House Bill 4001, Require conviction for property forfeiture: Passed 37 to 1 in the Senate

To establish that property seized from a person because it may be associated with a suspected drug-related crime is not subject to “civil asset forfeiture” unless the individual is actually convicted or accepts a plea bargain. See also House Bill 4001 above. Forfeiture is a legal process by which a government agency (usually police or prosecutors) acquires permanent ownership of property seized by police.

Sen. Ed McBroom, R – Vulcan, Yes

Senate Bill 106, Ban selling “e-cigarettes” to minors: Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate

To ban selling or giving minors electronic vapor cigarettes, or any device that delivers nicotine. The bill would also authorize imposing community service and a “health promotion and risk reduction assessment program” on a minor who possesses or tries to buy a nicotine vapor product. A person who sells tobacco or vapes to a minor would be subject to fines of $100 to $2,500 for a third offense.

Sen. Ed McBroom, R – Vulcan, Yes

House Bill 4286, Make good on wrongful imprisonment compensation promise: Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate

To appropriate $10 million to make good on the promise made by a 2016 law that authorized payment of $50,000 for each year of wrongful imprisonment served by a person who did not commit the crime. The bill would require the Attorney General to file reports with the legislature on the status of claims, settlements and awards under this law. Reportedly the fund created to provide this compensation currently has just $1.1 million, and the estimated amount of claims is $22 million.

Sen. Ed McBroom, R – Vulcan, Yes

House Bill 4118, Authorize unposted 25 mph limit on non-subdivision local streets: Passed 106 to 4 in the House

To establish an unposted speed limit of 25 mph on streets including highway segments that are designated as “local,” if the local jurisdiction has designated the road to be part of their street system, and if it is within land zoned for residential use. Under current law subdivision streets are automatically considered to have a 25 mph speed limit and no speed limit signs need be posted; the bill would have the effect of extending this posting exception to other residential streets that are not in subdivisions. A study ordered by the bill could see this changed in 2024.

Rep. Beau LaFave, R – Iron Mountain, No

Senate Bill 122, Reduce student test score measurements in teacher ratings: Passed 109 to 1 in the House

To delay for one year a requirement that annual year-end evaluation ratings of public school classroom teachers be 40 percent based on student growth and assessment data (state-administered tests), with the rest of the evaluation based on more subjective factors determined by local school administrators. Under current law this standard would go into effect for the 2018-2019 school year. The House also passed Senate Bill 202 to delay similar standards for administrators.

Rep. Beau LaFave, R – Iron Mountain, Yes

House Bill 4133, Juvenile justice “raise the age” reforms: Passed 101 to 9 in the House

To raise the age of defendants from age 17 to age 18 in the factors considered when determining juvenile vs. adult court jurisdiction over a minor accused of certain crimes. This is part of a broader “raise the age” juvenile justice reform effort.

Rep. Beau LaFave, R – Iron Mountain, Yes

Senate Bill 2, Require conviction for seized property forfeiture: Passed 107 to 3 in the House

To establish that property seized from a person because it may be associated with a crime is not subject to “civil asset forfeiture” unless the individual is actually convicted or accepts a plea bargain, subject to various exceptions and conditions. This would not apply to police seizures of property worth $50,000 or more.

Note: With passage of this and House Bills 4001 and 4002 this week the House and Senate finalized this proposal and sent it to Gov. Whitmer for approval.

Rep. Beau LaFave, R – Iron Mountain, Yes

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Source: MichiganVotes.org