Rep. Stephanie Young

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes updating Michigan's sentencing guidelines specifically for crimes committed against animals. It directly affects judges, prosecutors, and defendants involved in animal cruelty cases by modifying the legal rules used to determine punishments. The key mechanism involves revising the existing statutory language to ensure these guidelines are current and clearly applied within the criminal justice system. As a procedural amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure, the bill focuses on the technical framework for sentencing rather than creating new crimes or changing penalty ranges.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to update Michigan's sentencing guidelines by modifying the specific factors judges consider when determining punishments for various crimes. It directly affects the judicial process by changing how points are assigned for offenses against persons, property, controlled substances, public order, and public safety. The key change involves adjusting which offense variables are scored for different crime categories, though the bill's final effect is currently contingent on the passage of two other related bills.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the composition of Michigan's Board of Psychology to include more licensed professionals by replacing public members with psychologists who hold limited licenses. It establishes a new limited license category for individuals with a master's degree in psychology, allowing them to practice under specific supervision and advertising restrictions. To qualify for this limited license, applicants must have a master's degree from an accredited program and complete one year of supervised postgraduate experience in a healthcare setting. The legislation also updates the board's membership requirements to ensure that at least five of its voting members hold a doctoral degree in psychology.

Maddy summaryHB 5588 amends Michigan's Code of Criminal Procedure to update the definitions of specific terms used in sentencing guidelines. The bill clarifies the meanings of words such as aircraft, companion animal, departure, homicide, intermediate sanction, ORV, snowmobile, vehicle, and vessel by referencing their existing definitions in other state laws. These changes ensure that legal documents and sentencing decisions consistently use the current definitions for these terms. The legislation directly affects judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys who apply these guidelines during criminal proceedings.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the duties of the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission to include providing legal representation for youth in juvenile court cases, in addition to its existing role for adults. By amending the state's indigent defense act, the legislation ensures that young people facing delinquency charges receive effective legal counsel starting from their initial court appearance. The commission will be responsible for setting minimum standards for how local courts deliver these services to both adults and youth, while also managing funding adjustments based on economic indicators. Ultimately, the bill aims to standardize the quality of legal defense available to financially unable defendants across the state's juvenile justice system.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts hospitals in Michigan from requiring registered professional nurses to work more than their regularly scheduled hours, except during declared state emergencies, mass casualty incidents, or when a nurse voluntarily accepts extra shifts. It also prohibits hospitals from disciplining or discriminating against nurses who refuse mandatory overtime and mandates that hospitals provide eight consecutive hours of off-duty time after any 12-hour shift. To enforce these rules, the legislation requires hospitals to post notices informing staff of their rights and outlines specific administrative fines for violations. Additionally, the law includes a provision that delays its application in facilities with existing collective bargaining agreements that currently prevent compliance with the new overtime limits.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's insurance code to clarify the rules for sponsored captive insurance companies. It allows a wider range of business entities, including associations and trusts, to participate in these companies without needing to be shareholders or affiliates. The legislation also permits sponsors to participate in their own sponsored captives and requires that participants generally insure only their own risks or those of their affiliates, unless approved by the state insurance director. These changes aim to provide clearer guidelines on who can join such insurance structures and what risks they can cover.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's insurance code to clarify which entities are eligible to sponsor a sponsored captive insurance company. It specifies that sponsors must be licensed insurers, holding companies, reinsurers, or certain captive companies, while explicitly excluding risk retention groups from acting as sponsors or participants. The legislation also outlines specific requirements for securing business written by these captives, mandating that it be backed by a licensed insurer, state-approved reinsurance, or a secured trust fund. Additionally, the bill directs the insurance director to evaluate proposed sponsors based on their financial stability, experience, and business reputation.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits local governments in Michigan, such as counties, cities, and townships, from creating rules that automatically lower their property tax rates when revenue collection hits a specific dollar limit. It declares any existing local rules with such automatic reductions invalid and requires those governments to stop enforcing them immediately. The law specifically targets self-imposed limits on tax revenue that would force a drop in the tax rate, while leaving other state or constitutional tax restrictions unchanged.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Food Law to update procedures for inspecting food establishments and handling seized food items. It grants state officials expanded authority to enter facilities, review records, and take photos or videos to evaluate compliance with safety rules. The legislation also allows for in-office consultations instead of on-site inspections for temporary food vendors serving low-risk items and clarifies how local health departments should process license applications. Additionally, it permits the state to enter agreements with other agencies for training and assistance while protecting trade secrets found during evaluations.