five possibilities as explanations of signature differences. The Secretary should amend this rule. First, like R 168.23(2), these five factors are vague and ambiguous. Second, some seem unlikely—e.g., the idea that a voter would rearrange their first and last name. Third, they require elections officials to speculate about the circumstances of the signature and mind of the voter (e.g., the voter was old or in a hurry). Finally, subsection (2) says that the elections official may consider “any other plausible reason given by the voter” to explain why the signatures do not match. This ultra-flexible standard could be easily abused. It would be simpler and far more secure to require an elections official to obtain a new signature from the voter whenever possible and allow consideration of explanations only when a clean signature is not available.

6.  R 168.25(1) requires the clerk to notify a voter of a signature problem by the end of the calendar day following the receipt of the application or ballot envelope; and R 168.25(2) says that starting five days before the election, the clerk must notify the voter that same calendar day. The Secretary should amend these requirements. They appear to conflict with MCL 168.761(2), which requires a clerk to notify a voter of a signature problem either within 48 hours after receiving the application or by 8:00 p.m. on election night—whichever comes first.

7.  R 168.25(8) (emphasis added) requires a clerk to contact a voter whose application or ballot is rejected by “phone and email, and, in the absence of the voter’s email address, by United States mail.” The Secretary should either amend or strike this language. It contradicts MCL 168.761(2) (emphasis added), which says a clerk must notify a voter of his application or ballot envelope “rejection by mail, telephone, or electronic mail.” The statute gives a clerk discretion to contact a voter in whichever of three ways she chooses. But the rule demands that the clerk contact the voter in at least two ways. The rule should mirror the statute or be deleted.

8.  R 168.26(1)(b) allows the curing of a signature deficiency by using a “cure form.” The Secretary should amend this provision. Michigan election law mentions no “cure form,” nor do the rules describe what this form would or should look like. At the very least, the Secretary should provide an example so clerks know what information should be included.

9.  R 168.26(3) allows an election official to provide an application or ballot envelope to the voter so the voter can fix the signature. The Secretary should clarify that this rule does not allow a clerk to place a received ballot envelope back into the mail system. The rule should make it clear that signature curing must take place in the clerk’s presence—either at the clerk’s office or at the voter’s residence.

Under MCL 24.245c, if the Committee suggests that a proposed rule be changed, the agency shall, within 30 days, do one of the following:

(a) Decide to change the rule and, within the 30 days, resubmit the changed rule to the committee. If the agency decides to change the rule, the agency shall withdraw the rule, which is treated as a withdrawal with permission under MCL 24.245a(10), and follow the procedures in MCL 24.245c(2)–(5).

(b) Decide to not change the rule. If the agency decides to not change the rule, the agency shall within the 30-day period notify the Committee of the decision and the reasons for the decision and file the notice with the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules. After the notice is filed, the Committee has 15 session days in which to consider the agency’s decision and take 1 of the actions listed in MCL 24.245a(1).

These proposed changes are offered to facilitate substantive dialogue between the Secretary and the Legislature and should not be construed as waiving any of JCAR’s other statutory rights or powers.

 

February 23, 2022

As provided in MCL 24.245a(1)(b), the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules is, by a concurrent majority vote, proposing that the following rule set be changed:

JCAR No. 21-74

MOAHR No. 2021-62ST

Department of State,

Bureau of Elections & Campaign Finance

Specifically, the Committee respectfully proposes that the Secretary of State consider changing R 168.31 and R 168.32 in the following ways and for the following reasons:

1.  The rule should be changed to permit only an online request for an absentee ballot application. Under that rule, an elector could satisfy the statutory physical signature requirement while also taking advantage of the convenience of filling out an online form. The elector could then print and sign the request form and then scan or mail it to the clerk for processing.

If the rules are not withdrawn or changed to allow a voter to only request an absentee ballot application, they should still be amended in the following ways:

2.  R 168.31(1)(e) defines “stored digital signature” to mean the image kept in the motor vehicle database. However, the law does not require that stored digital signature to be regularly updated. This means that an outdated digital signature could be used on an online absent voter application ballot. The Secretary should change this definition to include the most recent signature on file in either the motor vehicle database or the mastercard.

3.  R 168.33(4) allows an individual without a digital signature on file to request an absentee ballot by simply uploading a picture of their physical signature. The Secretary should strike this provision. There is no statutory authority for such a rule, nor is there a quality control mechanism or requirement that the uploaded picture signature be sufficiently clear. Nor are there other verification requirements. The rule should ensure clear, legible signatures and protect against fraudulent ones.

Under MCL 24.245c, if the Committee suggests that a proposed rule be changed, the agency shall, within 30 days, do one of the following:

(a) Decide to change the rule and, within the 30 days, resubmit the changed rule to the committee. If the agency decides to change the rule, the agency shall withdraw the rule, which is treated as a withdrawal with permission under MCL 24.245a(10), and follow the procedures in MCL 24.245c(2)–(5).

(b) Decide to not change the rule. If the agency decides to not change the rule, the agency shall within the 30-day period notify the Committee of the decision and the reasons for the decision and file the notice with the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules. After the notice is filed, the Committee has 15 session days in which to consider the agency’s decision and take 1 of the actions listed in MCL 24.245a(1).

These proposed changes are offered to facilitate substantive dialogue between the Secretary and the Legislature and should not be construed as waiving any of JCAR’s other statutory rights or powers.

     Sincerely,

     Senator Jon Bumstead                                                  Representative Luke Meerman

     Chair                                                                          Alternate Chair

The communications were referred to the Secretary for record.

 

 

COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE REPORT

 

The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules submitted the following:

Meeting held on Wednesday, February 23, 2022, at 9:00 a.m., Room 1100, Binsfeld Office Building

Present: Senators Bumstead (C), McBroom, Theis, Hollier and Irwin

 

 

The following communication was received:

Office of Senator Sylvia Santana

February 23, 2022

Please add my name as co-sponsor of Senate Bills 550, 551, 552 and 553. Please feel free to contact my office at senssantana@senate.michigan.gov or 517-373-0990, if you have any questions. I appreciate your attention in this matter.

                                                                                       Respectfully,

                                                                                       Sylvia A. Santana

                                                                                       State Senator

                                                                                       District 3

The communication was referred to the Secretary for record.

 

 

The following communication was received:

Office of Senator Paul Wojno

February 23, 2022

Per Senate Rule 1.110(c), I am requesting that my name be added as a co-sponsor to Senate Bills 783 and 784 which were introduced on December 8, 2021 by Senator Jon Bumstead.

                                                                                       Warmest regards,

                                                                                       Paul Wojno

                                                                                       State Senator

                                                                                       9th District

The communication was referred to the Secretary for record.

 

Senators Hertel, Bullock and Geiss entered the Senate Chamber.

By unanimous consent the Senate proceeded to the order of

Introduction and Referral of Bills

 

 

Senators Geiss, Alexander, Hollier, Hertel, Bayer, Chang, Moss, Bullock, McMorrow, Polehanki, Brinks, Wojno and McCann introduced

Senate Joint Resolution M, entitled

A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the state constitution of 1963, by amending section 5 of article XI, to require that certain labor disputes be submitted to binding arbitration.

The joint resolution was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Senators Ananich, Shirkey, Hollier, Bullock, Wojno, Geiss and Horn introduced

Senate Bill No. 888, entitled

A bill to create the blockchain and cryptocurrency commission and prescribe its powers and duties; and to provide for the powers and duties of certain state and local governmental officers and entities.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Economic and Small Business Development.

 

 

Senators Brinks, McMorrow, Polehanki, Bayer, Geiss, Chang, Bullock, Wojno, Ananich, Moss and Irwin introduced

Senate Bill No. 889, entitled

An act to provide for a cost and affordability review of certain prescription drug products; to create the prescription drug pricing board and prescription drug affordability stakeholder council and to prescribe their powers and duties; to provide for the powers and duties of certain state governmental officers and entities; to establish upper payment limits for certain prescription drug products and provide remedies; and to provide for the promulgation of rules.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Health Policy and Human Services.

 

 

Senators Polehanki, McMorrow, Brinks, Bayer, Geiss, Chang, Bullock, Wojno, Ananich, Moss and Irwin introduced

Senate Bill No. 890, entitled

A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled “Public health code,” by amending sections 16315, 16319, and 16333 (MCL 333.16315, 333.16319, and 333.16333), section 16315 as amended by 2020 PA 169, section 16319 as added by 1993 PA 138, and section 16333 as amended by 2020 PA 142.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Health Policy and Human Services.

 

 

Senators Bullock, Brinks, McMorrow, Polehanki, Bayer, Geiss, Chang, Wojno, Ananich, Moss and Irwin introduced

Senate Bill No. 891, entitled

A bill to amend 1956 PA 218, entitled “The insurance code of 1956,” (MCL 500.100 to 500.8302) by adding section 3406x.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Health Policy and Human Services.

 

 

Senators McMorrow, Brinks, Polehanki, Bayer, Geiss, Chang, Bullock, Wojno, Ananich, Moss and Irwin introduced

Senate Bill No. 892, entitled

A bill to amend 1939 PA 280, entitled “The social welfare act,” (MCL 400.1 to 400.119b) by adding section 109o.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Health Policy and Human Services.

Senators Chang, Alexander, Hollier, Hertel, Geiss, Bayer, Moss, Bullock, McMorrow, Polehanki, Brinks, Wojno, Irwin and McCann introduced

Senate Bill No. 893, entitled

A bill to prohibit employers from making employment decisions based on certain physical characteristics, appearance, or fitness; to prohibit retaliation; and to provide remedies.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Senators Geiss, Alexander, Hollier, Hertel, Bayer, Moss, Chang, Bullock, McMorrow, Polehanki, Brinks, Wojno, Irwin and McCann introduced

Senate Bill No. 894, entitled

A bill to amend 1947 PA 336, entitled “An act to prohibit strikes by certain public employees; to provide review from disciplinary action with respect thereto; to provide for the mediation of grievances and the holding of elections; to declare and protect the rights and privileges of public employees; to require certain provisions in collective bargaining agreements; to prescribe means of enforcement and penalties for the violation of the provisions of this act; and to make appropriations,” by amending section 15 (MCL 423.215), as amended by 2014 PA 414.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Senators Geiss, Alexander, Hollier, Hertel, Bayer, Moss, Chang, Bullock, McMorrow, Polehanki, Brinks, Wojno, Irwin and McCann introduced

Senate Bill No. 895, entitled

A bill to amend 2018 PA 337, entitled “Improved workforce opportunity wage act,” by amending section 7 (MCL 408.937).

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Senators Geiss, Alexander, Hollier, Hertel, Bayer, Moss, Chang, Bullock, McMorrow, Polehanki, Brinks, Wojno, Irwin and McCann introduced

Senate Bill No. 896, entitled

A bill to amend 1939 PA 176, entitled “An act to create a commission relative to labor disputes, and to prescribe its powers and duties; to provide for the mediation and arbitration of labor disputes, and the holding of elections thereon; to regulate the conduct of parties to labor disputes and to require the parties to follow certain procedures; to regulate and limit the right to strike and picket; to protect the rights and privileges of employees, including the right to organize and engage in lawful concerted activities; to protect the rights and privileges of employers; to make certain acts unlawful; to make appropriations; and to prescribe means of enforcement and penalties for violations of this act,” (MCL 423.1 to 423.30) by adding section 29a.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Senators Hertel, Alexander, Hollier, Geiss, Moss, Bayer, Chang, Bullock, McMorrow, Polehanki, Irwin, Brinks, Wojno and McCann introduced

Senate Bill No. 897, entitled

A bill to amend 1939 PA 176, entitled “An act to create a commission relative to labor disputes, and to prescribe its powers and duties; to provide for the mediation and arbitration of labor disputes, and the holding of elections thereon; to regulate the conduct of parties to labor disputes and to require the parties to follow certain procedures; to regulate and limit the right to strike and picket; to protect the rights and privileges of employees, including the right to organize and engage in lawful concerted activities; to protect the rights and privileges of employers; to make certain acts unlawful; to make appropriations; and to prescribe means of enforcement and penalties for violations of this act,” by amending section 23 (MCL 423.23) and by adding section 18.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Senators Hollier, Alexander, Hertel, Geiss, Moss, Bayer, Chang, Bullock, McMorrow, Polehanki, Brinks, Wojno, Irwin and McCann introduced

Senate Bill No. 898, entitled

A bill to amend 1947 PA 336, entitled “An act to prohibit strikes by certain public employees; to provide review from disciplinary action with respect thereto; to provide for the mediation of grievances and the holding of elections; to declare and protect the rights and privileges of public employees; to require certain provisions in collective bargaining agreements; to prescribe means of enforcement and penalties for the violation of the provisions of this act; and to make appropriations,” by amending section 10 (MCL 423.210), as amended by 2014 PA 414.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Senators Hollier, Alexander, Hertel, Geiss, Moss, Bayer, Chang, Bullock, McMorrow, Polehanki, Brinks, Wojno, Irwin and McCann introduced

Senate Bill No. 899, entitled

A bill to amend 1947 PA 336, entitled “An act to prohibit strikes by certain public employees; to provide review from disciplinary action with respect thereto; to provide for the mediation of grievances and the holding of elections; to declare and protect the rights and privileges of public employees; to require certain provisions in collective bargaining agreements; to prescribe means of enforcement and penalties for the violation of the provisions of this act; and to make appropriations,” (MCL 423.201 to 423.217) by adding section 11a.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Senators Hollier, Alexander, Hertel, Moss, Geiss, Bayer, Chang, Bullock, McMorrow, Polehanki, Brinks, Wojno, Irwin and McCann introduced

Senate Bill No. 900, entitled

A bill to amend 1939 PA 176, entitled “An act to create a commission relative to labor disputes, and to prescribe its powers and duties; to provide for the mediation and arbitration of labor disputes, and the holding of elections thereon; to regulate the conduct of parties to labor disputes and to require the parties to follow certain procedures; to regulate and limit the right to strike and picket; to protect the rights and privileges of employees, including the right to organize and engage in lawful concerted activities; to protect the rights and privileges of employers; to make certain acts unlawful; to make appropriations; and to prescribe means of enforcement and penalties for violations of this act,” (MCL 423.1 to 423.30) by adding section 8a.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Senators Bayer, Alexander, Hollier, Hertel, Geiss, Chang, Bullock, Moss, Brinks, McMorrow, Wojno, Polehanki, Irwin and McCann introduced

Senate Bill No. 901, entitled

A bill to amend 1947 PA 336, entitled “An act to prohibit strikes by certain public employees; to provide review from disciplinary action with respect thereto; to provide for the mediation of grievances and the holding of elections; to declare and protect the rights and privileges of public employees; to require certain provisions in collective bargaining agreements; to prescribe means of enforcement and penalties for the violation of the provisions of this act; and to make appropriations,” by amending section 15 (MCL 423.215), as amended by 2014 PA 414.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Senators Alexander, Hollier, Hertel, Geiss, Bayer, Chang, Bullock, Moss, Brinks, McMorrow, Wojno, Polehanki, Irwin and McCann introduced

Senate Bill No. 902, entitled

A bill to prohibit employers from making employment decisions based on certain factors that are unrelated to employment; to prohibit certain inquiries; to prohibit retaliation; and to provide remedies.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Senators Bayer, Alexander, Hollier, Hertel, Geiss, Chang, Bullock, Moss, McMorrow, Polehanki, Wojno, Brinks, Irwin and McCann introduced

Senate Bill No. 903, entitled

A bill to amend 1947 PA 336, entitled “An act to prohibit strikes by certain public employees; to provide review from disciplinary action with respect thereto; to provide for the mediation of grievances and the holding of elections; to declare and protect the rights and privileges of public employees; to require certain provisions in collective bargaining agreements; to prescribe means of enforcement and penalties for the violation of the provisions of this act; and to make appropriations,” by amending section 1 (MCL 423.201), as amended by 2014 PA 414.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Senators Bayer, Alexander, Hollier, Hertel, Geiss, Chang, Bullock, Moss, McMorrow, Polehanki, Wojno, Brinks, Irwin and McCann introduced

Senate Bill No. 904, entitled

A bill to prohibit employers from wrongfully discharging employees; to provide for the powers and duties of certain state and local governmental officers and entities; and to provide remedies.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Senators Brinks, Alexander, Hollier, Hertel, Geiss, Bayer, Chang, Bullock, Moss, McMorrow, Polehanki, Wojno, Irwin and McCann introduced

Senate Bill No. 905, entitled

A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled “Public health code,” (MCL 333.1101 to 333.25211) by adding section 20176b.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Senators McCann, Hollier, Alexander, Hertel, Bayer, Moss, Geiss, Chang, McMorrow, Polehanki, Bullock, Brinks and Wojno introduced

Senate Bill No. 906, entitled

A bill to amend 1986 PA 182, entitled “State police retirement act of 1986,” by amending section 4 (MCL 38.1604), as amended by 2018 PA 674, and by adding section 24c.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Senators Irwin, Alexander, Hollier, Hertel, Bayer, Moss, Geiss, Chang, McMorrow, Polehanki, Bullock, Brinks, Wojno and McCann introduced

Senate Bill No. 907, entitled

A bill to establish the right of an employee to pursue employment free from religious and political indoctrination; to limit employment actions based on attendance at, or receptivity to, employer-selected religious or political programs or communications; to prohibit retaliation for reporting or pursuing a remedy for a suspected violation of this act; and to provide remedies.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Senators Bullock, Alexander, Hollier, Hertel, Geiss, Bayer, Chang, Moss, McMorrow, Polehanki, Brinks, Wojno, Irwin and McCann introduced

Senate Bill No. 908, entitled

A bill to prohibit employers from making employment decisions based on certain conduct that is unrelated to employment; and to provide remedies.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Senators Chang, Hollier, Alexander, Hertel, Geiss, Bayer, Moss, Bullock, McMorrow, Polehanki, Brinks, Wojno, Irwin and McCann introduced

Senate Bill No. 909, entitled

A bill to amend 1947 PA 336, entitled “An act to prohibit strikes by certain public employees; to provide review from disciplinary action with respect thereto; to provide for the mediation of grievances and the holding of elections; to declare and protect the rights and privileges of public employees; to require certain provisions in collective bargaining agreements; to prescribe means of enforcement and penalties for the violation of the provisions of this act; and to make appropriations,” by amending section 15 (MCL 423.215), as amended by 2014 PA 414.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

Senators McCann, Hollier, Alexander, Hertel, Bayer, Moss, Geiss, Chang, McMorrow, Polehanki, Bullock, Brinks, Wojno and Irwin introduced

Senate Bill No. 910, entitled

A bill to amend 1939 PA 176, entitled “An act to create a commission relative to labor disputes, and to prescribe its powers and duties; to provide for the mediation and arbitration of labor disputes, and the holding of elections thereon; to regulate the conduct of parties to labor disputes and to require the parties to follow certain procedures; to regulate and limit the right to strike and picket; to protect the rights and privileges of employees, including the right to organize and engage in lawful concerted activities; to protect the rights and privileges of employers; to make certain acts unlawful; to make appropriations; and to prescribe means of enforcement and penalties for violations of this act,” by amending section 16 (MCL 423.16).

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Senators McCann, Hollier, Alexander, Hertel, Bayer, Moss, Geiss, Chang, McMorrow, Polehanki, Bullock, Brinks and Wojno introduced

Senate Bill No. 911, entitled

A bill to amend 1943 PA 240, entitled “State employees’ retirement act,” by amending section 55 (MCL 38.55), as amended by 2011 PA 264, and by adding sections 50b and 64a.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Senators Wojno, Alexander, Hollier, Moss, Hertel, Bayer, McMorrow, Polehanki, Geiss, Chang, Brinks, Bullock, Irwin and McCann introduced

Senate Bill No. 912, entitled

A bill to prohibit certain employers from monitoring employee communications unless the employer establishes an employee monitoring policy and discloses that policy to employees; and to provide certain civil remedies.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Senators Wojno, Hollier, Alexander, Hertel, Moss, Bayer, McMorrow, Polehanki, Geiss, Chang, Brinks, Bullock, Irwin and McCann introduced

Senate Bill No. 913, entitled

A bill to prohibit employers from making certain recruiting or hiring decisions based on an individual’s credit history; to prohibit employers from making certain inquiries; to prohibit certain waivers; to prohibit retaliation; and to provide remedies.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Senators Alexander, Hollier, Hertel, Moss, Bayer, McMorrow, Geiss, Polehanki, Chang, Brinks, Bullock, Wojno and McCann introduced

Senate Bill No. 914, entitled

A bill to amend 1969 PA 312, entitled “An act to provide for compulsory arbitration of labor disputes in municipal police and fire departments; to define such public departments; to provide for the selection of members of arbitration panels; to prescribe the procedures and authority thereof; and to provide for the enforcement and review of awards thereof,” by amending the title and sections 1 and 2 (MCL 423.231 and 423.232), section 2 as amended by 2011 PA 116, and by adding section 15.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Senators Polehanki, Hollier, Alexander, Hertel, Moss, Bayer, McMorrow, Geiss, Chang, Brinks, Bullock, Wojno, Irwin and McCann introduced

Senate Bill No. 915, entitled

A bill to amend 1937 (Ex Sess) PA 4, entitled “An act relative to continuing tenure of office of certificated teachers in public educational institutions; to provide for probationary periods; to regulate discharges or demotions; to provide for resignations and leaves of absence; to create a state tenure commission and to prescribe the powers and duties thereof; and to prescribe penalties for violation of the provisions of this act,” by amending section 1 of article IV (MCL 38.101), as amended by 2011 PA 100.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

Senators Polehanki, Hollier, Alexander, Hertel, Moss, Bayer, Geiss, McMorrow, Chang, Brinks, Bullock, Wojno, Irwin and McCann introduced

Senate Bill No. 916, entitled

A bill to amend 1947 PA 336, entitled “An act to prohibit strikes by certain public employees; to provide review from disciplinary action with respect thereto; to provide for the mediation of grievances and the holding of elections; to declare and protect the rights and privileges of public employees; to require certain provisions in collective bargaining agreements; to prescribe means of enforcement and penalties for the violation of the provisions of this act; and to make appropriations,” (MCL 423.201 to 423.217) by adding section 8.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Senators Moss, Alexander, Hollier, Hertel, Bayer, Geiss, McMorrow, Polehanki, Chang, Brinks, Bullock, Wojno, Irwin and McCann introduced

Senate Bill No. 917, entitled

A bill to amend 1969 PA 317, entitled “Worker’s disability compensation act of 1969,” (MCL 418.101 to 418.941) by adding section 303.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Senators Moss, Hollier, Alexander, Hertel, Bayer, Geiss, McMorrow, Polehanki, Chang, Bullock, Brinks, Wojno, Irwin and McCann introduced

Senate Bill No. 918, entitled

A bill to create the school and local government financing commission and prescribe its powers and duties; to provide for the powers and duties of certain state and local governmental officers and entities; and to repeal acts and parts of acts.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Senators McMorrow, Hollier, Alexander, Hertel, Bayer, Moss, Geiss, Chang, Polehanki, Bullock, Brinks, Wojno and McCann introduced

Senate Bill No. 919, entitled

A bill to amend 1984 PA 270, entitled “Michigan strategic fund act,” (MCL 125.2001 to 125.2094) by adding section 15.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Senators McMorrow, Hollier, Alexander, Hertel, Bayer, Moss, Geiss, Chang, Polehanki, Bullock, Brinks, Wojno and McCann introduced

Senate Bill No. 920, entitled

A bill to create the call center jobs retention act; to provide for the powers and duties of certain state governmental officers and entities; to impose certain duties on certain employers; and to prescribe civil sanctions.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Senators McMorrow, Hollier, Alexander, Hertel, Bayer, Moss, Geiss, Chang, Polehanki, Bullock, Brinks, Wojno, Irwin and McCann introduced

Senate Bill No. 921, entitled

A bill to repeal 2011 PA 297, entitled “Public employee domestic partner benefit restriction act,” (MCL 15.581 to 15.585).

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Senators McCann, Hollier, Alexander, Hertel, Bayer, Moss, Geiss, Chang, McMorrow, Polehanki, Bullock, Brinks, Wojno and Irwin introduced

Senate Bill No. 922, entitled

A bill to amend 1979 PA 94, entitled “The state school aid act of 1979,” by amending section 164h (MCL 388.1764h), as amended by 2018 PA 265.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

Senator Hertel introduced

Senate Bill No. 923, entitled

A bill to make appropriations for various state departments and agencies; the judicial branch, and the legislative branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023; to provide anticipated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024; to provide for certain conditions on appropriations; to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

 

 

Senator Bayer introduced

Senate Bill No. 924, entitled

A bill to amend 1979 PA 94, entitled The state school aid act of 1979, by amending sections 3, 6, 6a, 11, 11a, 11j, 11k, 11m, 11s, 15, 18, 20, 20d, 20f, 20m, 21f, 21h, 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22m, 22p, 24, 24a, 25f, 25g, 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d, 28, 31a, 31d, 31f, 31j, 31n, 31o, 31p, 32d, 32p, 35a, 39, 39a, 41, 51a, 51c, 51d, 51f, 51g, 53a, 54, 54b, 54d, 56, 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d, 62, 65, 67, 74, 81, 94, 94a, 97, 98, 99h, 99s, 104, 104h, 107, 147, 147a, 147c, 147e, 152a, 201, 201e, 206, 207a, 207b, 207c, 209, 209a, 229a, 230, 236, 236b, 236c, 236i, 241, 245, 245a, 251, 252, 256, 259, 260, 263, 264, 265, 265a, 265b, 267, 268, 269, 270c, 275h, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, and 282 (MCL 388.1603, 388.1606, 388.1606a, 388.1611, 388.1611a, 388.1611j, 388.1611k, 388.1611m, 388.1611s, 388.1615, 388.1618, 388.1620, 388.1620d, 388.1620f, 388.1620m, 388.1621f, 388.1621h, 388.1622a, 388.1622b, 388.1622c, 388.1622d, 388.1622m, 388.1622p, 388.1624, 388.1624a, 388.1625f, 388.1625g, 388.1626a, 388.1626b, 388.1626c, 388.1626d, 388.1628, 388.1631a, 388.1631d, 388.1631f, 388.1631j, 388.1631n, 388.1631o, 388.1631p, 388.1632d, 388.1632p, 388.1635a, 388.1639, 388.1639a, 388.1641, 388.1651a, 388.1651c, 388.1651d, 388.1651f, 388.1651g, 388.1653a, 388.1654, 388.1654b, 388.1654d, 388.1656, 388.1661a, 388.1661b, 388.1661c, 388.1661d, 388.1662, 388.1665, 388.1667, 388.1674, 388.1681, 388.1694, 388.1694a, 388.1697, 388.1698, 388.1699h, 388.1699s, 388.1704, 388.1704h, 388.1707, 388.1747, 388.1747a, 388.1747c, 388.1747e, 388.1752a, 388.1801, 388.1801e, 388.1806, 388.1807a, 388.1807b, 388.1807c, 388.1809, 388.1809a, 388.1829a, 388.1830, 388.1836, 388.1836b, 388.1836c, 388.1836i, 388.1841, 388.1845, 388.1845a, 388.1851, 388.1852, 388.1856, 388.1859, 388.1860, 388.1863, 388.1864, 388.1865, 388.1865a, 388.1865b, 388.1867, 388.1868, 388.1869, 388.1870c, 388.1875h, 388.1876, 388.1877, 388.1878, 388.1879, 388.1880, 388.1881, 388.1882), sections 3 as amended by 2020 PA 165, sections 6, 6a, 11, 11a, 11j, 11k, 11m, 11s, 15, 18, 20, 20d, 20f, 21f, 21h, 22a, 22b, 22d, 22m, 22p, 24, 24a, 25f, 25g, 26a, 26b, 26c, 28, 31a, 31d, 31f, 31j, 31n, 32d, 32p, 35a, 39, 39a, 41, 51a, 51c, 51d, 51f, 53a, 54, 54b, 54d, 56, 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d, 62, 65, 67, 74, 81, 94, 94a, 98, 99h, 99s, 104, 107, 147, 147a, 147c, 147e, and 152a as amended and sections 20m, 22c, 26d, 31o, 31p, 51g, 97, and 104h as added by 2021 PA 48, sections 201, 206, 207a, 207b, 207c, 209, 209a, 229a, 230, 236, 236b, 236c, 241, 245, 245a, 256, 259, 260, 263, 264, 265, 265b, 267, 268, 269, 270c, 275h, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, and 282 as amended and 201e and 236i as added by 2021 PA 86, sections 251 and 252 as amended by 2019 PA 162, and section 265a as amended by 2019 PA 62, and by adding sections 11y, 27a, 27d, 32n, 32s, 97b, 226e, and 236k; and to repeal acts and parts of acts.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

 

 

Senator Bizon introduced

Senate Bill No. 925, entitled

A bill to establish a learning loss recovery grant program; to establish a learning loss recovery fund; to provide for certain grants; to prescribe conditions for the use of grant funds; to prescribe for the use of money in the learning loss recovery fund; to provide for the administration of the learning loss recovery grant program; to provide for the administration of the learning loss recovery fund; to prescribe certain powers and duties of certain state officers, agencies, and departments; and to make appropriations to the learning loss recovery fund.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Education and Career Readiness.

 

 

House Bill No. 5637, entitled

A bill to amend 2014 PA 345, entitled “Right to try act,” by amending section 1 (MCL 333.26451).

The House of Representatives has passed the bill and ordered that it be given immediate effect.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Health Policy and Human Services.

House Bill No. 5686, entitled

A bill to amend 1979 PA 94, entitled “The state school aid act of 1979,” by amending section 18 (MCL 388.1618), as amended by 2021 PA 48.

The House of Representatives has passed the bill and ordered that it be given immediate effect.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Education and Career Readiness.

 

By unanimous consent the Senate returned to the order of

Messages from the House

 

 

Senate Bill No. 129, entitled

A bill to amend 1897 PA 230, entitled “An act to provide for the formation of corporations for the purpose of owning, maintaining and improving lands and other property kept for the purposes of summer resorts or for ornament, recreation or amusement, and to repeal all laws or parts of laws in conflict herewith; and to impose certain duties on the department of commerce,” by amending the title and sections 3, 9, 10, and 23 (MCL 455.3, 455.9, 455.10, and 455.23), the title and section 3 as amended by 1982 PA 117.

The House of Representatives has passed the bill and ordered that it be given immediate effect.

The bill was referred to the Secretary for enrollment printing and presentation to the Governor.

 

By unanimous consent the Senate proceeded to the order of

General Orders

 

 

Senator Lauwers moved that the Senate resolve itself into the Committee of the Whole for consideration of the General Orders calendar.

The motion prevailed, and the Assistant President pro tempore, Senator Theis, designated Senator Bizon as Chairperson.

After some time spent therein, the Committee arose; and the Assistant President pro tempore, Senator Theis, having resumed the Chair, the Committee reported back to the Senate, favorably and with a substitute therefor, the following bill:

House Bill No. 4833, entitled

A bill to levy and collect a specific tax upon the rental of certain heavy equipment rental personal property; to provide for the disposition of that specific tax; to provide for the powers and duties of certain state and local governmental officers and entities; and to provide penalties.

Substitute (S-2).

The Senate agreed to the substitute recommended by the Committee of the Whole, and the bill as substituted was placed on the order of Third Reading of Bills.

 

 

The Committee of the Whole reported back to the Senate, favorably and with a substitute therefor, the following bill:

House Bill No. 4834, entitled

A bill to amend 1893 PA 206, entitled “The general property tax act,” (MCL 211.1 to 211.155) by adding section 9p.

Substitute (S-2).

The Senate agreed to the substitute recommended by the Committee of the Whole, and the bill as substituted was placed on the order of Third Reading of Bills.

 

By unanimous consent the Senate proceeded to the order of

Statements

 

 

Senators Ananich, Hollier, McMorrow, Chang and Horn asked and were granted unanimous consent to make statements and moved that the statements be printed in the Journal.

The motion prevailed.

Senator Ananich’s statement is as follows:

All of us who have served in the House and Senate have at times had to present a special tribute recognizing the extraordinary service that all of our staff do for us. Recognizing the service of David Olds, I don’t know if I can do justice. He’s done a tremendous amount of public service for the state and a lot of important work for the Michigan Senate Democrats. And, one thing before I go too far into it, both our new colleagues and friends Doug and Mark won’t get the opportunity to see, the rest of us have seen it, whether it was a joint picture or the tremendous working relationship that Pattrick and David have and they take turns serving both caucuses, but I’m not going to—I’m going to remember forever and still laugh at every time a picture is taken, he takes the picture—everyone has seen this about a thousand times on our side, and many of you have too. I’m sorry for Mark and Doug not having that opportunity, but I hope I did it justice. I’m going to read some prepared remarks because his service to our caucus and state has been long and there’s no way I could remember it all.

Today we bid farewell to a Senate staffer who has spent more than four decades archiving the history of this chamber here with his camera in the people’s house. Photographer David Olds’ first memory of the Capitol is going with his father, Assistant Attorney General Nick Olds, to his office on the ground floor on Saturdays. While their dad was busy, Dave and his twin brother would race office chairs up and down the hallway until the inevitable crash. Years later, after completing his studies at Newport College of Art in Wales, Dave came back to the States and found work as the Republican photographer for the Michigan House, carrying on the family tradition of public service.

In 2003 you could say he saw the light and became the director of photography for the House Democrats, and in 2011 made an even better decision to join us here in the upper chamber. In his role with our team, Dave’s work is a critical part of communicating our work and connecting with the people of Michigan. He has captured many gubernatorial and presidential campaign events, including the 1980 Republican National Convention and a 1992 presidential debate. Dave’s service as a photographer in Michigan politics has allowed him to photograph every Governor since George Romney and every President since Richard Nixon.

As a photojournalist for United Press International—UPI—and the Lansing State Journal, he covered the 1984 Tigers World Series victory, the crash of Flight 255 in Detroit, scores of auto races—including the Indy 500—and countless rallies and protests on the Capitol steps. Of all the awards Dave has received for his photography, he is proudest of the Media Award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness for his photo essay about the plight of Michigan’s mentally ill population.

Dave is part of a family that has been in public service for more than seven decades that includes his father, mother, and brother-in-law. His oldest son Nicholas is carrying on the tradition as a web developer in the House Democratic caucus.

Dave is going to miss—and be missed by—his extended family in the Democratic communications office, but is looking forward to spending more time with Marcia, his wonderful wife of 41 years. We know he will also enjoy having more time to spend with his sons Rob and Nick, as well as his daughter-in-law Amber. Upon retirement, Dave plans to expand his archival photography service, spend more time in his workshop, and do more traveling with Marcia.

All of us here in this chamber know that at the end of the day it is our staff who make us look good, and literally no one does that better than Dave. We wish you a relaxing retirement and we hope you enjoy your well-deserved free time with your family and friends.

If the chamber could please join me in a robust thank you to David Olds for his and his family’s many years of service to the people of Michigan?

 

Senator Hollier’s statement is as follows:

Last night Russia invaded Ukraine. It was a war of choice and aggression. There is no justification for this aggression because Ukrainians want the same thing we do—to live in peace in an independent country. I had hoped as a nation that we were past this and it’s deeply frustrating and sad that it isn’t because as a soldier, this is what I train for—this is what I prepare for—and I have friends who have been thinking that maybe this was going to be the thing. In this moment we’re all trying to grapple with, is this enough? Is this where we go far enough? Is this worth starting a war? Make no mistake, Russia did and they’re in it. There are millions of people whose lives are dependent on the decisions we make and it’s not just militarily. It’s not just, Are we putting boots on the ground? It’s, What are we doing to support those folks? How are we letting them know that we care?

As we all learned in school, World War II was this kind of consistent action of them saying good people doing nothing. Today, I’d like to remind us that good people don’t do nothing when your neighbor’s house is on fire. They don’t do nothing when they see you on the side of the road. Good people step up and respond and there are lots of ways to do that. We have got to find one to do that. We’ve got to find ways to engage and support because we are likely going to see maybe five million people displaced—refugees—and you’d say, Well, what do we have to do? What is our role as a state? Michigan has always been a welcoming community. It has always been a state that took in people who were looking for a better opportunity and we have an opportunity to do that again. We have an opportunity to be a leader, to be a state that says people who are displaced in conflict can find a new home of opportunity here. So many of our families, so many of our neighbors, and so many of the people who have made Michigan and our community special came from somewhere else. They came from a place in conflict and decided that they were going to make a new life with new opportunity here. We see them every day. Many of our grandparents, and aunts and uncles, and cousins, and friends lives are fundamentally different because they had somebody in their family say, I’m leaving this thing and I’m coming here, and we were open to it. We’ve got to do the same because we live in a world where people still think it’s OK to invade their neighbor and to justify it, and to take away their homes, to take away their lives, and we don’t know what the next thing is going to be.

What we do know is that as a state we can say, We have space for you. We will be open to you when you come. I hope that in the next week and in the coming months, we make it abundantly clear that Michigan is going to be open to the survivors of this conflict and the many conflicts going on in Africa and the continued impacts and conflicts in Yemen. Those are places where we have a role, where we have a space, and as Michiganders and in this chamber we have an opportunity to change people’s lives.

 

Senator McMorrow’s statement is as follows:

I just wanted to touch on the reaction to the students who were here yesterday for March for Our Lives for those who didn’t get an opportunity to sit down with these kids. Kids from my community helped organize yesterday and it really moved me that immediately after the Oxford shooting, kids from my school district with no hesitation reached out to kids they don’t know, have never met, to wrap their arms around them and to organize and to help.

I just want to share one story that one of the students shared with me after walking through their prepared remarks and presentation, I asked a 15-year-old Oxford High School sophomore how she was and how has it been going back to school? She said it was awful, horrible, and that the anxiety is so bad that she has since gone back to virtual school because she can’t be in that building every day. One of the things that the students who were here yesterday were asking for was more mental health support and professionals in schools. Another one of the students told me that two of her friends attempted suicide with a gun that was in the home and part of the ask was she doesn’t know that they would have tried that had they had somebody to talk to.

It really, really moved me that these, our kids who have gone through something horrific, and a kid who can’t go back to her school building yet but who came here, and I hope we listen to them. I hope they do have somebody to talk to, that we expand that support in school and help make school a place where they feel safe, that they have somebody to talk to, and that there are professionals there to help them.

 

Senator Chang’s statement is as follows:

After hearing some comments earlier this morning, I just wanted to gently remind this entire body about the contents of Senate Resolution No. 30 that we adopted last year in 2021. This resolution came in the wake of rising hate crimes, which we know has continued to this day as is documented by the FBI and other law enforcement. The resolution includes a lot of really important content and I just want to highlight a few sections.

 

Whereas, Acts of hate and discrimination are antithetical to our values as Michiganders and Americans. As civic leaders, it is our duty to promote respect, inclusion, and a welcoming community for people of all races, national origins, and ethnicities; and

Whereas, All Michiganders can play a role in establishing a safe and welcoming community by intervening and reporting instances of hate and discrimination. Reporting these incidents is critical to holding perpetrators accountable and fully addressing the issue.

 

We condemned “hate crimes, hateful rhetoric, and hateful acts.” We encouraged “Michiganders who experience hate crimes to report such incidents to local law enforcement or the Michigan Attorney General’s Hate Crimes Unit.” And we as a body encouraged “Michiganders who experience discrimination to report such experiences to the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.”

I just wanted to take a moment to remind my colleagues that it’s important as elected officials, as public figures in our community, to lift up values of respect, welcoming, and inclusion rather than amplifying messages regarding hate crimes that could have a negative impact of discouraging people already hesitant to report what happens to them. Hate crimes are a serious offense and need to be treated as such.

 

Senator Horn’s statement is as follows:

Early 1900s, my great-grandfather on my mother’s side was a blacksmith for the Russian czar. He lived in Kyiv in the Ukraine. In 1917 he packed up my Oma, Augusta Tschpetsky, and they fled during the Russian Revolution. They fled to Prussia, took on German citizenship where they lived, and my Oma was raised in the eastern part of Germany. They lived through two world wars and a Great Depression, where my Oma met Fredrich Wilhelm Wulf and they met—got married. They met at the Singer sewing plant in Wittenberg, Germany just on the Elbe. It was right after World War II and the Russians had taken over eastern Germany and they saw signs that things were not going well, oppression—and I’ve told this story of losing my grandfather, Bruno Horn, to the Russian Army, he lies buried in an unmarked grave in Siberia somewhere. My father was tortured by the East German Army, led by the Soviet Union. It isn’t a pretty sight when the Russians come in. They fled; my grandparents fled in 1957; my parents fled in 1958; they came here, sponsored in by a little Lutheran church in Indian Village in Detroit. That’s how I got my start here, I was born a year after they came here.

So when I woke up this morning and saw that all of our worst fears came true and the Russians invaded militarily—were bombing military installations, airports, government buildings, taking over—and the questions now arise after cryptic messages from Vladimir Putin, what’s next? Poland? Lithuania? Other Soviet Bloc countries? I so appreciate the words of my friend and colleague from the 2nd District, who serves our great nation and who stand ready to help NATO and our NATO allies in Europe if that time should ever arise and God forbid that it should. But the prayers that we have for the people of Ukraine, keep those people strong dear Lord because they are going to need it. The insurgency that’s going to follow will be bloody and the lives that those people are going to live for decades is going to be untenable. Nobody should have to bear through this. It’s senseless and it’s all for the power of one dictator. We should remember this in this great country, that we the people carry the power of government and we should never let that go.

 

 

Announcements of Printing and Enrollment

 

 

The Secretary announced that the following House bills were received in the Senate and filed on Wednesday, February 23:

House Bill Nos.     5637  5686

 

The Secretary announced that the following bills and joint resolutions were printed and filed on Wednesday, February 23, and are available on the Michigan Legislature website:

Senate Bill Nos.      885    886    887

Senate Joint Resolution       L

House Bill Nos.     5778   5779   5780   5781  5782   5783   5784   5785   5786  5787   5788   5789 5790       5791        5792        5793        5794        5795                               5796   5797   5798   5799  5800   5801   5802   5803   5804  5805   5806   5807 5808       5809        5810        5811        5812        5813                               5814   5815   5816   5817  5818   5819   5820   5821   5822  5823   5824   5825 5826       5827        5828        5829        5830        5831                               5832   5833   5834   5835  5836   5837  5838

House Joint Resolution       O

 

 

Committee Reports

 

 

The Committee on Finance reported

Senate Bill No. 852, entitled

A bill to amend 1937 PA 94, entitled “Use tax act,” by amending sections 14a and 14b (MCL 205.104a and 205.104b), section 14a as amended by 2014 PA 109 and section 14b as amended by 2018 PA 168.

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

The committee further recommends that the bill be given immediate effect.

                                                                                       Jim Runestad

                                                                                       Chairperson

To Report Out:

Yeas: Senators Runestad, Nesbitt, Daley, Bumstead, VanderWall, Chang and Alexander

Nays: None

The bill and the substitute recommended by the committee were referred to the Committee of the Whole.

 

 

The Committee on Finance reported

Senate Bill No. 853, entitled

A bill to amend 1933 PA 167, entitled “General sales tax act,” by amending sections 12 and 18 (MCL 205.62 and 205.68), section 12 as amended by 2018 PA 167 and section 18 as amended by 2014 PA 108.

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

The committee further recommends that the bill be given immediate effect.

                                                                                       Jim Runestad

                                                                                       Chairperson

To Report Out:

Yeas: Senators Runestad, Nesbitt, Daley, Bumstead, VanderWall, Chang and Alexander

Nays: None

The bill and the substitute recommended by the committee were referred to the Committee of the Whole.

 

 

COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE REPORT

 

The Committee on Finance submitted the following:

Meeting held on Wednesday, February 23, 2022, at 12:30 p.m., Room 1200, Binsfeld Office Building

Present: Senators Runestad (C), Nesbitt, Daley, Bumstead, VanderWall, Chang and Alexander

 

 

COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE REPORT

 

The Committee on Appropriations submitted the following:

Meeting held on Wednesday, February 23, 2022, at 2:00 p.m., Harry T. Gast Appropriations Room, 3rd Floor, Capitol Building

Present: Senators Stamas (C), Bumstead, Barrett, Bizon, LaSata, MacDonald, Outman, Schmidt, Victory, Daley, Huizenga, Hertel, Bayer, Hollier, Irwin, McCann and Santana

Excused: Senator Runestad

 

 

COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE REPORT

 

The Committee on Elections submitted the following:

Meeting held on Wednesday, February 23, 2022, at 2:00 p.m., Room 1300, Binsfeld Office Building

Present: Senators Johnson (C), McBroom, VanderWall and Wojno

 

 

Scheduled Meetings

 

 

Appropriations –

 

Subcommittees

 

Corrections and Judiciary Wednesdays, March 2 (CANCELLED), March 9, March 16, and March 23, 11:30 a.m., or immediately following session, Room 1300, Binsfeld Office Building (517) 373-2768

 

General Government Wednesdays, March 2, March 9, March 16, and March 23, 3:00 p.m., Harry T. Gast Appropriations Room, 3rd Floor, Capitol Building (517) 373-2768

 

Labor and Economic Opportunity/MEDC Wednesday, March 2, 1:00 p.m., Room 1300, Binsfeld Office Building (517) 373-2768

 

Licensing and Regulatory Affairs/Insurance and Financial Services Thursdays, March 3, 8:30 a.m. (CANCELLED), and March 10, 8:30 a.m. and 12:00 noon, Room 1300, Binsfeld Office Building (517) 373-2768

 

Natural Resources and Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy – Tuesday, March 1, 3:00 p.m., Room 1100, Binsfeld Office Building (517) 373-2768

 

Transportation Tuesday, March 1, 12:00 noon, or immediately following session, Harry T. Gast Appropriations Room, 3rd Floor, Capitol Building (517) 373-2768

 

Economic and Small Business Development Thursday, March 3, 12:00 noon, Room 1200, Binsfeld Office Building (517) 373-1721

 

Energy and Technology – Tuesday, March 1, 2:00 p.m., Senate Hearing Room, Ground Floor, Boji Tower (517) 373-1721

Senator Lauwers moved that the Senate adjourn.

The motion prevailed, the time being 10:43 a.m.

 

The Assistant President pro tempore, Senator Theis, declared the Senate adjourned until Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.

 

 

MARGARET O’BRIEN

Secretary of the Senate