September 26, 2006
Addresses one of many items left unfinished by lawmakers
LANSING –Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today acted to extend indefinitely special pay and group insurance benefits for state employees called to active military duty after September 11, 2001. Under current Civil Service Commission rules, the special pay and benefits expire at the end of each fiscal year.
Executive Directive 2006-5, issued today by Governor Granholm, addresses one of the many pieces of unfinished business left behind by the Legislature last week when it adjourned for the fall recess.
“Our state employees who have been called to active military duty responded without hesitation; the least we can do is supplement their military pay and ensure that they and their families are covered by the state’s group insurance plan until they are home and back to work,” Granholm said. “While I am pleased to extend my gratitude to our troops on behalf of the state of Michigan, I am disappointed that state lawmakers failed to pass legislation on behalf of our military personnel in the public and private sector.”
Granholm has called on the Legislature to pass bipartisan legislation to ensure that Michigan law guarantees all employees serving on active or emergency duty in the military the right to return to their jobs upon completion of military service.
In addition to military protection bills left on the table last week, Granholm cited a list of bills left unfinished.
• The New Merit Award scholarship – proposed in 2005, would allow every child in Michigan who continues their education beyond high school to earn a $4,000 Scholarship.
• Stem Cell research – legislation removing limits on stem cell research in Michigan.
• 401(K) program – a 401(k) plan like the state’s plan for those workers of small companies who do not offer a pension plan.
• Bullying – requiring every school district in Michigan to have tough and effective anti-bullying policies.
• Corporate Responsibility – passing measures that will demand high standards of corporate responsibility from any business that seeks a state grant.
• Ethics for Officeholders – legislation establishing higher ethical standards and stricter, more comprehensive disclosure requirements, barring political contribution delivery and solicitation in public buildings, prohibiting gift payments such as honorarium, and imposing a 1-year ban on lobbying by former officials.
• Election Reform – reducing bureaucracy for overseas voters and allowing no-excuse absentee voting to reduce lines on Election Day.
• Medical Privacy – providing patient confidentiality regarding the maintenance and disclosure of medical records and certain health information
• Increased Penalties for Drive by Shooting – doubling the penalty for any person who intentionally fires a weapon from a vehicle, snowmobile, or off-road vehicle.
• ID Theft – new protections against identity theft in Michigan.
• After School Programs for Middle Schoolers – a program that focuses on math, science, and computer technology to help students meet local, state and federal standards and better prepare them for more rigorous high school curriculum expectations.
• Early Childhood Education – investing in greater support for early childhood learning.
• Regional Collaboration – providing incentive for state and local partnership on economic development projects that will have a significant, long-term transforming impact on the economy of Michigan.
• School Consolidation – requiring the Department of Education to take steps to assist public schools to operate more efficiently.
Under Executive Directive 2006-5, annual rule changes by the Civil Service Commission will not be required to assure that state civil servants actively serving in the military and their families receive their full pay and benefits. The directive also extends special pay and benefits to full-time employees within the executive branch who are not civil servants and requires state departments and agencies to grant a military leave of absence enabling a state employee to serve on active duty or complete training as a member of the uniformed services. The special pay is equivalent to the difference between the employee’s military pay and regular state salary. The state will also continue to pay the employer’s portion of the cost of continuing group medical, dental, and vision insurance.
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