This bill, known as the Workplace Employee Boundaries Act, prohibits employers from requiring employees to check work emails, texts, or calls outside of their regular working hours. It allows workers to set specific times when they are available for work-related messages and protects them from retaliation, such as firing or threatening them, if they do not respond during off-hours. The law also bans employers from forcing employees to give up these protections as a condition of getting a job and provides for fines and extra pay for violations. Exceptions exist for emergencies, urgent notices to all staff, and situations where employees are already paid to be on call.
This bill directs the state treasurer to move all interest earned from the countercyclical budget and economic stabilization fund into the child care payment fund. The law requires that interest accumulated between fiscal year 2024 and the bill's effective date be deposited within 90 days, while all future interest must go to the child care fund immediately. These funds are intended to support child care services in Michigan by utilizing earnings from the state's economic stabilization reserve. The legislation is currently tied to Senate Bill 946, meaning it will not become active unless that companion bill is also passed.
HB 5915 amends Michigan's Sex Offender Registration Act to clarify the criminal penalties for individuals who willfully violate registration requirements. The bill establishes a tiered sentencing system where first-time offenders face up to four years in prison or a $2,000 fine, while those with one prior violation could be sentenced to life imprisonment or at least seven years, and repeat offenders could receive life sentences or at least ten years. Additionally, the legislation specifies that courts must revoke probation or youthful trainee status, and parole boards must rescind parole for individuals who willfully break the law, while also allowing violations to be prosecuted in the judicial district where the person lived, actually resides, or was arrested.
HB 5906 updates Michigan's skilled trades regulations to clarify that only licensed individuals can install electrical wiring, fire alarm systems, and electric signs, while requiring permits from the relevant board or municipality for such work. The bill creates a specific exception allowing property owners to obtain permits when unlicensed volunteers perform electrical work for charitable organizations on 1-to-4-family homes during reconstruction or renovation. Additionally, it establishes a pathway for individuals already licensed in other states to receive a Michigan sign specialty license without taking an examination, provided the foreign state's standards meet or exceed Michigan's. This legislation is tied to another bill, HB 5905, meaning it will only become effective if that companion measure is also passed.
HB 5916 amends Michigan's Revised Judicature Act to update the legal age threshold for criminal contempt penalties associated with violating personal protection orders. The bill changes the age requirement from 17 to 18 years old, meaning individuals aged 18 and older who violate such orders face immediate arrest and potential felony charges with a maximum prison sentence of 181 days and a fine of up to $500. This change directly affects adults who are subject to restraining orders and law enforcement officers who enforce them. The amendment clarifies sentencing guidelines for adult respondents while maintaining existing protections for minors.
This bill amends Michigan's Social Welfare Act to impose mandatory prison sentences for individuals who commit fraud to obtain government assistance or for those who knowingly fail to report required financial information. Under the new provisions, anyone convicted of obtaining relief through false statements or hiding income would face a fixed sentence of between 2.5 and 4 years in prison, regardless of the specific amount involved. The legislation also mandates that employees of social welfare agencies who authorize relief for ineligible individuals be removed from their positions upon conviction. Additionally, the bill clarifies the reporting obligations for recipients, requiring them to disclose employment offers and changes in circumstances that might affect their eligibility for aid.
This bill amends Michigan's penal code to establish mandatory minimum sentences for specific assault and battery offenses. It directly affects individuals convicted of assaulting spouses, dating partners, household members, or pregnant victims, as well as those with prior convictions for similar acts against these groups. The key provision requires that anyone found guilty of these crimes receive a prison term of at least one year, with higher minimums of two and a half years or five years depending on the victim's status and the offender's criminal history. Additionally, the bill mandates that healthcare facilities post signs warning that assaulting medical staff can result in enhanced fines.
This bill directs the Michigan Department of Community Health to establish a Medicaid estate recovery program that seeks repayment from the estates of deceased recipients for certain medical services. A key provision prohibits the state from filing claims against funds held in an ABLE savings account, protecting these assets from recovery efforts. The legislation also outlines specific exemptions, such as protecting the homes of surviving spouses, young children, disabled dependents, and certain caretaker relatives. Additionally, the bill requires the department to obtain federal approval before implementing the program and mandates that no interest be charged on recovered amounts.
This bill amends Michigan's ABLE program to allow individuals with disabilities to designate a specific survivor beneficiary for their savings accounts. It also exempts these accounts from Medicaid estate recovery, ensuring that funds remain protected for the individual's qualified disability expenses even after their death. The legislation clarifies the roles of account owners and designated representatives, permitting changes to beneficiaries within the family unit without requiring court approval. By updating the state's ABLE program rules, the bill aims to provide greater flexibility and financial security for people with disabilities and their families.
This bill, known as the Commercial Advertising Loudness Mitigation Act, would require video streaming services in Michigan to ensure that commercial advertisements are not louder than the accompanying video content. Starting July 1, 2027, these services must regulate audio levels so that ads do not exceed the volume of the programs or videos they interrupt. The law applies to internet-based streaming platforms but excludes traditional television stations, cable operators, and services that do not include ads. Violations of this rule could result in a civil fine of up to $10,000 for each instance, which would be collected by the state attorney general and deposited into the general fund.
HB 5911 amends Michigan's Identity Theft Protection Act to establish mandatory minimum prison sentences for repeat offenders who commit identity theft crimes. Specifically, the bill requires a minimum of 10 years in prison for a third or subsequent violation of the act and a minimum of 2 years and 6 months for certain violations involving specific types of data breaches. These sentencing rules apply regardless of whether the victim is alive or deceased at the time of the crime and allow courts to order prison terms to be served consecutively with other related convictions. The legislation also clarifies that these mandatory sentences do not apply to violations of state or federal regulations governing financial institutions and insurance.
HB 5918 amends Michigan's Code of Criminal Procedure to update sentencing guidelines for various specific crimes. The bill directly affects judges, prosecutors, and defendants by modifying the rules used to determine appropriate prison terms and penalties. It achieves these changes by revising numerous sections within the state's criminal code to reflect recent legal adjustments. This legislation is part of a larger group of related bills aimed at refining how sentences are calculated and applied in the state court system.
