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LaFave introduces three new bills

LANSING — State Rep. Beau LaFave this week introduced legislation to address a range of issues.

LaFave, of Iron Mountain, said House Bill 4092 will protect animals locked inside hot and freezing cold cars by granting criminal immunity to individuals who break a window to help a distressed animal.

“If someone sees a dog in a hot car struggling to breathe, they shouldn’t have to worry about going to jail if they need to break a window,” LaFave said. “This will save the lives of animals that might otherwise be left to suffer and die.”

The Good Samaritan must first call police and try to locate the owner before taking action. The plan has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee, where the representative serves as vice chair.

House Bill 4091 offers all communities throughout Michigan an incentive to develop or rehabilitate properties by expanding the Neighborhood Enterprise Zone (NEZ) Program. The NEZ program allows local units of government to temp cap property taxes for a fixed number of years to encourage redevelopment and reinvestment in blighted areas.

“Across Michigan, there are blighted communities with little hope of redevelopment,” LaFave said. “We must institute change and make this successful program available to all communities to breathe new life into once-thriving neighborhoods.”

Under current law, only a handful of cities in Michigan are eligible for the program. Out of the three counties in LaFave’s House district, only Iron Mountain is currently eligible for the NEZ, while Kingsford, Menominee, Escanaba and all other local units of government are prohibited from participating.

LaFave’s proposal also updates monetary thresholds for qualifying projects to adjust for inflation.

“Our local leaders, not Lansing, know best what areas in their communities need revitalization and redevelopment,” LaFave said. “My legislation levels the playing field for U.P. communities and adds more local control.”

The plan has been referred to the House Commerce and Tourism Committee for consideration.

House Bill 4090 prohibits the firing of a police officer because they have called for backup.

Under the plan, local law enforcement personnel cannot be disciplined or terminated because they called federal immigration and customs enforcement when they feel it is necessary.

“Our police officers’ solemn responsibility is to protect the people of the state of Michigan,” LaFave said. “Our brave women and men of law enforcement should never be exploited for political purposes. My plan allows them to call in for reinforcements from their federal partners without fear of political retribution.”

A companion bill authored by state Rep. Pamela Hornberger, of Chesterfield Township, has also been introduced. The two bills have been referred to the House Military, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security Committee, where LaFave serves as the chair.

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