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How They Voted –

House Bill 4583: Use “orphaned” fuel tank cleanup revenue for other purposes

Passed 26 to 10 in the Senate on October 10, 2017

To divert money from a 7/8 cent per gallon gas tax originally levied to pay for cleanups of leaking underground fuel tanks that were abandoned decades earlier and where no known party is liable (“orphan sites”). The bill would authorize subsidies to current fuel tank owners who are liable for contamination that occurred before 2015; to developers of “brownfield” property with leaking tanks; and to local governments for cleanups related to past road work.

Sen. Tom Casperson (R) ‘Voted Yes’

House Bill 4066: Authorize limited interstate medical licensure agreement

Passed 100 to 6 in the House on October 10, 2017

To enter an agreement with other states to facilitate doctors getting licensed in more than one state. The measure would not eliminate the need for doctors to get a separate license to practice in each state, or change current restrictions on the practice of telemedicine. It would require doctors to hold one of the board certifications marketed by certain national organizations, which would have the effect of excluding most Michigan practitioners from the proposed licensure process.

Rep. Beau LaFave (R) ‘Voted Yes’

House Bill 4508: Create a “cyber civilian corps”

Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate on October 10, 2017

To create a state “cyber civilian corps” to organize civilian volunteers with relevant experience who would provide rapid response assistance to a municipal, educational, nonprofit or business entity that needs help dealing with a cybersecurity incident.

Sen. Tom Casperson (R) ‘Voted Yes’

Senate Bill 583: Ban local food and beverage taxes

Passed 31 to 5 in the Senate on October 4, 2017

To prohibit local governments and authorities from imposing a tax or fee on the manufacture, distribution, wholesaling or retail sale of food for immediate consumption or non-immediate consumption. Among other things this would prohibit local officials from imposing soda taxes.

Sen. Tom Casperson (R) ‘Voted Yes’

Senate Bill 375: Authorize county subsidies for methane digester generators

Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate on October 3, 2017

To permit counties to include methane digester energy systems in a program that lets the county borrow money, lend it to a property owner money for a “renewable energy system,” and levy a special assessment on the property from which the loan would be repaid.

Sen. Tom Casperson (R) ‘Voted Yes’

Senate Bill 552: Increase annual ORV tax

Passed 35 to 1 in the Senate on October 5, 2017

To increase the annual off road vehicle license tax to $26.25 for a license that does not authorize operation on state ORV trails, and $36.25 for one that does. If no action is taken the tax expires in March 2018, but if the bill becomes law the tax will remain through March 2024 (unless extended by another bill before then).

Sen. Tom Casperson (R) ‘Voted Yes’

Senate Bill 353: Preempt local bans on employers asking about past wages

Passed 27 to 9 in the Senate on October 5, 2017

To expand a law that prohibits local governments from imposing mandatory job interview information requirements or restrictions. Among other things the bill would ban local ordinances that prohibit a local employer or the local government itself from asking about a prospective employee’s previous salary history.

Sen. Tom Casperson (R) ‘Voted Yes’

Senate Bill 223: Create process for disclosing police firing to other agencies

Passed 105 to 2 in the House on October 3, 2017

To establish a process and liability exemption for a police agency disclosing information to another agency about a former officer who may have been fired. A separating officer could review the official record and make his written explanation a permanent part of it. Police job applicants would have to give prospective employers a waiver allowing them to get the separation records, and the former employer would be immune from liability for revealing this.

Rep. Beau LaFave (R) ‘Voted Yes’

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