Thursday morning the House Local Government committee held a second hearing on a new bill introduced this summer that would amend PA 54 of 2012, the law prohibiting retroactive wage increases, to exempt police officers and firefighters. The committee held testimony but did not take a vote.

HB 5780 seeks to undo one of last year’s important reforms by exempting those employees who are subject to PA 312. Our members have hailed PA 54 as a success because it has allowed for the settlement of contracts more quickly and has resulted in cost savings and fewer PA 312 arbitrations. Exempting police and fire from PA 54 would increase local costs as well as increase the number of communities going to PA 312 arbitration.

The League testified once again in opposition as did the counties. It’s important to please contact your legislators and ask them vote NO if it comes up on the House floor. The Legislature made significant reforms that were beneficial to communities last year, and this seeks to undo that progress.

Samantha Harkins is the Director of State Affairs for the League and handles municipal finance and labor issues. She can be reached at 517-908-0306 or email at [email protected].