December 18, 2013
LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Rick Snyder today signed bipartisan legislation to help strengthen penalties for owners of blighted property.
“This is a good plan that will give more tools to communities throughout Michigan that are fighting blight,” Snyder said. “Blight is more than just a visual problem. It also negatively affects our economy by reducing property values, making it harder to bring more and better jobs to our state, and also threatening public safety. These new laws will help communities continue the positive changes they are already making in the effort to eliminate blight.”
Senate Bill 35, sponsored by state Sen. Virgil Smith, authorizes additional penalties for failing to pay fines imposed by administrative hearing bureaus that many cities are allowed to create for enforcing blight violations.
“These blight bills will go a long way in giving communities the tools they need to clean up and retake their neighborhoods. I’m excited to see them become law,” said Smith.
The bill is now PA 188 of 2013.
SB 36, sponsored by state Sen. Bert Johnson, allows local governments to deny zoning authorization for property owners who have failed to pay fines imposed for blight violations. It is now PA 189.
SB 37, sponsored by state Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker, allows local governments to ban building permits for property owners who have failed to pay fines imposed for blight violations. It is now PA 190.
SB 38, sponsored by state Sen. Rick Jones, allows local governments to garnish the wages of property owners who have failed to pay fines imposed for blight violations. It is now PA 191.
SB 39, sponsored by state Sen. Tupac Hunter, allows local governments to foreclose on property owned by a person who has failed to pay fines imposed for blight violations. It is now PA 192.
The governor also signed six bills to help reduce fraudulent use of Bridge Cards:
Senate Bills 434 and 556, and House Bills 4858, 4859, 5014 and 5015, ban Bridge Card holders from using the cards at certain automatic teller machines (ATM).
SB 434, also sponsored by Jones, requires a credit union that operates ATMs in a casino, liquor store, or “adult entertainment establishment” to ensure it does not allow a person to use a Bridge Card to withdraw cash. It is now PA 193.
SB 556, also sponsored by Jones, requires state agencies to work with ATM suppliers to stop a Bridge Cards from being used to withdraw cash in a liquor store or “adult entertainment establishment.” It is now PA 194.
HB 4858, sponsored by state Rep. Margaret O'Brien, requires a bank that operates ATMs in a casino, liquor store, or “adult entertainment establishment” to ensure it does not allow a person to use a Bridge Card to withdraw cash. It is now PA 195.
HB 4859, also sponsored by O'Brien, requires a savings bank that operates ATMs in a casino, liquor store, or “adult entertainment establishment” to work with state agencies to ensure it does not allow a person to use a Bridge Card to withdraw cash. It is now PA 196.
HB 5014, sponsored by state Rep. Dale Zorn, requires liquor stores to work with state agencies to find a way to stop Bridge Cards from being used to withdraw cash from in-store ATMs. It is now PA 197.
HB 5015, also sponsored by Zorn, requires state agencies to work with ATM suppliers to establish a way to stop Bridge Cards from being used to withdraw cash at a horse racing track. It is now PA 198.
Snyder also signed seven additional bills:
HB 4064, sponsored by state Rep. Kurt Heise, allows court papers and records to be filed and stored electronically. It also revises some record keeping requirements to be in accordance with rules established by the state Supreme Court. It also requires the court system to develop a records retention and disposal schedule and procedures. It is now PA 199.
HB 4242, sponsored by state Rep. Ken Goike, requires state government agencies to demonstrate that a rule they want to impose is “necessary and suitable to achieve its purpose in proportion to the burdens it places on individuals.” It is now PA 200.
HB 4532, sponsored by state Rep. Amanda Price, requires all courts in the state to keep writs, processes, proceedings and records in a manner and medium to be determined by the state Supreme Court, which would include electronic records and signatures. It is now PA 201.
HB 4546, sponsored by state Rep. Rick Outman, decreases the number of Potato Industry Commission members while also specifying membership changes to better reflect current industry needs. The commission will receive and assessment increase to meet demands of possible special projects and research to benefit potato growers and processors. It is now PA 202.
HB 4889, sponsored by state Rep. Ed McBroom, strengthens sentencing guidelines for illegal drug convictions involving travel from another state with the intent to deliver. It is now PA 203.
HB 5017, also sponsored by O’Brien, expands an existing 18 mill exemption for “new construction” on development property to include the underlying real property (ground). The current exemption only includes the buildings. It also includes an exemption for one office within the development. It is now PA 204.
HB 5156, sponsored by state Rep. Mike Shirkey, clarifies that nothing in the Court of Claims Act, including the recent amendments transferring the court to the state Court of Appeals, eliminates any right to a jury trial, nor does it deprive a state trial court of jurisdiction to hear and determine a cause for which there is a right to a jury trial. It is now PA 205.
Visit legislature.michigan.gov for more information.
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