Rep. Veronica Paiz

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates June 15, 2024, as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day throughout Michigan. It aims to raise public awareness about elder abuse by highlighting the importance of recognizing signs of mistreatment and reporting incidents. The measure encourages residents to learn more about protecting older adults and supports efforts by state agencies to prevent victimization.

Maddy summaryThis resolution officially designates June 2024 as Dairy Month in Michigan to honor the state's dairy industry and its economic and nutritional contributions. The measure highlights the sector's role in providing jobs, producing milk, and supporting public health through nutritious food products. By adopting this declaration, the legislative body aims to raise awareness about the importance of dairy in a balanced diet without proposing any changes to existing laws or regulations.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates June 7, 2024, as Gun Violence Awareness Day throughout Michigan to honor victims and survivors of gun violence. The measure encourages citizens to wear orange on that date to raise awareness and remember Hadiya Pendleton, a teenager killed in a shooting incident. While the bill does not change laws or introduce new regulations, it formally recognizes the significance of the day and urges the community to support efforts to prevent gun violence.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Transformational Projects Authority within the state Department of Transportation to oversee and fund major transportation initiatives. The authority will be led by a five-member board appointed by the governor, with specific requirements for expertise in public transportation and balanced representation from different legislative leaders. It grants the power to award financial assistance, such as grants and loans, to public transportation providers and local governments for projects that meet specific eligibility criteria based on regional population sizes. The legislation also establishes the rules for how the authority operates independently of the department director while remaining under the director's overall budget and procurement supervision.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Michigan Mobility Trust Fund within the state treasury to support transportation projects. It allows the state treasurer to accept money from various sources, including existing tax revenues, and directs that all interest earned on these investments be added to the fund. Money in the fund will not be lost at the end of each fiscal year but will remain available for future use. The bill designates the Transformational Projects Authority as the administrator responsible for auditing and spending the fund, but only after a specific appropriation is made. This legislation does not take effect unless several other related bills are also passed by the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Michigan distributes revenue collected from the corporate income tax, establishing a specific allocation plan for the years 2025 through 2035. Under the new rules, funds are prioritized to support the general fund, housing initiatives, local revitalization projects, transportation improvements, and economic development programs before any remaining money goes back to the general fund. The legislation also repeals an older section of the tax act and includes a condition that it will only become effective if several related bills are passed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the legal definition of a veteran in Michigan to explicitly include commissioned officers from the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Currently, the state's definition covers those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, but this change ensures that public health service officers are recognized under the same veteran status laws. The amendment aligns Michigan's statutes with federal criteria, allowing these officers to access benefits and protections previously reserved for military service members. This change directly affects public health service officers and the state agencies responsible for administering veteran benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance companies in Michigan to reimburse telehealth visits at the same rate as in-person office visits. It mandates that insurers cannot deny coverage for remote care if the service is appropriate and provided by a licensed professional in the patient's state. The law defines telemedicine as remote communication using secure audio or video technology or online messaging. While patients still pay the same copays and deductibles as they would for a physical appointment, the insurance coverage itself must be equal to that of face-to-face care.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new program to enforce federal standards for asbestos emissions during building renovations and demolitions in Michigan. It requires owners or operators to pay a $100 notification fee and a $10 modification fee for each change to their project plans, with public entities allowed to pass these costs to contractors under certain conditions. The state will use the collected fees to fund mandatory inspections, starting with 15% of projects in 2023 and 2024, and gradually increasing to 25% of projects by 2027. All revenue generated from these fees will be deposited into a dedicated state fund used exclusively for asbestos-related inspection activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that Michigan's Medicaid and Healthy Michigan programs reimburse telehealth visits at the same rate as in-person office visits. It directly affects healthcare providers and patients who use remote medical services by ensuring financial parity between virtual and physical appointments. The legislation does not alter existing rules about where telehealth can be conducted or who must verify patient eligibility, but it specifically mandates equal payment rates for these services.