Bills Signed Into Law...

Public Act 119 of 2005 (HB 4825) Children's Trust Fund (Murphy)  Revises the provision regarding the disbursement of children's trust fund.  Effective 09/22/05.

Public Act 160 of 2005 (SB 503)  Children's Trust Fund Check Off (Hammerstrom)  Reauthorizes the tax form check off for donations to the Children's Trust Fund.  Effective 10/3/05.

Public Act 323 of 2005 (SB 894) Work First Requirement Revisions (Clark-Coleman)  Modifies several Work First requirements, including timing of orientation sessions, some additional allowable sanctions and reassessment of eligibility.  Effective 12/29/05.

Public Act 324 of 2005 (HB 5442) Earned Income Disregard Study (Ball)  Requires the Department of Human Services to study the impact of increasing the amount of earned income that can be disregarded in establishing eligibility and benefit levels for the Family Independence Program.  Effective 12/29/05.

Public Act 333 of 2005 (SB 757) Work First Extension (Johnson)  Extends the sunset for the Family Independence Program from December 31, 2005 to December 31, 2006.  Effective 12/29/05.

Public Act 78 of 2006 (SB 120) Domestic Violence Evidence (Johnson) Allows prior acts of domestic violence to be admissible as evidence.  Effective 03/24/06. 

Public Act 81 of 2006 (SB 318) Minimum Wage Increase (Basham) Increases the minimum wage to $6.95/hour beginning 10/06, to $7.15/hour beginning 7/07, and to $7.40/hour beginning 7/08.  Effective 03/29/06.

Public Act 105 of 2006  (HB 4161) Presumption of Custody (Paster) Repeals a provision regarding presumption of custody in acknowledgement of parentage act. Effective 04/7/06.

Public Act 372 of 2006 (SB 453) Earned Income Tax Credit (Cassis)  Provides for a Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) based on a percentage of what families claim under the Federal EITC.  Effective 09/22/06.

Public Act 373 of 2006 (HB 6213) Minimum Wage Exemptions (Huizenga) Mantains status quo in regard to federal minimum wage and overtime exemptions when state minimum wage increases.  Effective 09/22/06.

Public Act 468 of 2006 (HB 6580) Work First (Kooiman) Revises financial assistance or services for family independence eligibility and work first exemptions.  Effective 12/20/06.

Public Act 469 of 2006 (HB 6587) Ed Program (Kolb) Revises participation in education program to meet work first requirements.  Effective 12/20/06.

Public Act 470 of 2006 (SB 1500) Welfare (Hardiman) Changes eligibility date on sanctions for welfare recipients.  Effective 12/20/06.

Public Act 471 of 2006 (SB 1501) Work First (Hardiman) Revises requirements on Work First requirements.  Effective 12/20/06.

Public Act 485 (SB 1128) Child Support (Garcia) Provides for modification of child support assessment for certain military personnel. Signed: 12/28/06; Effective 12/29/06.

Public Act 491 (SB 1288) Workforce Development (Garcia) Establishes workforce development system.  Introduced and referred to Employment relations, training and safety committee.  Signed: 12/28/06; Effective 12/29/06.

Public Act 615 (SB 891) Child Support (Hardiman) Establishes department responsibilities for child support collection.  Signed: 01/3/07; Effective 01/3/07.

Bills in Action...

SB 519 Nursing Mother Jury Duty (Kuipers)  Provides for an exemption for nursing mothers form jury duty. Action:  Introduced and referred to the Judiciary Committee (5/19/05). Substitute S-1 reported favorably out of committee (12/7/05).  S-1 Passed the Senate and referred to the House Judiciary Committee (12/13/05).  

SB 892 Work First Revisions (Hardiman)  The bill would revise requirements for Work First participation, including a mandate for parents of very young children to participate in family services instruction or counseling, additional documentation requirements, and additional exemption possibilities and requirements for education and training.  This bill is tie-barred to HB 5438.  Action:  Introduced and referred to the Committee on Families and Human Services (11/10/05).  Reported favorably with substitute S-1 (12/1/05).  Passed the full Senate (12/1/05).  Referred to the House Committee on Family and Children's Services (12/1/05).  Reported favorably (12/7/05).  Substitute H-1 Passed the House (12/8/05).  Enrolled (12/13/05).  Substitute S-2 Presented to the Governor (12/14/05).  Governor Vetoed (12/27/05). 

SB 893  Department of Human Services Sanctions (Cropsey)  The bill would revise sanctions for Department of Human Services assistance noncompliance.  Action:  Introduced and referred to the Committee on Families and Human Services (11/10/05).  Reported favorably with substitute S-1 (12/1/05).  Passed the full Senate (12/1/05).  Referred to the House Committee on Family and Children's Services (12/1/05).  Reported favorably (12/7/05).  Substitute H-1 Passed the House (12/8/05).  Enrolled (12/13/05).  Substitute S-2 Presented to the Governor (12/14/05).  Governor Vetoed (12/27/05). 

SR 8 Marriage Month (Hardiman)  This resolution celebrates February 2005 as Marriage Month in Michigan.  Adopted by the Senate (2/3/05).

SR 88 Children's Trust Fund (Schauer)  This resolution pays tribute to the Michigan Children's Trust Fund. Adopted by the Senate (12/7/05)

HB 4121  Work First Sunset Extension (Clack)  Extends the sunset for the Michigan Work First program from December 31, 2005 to December 31, 2006. Similar Senate introduced sunset legislation signed into law as PA 333.  Action:  Introduced and referred to the Committee on Families and Children's Services (2/1/05).  Reported with substitute H-1 (11/30/05).  

HB 5438  Work First Revisions (Kooiman)  The bill would establish a 48-month lifetime limit on the receipt of cash assistance within the Family Independence Program.  This bill is tie-barred to SB 892.  Action:  Introduced and referred to the Committee on Families and Children's Services (11/22/05).  Reported favorably with substitute H-1 (11/30/05).  Passed the full House (12/1/05).  Referred to the Senate Committee on Families and Human Services (12/6/05).  Reported favorably with substitute S-1 (12/8/05).  Substitute S-1 Passed the Senate (12/8/05).  Enrolled (12/13/05).  Substitute H-2 Presented to the Governor (12/14/05).  Governor Vetoed (12/27/05). 

HB 5439  Family Independence Program Revisions (Shaffer)  The bill would the payment standard for cash assistance within the Family Independence Program.  This bill is tie-barred to HB 5441.  Action:  Introduced and referred to the Committee on Families and Children's Services (11/22/05).  Reported favorably with substitute H-1 (11/30/05).  Passed the full House (12/1/05).  Referred to the Senate Committee on Families and Human Services (12/6/05).  Reported favorably with substitute S-1 (12/8/05).  Substitute S-2 Passed the Senate (12/8/05).  Enrolled (12/13/05).  Substitute H-2 Presented to the Governor (12/14/05).  Governor Vetoed (12/27/05). 

HB 5440 Family Independence Program Revisions (Pearce)  The bill would require verification of cash assistance receipt in other states that could then be counted in the 48-month lifetime limit on the receipt of cash assistance within the Family Independence Program referred to in HB 5438.  Action:  Introduced and referred to the Committee on Families and Children's Services (11/22/05).  Reported favorably with substitute H-1 (11/30/05).  Passed the full House (12/1/05).  Referred to the Senate Committee on Families and Human Services (12/6/05).  Reported favorably with substitute S-1 (12/8/05).  Substitute S-1 Passed the Senate (12/8/05).  Enrolled (12/13/05).  Substitute H-2 Presented to the Governor (12/14/05).  Governor Vetoed (12/27/05). 

HB 5441 Work First Sanction Revisions (Farhat)  The bill would increase the sanctions given to recipients who fail to comply with the requirements of the Family Independence Program.  This bill is tie-barred to HB 5439.  Action:  Introduced and referred to the Committee on Families and Children's Services (11/22/05).  Reported favorably with substitute H-2 (11/30/05).  Passed the full House (12/1/05).  Referred to the Senate Committee on Families and Human Services (12/6/05).  Reported favorably with substitute S-1 (12/8/05).  Substitute S-2 Passed the Senate (12/8/05).  Enrolled (12/13/05).  Substitute H-3 Presented to the Governor (12/14/05).  Governor Vetoed (12/27/05). 

HB 5443 Work First Revisions (Mortimer)  This bill would revise education requirements for Work First participants including allowing more education-related activities under certain circumstances.  Action:  Introduced and referred to the Family and Children Services Committee (11/22/05). Reported with substitute H-1 (11/30/05).  Substitute H-2 adopted (12/1/05).  Passed by the House (12/1/05).  Referred to the Senate Family and Children Services Committee (12/1/05).

HB 5444 Family Independence Program Revisions (Stahl)  This bill would require a personal development plan for each Family Independence Program family including input from the Departments of Human Services and Labor and Economic Growth caseworkers.  Action: Introduced and referred to the Family and Children Services Committee (11/22/05). Reported with substitute H-1 (11/30/05).  Substitute H-1 adopted (12/1/05).  Passed by the House (12/1/05).  Referred to the Senate Family and Children Services Committee (12/6/05).

HB 5445 Welfare Lifetime Limit (Kooiman)  This bill would require a four-year lifetime limit to receive welfare benefits included in HB 5438.  Action: Introduced and referred to the Family and Children Services Committee (11/22/05). Reported with substitute H-1 (11/30/05).  Substitute H-2 adopted (12/1/05).  Passed by the House (12/1/05).  Referred to the Senate Family and Children Services Committee (12/6/05).

HB 5446 Work First Eligibility Revisions (Kolb)  This bill would make several changes to Work First eligibility and exemption requirements, including wage verification for initial eligibility for public assistance medical services programs, participation in family service programs for parents of very young children, and periodic re-evaluation of exempted families.  Action: Introduced and referred to the Family and Children Services Committee (11/22/05). Reported with substitute H-1 (11/30/05).  Substitute H-1 adopted (12/1/05).  Passed by the House (12/1/05).  Referred to the Senate Family and Children Services Committee (12/6/05).

HB 5698 Divorce Effects Program (Vander Veen) Requires a divorce effects program for divorcing couples with children.  Introduced and referred to the Family and Children's Services Committee (2/16/06). Discussed by the Family and Children's Services Committee (3/21/06). Reported with substitute H-1(5/4/06).  Passed by the House (06/29/06).  Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee (07/26/06).

HB 5699 (Kooiman), HB 5700 (Stahl), HB 5702 (Gleason), HB 5703 (Wojno) Pre-Marriage Program  These bills would penalize couples who have not completed a pre-marriage program by delaying the processing of their marriage license, would allow couples to deduct the costs of the program from their taxes, and would require the inclusion of the information about program participation on the marriage license.  Introduced and referred to the Family and Children's Services Committee (2/16/06).  Discussed by the Family and Children's Services Committee (3/21/06). Reported with substitutes H-2 and H-3 (5/4/06).  Passed by the House (06/29/06).  Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee (07/26/06).

HB 5701 Child Custody Parenting Plans (Moolenaar) Requires parenting plans in child custody arrangements.  Introduced and referred to the Family and Children's Services Committee (2/14/06).   A similar bill was introduced by Sen. Kuipers in the Senate SB 1045.  Reported with recommendation with substitute H-3 (05/4/06).  Substitute H-3 adopted (06/29/06).  Passed by House (06/29/06).  Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee (07/26/07).

HB 6481 Drug Testing (Mortimer) Revises requirements for drug testing of welfare recipients.  Introduced and referred to Family and Children Services Committee.  Reported with Substitute H-1 (9/19/06).  Received by the Senate and referred to Families and Human Services Committee (11/9/06).

HB 6698 Child Support Formula (Lipsey) HB 6699 (Condino) HB 6700 (Bieda) HB 6701 (Smith, V.) HB 6702 (Kolb) HB 6703 (Lipsey) HB 6704 (Adamini) HB 6705 (Lipsey) Establishes a child support formula commission, eliminates development of child support formula by friend of the court bureau, and revises reference in family support act to  child support formula developed under the "friend of the court act" to "child support formula commission act".  Introduced and referred to Family and Children Services Committee (11/30/06).  Re-referred to Judiciary from Family and Children Services (12/5/06). Reported (12/6/06). Passed (12/7/06).  Received by the Senate and referred to Families and Human Services committee (12/12/06).

HR 22 Ethnic and Cultural Heritage Month (Taub)  Commemorates March 2005 as Ethnic and Cultural Heritage Month in Michigan.  Adopted by the House (2/16/05).

HR 317 Family Caregiver (Shaffer) Recognizes November as National Family Caregiver Month. Adopted by the House (11/28/06).

Other Introduced Legislation...

SB 469 Earned Income Tax Credit (Garcia)  Provides for a Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit, but limits the program to those years when state revenues are adequate to increase the Budget Stabilization Fund.  Introduced and referred to the Finance Committee (5/5/05).

SB 520 Breast Feeding Discrimination (Toy)  Prohibits discrimination against the expression of breast mile by nursing mothers.  Introduced and referred to the Judiciary Committee (5/19/05).

SB 1045 Child Custody Parenting Plans (Kuipers) Requires parenting plans in child custody arrangements.  Introduced and referred to the Judiciary Committee (2/14/06).   A similar bill was introduced by Rep. Moolenaar in the House HB 5701. 

SB 1197 Child Support (Switalski) Eliminates requirement of presentence report for nonpayment of child support. Introduced and referred to the Judiciary Committee (3/29/06).

SB 1258 Electronic Parenting (Patterson) Allows for electronic visitation as part of parenting time in child custody.  Introduced and referred to Judiciary Committee (5/9/06).

SB 1281 Child Custody/Sex Offender (Van Woerkom) Requires decisions regarding child custody to factor in the presence in the home of a registered sex offender.  Introduced and referred to Families and Human Services Committee (5/24/06).

HB 4046 Minium Wage Increase (Lemmons Jr.)  This bill increases minimum wage.  Introduced and referred to the Employment Relations, Training and Safety Committee (1/27/05). Re-referred to the Employment Relations, Training and Safety Committee (3/28/06).  A similar bill, HB 4518 (Gonzales) was also introduced and sent to this committee for review (3/28/06).

HB 4047 Limited Minimum Wage Increase (Lemmons Jr.)   This bill increases minimum wage for certain individuals.  Introduced and referred to the Employment Relations, Training and Safety Committee (1/27/05).

HB 4245 Child Support (Hummel)  This bill clarifies treatment in excess of support.  Introduced and referred to the Judiciary Committee (2/9/05).

HB 4542 Unpaid Child Support (Robertson)  Enacts graduated penalties for unpaid child support.  Introduced and referred to the Judiciary Committee (3/23/05).

HB 4543 Unpaid Child Support (Robertson)  Revises sentencing guidelines for unpaid child support to reflect increased penalties.  Introduced and referred to the Judiciary Committee (3/23/05).

HB 6221 & HB 6222 Minimum Wage (Hoogendyk) Revises employee description from 16 years of age to 18, and excludes employers with less than 50 employees from the minimum wage standard.  Introduced and referred to Commerce Committee (6/20/06).

HB 6273 Restaurant Food Assistance (McConico) Allows for the use of SBT bridge cards at certain approved restaurants.  Introduced and referred to Family and Children Services (6/28/06).