Inside 208

This afternoon, a conference committee of both House and Senate members passed SB 954, which makes appropriations for EVIP/revenue sharing. In the bill, there is an increase of $15 million for the EVIP program, which will bring that total to $225 up from $210 million this year. In addition, the...

This morning the House Energy & Technology Committee held testimony on HB 5523, a bill that would prohibit any employer (public or private) or an educational institution from requiring an employee to disclose internet passwords and account information for sites used for personal use. This does not prohibit an employer...

While the details won’t be known until next week, it has been confirmed that the Governor and House and Senate leadership agreed to put additional funding into the EVIP program (formerly statutory revenue sharing) for 2012-13, after the revenue estimating conference resulted in some slightly increased revenue projections. At this...

The Michigan Municipal League and the Brookings Institute worked together to bring Bruce Katz to Michigan for a series of meetings which included a presentation in front of the Michigan House Commerce Committee on Wednesday May 23. Katz spoke to the committee on the recent Business Leaders for Michigan Urban Strategies Report...

The Senate Judiciary Committee this week took testimony on a bi-partisan package of bills that will provide local units of government with more tools to address blight.  The bills would do the following:  –          Senate Bill 1096 would allow cities that use administrative hearings bureau to adjudicate blight violations to...

On June 6, the MIPlace Partnership is holding the first of three workshops through the Michigan MIPlace Partnership to learn about what tools and programs are offered through the State of Michigan that can advance placemaking in your community.  The workshop is being held in Boyne City. Representatives from MSHDA,...

This morning the Senate Reforms, Restructuring and Reinventing Committee reported HB 4059, a bill that would prohibit a public employer from entering a bargaining agreement that allows its union employees to conduct union business during time paid for by the public employer. This bill passed the House in April 2011...

This afternoon the Senate Government Operations committee reported HB 5459, a bill that amends the Open Meetings Act (OMA). The intent of the bill is to create more transparency when there are “emergency” meetings that are unable to comply with the 18-hour reporting requirement. The bill requires a notice for...

This afternoon the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously reported SB 94, a bill that would create a cancer presumption for firefighters. The League once again opposed this legislation, stating that costs would be increased, and workers compensation would become unaffordable or even unavailable for our communities. CONTACT YOUR SENATOR and ask...

On Wednesday, June 6th at 2 pm, join a webinar presentation designed for local officials to discuss implementation of a wireless nationwide public safety broadband network. The webinar is designed to  help local leaders understand their role in building this critical public safety communications network. The Department of Commerce Deputy...