Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union Update
Legislative Update for the Week of June 6th – June 10th
The FY 2017 omnibus and “school bus” budget bills were sent to the governor this week. The omnibus
passed the House of Representatives 71-37 and the Senate 26-11, while the school bus passed the
House 74-34 and the Senate 20-17. Totaling $54.9 billion, the budget included $460 million in spending
reductions, reflecting lower revenue estimates.
The House of Representatives voted 97-11 on HB 5578, legislation introduced by Rep. David Maturen (RVicksburg) to change the method used to assess property taxes on big box stores. The bill would require
the Michigan Tax Tribunal to consider the “highest and best use” in its own independent assessment of
property’s taxable value. Retailers have stated that the measure will result in unfair assessments and
increased burdens on the Tribunal that will result in case backlogs.
Legislation that ends an $80 million tax credit to certain automobile insurance companies was is on its
way to Governor Snyder’s desk. The amendment to HB 5457 and HB 5458 was added by the Senate and
concurred in by the House, with bipartisan support and opposition.
A bill package eliminating the Health Insurance Claims Assessment (HICA) passed the Senate 34-3 this
week. The legislation is in large part designed to resolve federal concerns regarding how the state
meets its obligations under Medicaid while still eliminating the HICA tax. The revenue lost by the HICA
repeal will instead come from income tax revenue and a use tax on HMOs.
After a session lasting into Wednesday night, the Senate passed a slightly amended version of the
House’s Detroit Public Schools reform package. Under the legislation, DPS becomes an entity that
manages the $500 million debt, while students, teachers, administrators, and staff become part of the
new Detroit Community School District. In addition to paying off existing debt and steering $150 million
to the new district, the bill package dissolves the Education Achievement Authority. The plan does not
create the Detroit Education Commission, which many viewed as a necessary part of any DPS reforms.
MISCELLANEOUS
With only a signature left from the Governor, the First Responders Presumed Coverage Fund will be
active with $3M in FY 16. The money will be able to be disbursed immediately. HB 5631 which provided
the vehicle for this funding was also passed this week. It allowed $3M to be spent from the Forest
Products Development Fund to be transferred to the First Responders Presumed Coverage Fund. The
dollars for this fund will only be for one year. The plan is to pass HB 4209, 4210, 4287, SB 140, 141 and
1014 which would license medical marijuana dispensaries. A portion of the fee from this license would
go to fund cancer presumption. This money would not be available until FY 18. The bills are sitting on
the Senate floor waiting action. It is expected that a vote will be taken in the fall to pass this legislation.
SB 889 and SB 890 introduced by Senator Kowall which deals with regulating internet gaming became an
interest to the fire services when they dedicated $5M each year to the First Responders Presumed
Coverage fund. The bill passed out of the Senate Regulatory Reform committee on Wednesday.
Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union Update
The LARA budget was protected from the reduction of $500K and 4 FTES. They did not add any dollars
to hire any additional employees but we were able to stop the loss of current employees being
transferred to BCC. This was a significant victory in this budget. Also included in this budget was the
addition of resources from the Fireworks Safety Fee Fund to be used for fire fighter training. The FFTC
will now have $2M to be expended for training.
SB 218 was not included in part of the FY 16-17 budget discussions as we previously thought it would be.
Republicans on the House Appropriations committee fought against its passage and the inclusion of the
money in the budget. Specifically, Rep. Earl Poleski a Republican from Jackson urged his caucus
members not to support siting that this is a local issue that should be dealt with at the local level. We
are working with the other organizations in the law enforcement community to develop a strategy
moving forward to get this legislation passed.
A revised draft of PA 291 based upon feedback from the coalition will be back from the Legislative
Service Bureau during the next week. We will have to wait until the next legislative session day for it to
be introduced. Tentatively, the next session is scheduled for July 13th.
Attached is the proposed Draft 8 for Senator Caspersons’ EMS legislation. If introduced, we will
vigorously fight to ensure defeat of this bill. It has overwhelming consequences to the delivery of EMS
services in the state.
HB 5102 introduced by Rep. Gary Glenn passed out of the House on Tuesday. It was referred to the
Senate Regulatory Reform Committee. This bill would change the requirement of who is qualified to be
named by the State Fire Marshall to Construction Code Commission.
SB 878 introduced by Senator Shirkey was concurred in by the Senate on Thursday. This bill
would amend Section 405 of the Emergency 9-1-1 Service Enabling Act (MCL 484.1405) to extend the
deadline by which each service user with a multiline telephone system must install the necessary
equipment and software to provide specific location information of a 9-1-1 call. Under the bill, the
present deadline of December 31, 2016, would be extended three years, to December 31, 2019.
Committee Reports:
No activity to report at this time.
Bill Introductions:
SB 1025 of
2016
Occupations; alarm systems; definition of fire alarm service
technician in the electrical administrative act; modify. Amends sec.
1a of 1956 PA 217 (MCL 338.881a).
Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union Update
HB 5751 of
2016
Individual income tax; credit; qualified volunteers credit; create. Amends
1967 PA 281 (MCL 206.1 - 206.713) by adding sec. 254. TIE BAR WITH:
HB 5752'16
HB 5752 of
2016
Individual income tax; other; volunteer firefighter and emergency medical
services personnel incentive act; establish. Creates new act. TIE BAR
WITH: HB 5751'16
PASSED, ENROLLED or ADOPTED By the CHAMBER
HB 5102 of
2015
Construction; code; construction code commission and certain
advisory committees; increase fire service representation on.
Amends secs. 3a & 4 of 1972 PA 230 (MCL 125.1503a & 125.1504).
HB 5631 of
2016
Natural resources; funding; forest development fund; modify allowable
uses. Amends sec. 50507 of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.50507).
SB 0878 of
2016
Communications; emergency 9-1-1; certain requirements of multiline
telephone systems to identify the specific location of 9-1-1 calls; modify.
Amends sec. 405 of 1986 PA 32 (MCL 484.1405).
SR 0191 of
2016
A resolution to commemorate the weekend of July 29, 2016, as Muscular
Dystrophy Association (MDA)-Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union Fill
the Boot Weekend in Michigan.