Sen. Sue Shink

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new licensing and registration system for businesses in Michigan that independently store or transport deceased human bodies. It requires separate two-year licenses for refrigeration facilities and certificates of registration for removal services, with applicants needing to disclose criminal history and demonstrate good moral character. The law mandates that these facilities and vehicles pass state inspections and must be managed by individuals holding a mortuary science license. Additionally, the bill restricts contracts for these services to specific authorized entities such as funeral homes, hospitals, and medical schools.

Maddy summaryThis law allows credit union members to designate their accounts as inactive if they are not using them but wish to keep their membership status. Under this rule, the credit union cannot charge fees on these inactive accounts, and the member can remove the inactive status at any time. If an account remains inactive for three years, the credit union must turn the funds over to the state treasury and end the membership. The change applies to domestic credit unions and requires all members of a shared account to agree before designating it as inactive.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to clarify how inland lake levels are defined and financed. It provides clearer definitions for terms like "inland lake" and "normal level," specifying that normal levels are target elevations chosen to benefit the public and protect property while excluding the Great Lakes. The legislation also expands the ability of local districts to raise money for lake level projects by allowing them to issue bonds and accept advances from various sources, including private companies and the federal government, to cover costs like engineering and land acquisition. These financial tools are intended to help communities manage water levels through special assessments on affected properties.

Maddy summarySB 706 modifies Michigan's vehicle code to remove unpaid driver responsibility fees from the centralized computerized driving records maintained by the secretary of state. This change affects drivers who have accumulated these fees, ensuring that such financial obligations no longer appear on their official driving history alongside traffic violations and accidents. The bill achieves this by amending specific sections of the state law that previously required these fees to be listed in the central file. Consequently, the removal of this information aims to provide a more accurate reflection of a driver's actual traffic behavior rather than their financial compliance with state fees.

Maddy summarySB 389 modifies Michigan's unclaimed property laws by adjusting the timeframes after which certain financial instruments and accounts are considered abandoned. The bill specifically shortens the dormancy period for travelers checks and money orders from 15 years to 3 years, while maintaining a 3-year wait for bank accounts, cashier's checks, and other financial deposits. These changes apply primarily to funds held by issuers or financial organizations where the owner has not communicated with the entity or shown interest in the property within the specified time. Additionally, the legislation clarifies the rules for charging fees or stopping interest payments on dormant accounts, requiring specific written contracts and advance notice for such actions. The law also establishes criteria for when the state can claim these funds, focusing on whether the financial instrument was purchased in Michigan or if the issuer is based in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to allow the Department of Environmental Quality to issue emergency orders against individuals violating rules regarding structures or fill on inland lake or stream bottomlands. The provision authorizes the department to demand immediate repairs or removal of such structures to prevent harm to public health, safety, property, or natural resources, and permits the department to perform these actions and recover costs if the owner fails to comply. While the department can modify or terminate these orders once the emergency is resolved, the law requires a hearing within 15 days to review the order's necessity, and it specifically excludes violations related to residential property.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Michigan Promise Zone Authority Act to update the definitions of key terms used in the program. It clarifies who qualifies as an eligible entity, such as local school districts in areas with high poverty rates, and expands what counts as qualified educational expenses to include costs like housing, food, and computer equipment. The changes ensure that local governments have a clearer framework for committing financial resources to help students from these specific communities pay for postsecondary education and vocational training.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires educational management organizations running public school academies in Michigan to use a competitive bidding process when purchasing services, effectively treating these academies the same as traditional public schools. To implement this, the law mandates that organizations advertise for bids in local newspapers and on specific government websites for at least two weeks, followed by a public meeting where all bids are read aloud. The process includes specific rules such as requiring sworn statements about familial relationships between bidders and organization members, setting a minimum threshold of $29,572 for contracts requiring bids, and allowing a preference for Michigan-based businesses. Additionally, the bill establishes that any academy violating these bidding requirements must forfeit an amount equal to the contract value from state school aid funds.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 939 creates a new licensing system for adult psychiatric residential treatment facilities in Michigan, which are homes providing 24-hour supervised psychiatric care to adults over 18. The bill defines these facilities as distinct from hospitals, nursing homes, and other care settings, requiring them to meet specific standards of care and be accredited by recognized organizations. Under the new law, operators must obtain a license from the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, undergo on-site inspections, and pay application fees, while the state also establishes rules regarding who may operate these facilities and how residents receive care.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's sentencing guidelines to address crimes committed against adults in residential psychiatric care facilities that have lost their licenses or refused to renew them. It requires judges to consider the specific circumstances of these revoked or suspended facilities when determining appropriate sentences for offenders. The change aims to ensure that the status of the facility is a factor in how severely a crime is punished, without specifying exact sentence lengths.