Nine New Laws in Michigan

LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Rick Snyder y signed nine bills into law Tuesday.

House Bill 4716, sponsored by state Rep. John Olumba, gives cities that are in a financial emergency the ability to refund all or a portion of previously issued financial recovery bonds, which will allow more flexibility to deal with financial problems. The bill is now Public Act 143 of 2011.

H.B. 4734, sponsored by state Rep. Matt Lori, amends the public health code to delay the sunset date on the nursing home Quality Assurance Assessment Program from Oct. 1, 2011 to Oct. 1, 2015. Delaying the sunset was included as part of the governor’s Fiscal Year 2012-13 budget proposal. By continuing the assessment, the state receives more in federal matching Medicaid funds than what is paid out by nursing homes. These funds are then directed to nursing homes in Michigan that provide Medicaid services. The bill is now P.A. 144

H.B. 4748, sponsored by state Rep. Dave Agema, reduces funding for the Transportation Economic Development Fund’s Targeted Industries program by $12 million. The funds, which come from driver’s license fee revenue, will be redirected to the State Trunkline Fund, as was proposed by the Michigan Department of Transportation. The bill is now P.A. 145.

H.B. 4787, sponsored by state Rep. Peter MacGregor, allows $7 million from the 9-1-1 Fund to be used to instead fund a portion of the Michigan Public Safety Communications System. The bill is now P.A. 146.

Senate Bills 447 and 448, sponsored by state Sen. Roger Kahn, amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to permit the Department of Environmental Quality to conduct a training and certification program for drinking water treatment and distribution facility operators. The bills also authorize the department to charge a fee for these programs. The bills are now P.A.s 147 and 148.

S.B. 449, also sponsored by Kahn, increases the fees on solid wastes that are landfilled in Michigan from the current rate of $0.07 per cubic yard to $0.12. The bill is now P.A. 149.

S.B. 450, also sponsored by Kahn, expands the allowed uses of the Waste Reduction Fund to include funding the Permit to Install program in the Air Quality Division of the Department of Environmental Quality. The bill is now P.A. 150.

H.B. 4316, sponsored by state Rep. Matt Huuki, clarifies the Michigan Vehicle Code to prevent the state from requiring a piece of logging equipment commonly referred as a slasher saw table to be equipped with brakes. The legislation was approved by lawmakers with unanimous support. The bill is now P.A. 151.