The legislature remains on summer break with no votes expected until September. Rather than votes this report contains some interesting or noteworthy recent bill introductions.

Senate Bill 390: Streamline process for welfare recipients getting heat and light subsidies

Introduced by Sen. Peter MacGregor (R), to require that the state welfare agency and state utility regulators give electric and gas utilities a list of households eligible for low income heating bill subsidies, so as to facilitate providing this social welfare benefit. Funding for the subsidies comes from taxpayers and from surcharges imposed on utility bills. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 4700: Require pre-release mental health discharge plan for prisoners

Introduced by Rep. Mary Whiteford (R), to require that before a prisoner who is receiving mental health treatment including drugs is released on parole, the Department of Corrections must create a mental health discharge plan, and require the Department of Health and Human Services to help in creating the required plans. The bill prescribes what such a plan must include. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 4702: Require state insulin price investigation

Introduced by Rep. John Chirkun (D), to require the state Attorney General to investigate insulin prices, and recommend new laws to prohibit pricing practices that agency officials deem “unconscionable.” Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 4705: Prescribe deadline for investigating child abuse

Introduced by Rep. Matt Hall (R), to require that within 24 hours of authorities receiving a report of child abuse or neglect, a contact must be made that provides information on the well-being of each child in the suspect household. House Bill 4706 would prescribe more specific and rigorous assessment and follow-up standards for potentially ambiguous “Category III” cases, defined as there being “a preponderance of evidence of child abuse or child neglect…(with a) low or moderate risk of future harm to the child.” Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 4679: Ban state housing loans to illegal and undocumented aliens

Introduced by Rep. Bronna Kahle (R), to convert a registration mandate now imposed on acupuncturists into a more comprehensive licensure regime, including training and apprenticeship requirements, license fees, regulations specified in the bill and additional ones that state licensure officials would be authorized to impose, and more.

Versions of this bill have been introduced in several previous legislatures, one of which was vetoed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm in 2004. A 2005 law imposed a less intrusive “registration” mandate on acupuncturists. Licensure mandates are frequently sought by incumbent practitioners of a profession, and are said to raise barriers to others entering the profession. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 4716: Require officials investigate road salt alternatives

Introduced by Rep. Brian Elder (D), to require the Department of Transportation to implement a pilot program on using organic additives with or instead of salt to control ice on public roads, highways, and bridges. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 4720: Authorize new birth certificate based on gender assertions

Introduced by Rep. Rachel Hood (D), to permit an individual who asserts a gender identity different than the one on their birth certificate to get a new birth certificate that reflects this. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

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Source: MichiganVotes.org