This bill creates a new legal process in Michigan that allows misdemeanor defendants with mental health issues to be diverted from jail into a supervised outpatient treatment program instead of facing immediate criminal prosecution. Under the new rules, prosecutors, defendants, or their attorneys can request an assessment to determine if a person qualifies for this diversion, and if approved, a judge can order community-based treatment for up to 180 days. During this period, the criminal charges remain pending but are automatically dismissed after the treatment term ends, provided the defendant complies with the plan, while any violations of the treatment order are handled as a separate civil matter rather than a criminal one.
This bill allows courts in Michigan to admit pre-recorded video statements from certain vulnerable witnesses, such as children under 16 or adults with developmental disabilities, in specific criminal cases involving abuse or assault. To support these witnesses during testimony, the law requires judges to permit them to have a support person or a trained courtroom support dog present in the courtroom. The bill also mandates that video statements be recorded with specific details, including a running time clock and a list of people present, to ensure their reliability. Additionally, the legislation clarifies the rules for notifying other parties in the case when a witness intends to use these supports during a trial.
This bill updates Michigan's Freedom of Information Act to explicitly include the state legislature and the governor's office within its scope, ensuring their records are subject to public disclosure requests. It clarifies definitions for terms like "public body" and "public record" to cover digital formats such as cloud storage and quantum computing systems while excluding personal notes and certain software licenses. The legislation also establishes specific procedures for handling requests, including requirements for contact information and the right to subscribe to regularly issued records, with exceptions for the executive office of the governor and legislative fiscal agencies. By amending existing sections of the law, the bill aims to standardize how citizens can access government information across all branches of state government.
This bill updates Michigan's Freedom of Information Act to include the state legislature and the governor's office, ensuring they are subject to the same public records rules as other government agencies. It requires the Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority Leader to appoint specific coordinators to handle requests and appeals for their respective chambers. Under the new rules, if a legislative body denies access to records, citizens can appeal to these designated coordinators before filing a lawsuit, and courts must prioritize hearing these cases to ensure timely resolution.
This bill updates Michigan election laws to standardize the format and content of petitions used for constitutional amendments, legislation, and candidate nominations. It mandates specific layout requirements, such as bold headings and standardized warnings, while also requiring petition circulators to clearly indicate whether they are paid or volunteers. Additionally, the bill clarifies the counting process by specifying that only the first valid signature from any individual will be counted if a duplicate appears on a petition. These changes aim to streamline the petitioning process and ensure consistency across different types of election filings.
This bill requires individuals who collect signatures for political petitions in Michigan to be paid an hourly wage instead of a flat fee per signature. The law applies to petitions for candidates, ballot measures, and recall elections, prohibiting any compensation based on the number of signatures gathered. By mandating hourly pay, the legislation aims to standardize how petition circulators are compensated across different types of electoral processes.
This bill creates the Biased and Unjust Care Reporting Act to establish a system for reporting mistreatment during pregnancy and the postpartum period. It defines specific harmful behaviors, including obstetric racism and obstetric violence, and requires the state Department of Civil Rights to use a validated survey tool to collect these reports. The department must then compile and share de-identified data on the frequency of these incidents with state officials, while ensuring no personal identifying information is disclosed. The legislation directly affects pregnant and postpartum individuals seeking gynecological care and the health facilities and professionals providing that care.
This bill allows cities in Michigan to create special assessment districts to fund the maintenance or improvement of private roads within their boundaries. It enables the city legislative body to approve such projects by resolution or upon receiving a petition from more than half of the property owners along the road. Costs for these projects are shared pro rata among all property owners in the district based on their frontage, and the program can last up to five years unless a new district is established to continue it.
SB 986 amends Michigan's Food Law to explicitly include certain disabled individuals among those exempt from food establishment licensing requirements. The bill modifies existing exemptions to ensure that individuals with disabilities who operate specific types of food-related businesses, such as vending machines or small-scale producers, are not required to obtain a license if they currently qualify under other categories. This change aims to remove barriers for disabled entrepreneurs by clarifying their eligibility for existing regulatory waivers without introducing new licensing obligations. The legislation focuses on aligning the statute with the reality of how disabled individuals may operate food businesses, ensuring they are covered under current exemptions for activities like selling prepackaged goods or operating small retail outlets.
This bill amends Michigan's Juvenile Diversion Act to allow researchers and organizations to request records related to juvenile diversion cases for study purposes. Under the new provisions, courts and the state court administrative office can release these records only if a formal data use agreement is created to protect personally identifiable information from misuse. The bill also requires officials to keep detailed logs of all research requests and their outcomes, while maintaining existing rules that keep screening results and admissions confidential from court proceedings.
This bill updates Michigan's aeronautics code to clarify the rules for registering and taxing aircraft based on their weight. It requires aircraft owners to pay an annual fee calculated at 5 cents per pound of the aircraft's maximum gross or takeoff weight, which serves as a replacement for property taxes on the plane. The legislation outlines specific exemptions for certain aircraft, such as those used in scheduled passenger service, government-owned planes, and foreign aircraft operating in the state for short periods. Additionally, it sets clear deadlines for submitting renewal applications and establishes a penalty structure for late payments, while allowing for waivers in cases of reasonable cause.
This bill requires medical malpractice insurance companies in Michigan to provide the Department of Health and Human Services with specific information about their policies covering perinatal care services upon request. The law mandates that insurers submit this data annually, and the department must forward the collected information to the Department of Health and Human Services within 60 days for a required study. Additionally, the bill includes a provision that prevents it from taking effect unless a separate related bill, Senate Bill 818, is also enacted into law.
