July 21, 2011
House Bill 4192, sponsored by state Rep. Paul Scott, allows health practitioners who are authorized to prescribe controlled substances to access data about drugs that are dispensed in order to prevent theft by employees. The legislation also eliminates an obsolete provision requiring paper prescriptions. It is now Public Act 108 of 2011.
H.B. 4371 and Senate Bill 207, sponsored by state Rep. Peter Pettalia and state Sen. Joe Hune, eliminate Michigan's minimum hunting age and creates a mentored youth hunting program and mentored youth hunting license. Revenue from the new mentored youth hunting license will support the Game and Fish Protection Fund. The bills are now P.A.s 120 and 109, respectively.
S.B. 215, sponsored by state Sen. Howard Walker, allows counties that run public works systems to include township supervisors on the full public works board, which is currently prohibited. This legislation, which only affects Grand Traverse and Lapeer counties, will allow the boards to operate more efficiently by avoiding the cost to administer subcommittees and will allow greater input from townships. It is now P.A. 110.
S.B. 287, sponsored by state Sen. Mike Kowall, eliminates current exemptions and requires all towing companies to register with the Michigan Public Service Commission's Motor Carrier Division. This will ensure all towing companies have had their vehicles inspected for safety within the previous year, carry a minimum amount of insurance and employ qualified drivers. It is now P.A. 111.
H.B. 4456, sponsored by state Rep. Hugh Crawford, allows crematorium owners to mortgage or lease the property with some restrictions to help protect against untrustworthy operations and ensure crematoriums remain reputable. It is now P.A. 112.
H.B. 4746, sponsored by state Rep. Matt Huuki, prohibits zoning ordinances from preventing the extraction of valuable natural resources from property by mining unless serious consequences would result from the extraction. It also ensures that local units of government have reasonable oversight for the extraction and associated activities that may impact neighboring residents and businesses, from hours of operation and blasting hours to noise levels, dust control measures and traffic. It is now P.A. 113.
H.B. 4534, sponsored by state Rep. Nancy Jenkins, removes roadblocks that prevent local units of government from consolidating and sharing services by deleting language in current law that prevents an employee who is being transferred to work on a joint economic development project from being transferred into a lower position. It is now P.A. 114.
H.B. 4416, sponsored by state Rep. Frank Foster, allows a county to contract with the owner of a private road to allow the county sheriff to enforce traffic laws on it. Cities, townships and villages already have this ability. The bill is now P.A. 115.
H.B. 4577 and 4579, sponsored by state Reps. Joel Johnson and Frank Foster allows the Legislature to use the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund to make full Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) payments to local units of government for state-owned land that was purchased with the fund. The bills are now P.A.s 117 and 118.
H.B. 4347, sponsored by state Rep. Dale Zorn, gives counties more flexibility by allowing surplus funds to be used for county road work. It is now P.A. 119.
H.B. 4567, sponsored by state Rep. Pat Somerville, reinstates the Equine Infections Anemia (EIA) testing requirements which expired at the end of 2010. EIA, also known as swamp fever, is an infections virus in horses, for which there is no effective or safe vaccine. It is now P.A. 121.
H.B. 4366 and H.B. 4367, sponsored by state Reps. Margaret O'Brien and Sean McCann, allow Kalamazoo County to reorganize its public transportation system in order to develop a regional approach to transportation. The bills are now P.A. 122 and 123.
H.B. 4533, sponsored by state Rep. Bill Rogers, adds several exceptions to restrictions currently in place for teen drivers with a graduated license, such as allowing teens to drive after 10 p.m. in the case of an emergency or when driving home from an authorized school activity. It is now P.A. 124.
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