Fireworks, date for beginning of school among new bills

LANSING – Even though they began a two-week spring break Thursday afternoon, lawmakers didn't take a break from introducing a slew of bills last week.

The newest pieces of legislation deal with everything from help for victims of domestic violence to changes in state energy policy and a ban on the sale, possession or use of powdered alcohol.

Perhaps the two bills that could have an impact on the most Michiganders though, are: allowing communities to set local policy on when and how fireworks can be used on all days except the three days surrounding the Fourth of July, and allowing local school districts to start school before Labor Day as long as schools are closed on the Friday before Labor Day.

About 40% of the laws introduced in the last legislative session ended up becoming law. New bills this week, include:

House bills

4367: Allow communities to regulate fireworks in their communities on all days other than on July 3, 4, 5. Sponsor: Rep. Martin Howrylak, R-Troy.

4370: Eliminate the income tax on retiree pensions and restore the homestead property tax exemption. Sponsor: Rep. Holly Hughes, R-White River Township.

4371: If a student takes a day away from school because of observance of religious holiday, don't count that as an absence if awards for attendance are given in the school district. Sponsor: Rep. Christine Greig, D-Farmington Hills.

4373: Require public school academies and cyber schools to post educational materials on their websites. Sponsor: Rep. Erika Geiss, D-Taylor.

4380: Eliminate straight party ticket voting. Sponsor: Rep. Todd Courser, R-Silverwood.

4386-87: Revise the regulation of the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association to require open meetings, compliance with Freedom of Information Act laws and annual audits. Sponsor: Rep. Henry Yanez, D-Sterling Heights.

4393: Require utilities to tell landlords whether their tenants are at risk for utility shutoff. Sponsor: Rep. Gary Glenn, R-Midland.

4394-95: Allow local schools, intermediate districts or public school academies to hire noncertified teachers. Sponsor: Rep. Glenn.

4396: Allow schools to start classes before Labor Day, but require that schools not be in session on the Friday before Labor Day. Sponsor: Rep. Kurt Heise, R-Plymouth.

4406-07: Put the boards of county commissioners in charge of jury boards in each county. Allow Treasury Department to release names of taxpayers into the pool of citizens who can be selected for jury duty. Sponsor: Rep. Brian Banks, D-Harper Woods.

4411-14: A package of bills regarding help for domestic violence victims, including prohibiting discrimination against victims by landlords, creating an exemption for unemployment benefits for victims who leave employment because of domestic violence, creating a confidentiality program for the addresses of victims, and requiring employers to expand sick leave policy to include victims of sexual assault, domestic violence or stalking. Sponsors: Reps. Sam Singh, D-East Lansing, Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, Marcia Hovey-Wright, D-Muskegon, and Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids.

4415: Make a tweak to state law if the Proposal 1 roads ballot issue passes to allow Michiganders to continue to deduct auto registration fees on their taxes. Sponsor: Rep. Tim Greimel, D-Auburn Hills.

Senate bills

225: Prohibit gun or ammunition sellers from taking a photo of a person purchasing a gun or ammunition and eliminate the requirement to enter the purchase into a database. Sponsor: Sen. Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake.

227-229: Laws to repeal ban on same-sex marriage, allow for no public disclosure of marriage license, and allow for joint tax filing. Sponsors: Sens. Curtis Hertel Jr., D-East Lansing, David Knezek, D-Dearborn Heights, Virgil Smith, D-Detroit.

230: Restrict gifts from vendors to elected and some governmental officials. Sponsor: Sen. Jim Ananich, D-Flint.

231: Prohibit sale of electronic cigarettes to minors. Sponsor: Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge.

235 and 247: Modifies the cap on the electric choice market from the current 10%. Sponsors: Sens. Shirkey and Ken Horn, R-Frankenmuth.

236: Reduce wastewater discharge permit fees from $1,500 to $300 for a Group 2 facility and from $200 to $50 for a Group 3 facility. Sponsor: Sen. Tom Casperson, R-Escanaba.

238: Expand definition of negligence in boating to also include a boater who causes serious impairment of bodily function being guilty of misdemeanor punishable by up to 2 years in prison and $2,000 fine. Sponsor: Sen. Morris Hood III, D-Detroit.

239: Prohibit municipalities from enacting ordinances that regulate dogs based solely on breed. Sponsor: Sen. David Robertson, R-Grand Blanc.

240 and 4416: Prohibit the use, sale or possession of powdered alcohol. Violation would be a misdemeanor. Sponsors: Sen. Jones and Rep. Scott Dianda, D-Calumet.

243: Prohibit employers from requiring workers to work seven days in one week. Mandate a 20-minute meal break for every 7.5 hours of work. Sponsor: Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood, D-Taylor.

244-245: Increase penalties for illegally poaching animals, to 90 days in jail and fines ranging from $1,500 for an eagle to $5,000 for an elk or moose. Sponsors: Sens. Phil Pavlov, R-St. Clair Township, Dale Zorn, R-Ida.

Contact Kathleen Gray: 517-372-8661, kgray99@freepress.com.