A quick look at what the Michigan Legislature has been up to this year

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Aug. 7, 2017

The Legislature is on a summer break with no sessions scheduled until Aug. 16.

 

Here's a look at some interesting or noteworthy bills introduced during the first half of the year.

 

Bills have been introduced in both the Senate and House to limit the amount of opioid painkillers a physician can prescribe and a pharmacist dispense at one time. They include:
- Senate Bill 274, prohibit prescribing more than a seven day supply of opioid painkillers at once for acute conditions and 30 days for chronic ones. Passed in the Senate, pending in a House committee.
- Senate Bill 360, prohibit prescribing more than a seven day supply of opioid painkillers at once to a patient suffering from “acute pain” as defined by the bill. Passed in the Senate, pending in a House committee.
- House Bill 4601, prohibit prescribing more than a 30-day supply of opioid painkillers at once for “chronic pain,” and a 10-day supply for “acute pain.” Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

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Senate Bills 203 and 204: Permit, regulate and tax internet gambling
Introduced by Sen. Mike Kowall, to repeal a state ban on internet gambling, and establish a comprehensive regulatory and licensure regime for providers, along with a 10 percent tax on their gross revenue. Only licensed Detroit or Indian tribe casinos could get a license, which would cost $300,000 plus an annual $100,000 fee. Reported from committee, pending before the full Senate.

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Senate Bill 216: Deny state ballot access to US President candidate who keeps tax returns private
Introduced by Sen. Steve Bieda (D), to mandate that as a condition of being placed on the ballot in Michigan candidates for President of the United States must submit their tax returns from the past five years to the Michigan Secretary of State, who must post them online. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

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Senate Bill 237: Require opioid abuse training in schools
Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R), to require public schools to include instruction on prescription opioid abuse in required health classes. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

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House Bill 4192: Scrap national “Common Core” curriculum and tests
Introduced by Rep. Gary Glenn (R), to cease all planning and actions related to adopting the national “common core” curriculum in Michigan schools and tests, and replace this with an earlier benchmark curriculum. No other system could be adopted without approval by the legislature. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

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House Bill 4349: Mandate schools meet music and art instructor quotas
Introduced by Rep. Erika Geiss (D), to require that public schools provide children in grades K-5 with 90 minutes of music instruction and 90 minutes of art a week, taught by instructors who have particular academic credentials specified in the bill. Also, to impose a quota of one music instructor for every 400 children in a school, and one art instructor for every 650 children. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

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House Bill 4301: Require state agencies post more organization information
Introduced by Rep. Brandt Iden (R), to revise the information that must be included in a 2016 law that requires each state department to provide information to be posted on a state website showing each agency’s organizational staffing chart. The bill would require this to include the name, position title, civil service status and salary for each employee. Exceptions would be allowed for some health and safety-related information. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

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House Bill 4307 and Senate Bill 212: Mandate private employers provide paid sick leave
Introduced by Rep. Stephanie Chang (D) and Sen. Jim Ananich (D), respectively, to mandate that employers must grant employees one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, up to 40 hours annually for small businesses, and 72 hours annually for larger employers. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.