This bill establishes the Commodities and Emergency Services and Supplies Pricing Protection Act to prevent businesses from raising prices on essential items during a declared state of emergency. It directly affects retailers and service providers by prohibiting them from charging more than 10% above pre-emergency prices for goods like food, building materials, medical supplies, and emergency kits unless they can prove the increase was due to higher costs. The law also grants state and local prosecutors the authority to investigate violations by issuing written demands for documents and testimony, with legal penalties available for non-compliance.
This bill expands the Michigan Address Confidentiality Program to include employees and volunteers from organizations that serve reproductive health care providers and patients, in addition to those assisting victims of domestic violence, stalking, human trafficking, or sexual assault. The legislation updates the legal definition of an "application assistant" to explicitly cover these new groups, allowing them to help individuals complete applications for confidential mailing addresses. By broadening the pool of eligible helpers, the bill aims to increase access to the program for a wider range of people seeking safety and privacy. The changes are administrative and definitional, ensuring that the program's support network reflects the full scope of organizations involved in protecting vulnerable individuals.
This bill amends state law to allow Michigan county boards of commissioners to hire retired employees back into county sheriff's offices without requiring them to forfeit their retirement benefits. The legislation clarifies that counties can employ retirees in this specific role while they continue to receive their existing pension or retirement allowance. By modifying section 12a of the 1951 County Boards of Commissioners Act, the measure provides legal authority for counties to utilize the experience of former sheriff's office staff without creating a financial penalty for their retirement status.
SB 1081 updates the licensing fees for cosmetologists and related professionals in Michigan, including manicurists, estheticians, and instructors. The bill establishes specific costs for applications, exams, annual licenses, and student registrations, with lower rates scheduled to take effect after September 30, 2027. Additionally, it allows the state department to increase these fees annually based on the average wage increases for its own employees. The legislation also requires the department to submit a fee schedule to state officials by August 1 each year and includes a provision for publishing the public act.
This bill amends Michigan's child protection law to clarify which specific groups are authorized to access confidential child protective services records. It directly affects child welfare agencies, law enforcement, courts, medical professionals, and other entities involved in child safety and family services. The key provision expands the list of eligible recipients to include various oversight bodies, such as legislative committees, citizen review panels, and foster care review boards, ensuring they can obtain necessary information to perform their duties. Additionally, the bill maintains strict confidentiality rules, allowing access only when the information is essential for investigating abuse, ensuring a child's safety, or conducting authorized reviews.
This bill establishes an interstate licensure compact for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants in Michigan, allowing them to practice in other member states without obtaining separate licenses. The legislation creates a system where a therapist licensed in their home state can receive a "compact privilege" to work in remote states, provided the patient is located in that remote state during the encounter. Key provisions include the mutual recognition of licenses, the sharing of disciplinary and investigative information between states, and specific accommodations for military families relocating. The law also aims to improve public access to therapy services by facilitating the use of telehealth technology and ensuring consistent regulatory standards across participating jurisdictions.
This bill requires health plans and nonprofit dental corporations in Michigan to offer payment methods that give dentists the full amount owed without charging them a fee to access those funds. The rule applies to all dental benefits policies delivered, issued, or renewed in the state after the law takes effect, but it does not cover fees charged by the dentist's own bank. Dentists can choose to opt out of these new payment methods, and that choice will stay in place until they decide to switch back or sign a new contract.
This resolution honors Representative Rachel Hood for her service to the state and her legislative accomplishments. It acknowledges her background in environmental and community policy, as well as her work on issues like clean energy and infrastructure protection. The House formally expresses its gratitude and transmits copies of the tribute to her.
This bill, known as the Energy Pricing Protection Act, prohibits businesses from charging excessively high prices for gasoline, propane, and home heating oil during market disruptions. It defines a market disruption as events like natural disasters, supply shortages, or emergencies, and sets a 10% price increase threshold that sellers must justify with proof of higher costs or prior discounts. The law empowers state and local prosecutors to investigate violations by issuing demands for documents and testimony, with penalties for non-compliance.
This bill allows certain Michigan law enforcement officers hired after a specific date to purchase retirement credit for their prior service as state employees. To qualify, eligible officers must pay an amount calculated by the retirement system's actuary to cover the value of that previous work, provided they are not already receiving a pension for the same time period. The legislation permits officers to make these payments in installments using either tax-deferred contributions or additional payments, with a deadline of May 30, 2025, to start the process and a four-year window to finish paying. If an officer completes the purchase, the time worked as a state employee will count toward their retirement benefits under the new law.
This bill establishes legal protections for individuals and providers involved in reproductive health services by preventing courts from using out-of-state laws to override Michigan's protections. It creates a new cause of action allowing people to sue for damages if they face litigation or criminal charges in other states for accessing or providing reproductive care within Michigan. Additionally, the bill restricts the issuance of subpoenas from foreign proceedings that target these protected activities and mandates that Michigan courts apply only state law when interpreting related health activities.
This bill allows certain Michigan state employees in law enforcement roles to voluntarily switch their retirement plans from the general state system to the Michigan State Police retirement system. Eligible workers, including corrections officers and conservation officers, can make this change by submitting a written election between January 2, 2025, and June 6, 2025. If a participant chooses to switch, the change becomes permanent on June 7, 2025, and they will no longer be part of the original retirement plan. The law requires that married employees obtain their spouse's signature on the election form, though exceptions may be made for special circumstances.
