Sen. Mary Cavanagh

Maddy summarySB 1080 amends Michigan's Worker's Disability Compensation Act to update how death benefits are calculated and distributed to employees' dependents. The bill clarifies that a spouse living with the deceased employee is presumed wholly dependent for the first 208 weeks, after which dependency is determined based on actual financial need. It also adjusts rules for children, ensuring those under 16 or those who are physically or mentally incapacitated are presumed wholly dependent regardless of who they live with. Additionally, the legislation specifies how death benefits are divided among multiple dependents, prioritizing wholly dependent individuals over partially dependent ones and directing funds for children to their guardians if the surviving spouse is not properly caring for them. These changes aim to streamline the process for families receiving compensation when a worker dies due to a work-related injury.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens oversight for Michigan public school academies by requiring the organizations that authorize them to perform specific duties. The law mandates that authorizing bodies establish independent boards with local representation, ensure fair student admission processes, and monitor financial and academic performance. Additionally, it requires these bodies to submit regular reports on their oversight efforts and gives them the power to revoke contracts if academies fail to meet academic goals, legal standards, or fiscal requirements. The legislation also clarifies that authorizing bodies serve as fiscal agents and must ensure academy boards meet frequently and operate without interference from educational management companies.

Maddy summarySB 944 updates the rules for public school academies in Michigan that hire outside companies to manage their operations. The bill requires these management companies to share detailed financial reports and specific salary information for high-paid staff with the academy's board of directors. Additionally, the law mandates that academies post this financial and personnel data on their websites for public viewing within 30 days of receiving it. This legislation aims to increase transparency regarding how public funds are used and how management contracts are structured.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Strategic Advisory Board to create and update a ten-year economic development plan for Michigan, covering rural, suburban, and urban areas. The plan must include specific goals such as promoting natural resource industries, ensuring affordable housing, protecting the environment, and improving education and infrastructure. Additionally, the bill requires the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to update this strategic plan annually by September 30.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Michigan Department of Corrections to assist prisoners in obtaining identification documents, such as those needed for a driver's license, and to provide written information about voter registration and election processes while they are incarcerated. The legislation mandates that the department help eligible inmates secure these resources before their release on parole or discharge, and it allows the Secretary of State to access prisoner data electronically to verify identities for license applications. Additionally, the bill creates a new "reentry success fund" to finance these reentry activities and updates procedures for how the parole board considers victim statements and conducts interviews prior to granting parole.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Michigan public school districts to publish detailed financial information on their websites to improve transparency and allow the public to track how school funds are used. Under the new rules, districts must post their annual budgets, expense charts broken down by category such as salaries and instruction, and links to collective bargaining agreements and audit reports. The legislation also mandates that districts disclose specific details regarding high-paid employees, credit card usage, out-of-state travel, and spending on lobbying services. Additionally, the bill clarifies that up to 20% of certain state aid funds can be used for debt service or capital projects and permits districts to contract with third parties for noninstructional services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires prosecutors to provide crime victims with written notice when a defendant becomes eligible to earn productivity credits that could reduce their prison sentence. The legislation applies to both adult and juvenile offenders and mandates that victims be informed of their right to submit impact statements detailing the harm suffered and their sentencing recommendations. These notices must be delivered promptly and include specific details about the upcoming sentencing hearing, the nature of the crimes, and how the victim's input will be used in preparing reports for the court. By clarifying these notification requirements, the bill aims to ensure victims are kept informed of significant developments in their cases without altering the underlying rules for earning sentence credits.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Strategic Advisory Board within the Michigan Strategic Fund to help develop and update strategic and operational plans for economic development. The board will consist of numerous voting members representing various state departments, business organizations, regional alliances, and universities, along with nonvoting experts in economics and site selection. Appointed by the governor, these members will work together to create a comprehensive plan that guides the fund's activities. The legislation establishes the board's composition, appointment procedures, term lengths, and the authority to remove members for cause.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's corrections code to formally recognize and incorporate "productivity credits" into the calculation of time served for prisoners. It directly affects inmates in state correctional facilities by allowing them to earn credit toward their minimum sentence requirements through work or other productive activities. The amendment modifies existing sections of the law to ensure these credits are properly considered when determining eligibility for parole, aligning the system with recent legislative changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new productivity time credit system for prisoners in Michigan who are sentenced on or after its effective date, allowing them to reduce their minimum and maximum sentences by participating in educational or vocational programs. Eligible inmates can earn up to 20 days of credit per month for enrollment in recommended programs or 10 to 20 days for voluntary programs, with additional bonuses of 90 to 120 days awarded upon successfully completing these courses. However, the department of corrections cannot award credits to individuals classified as very high risk, those assigned to maximum security housing, or those convicted of specific serious offenses such as life without parole or certain violent crimes. Credits are also forfeited if a prisoner commits major misconduct, and the total number of credits a person can earn is capped at 20% of their minimum sentence.