BILL PACKAGE HBS 5527-5528:  HB 5527 requires all public schools to have a cardiac emergency response plan in place that includes the use of school personnel to respond to a sudden cardiac arrest, or another similar life-threatening emergency, on the school’s campus. AEDs would be required to be on-site. HB 5528 requires that any public high school athletic coach must be trained and certified in CPR and AED use.

Sponsor:  Reps. Fitzgerald (D) & T. Carter (D)                      

Passages:  77-30 with Immediate Effect *Previous bills

Why I voted NO: The unknown increased cost to the School Aid budget would be enormous.

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HB 4618:  Would include regional airport authorities in the publicly funded health insurance contribution act.

Sponsor:  Rep. Coffia (D)                              

Passage:  83-24 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: We already have special carve-outs for the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority and other airports, this is a slippery slope if we keep adding in all these different types of entities that are not explicitly already included in the Publicly Funded Health Insurance Contribution Act.

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HB 4519:  Designates May 2 as “Negro Leagues Day”.

Sponsor:  Rep. Scott (D)               

Passage:  104-3 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Michigan has a unique part in the history of the Negro leagues and recognizing the Detroit Stars is a good opportunity to educate people while celebrating that history. Michigan has a unique part in the history of the Negro leagues and recognizing the Detroit Stars is a good opportunity to educate people while celebrating that history.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 5077 & 5078:  HB 5077 adds distribution to authorized opioid antagonist activities by employees or agents of a Michigan agency. HB 5078 modifies the public health code to reflect changes made by 5077, including the addition of distribution by an authorized agency employee or agent.

Sponsors:  Reps. Vanderwall (R) & Rep. Rheingans (D)

Passages:  96-11 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: Without verification of need or on-site treatment, these valuable life-saving resources may end up not being properly used or used at all.

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HB 5534:  Would create a new act titled as the “Trial Court Funding Act of 2024.” The bill would grant new powers to the State Court Administrative Office to determine the amount of court costs that can be imposed on a criminal defendant at time of sentencing. The bill would also plan for and recommend creation of a centralized state system for collecting court costs imposed by local trial courts. Finally, the bill would plan and recommend creation of a new system for redistributing funds from local courts that operate in the black to other local courts that operate in the red.

Sponsor:  Rep. Breen (D)                              

Vote Failed:  53-52 *Previous Bill

Why I voted NO: Local control over the operations and funding of the trial courts should not be shifted from local elected officials to unelected Lansing bureaucrats.

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HB 5392:  Would extend the sunset date on trial courts’ ability to impose court costs when sentencing a criminal defendant. Currently, the sunset date is May 1, 2024. If the Legislature does not extend the sunset provision, trial courts would lose a significant amount of revenue. The amount of revenue fluctuates each year, but has ranged between $30 and $40 million per year statewide.

Sponsor:  Rep. Lightner (R)                         

Passage:  101-6 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: The current revenue stream should be maintained so that local trial courts can remain operational. Therefore, extending the sunset is necessary.