LEGISLATION                   

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The Michigan Sheriffs' Association continues to maintain a leadership role legislatively to best serve the needs of the Sheriff and the citizens of Michigan.  The MSA is on guard to represent the Sheriff's Offices at all levels of government by monitoring pending legislation, by preserving state funding resources that affect daily office operations, and by providing information on court cases that affect changes to the law enforcement landscape throughout Michigan.  

Legislation recently signed into law:

- HB 5153, (PA 310), sponsored by Rep. Leslie MORTIMER (R-Horton), which creates immunity from criminal prosecution in cases of self-defense.

- HB 5548, (PA 314), sponsored by Rep. Tim MOORE (R-Farwell), which creates immunity from civil liability in cases of self-defense.

- HB 5142, (PA 313), sponsored by Rep. Tom CASPERSON (R-Escanaba), which gives residents the right of self-defense in the surrounding area near their homes such as yards and garages.

- SB 1046, (PA 311), sponsored by Sen. Alan CROPSEY (R-DeWitt), would make it a rebuttable presumption that an individual who used deadly force or force other than deadly force in compliance with the Castle Doctrine had an honest and reasonable belief that imminent death, sexual assault or great bodily harm would have occurred had they not used such force.

- SB 1185, (PA 312), sponsored by Sen. Ron JELINEK (R-Three Oaks), would allow residents to use deadly force, or less than deadline force without a duty to retreat if they feel they are facing imminent death, rape or great bodily harm.

- HB 5952, (PA 287), sponsored by Rep. Neal NITZ (R-Baroda), that would bar anyone from selling or buying gasoline or other fuels that don't meet standards set by the American Society for Testing and materials.

- HB 5953, (PA 288), sponsored by Rep. Tonya SCHUITMAKER (R-Lawton) would provide that for any divorce or separate maintenance action filed after Sept. 1, an assignment of rights in and to any pension, annuity, or retirement benefits also would have to include a proportionate share of all components of those benefits unless the judgment expressly excluded one or more components.

- HB 6196, (PA 289), sponsored by Mortimer, is part of a three-bill package that amends the state's Insurance Code to address provisions related to the governance of insurance companies. HB 6196 limits agreements domestic insurers can make pertaining to contracts, compensation, pensions or retiree health care benefits.

- HB 6195, (PA 290), sponsored by Rep. Dave HILDENBRAND (R-Lowell), would allow certain action that currently requires an authorization vote of an insurance company board or committee of the board to be taken without a meeting.
- HB 6194, (PA 291), sponsored by Mortimer, would set meeting and oath requirements for the boards of in-state insurance companies.

- HB 5955, (PA 292), sponsored by Hildenbrand; HB 5956, (PA 293) sponsored by Rep. Ed CLEMENTE (D-Lincoln Park); HB 5957, (PA 294), sponsored by Rep. David PALSROK (R-Manistee); and HB 5958, (PA 295), sponsored by Rep. Michael NOFS (R-Battle Creek) amend various state laws to exempt from licensure and registration requirements an "Internet drop-off store."

- SB 0541, (PA 296), sponsored by Sen. Alan SANBORN (R-Richmond), creates a new Structured Settlement Protection Act, the law that governs the sale or other transfer of the right to receive periodic payments under structured settlement agreements.

- HB 4807, (PA 297), sponsored by Rep. John STAKOE (R-Highland), would allow a police officer to enforce a traffic ordinance on a private road.

- HB 6084, (PA 298), sponsored by Rep. Philip LaJOY (R-Canton), would require the Secretary of State to obtain a criminal history check before licensing a vehicle dealer or salvage vehicle agent.

- HB 4870, (PA 299), sponsored by Rep. Bruce CASWELL (R-Hillsdale), makes changes regarding who can make certain funeral arrangements and how those arrangements are made.

- HB 4891, (PA 300), sponsored by Rep. David LAW (R-Commerce Twp.), also amends the occupational code to deal with funeral establishments.

- HB 4836, (PA 301), sponsored by Caswell, amends the public health code to allow that the person with authority over a body's burial would also be able to consent for autopsies and anatomical gifts.

- HB 6175, (PA 302), sponsored by Rep. Joe HUNE (R-Hamburg), would allow a car sales agent to electronically title and register a vehicle.

- HB 5456, (PA 304), sponsored by Rep. Howard WALKER (R-Traverse City), establishes forest products renaissance zones.

- SB 0919, (PA 305), sponsored by Sen. Patricia BIRKHOLZ (R-Saugatuck), is also part of the forest products renaissance zone package.

- SB 1121, (PA 306), sponsored by Sen. Tony STAMAS (R-Midland), would allow community mental health programs to hire licensed bachelor's social workers, as well as mental health professionals, to provide preadmission screening.

- SB 0971 and SB 0972, (PAs 307 and 308), sponsored by Sen. Cameron BROWN (R-Sturgis) and Sen. Birkholz, would establish revised procedures concerning when the state could sell a certain portion of a state park, or designating certain land as surplus.

- SB 1196, (PA 315), sponsored by Sanborn, writes into statute the Supreme Court ruling that a parolee charged with a parole violation doesn't have to be released if they don't get a hearing on the charge within 45 days.

- HB 5967, (PA 316), sponsored by Rep. Richard BALL (R-Laingsburg), also deals with the 45-day parole issue.

- SB 0727, (PA 317), sponsored by Sen. Valde GARCIA (R-Brighton), establish the Defense Contract Center in statute as part of the 21st Century Jobs Fund. The Center would be established within the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

- SB 1260, (PA 318), sponsored by Sen. Michelle McMANUS (R-Lake Leelanau); HB 6047, (PA 321) sponsored by Rep. Chris KOLB (D-Ann Arbor); and HB 6202, (PA 322), sponsored by Palsrok establish an initial program and a temporary reimbursement program for the cleanup activities at underground storage tank sites.

- SB 1176, (PA 319), sponsored by Stamas, would create a $150 tax credit for parents of a stillborn child.

- HB 5581, (PA 320), sponsored by Jones, amends the standard by which a school bus is considered "clearly and continuously visible" with regard to procedures for boarding and discharging children.

- HB 4971, (PA 323), sponsored by Rep. Fulton SHEEN (R-Plainwell), establishes a 3.9 percent research and development tax credit against the state's Single Business Tax beginning in 2006 and expiring Jan. 1, 2016.

- HB 4375, (PA 324), sponsored by Rep. Chris WARD (R-Brighton), would require school districts and public school academies to provide instruction to students and teachers on suicide and depression and preventing both.