Governor signs FY '13 budget supplemental

Monday, Oct. 1, 2012

 

LANSING, Mich. - Gov. Rick Snyder signed remaining pieces of the Fiscal Year 2013 budget. The supplemental includes funding to protect families and provide financial assistance for farmers who suffered crop losses.

 

House Bill 5400, sponsored by state Rep. Chuck Moss, also completes the transfer of the Michigan Rehabilitation Services Program from the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to the Department of Human Services as directed in Executive Order 2012-10, issued by Snyder in June.

 

"These additional funds will help keep Michigan families and homes safe, provide relief to those in the agriculture industry who suffered crop losses, and continue our efforts to make state government more efficient and effective," Snyder said.

 

The bill provides $36.1 million in supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2012-13:

 

• Community Health - $2.9 million to restore funding for the Healthy Homes program, which provides grants to contractors and local groups for lead abatement.
• Corrections - $17.6 million for the Special Equipment Fund for priority facility security systems, including camera and recording systems, personal protection systems, electronic detection systems, and perimeter security devices in correctional facilities.
• Environmental Quality - $600,000 to support the Aquifer Protection and Dispute Resolution Program, which is used to resolve disputes between high-capacity wells and neighboring properties in instances aquifers are depleted.
• Human Services and Licensing and Regulatory Affairs - Implements Executive Order 2012-10 by transferring the Michigan Rehabilitation Services from LARA to DHS.
• Treasury - $15 million contributed to the Agricultural Loan Origination Program, which provides financial assistance to farmers to alleviate financial distress caused by crop damage and related economic impacts.

 

The bill now is Public Act 305 of 2012.

 

Snyder also signed 13 other bills.

 

Senate Bill 809, sponsored by state Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker, improves roadway safety by increasing the mandatory license suspension for drunken drivers from one year to one year and 45 days. The measure also brings the open alcohol container law into federal compliance to continue to receive federal funding for the highway safety improvement program. The bill now is P.A. 306.

 

S.B.s 1258 and 1259, sponsored by state Sen. Mark Jansen, and H.B.s 5819-5824 and 5893, sponsored by state Rep. Al Pscholka, extend fees for several types of occupational licenses assumed in the FY ‘13 budget. The bills now are P.A.s 307-308, and 309-315.

 

H.B. 5581, sponsored by state Rep. Phil Potvin, maintains the $50 fee for agricultural pesticide applicators. The funds contribute to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's Pesticide and Plant Management program. The bill now is P.A. 316.

 

H.B. 5784, sponsored by state Rep. Ben Glardon, continues the licensing fees for livestock transactions and transportation. It also exempts veterans from certain payments and adds a $10 late application fee. The bill now is P.A. 317.

 

H.B. 5793, also sponsored by Moss, preserves fees for fingerprint and name-based criminal background checks. The bill now is P.A. 318.

 

More information on the legislation is available by visiting www.michiganlegislature.org.

 

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