STATE OF MICHIGAN
Journal of the Senate
102nd Legislature
REGULAR SESSION OF 2024
Senate Chamber, Lansing, Wednesday, September 25, 2024.
10:00 a.m.
The Senate was called to order by the President pro tempore, Senator Jeremy Moss.
The roll was called by the Secretary of the Senate, who announced that a quorum was present.
Albert—present Hauck—present Moss—present
Anthony—present Hertel—present Nesbitt—present
Bayer—present Hoitenga—present Outman—present
Bellino—present Huizenga—present Polehanki—present
Brinks—present Irwin—present Runestad—present
Bumstead—present Johnson—present Santana—present
Camilleri—present Klinefelt—present Shink—present
Cavanagh—present Lauwers—present Singh—present
Chang—present Lindsey—present Theis—present
Cherry—present McBroom—present Victory—present
Daley—present McCann—present Webber—present
Damoose—present McDonald Rivet—present Wojno—present
Geiss—present McMorrow—present
Senator Sarah Anthony of the 21st District offered the following invocation:
God of peace, we invite You to preside over this meeting. We are thankful for the opportunity to serve Your people: Michigan’s families, workers, business owners, farmers, educators, and healthcare professionals. We ask You to give us the courage to advocate for them in this chamber, setting aside our differences and own ambitions for the betterment of our neighbors and loved ones across the state. Give us the courage to do the complicated things, the challenging things, the less politically popular things, if it means a brighter future for the generation after us. Remind us to disagree without being disagreeable, knowing that even if we have different opinions and ideas, we have the ability to work in the spirit of unity.
These blessings and others we do ask and pray. Amen.
The President pro tempore, Senator Moss, led the members of the Senate in recital of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motions and Communications
Senate Bill No. 1005, entitled
A bill to amend 1979 PA 94, entitled “The state school aid act of 1979,” by amending sections 11 and 31aa (MCL 388.1611 and 388.1631aa), as amended by 2024 PA 120.
Point of Order
Senator Singh raised the Point of Order that on a discharge, a member can only talk about the reason for the discharge and not the content of the bill.
The President pro tempore, Senator Moss, ruled that the point is noted and well taken and members who wish to debate the motion can only debate it on the merits of the discharge motion and not the content of the legislation.
Senator Lauwers requested the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered, 1/5 of the members present voting therefor.
The motion did not prevail, a majority of the members serving not voting therefor, as follows:
Roll Call No. 342 Yeas—18
Albert Hauck Lindsey Runestad
Bellino Hoitenga McBroom Theis
Bumstead Huizenga Nesbitt Victory
Daley Johnson Outman Webber
Damoose Lauwers
Nays—18
Anthony Chang McCann Santana
Bayer Cherry McMorrow Shink
Brinks Geiss Moss Singh
Camilleri Irwin Polehanki Wojno
Cavanagh Klinefelt
Excused—0
Not Voting—2
Hertel McDonald Rivet
In The Chair: Moss
The motion prevailed.
Senator Bellino’s statement is as follows:
As you know, discharge motions are rare and typically utilized only for time-sensitive matters. In fact, I believe this is the first time this term that Senate Republicans have made such a motion, but there’s no disputing the fact that this is a time-sensitive matter. With the new fiscal year starting in a matter of days, schools in every one of our districts are facing massive and dangerous cuts to critical funding. This isn’t money for swimming pools or pickleball courts, this is money to protect our children’s physical and mental well-being—
On October 1, the funding that schools rely on for both of these critical matters—physical safety of their building and the mental health of our students—will be slashed by 92 percent as a result of the budget passed by the majority earlier this year. This discharge motion is an opportunity to avoid such dangerous cuts. It’s an opportunity too, as some of my colleagues across the aisle are fond of saying, to put people before party. It’s an opportunity we should all seize together, Mr. President. I ask for a “yes” vote on this discharge motion so that we can restore critical funding before it’s too late.
House Bill No. 5803, entitled
A bill to amend 1980 PA 300, entitled “The public school employees retirement act of 1979,” by amending sections 41 and 43e (MCL 38.1341 and 38.1343e), section 41 as amended by 2023 PA 198 and section 43e as amended by 2012 PA 300.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, and the bill was placed on the order of General Orders.
House Bill No. 5803
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
Senator Singh moved that rule 2.106 be suspended to allow committees to meet during Senate session.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
By unanimous consent the Senate proceeded to the order of
Resolutions
Recess
Senator Singh moved that the Senate recess subject to the call of the Chair.
The
motion prevailed, the time being 10:14 a.m.
The Senate was called to order by the President pro tempore, Senator Moss.
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 19
Senate Resolution No. 139
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
Senators Brinks and Nesbitt offered the following concurrent resolution:
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 19.
A concurrent resolution offered as a memorial for Nancy C. Cassis, former member of the Michigan Senate and Michigan House of Representatives.
Whereas, It is with great sorrow that the members of the Legislature learned about the passing of Nancy Cassis. She will be remembered as a dedicated public servant and leader who was committed to her constituents in the Fifteenth Senate District and Thirty-Eighth House District; and
Whereas, Nancy Cassis was born and raised in New York. She came to the Midwest to pursue a bachelor’s degree at Ohio University, from which she graduated in 1966. Afterwards she went into teaching. She came to Michigan to get a master’s degree from the University of Michigan, completing that degree in 1979, and continued her studies for an additional year to attain an education specialist degree. Thereafter, she began working as a school psychologist for Novi Community Schools; and
Whereas, Nancy got her start in elected office in 1985, when she won a seat on the Novi City Council. She served until 1993, and then returned to the City Council in 1995. In 1996, she won a special election to fill a vacancy in the House, where she served until she was elected to the Senate in 2002, serving for the next eight years in that chamber; and
Whereas, Nancy was a trailblazer throughout her time in the Legislature. She was the first woman to serve as Chair of the House Tax Policy Committee. In 1999, she was named Legislator of the Year by the National Republican Legislators’ Association. Myriad other groups, such as the Michigan Credit Union League, Michigan Soft Drink Association, Michigan Manufacturers Association, Michigan School Psychologists, Small Business Association of Michigan, and Building Owners and Manufacturers, recognized her with awards for her contributions in the Legislature. Immediately upon her arrival in the Senate, she was named Chair of the Finance Committee, a role she would retain throughout her Senate service; and
Whereas, Nancy’s signature issue in the Legislature, as demonstrated by her pathbreaking committee service, was public finance. She sponsored Michigan’s original earned income tax credit. When the Legislature was looking for a way to replace the former Single Business Tax, she sponsored the Michigan Business Tax Act to replace it. Nancy considered her most significant achievements to be passing legislation to ensure accountability and transparency in the subsidies and tax credit programs provided by the Michigan Economic Growth Authority and Michigan Film Office. Her interest in taxation extended to personal finances more generally and saw her sponsor the Social Security Number Privacy Act, a vital measure in protecting the privacy and credit rating of Michigan residents; and
Whereas, In addition to chairing the House Tax Policy Committee and the Senate Finance Committee, Nancy served on many other committees in the chambers. These included the House Mental Health Committee; House Urban Policy and Economic Development Committee; House Energy and Technology Committee; House Family and Children Services Committee; House Senior Health, Security and Retirement Committee; House Redistricting and Elections Committee; Senate Education Committee; Senate Government Operations and Reform Committee; Senate Technology and Energy Committee; Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee; and Joint Select Committee on Business Competitiveness; and
Whereas, After completing her time in the Senate, Nancy retired to Florida. There, she and her husband, Victor, achieved what so many Michigan residents dream of: living near the ocean. With the backdrop of a stunning view of the Atlantic, she spent her retirement years enjoying the company of her three siblings, seven children, and 13 grandchildren; and
Whereas, Upon Nancy Cassis’s passing, we offer our condolences to her loved ones. Nancy Cassis’s contributions to the Michigan Legislature and the state of Michigan will be remembered; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of
Representatives concurring), That we offer this expression of our highest
tribute to honor the memory of Nancy Cassis, a member of the House of
Representatives from 1996 to 2002, and of the Senate from 2003 to 2010; and be
it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Cassis family as evidence of our lasting esteem for her memory.
The question being on the adoption of the concurrent resolution,
The concurrent resolution was adopted by a unanimous standing vote of the Senate.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Webber’s statement is as follows:
I rise to offer my respects as we honor the memory of former state Senator Nancy Cassis with today’s memorial resolution.
Senator Cassis was a strong public servant and one of many in a continued tradition of passionate legislators to have come to Lansing from Oakland County. Fellow colleagues often described Nancy as a trailblazer. She was an effective voice for taxpayers, businesses, families, children, seniors, and the educational community. She made history for her appointment as the first woman chairperson of the House Tax Policy Committee while she served in the Michigan House from 1997 to 2002. When she took office in the Senate, she was selected as chair of the Senate Finance Committee based on her extensive knowledge of finance and tax policy issues. In these roles, her most significant achievement affecting the entire state was the landmark reform to bring transparency and accountability to the Michigan Economic Growth Authority and film credit programs. This type of openness in state government had never been done before.
I personally know she was a strong and passionate public servant because I was on her staff in the Michigan Senate. As a young staff person, I learned a lot sitting on the Senate floor with her. I recall her love for DeLuca’s pizza, as she often referred to it as “the good stuff.” Her designated office hour meeting spot for her constituents was—you guessed it—the Big Boy on Novi Road, owned by her husband, Victor. We were there a lot over the years. She helped to enhance the quality of life for all Michiganders and left a legacy that her husband Vic, her children, and grandchildren can be proud of.
I am proud to support this resolution to honor the memory of Senator Cassis on behalf of the people of Oakland and Macomb counties whom I serve, and I invite my colleagues to join me so that the whole state may celebrate her life and service.
Senator Brinks’ statement is as follows:
Colleagues, I rise to honor the memory of former Senator Nancy Cassis. Nancy Cassis served in the Michigan Legislature for over a decade, starting in the House in 1996 until her final term in the Senate in 2010. The first woman to serve as chair of the House Committee on Tax Policy, Senator Cassis also chaired the Finance Committee throughout her tenure in the Senate. She considered her work on transparency and accountability to be among her most significant accomplishments during her time here.
Beyond her public service in state government, Senator Cassis was also a public school teacher, a school psychologist, a councilwoman for the city of Novi, and a beloved wife, sister, mother, grandmother, and so much more. Today, we honor the life of one of our own who is no longer with us, and we express our gratitude for Senator Cassis’ contributions as a devoted public servant. May she rest in peace.
Recess
Senator Singh moved that the Senate recess subject to the call of the Chair.
The motion prevailed, the time being 10:32 a.m.
The
Senate was called to order by the President pro tempore, Senator Moss.
Senator Irwin offered the following resolution:
Senate Resolution No. 139.
A resolution to commemorate the 175th anniversary of Eastern Michigan University.
Whereas, In 1849, Eastern Michigan University (EMU) was founded as the Michigan State Normal School, the first institution dedicated to educating American teachers west of the Allegheny Mountains; and
Whereas, EMU has long been a leader in educating professional teachers, being the first American normal school to offer a four-year curriculum; and
Whereas, As the first public college in Michigan to admit both men and women regardless of race, EMU has been at the forefront in advancing equity in higher education; and
Whereas, In 1852, the Michigan State Teachers’ Association, later known as the Michigan Education Association, was organized by approximately 200 teachers at EMU; and
Whereas, Since 1915, EMU has offered classes on how to provide education designed for the needs of students with disabilities. EMU’s Department of Special Education is one of the oldest special education programs in the country; and
Whereas, From the Michigan State Normal School to the Michigan State Normal College, to Eastern Michigan College and finally Eastern Michigan University, they have continued to broaden their educational offerings; and
Whereas, Now, EMU is a research university comprising of seven colleges and schools including the following:
· College of Arts and Sciences;
· College of Business;
· College of Education;
· College of Health and Human Services;
· GameAbove College of Engineering and Technology;
· Honors College;
· Graduate School; and
Whereas, Since local citizens first raised funds for its founding, EMU has been a vital part of the Ypsilanti community and continues to be a center of equity and educational excellence; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this legislative body commemorate the 175th anniversary of Eastern Michigan University; and be it further
Resolved, That we recognize Eastern Michigan University’s contributions to our state and hope that it will continue in its traditions of excellence for many years to come.
The question being on the adoption of the resolution,
Senators Santana, Singh and Wojno were named co-sponsors of the resolution.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Irwin’s statement is as follows:
Today, I rise in support of my resolution, Senate Resolution No. 139, which recognizes the joyous occasion of Eastern Michigan University’s 175th anniversary. Eastern Michigan University was founded in 1849 in beautiful Ypsilanti, and since then, for the last 175 years, EMU has stood as a beacon of intellectual development and innovation, and a powerful asset to our state’s efforts to promote human development and prosperity. EMU started off as America’s first normal college that offered a four-year degree, and EMU, since then, has gone on to be known as a preeminent educational college educating generations of educators across our country. EMU has often been recognized as the nation’s best teacher’s college.
EMU was also the first Michigan public college to admit both men and women regardless of race, so EMU has long been a leader in providing access to a great education. As EMU evolves into their future, as they’re adding programs in business and nursing, and as they continue be a tremendous college for educating teachers, it’s my honor to recognize them here on this floor. I call upon my colleagues to join me in recognizing Eastern Michigan University on their 175th anniversary.
By unanimous consent the Senate returned to the order of
General Orders
The motion prevailed, and the President pro tempore, Senator Moss, designated Senator Albert as Chairperson.
After some time spent therein, the Committee arose; and the President pro tempore, Senator Moss, having resumed the Chair, the Committee reported back to the Senate, favorably and without amendment, the following bills:
House Bill No. 5779, entitled
A bill to amend 1846 RS 16, entitled “Of the powers and duties of townships, the election and duties of township officers, and the division of townships,” (MCL 41.1a to 41.110c) by adding section 2b.
A bill to amend 1939 PA 288, entitled “Probate code of 1939,” by amending section 2f of chapter XIIA (MCL 712A.2f), as amended by 2023 PA 301.
Senate Bill No. 977, entitled
A bill to amend 2001 PA 142, entitled “Michigan memorial highway act,” (MCL 250.1001 to 250.2092) by adding section 115.
Senate Bill No. 978, entitled
A bill to amend 2001 PA 142, entitled “Michigan memorial highway act,” (MCL 250.1001 to 250.2092) by adding section 6d.
House Bill No. 5434, entitled
A bill to amend 2001 PA 142, entitled “Michigan memorial highway act,” (MCL 250.1001 to 250.2092) by adding section 114.
The bills were placed on the order of Third Reading of Bills.
Recess
Senator Singh moved that the Senate recess until 2:15 p.m.
The motion prevailed, the time being 11:22 a.m.
Recess
Senator Singh moved that the Senate recess subject to the call of the Chair.
The motion prevailed, the time being 2:16 p.m.
The Senate was called to order by the President pro tempore, Senator Moss.
By unanimous consent the Senate returned to the order of
Motions and Communications
House Bill No. 5779
House Bill No. 5393
Senate Bill No. 977
Senate Bill No. 978
House Bill No. 5434
The motion
prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
By unanimous consent the Senate proceeded to the order of
Third Reading of Bills
Recess
Senator Singh moved that the Senate recess subject to the call of the Chair.
The motion prevailed, the time being 3:18 p.m.
The Senate was called to order by the President pro tempore, Senator Moss.
Senator Singh moved that the Senate proceed to consideration of the following bill:
House Bill No. 5393
The motion prevailed.
The following bill was read a third time:
House Bill No. 5393, entitled
A bill to amend 1939 PA 288, entitled “Probate code of 1939,” by amending section 2f of chapter XIIA (MCL 712A.2f), as amended by 2023 PA 301.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
The bill was passed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows:
Roll Call No. 343 Yeas—28
Anthony Cherry Johnson Polehanki
Bayer Daley Klinefelt Santana
Bellino Damoose McBroom Shink
Brinks Geiss McCann Singh
Camilleri Hertel McDonald Rivet Victory
Cavanagh Huizenga McMorrow Webber
Chang Irwin Moss Wojno
Nays—10
Albert Hoitenga Nesbitt Runestad
Bumstead Lauwers Outman Theis
Hauck Lindsey
Excused—0
Not Voting—0
In The Chair: Moss
Senator Singh moved that the bill be given immediate effect.
The motion
prevailed, 2/3 of the members serving voting therefor.
Pursuant to Joint Rule 20, the full title of the act shall be inserted to read as follows:
“An act to revise and consolidate the statutes relating to certain aspects of the family division of circuit court, to the jurisdiction, powers, and duties of the family division of circuit court and its judges and other officers, to the change of name of adults and children, and to the adoption of adults and children; to prescribe certain jurisdiction, powers, and duties of the family division of circuit court and its judges and other officers; to prescribe the manner and time within which certain actions and proceedings may be brought in the family division of the circuit court; to prescribe pleading, evidence, practice, and procedure in certain actions and proceedings in the family division of circuit court; to provide for appeals from certain actions in the family division of circuit court; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state departments, agencies, and officers; to provide for certain immunity from liability; and to provide remedies and penalties,”
The Senate agreed to the full title.
Senator Singh moved that the Senate return to consideration of the following bill:
House Bill No. 5779
The motion prevailed.
The following bill was read a third time:
House Bill No. 5779, entitled
A bill to amend 1846 RS 16, entitled “Of the powers and duties of townships, the election and duties of township officers, and the division of townships,” (MCL 41.1a to 41.110c) by adding section 2b.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
The bill was passed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows:
Roll Call No. 344 Yeas—20
Anthony Chang Klinefelt Polehanki
Bayer Cherry McCann Santana
Brinks Geiss McDonald Rivet Shink
Camilleri Hertel McMorrow Singh
Cavanagh Irwin Moss Wojno
Nays—18
Albert Hauck Lindsey Runestad
Bellino Hoitenga McBroom Theis
Bumstead Huizenga Nesbitt Victory
Daley Johnson Outman Webber
Damoose Lauwers
Excused—0
Not Voting—0
In The Chair: Moss
The Senate agreed to the title of the
bill.
The following bill was read a third time:
Senate Bill No. 977, entitled
A bill to amend 2001 PA 142, entitled “Michigan memorial highway act,” (MCL 250.1001 to 250.2092) by adding section 115.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
The bill was passed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows:
Roll Call No. 345 Yeas—38
Albert Daley Lauwers Polehanki
Anthony Damoose Lindsey Runestad
Bayer Geiss McBroom Santana
Bellino Hauck McCann Shink
Brinks Hertel McDonald Rivet Singh
Bumstead Hoitenga McMorrow Theis
Camilleri Huizenga Moss Victory
Cavanagh Irwin Nesbitt Webber
Chang Johnson Outman Wojno
Cherry Klinefelt
Nays—0
Excused—0
Not Voting—0
In The Chair: Moss
The Senate agreed to the title of the bill.
The following bill was read a third time:
Senate Bill No. 978, entitled
A bill to amend 2001 PA 142, entitled “Michigan memorial highway act,” (MCL 250.1001 to 250.2092) by adding section 6d.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
The bill was passed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows:
Roll Call No. 346 Yeas—38
Albert Daley Lauwers Polehanki
Anthony Damoose Lindsey Runestad
Bayer Geiss McBroom Santana
Bellino Hauck McCann Shink
Brinks Hertel McDonald Rivet Singh
Bumstead Hoitenga McMorrow Theis
Camilleri Huizenga Moss Victory
Cavanagh Irwin Nesbitt Webber
Chang Johnson Outman Wojno
Cherry Klinefelt
Nays—0
Excused—0
Not Voting—0
In The Chair: Moss
The Senate agreed to the title of the bill.
The following bill was read a third time:
House Bill No. 5434, entitled
A bill to amend 2001 PA 142, entitled “Michigan memorial highway act,” (MCL 250.1001 to 250.2092) by adding section 114.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
The bill was passed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows:
Roll Call No. 347 Yeas—38
Albert Daley Lauwers Polehanki
Anthony Damoose Lindsey Runestad
Bayer Geiss McBroom Santana
Bellino Hauck McCann Shink
Brinks Hertel McDonald Rivet Singh
Bumstead Hoitenga McMorrow Theis
Camilleri Huizenga Moss Victory
Cavanagh Irwin Nesbitt Webber
Chang Johnson Outman Wojno
Cherry Klinefelt
Nays—0
Excused—0
Not Voting—0
In The Chair: Moss
Senator Singh moved that the bill be given immediate effect.
The motion prevailed, 2/3 of the members serving voting therefor.
Pursuant to Joint Rule 20, the full title of the act shall be inserted to read as follows:
“An act to consolidate prior acts naming certain Michigan highways; to provide for the naming of certain highways; to prescribe certain duties of the state transportation department; and to repeal acts and parts of acts and certain resolutions,”
The
Senate agreed to the full title.
By unanimous consent the Senate returned to the order of
General Orders
The motion prevailed, and the President pro tempore, Senator Moss, designated Senator Albert as Chairperson.
After some time spent therein, the Committee arose; and the President pro tempore, Senator Moss, having resumed the Chair, the Committee reported back to the Senate, favorably and with a substitute therefor, the following bill:
House Bill No. 5803, entitled
A bill to amend 1980 PA 300, entitled “The public school employees retirement act of 1979,” by amending sections 41 and 43e (MCL 38.1341 and 38.1343e), section 41 as amended by 2023 PA 198 and section 43e as amended by 2012 PA 300.
Substitute (S-1).
Recess
Senator Singh moved that the Senate recess subject to the call of the Chair.
The motion prevailed, the time being 3:38 p.m.
The Senate was called to order by the President pro tempore, Senator Moss.
By unanimous consent the Senate returned to the order of
Motions and Communications
House Bill No. 5803
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
By unanimous consent the Senate returned to the order of
Third Reading of Bills
Senator Singh moved that the Senate proceed to consideration of the following bill:
House Bill No. 5803
The motion prevailed.
The following bill was read a third time:
House Bill No. 5803, entitled
A bill to amend 1980 PA 300, entitled “The public school employees retirement act of 1979,” by amending sections 41 and 43e (MCL 38.1341 and 38.1343e), section 41 as amended by 2023 PA 198 and section 43e as amended by 2012 PA 300.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
The bill was defeated, a majority of the members serving not voting therefor, as follows:
Roll Call No. 348 Yeas—19
Anthony Cherry McCann Santana
Bayer Geiss McDonald
Rivet Shink
Brinks Hertel McMorrow Singh
Camilleri Irwin Moss Wojno
Chang Klinefelt Polehanki
Nays—18
Albert Hauck Lindsey Runestad
Bellino Hoitenga McBroom Theis
Bumstead Huizenga Nesbitt Victory
Daley Johnson Outman Webber
Damoose Lauwers
Excused—0
Not Voting—1
Cavanagh
In The Chair: Moss
Senator Singh moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was defeated.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
The bill was passed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows:
Roll Call No. 349 Yeas—20
Anthony Chang Klinefelt Polehanki
Bayer Cherry McCann Santana
Brinks Geiss McDonald Rivet Shink
Camilleri Hertel McMorrow Singh
Cavanagh Irwin Moss Wojno
Nays—18
Albert Hauck Lindsey Runestad
Bellino Hoitenga McBroom Theis
Bumstead Huizenga Nesbitt Victory
Daley Johnson Outman Webber
Damoose Lauwers
Excused—0
Not Voting—0
In
The Chair: Moss
Pursuant to Joint Rule 20, the full title of the act shall be inserted to read as follows:
“An act to provide a retirement system for the public school employees of this state; to create certain funds for this retirement system; to provide for the creation of a retirement board; to prescribe the powers and duties of the retirement board; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state departments, agencies, officials, and employees; to authorize and make appropriations for the retirement system; to prescribe penalties and provide remedies; and to repeal acts and parts of acts,”
The Senate agreed to the full title.
By unanimous consent the Senate returned to the order of
Messages from the House
The House of Representatives returned, in accordance with the request of the Senate
House Bill No. 5429, entitled
A bill to create the court-appointed special advocate program; and to prescribe the duties and responsibilities of the court-appointed special advocate program and volunteers.
The bill was placed on the order of Third Reading of Bills.
By unanimous consent the Senate returned to the order of
Motions and Communications
House Bill No. 5429
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
By unanimous consent the Senate returned to the order of
Third Reading of Bills
Senator Singh moved that the Senate proceed to consideration of the following bill:
House Bill No. 5429
The motion prevailed.
The following bill was announced:
House Bill No. 5429, entitled
A bill to create the court-appointed special advocate program; and to prescribe the duties and responsibilities of the court-appointed special advocate program and volunteers.
Senator Singh moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
Senator Chang offered the following substitute:
Substitute (S-2).
The question being on the adoption of the substitute,
Senator Runestad offered the following amendment to the substitute:
1. Amend page 7, following line 8, by inserting:
“Sec. 13. A CASA volunteer must enter into a memorandum of understanding with the court in which the CASA volunteer agrees not to release to the public any information received under this act. A CASA volunteer who releases case-specific or identifying information under this act in a manner not allowed under this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.”.
The amendment to the substitute was not adopted.
The question being on the adoption of the substitute,
The substitute was adopted, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
The bill was passed, a majority
of the members serving voting therefor, as follows:
Roll Call No. 350 Yeas—35
Albert Cherry Klinefelt Polehanki
Anthony Daley Lauwers Santana
Bayer Damoose McBroom Shink
Bellino Geiss McCann Singh
Brinks Hauck McDonald Rivet Theis
Bumstead Hertel McMorrow Victory
Camilleri Huizenga Moss Webber
Cavanagh Irwin Nesbitt Wojno
Chang Johnson Outman
Nays—3
Hoitenga Lindsey Runestad
Excused—0
Not Voting—0
In The Chair: Moss
The Senate agreed to the title of the bill.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Runestad’s statement is as follows:
When we began session some time ago, I put in a bill to require the CPS to be able to allow us members and the credentialed media to sign a memorandum of understanding that we can look at these CPS cases that the media said would be so helpful, and you would not be able to disclose any identifying characteristics or information about these cases. That bill has languished, that I felt would be so important, and now we have a CASA worker. What is a CASA worker? It’s someone who’s at least 21 years old, passed a background check, did some screening, minimum 12 hours of training, and committing that they are going to stay with the case until the end. That is the entirety their obligation. If they do disclose information about these cases—very, very sensitive, these are abused and neglected kids—the penalty is not a misdemeanor like I requested, the penalty is, well, they’re off the case. But what about the kid? What about the children that had all of their personal information data dumped out because there’s no requirement, legally, that they can’t do that? My bill says that it’s a misdemeanor if they disclose this information. They have to sign a memorandum of understanding. Why the entire media can’t be trusted—not one of them, not one member of this entire chamber or the other chamber could be trusted to look in a file in order to know what was going on, but a 21-year-old kid with a little bit of training can be trusted with the same information is absolutely beyond the pale. So I ask that this chamber support this amendment to protect these children.
Recess
Senator Singh moved that the Senate recess subject to the call of the Chair.
The
motion prevailed, the time being 4:33 p.m.
The Senate was called to order by the President pro tempore, Senator Moss.
By unanimous consent the Senate returned to the order of
Messages from the House
Senator Singh moved that the Senate proceed to consideration of the following bill:
Senate Bill No. 790
The motion prevailed.
A bill to create the home help caregiver council and to prescribe its powers and duties; and to provide for the powers and duties of certain state and local governmental officers and entities.
The House of Representatives has substituted (H-2) the bill.
The House of Representatives has passed the bill as substituted (H-2), ordered that it be given immediate effect and amended the title to read as follows:
A bill to create the home help caregiver council and to prescribe its powers and duties; to designate certain individuals as public employees for certain purposes; to require collective bargaining of certain terms and conditions of employment for certain public employees; to provide for the mediation and arbitration of grievances; to provide for the deduction of wages; and to provide for the powers and duties of certain state and local governmental officers and entities.
Pending the order that, under rule 3.202, the bill be laid over one day,
Senator Singh moved that the rule be suspended.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
The question being on concurring in the substitute made to the bill by the House,
The substitute was concurred in, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows:
Roll Call No. 351 Yeas—20
Anthony Chang Klinefelt Polehanki
Bayer Cherry McCann Santana
Brinks Geiss McDonald Rivet Shink
Camilleri Hertel McMorrow Singh
Cavanagh Irwin Moss Wojno
Nays—18
Albert Hauck Lindsey Runestad
Bellino Hoitenga McBroom Theis
Bumstead Huizenga Nesbitt Victory
Daley Johnson Outman Webber
Damoose Lauwers
Excused—0
Not Voting—0
In The Chair: Moss
The Senate agreed to the title as amended.
The bill was referred to the Secretary for enrollment printing and
presentation to the Governor.
Protest
Senator McBroom, under his constitutional right of protest (Art. 4, Sec. 18), protested against concurring in the House substitute to Senate Bill No. 790.
Senator McBroom’s statement is as follows:
Mr. President, I’m feeling a little bit of whiplash, because when I started serving in the Legislature several years ago, legislation like this had been passed. And what did we see across the state? An outcry from our citizens who were suddenly finding their wages and paychecks garnished by a union that they didn’t know they were entering. People who were simply taking care of their family members suddenly found themselves losing money, and the Legislature worked hard to undo that because it was exceptionally unfair and undignified what happened. It was a scandal of immense proportions foisted on everyday citizens who needed every dollar they could get in order to take care of their loved ones. Were there some who are in a professional capacity, who could utilize some sort of representation? Sure there is, but the net was cast wide, spread wide, and entrapped many people unknowingly and unfairly. It is wrong for us to be doing this today. I think it’s immoral and I object to the passage of this. I am just appalled that we’re doing this to people who are just trying to take care of their loved ones.
A bill to amend 1947 PA 336, entitled “An act to prohibit strikes by certain public employees; to provide review from disciplinary action with respect thereto; to provide for the mediation of grievances and the holding of elections; to declare and protect the rights and privileges of public employees; to require certain provisions in collective bargaining agreements; to prescribe means of enforcement and penalties for the violation of the provisions of this act; and to make appropriations,” by amending sections 1 and 14 (MCL 423.201 and 423.214), section 1 as amended by 2023 PA 237 and section 14 as amended by 2012 PA 349.
The House of Representatives has substituted (H-1) the bill.
The House of Representatives has passed the bill as substituted (H-1) and ordered that it be given immediate effect.
Pending the order that, under rule 3.202, the bill be laid over one day,
Senator Singh moved that the rule be suspended.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
The question being on concurring in the substitute made to the bill by the House,
The substitute was concurred in, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows:
Roll Call No. 352 Yeas—20
Anthony Chang Klinefelt Polehanki
Bayer Cherry McCann Santana
Brinks Geiss McDonald Rivet Shink
Camilleri Hertel McMorrow Singh
Cavanagh Irwin Moss Wojno
Nays—18
Albert Hauck Lindsey Runestad
Bellino Hoitenga McBroom Theis
Bumstead Huizenga Nesbitt Victory
Daley Johnson Outman Webber
Damoose Lauwers
Excused—0
Not Voting—0
In The Chair: Moss
The bill was referred to the Secretary for enrollment printing and presentation to the Governor.
The House of Representatives requested the return of
A bill to make, supplement, and adjust appropriations for certain capital outlay projects and the department of natural resources for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024; to provide for expenditure of the appropriations; and to prescribe certain conditions for the appropriations.
Senator Singh moved that the request of the House of Representatives be granted.
The motion prevailed.
Recess
Senator Singh moved that the Senate recess subject to the call of the Chair.
The motion prevailed, the time being 5:14 p.m.
The Senate was called to order by the President pro tempore, Senator Moss.
By unanimous consent the Senate proceeded to the order of
Conference Reports
House Bill No. 5503
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
A bill to amend 1979 PA 94, entitled “The state school aid act of 1979,” by amending sections 11 and 31aa (MCL 388.1611 and 388.1631aa), as amended by 2024 PA 120, and by adding section 97h.
The House of Representatives has adopted the report of the Committee of Conference.
The Conference Report was read as follows:
FIRST CONFERENCE REPORT
The Committee of Conference on the matters of difference between the two Houses concerning
House Bill No. 5503, entitled
A bill to amend 1979 PA 94, entitled “The state school aid act of 1979,” by amending sections 3, 11, 11a, 11j, 11k, 11m, 11s, 11x, 15, 20, 20d, 21h, 22a, 22b, 22d, 22k, 22l, 22m, 22p, 23g, 23i, 24, 24a, 25f, 25g, 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d, 27a, 27b, 27c, 27d, 27g, 27m, 27n, 27o, 27p, 28, 29, 30d, 30e, 31a, 31d, 31f, 31j, 31n, 31p, 31aa, 32d, 32n, 32p, 33, 35a, 35d, 35j, 39, 39a, 41, 41b, 51a, 51c, 51d, 51e, 51g, 53a, 54, 54b, 54d, 56, 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d, 61s, 62, 65, 67, 67f, 74, 81, 94, 94a, 95b, 97a, 97i, 97k, 98, 98d, 99a, 99b, 99e, 99g, 99h, 99s, 99t, 99u, 99x, 99aa, 99gg, 99hh, 104, 104h, 107, 147, 147a, 147c, 147e, 152a, 152b, and 163 (MCL 388.1603, 388.1611, 388.1611a, 388.1611j, 388.1611k, 388.1611m, 388.1611s, 388.1611x, 388.1615, 388.1620, 388.1620d, 388.1621h, 388.1622a, 388.1622b, 388.1622d, 388.1622k, 388.1622l, 388.1622m, 388.1622p, 388.1623g, 388.1623i, 388.1624, 388.1624a, 388.1625f, 388.1625g, 388.1626a, 388.1626b, 388.1626c, 388.1626d, 388.1627a, 388.1627b, 388.1627c, 388.1627d, 388.1627g, 388.1627m, 388.1627n, 388.1627o, 388.1627p, 388.1628, 388.1629, 388.1630d, 388.1630e, 388.1631a, 388.1631d, 388.1631f, 388.1631j, 388.1631n, 388.1631p, 388.1631aa, 388.1632d, 388.1632n, 388.1632p, 388.1633, 388.1635a, 388.1635d, 388.1635j, 388.1639, 388.1639a, 388.1641, 388.1641b, 388.1651a, 388.1651c, 388.1651d, 388.1651e, 388.1651g, 388.1653a, 388.1654, 388.1654b, 388.1654d, 388.1656, 388.1661a, 388.1661b, 388.1661c, 388.1661d, 388.1661s, 388.1662, 388.1665, 388.1667, 388.1667f, 388.1674, 388.1681, 388.1694, 388.1694a, 388.1695b, 388.1697a, 388.1697i, 388.1697k, 388.1698, 388.1698d, 388.1699a, 388.1699b, 388.1699e, 388.1699g, 388.1699h, 388.1699s, 388.1699t, 388.1699u, 388.1699x, 388.1699aa, 388.1699gg, 388.1699hh, 388.1704, 388.1704h, 388.1707, 388.1747, 388.1747a, 388.1747c, 388.1747e, 388.1752a, 388.1752b, and 388.1763), sections 3, 11a, 11j, 11k, 11m, 11s, 11x, 15, 20d, 21h, 22a, 22b, 22d, 22m, 22p, 24, 24a, 25f, 25g, 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d, 27a, 27b, 27c, 28, 31d, 31f, 31j, 31n, 31p, 31aa, 32d, 32n, 32p, 35a, 35d, 39, 39a, 41b, 51d, 51e, 51g, 53a, 54, 54b, 54d, 56, 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d, 62, 65, 67, 74, 81, 94, 97a, 98, 99h, 99s, 99t, 99u, 99x, 99aa, 104, 104h, 107, 147, 147c, 147e, 152a, 152b, and 163 as amended and sections 22k, 23g, 23i, 27g, 27m, 27n, 27o, 27p, 29, 30d, 30e, 33, 35j, 67f, 97i, 98d, 99a, 99b, 99e, 99g, 99gg, and 99hh as added by 2023 PA 103, sections 11, 20, 22l, 31a, 41, 51a, 51c, 61s, 94a, 95b, 97k, and 147a as amended by 2023 PA 320, and section 27d as added by 2022 PA 144, and by adding sections 27f, 27r, 27s, 27t, 31gg, 51h, 54f, 55, 67b, 67d, 94e, 97m, 99, 99c, 99bb, 99nn, 147g, and 164j; and to repeal acts and parts of acts.
Recommends:
First: That the Senate recede from the Substitute of the Senate as passed by the Senate.
Second: That the House and Senate agree to the Substitute of the House as passed by the House, amended to read as follows:
A bill to amend 1979 PA 94, entitled “The state school aid act of 1979,” by amending sections 11 and 31aa (MCL 388.1611 and 388.1631aa), as amended by 2024 PA 120, and by adding section 97h.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
Sec. 11. (1) For the
fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, there is appropriated for the public
schools of this state and certain other state purposes relating to education
the sum of $18,418,357,800.00 from the state school aid fund, the sum of
$87,900,000.00 from the general fund, an amount not to exceed $72,000,000.00
from the community district education trust fund created under section 12 of
the Michigan trust fund act, 2000 PA 489, MCL 12.262, an amount not to exceed
$245,000,000.00 from the school consolidation and infrastructure fund created
under section 11x, an amount not to exceed $125,000,000.00 from the school
transportation fund created under section 22k, an amount not to exceed
$71,000,000.00 from the enrollment stabilization fund created under section 29,
an amount not to exceed $90,000,000.00 from the school meals reserve fund
created under section 30e, an amount not to exceed $18,000,000.00 from the
great start readiness program reserve fund created under section 32e, and an
amount not to exceed $240,650,000.00 from the MPSERS retirement obligation
reform reserve fund created under section 147b. For the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2025, there is appropriated for the public schools of this state
and certain other state purposes relating to education the sum of $17,643,551,300.00
$17,769,551,300.00 from the state school aid fund, the sum of
$78,830,600.00 from the general fund, an amount not to exceed $41,000,000.00
from the community district education trust fund created under section 12 of
the Michigan trust fund act, 2000 PA 489, MCL 12.262, an amount not
to exceed $125,000,000.00 from the school transportation fund created under
section 22k, an amount not to exceed $71,000,000.00 from the enrollment
stabilization fund created under section 29, an amount not to exceed
$30,000,000.00 from the school meals reserve fund created under section 30e, an
amount not to exceed $18,000,000.00 from the great start readiness program
reserve fund created under section 32e, an amount not to exceed $334,100,000.00 from the MPSERS retirement obligation reform reserve fund created under
section 147b, and an amount not to exceed $30,000,000.00 from the educator
fellowship public provider fund created in section 27d. In addition, all
available federal funds are only appropriated as allocated in this article for
the fiscal years year ending September 30, 2024 and September
30, 2025.
(2) The appropriations under this section are allocated as provided in this article. Money appropriated under this section from the general fund must be expended to fund the purposes of this article before the expenditure of money appropriated under this section from the state school aid fund.
(3) Any general fund allocations under this article that are not expended by the end of the fiscal year are transferred to the school aid stabilization fund created under section 11a.
Sec. 31aa. (1) From the
state school aid fund money appropriated in section 11, there is allocated $25,000,000.00
$150,000,000.00 for 2024-2025, and from the general fund money
appropriated in section 11, there is allocated $1,500,000.00 for 2024-2025
only, to provide payments to districts, intermediate districts, nonpublic
schools, and the Michigan Schools for the Deaf and Blind that opt in and agree
to receive funding under this section, for activities to improve student mental
health and improve student safety. It is the intent of the legislature that,
for 2025-2026, the allocation from the state school aid fund money appropriated
in section 11 for purposes described in this section will be $25,000,000.00,
and that, for 2025-2026, the allocation from the state school aid fund money
and general fund money appropriated in section 11 for purposes described in
this section will not be used to make continued payments related to support
staff hired or contracted for using funds received under this section. The
allowable expenditures of funds under this section are as follows:
(a) Hiring or contracting for support staff for student mental health needs, including, but not limited to, school psychologists, social workers, counselors, and school nurses.
(b) Purchasing and implementing mental health screening tools.
(c) Purchasing a statewide, integrated technology platform, such as bhworks, that streamlines behavioral health documentation and care coordination.
(d) Providing school-based mental health personnel access to consultation with behavioral health clinicians to respond to complex student mental health needs.
(e) Purchasing and implementing an online behavioral health tool moderated and led by licensed behavioral health professionals.
(f) Hiring or contracting a behavioral health coordinator.
(g) Evidence-based trainings to support mental health.
(h) Costs associated with collaboration between school employees, families, and community partners to address the academic, behavioral, and social needs of all students through collaborative partnerships, resource coordination, data collection, and data sharing.
(i) Costs associated with conducting a systematic school mental health needs assessment and resource mapping that identifies programmatic and systemic needs and helps staff determine priorities and create action plans.
(j) Coordination with local law enforcement.
(k) Training for school staff on threat assessment.
(l) Training for school staff and students on threat response.
(m) Training for school staff on crisis communication.
(n) Safety infrastructure, including, but not limited to, cameras, door blocks, hardened vestibules, window screening, and technology necessary to operate buzzer systems. This may also include firearm detection software that integrates to existing security cameras to detect and alert school personnel and first responders to visible firearms on school property.
(o) Age-appropriate training for students and families on responsible firearm ownership, including safe handling and safe storage of firearms.
(p) School resource officers.
(q) Student Safety Management System, the information technology platform and related services to improve student safety by mitigating cyberbullying, school violence, human trafficking, and self-harm that supports students from grades K to 12.
(r) A secure platform, administered by the department of state police, for school officials, emergency responders, and emergency management coordinators to house all school safety-related items, including, but not limited to, EOP templates, EOP guidance, reference documents, and security assessments. The platform should use existing password-protected access control methods schools currently utilize and, to the extent possible, be capable of integrating with existing platforms or technologies used by districts for school safety. Through permissions-based access control, the platform should be able to relay information clearly and in real time to each person or entity necessary to provide a unified response to a safety incident, or to take appropriate action in response to an anticipated disruption to the normal functions of the surrounding community.
(s) Emergency infrastructure needs to respond to an immediate threat to the health or safety of students and staff in the district, intermediate district, nonpublic school, or the Michigan Schools for the Deaf and Blind. A district, intermediate district, nonpublic school, or the Michigan Schools for the Deaf and Blind shall not expend funds for this purpose without first obtaining approval from the department. In making a determination of approval, the department shall, at a minimum, assess whether the district, intermediate district, nonpublic school, or the Michigan Schools for the Deaf and Blind is responding to an immediate threat to the health or safety of students and staff, and whether the district, intermediate district, nonpublic school, or the Michigan Schools for the Deaf and Blind has other sources of funding that should be utilized first.
(t) A contract with a vendor for a comprehensive safety and security assessment or a comprehensive safety and security event assessment in schools operated by the district, intermediate district, nonpublic school, or the Michigan Schools for the Deaf and Blind.
(u) An emergency response system.
(2) By not later than December 31 of each fiscal year, from the state school aid fund money allocated in subsection (1), the department shall make payments to districts, intermediate districts, and the Michigan Schools for the Deaf and Blind that opt in and agree to receive funding in an equal amount per pupil based on the total number of pupils in membership in each district, intermediate district, and the Michigan Schools for the Deaf and Blind that opts in and agrees to receive funding. By December 31 of each fiscal year, from the general fund money allocated in subsection (1), the department shall make payments to nonpublic schools that opt in and agree to receive funding in an equal amount per pupil based on the total number of pupils in membership in each nonpublic school that opts in and agrees to receive funding, using pupil counts determined by the department. The department shall ensure that the amount per pupil paid to nonpublic schools does not exceed the amount per pupil paid to districts and intermediate districts. Districts, intermediate districts, the Michigan Schools for the Deaf and Blind, and nonpublic schools may opt in and agree to receive funding in a form and manner determined by the department.
(3) Recipients of funding under this section must provide a final expense report to the department by June 1 of each fiscal year. If the department determines that the eligible recipient has misused the funds allocated under this section, the eligible recipient shall reimburse the department for the amount of state funding misused.
(4) The department shall use the information received under subsection (3) to compile a report that includes the number of recipients that have hired school resource officers using funds received under this section and any supporting information provided by the recipients. By not later than August 1, 2025, and each August 1 thereafter, the department shall provide the report compiled under this subsection to the senate and house appropriations subcommittees on school aid, the senate and house fiscal agencies, the senate and house policy offices, the state budget office, and the Michigan commission on law enforcement standards.
(5) (4) Districts receiving funds
under this section must coordinate with intermediate school districts to
avoid duplication of services and to streamline delivery of services to
students.
(6) (5) Notwithstanding section
17b, the department shall make payments under this section on a schedule
determined by the department.
(7) (6) As provided under section
18a, recipients may expend funds under this section until the end of the fiscal
year immediately following the fiscal year in which the funds are received.
Sec. 97h. (1) From the state school aid fund money appropriated in section 11, there is allocated an amount not to exceed $1,000,000.00 for 2024-2025 only to an intermediate district to partner with the department to create or partner with an existing program and support a tip line for students to anonymously report improperly stored firearms that are accessible to a minor.
(2) The department shall develop educational materials related to improperly stored firearms, and how to report improperly stored firearms, and distribute the educational materials to districts and intermediate districts.
(3) Notwithstanding section 17b, the department shall make payments under this section on a schedule determined by the department.
(4) As used in this section, “improperly stored firearm” means a firearm that is not stored in accordance with the requirements of section 9 of 1927 PA 372, MCL 28.429.
Enacting section 1. In accordance with section 30 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963, total state spending on school aid under article I of the state school aid act of 1979, 1979 PA 94, MCL 388.1601 to 388.1772, as amended by 2024 PA 120 and this amendatory act, from state sources for fiscal year 2024-2025 is estimated at $18,497,481,900.00 and state appropriations for school aid to be paid to local units of government for fiscal year 2024-2025 are estimated at $17,054,443,900.00.
Enacting section 2. This amendatory act takes effect October 1, 2024.
Third: That the House and Senate agree to the title of the bill to read as follows:
A bill to amend 1979 PA 94, entitled “An act to make appropriations to aid in the support of the public schools, the intermediate school districts, community colleges, and public universities of the state; to make appropriations for certain other purposes relating to education; to provide for the disbursement of the appropriations; to authorize the issuance of certain bonds and provide for the security of those bonds; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state departments, the state board of education, and certain other boards and officials; to create certain funds and provide for their expenditure; to prescribe penalties; and to repeal acts and parts of acts,” by amending sections 11 and 31aa (MCL 388.1611 and 388.1631aa), as amended by 2024 PA 120, and by adding section 97h.
Regina Weiss Darrin Camilleri
Jason Morgan Sarah E. Anthony
Conferees for the House Conferees for the Senate
The question being on the adoption of the conference report,
Roll Call No. 353 Yeas—22
Anthony Cherry Klinefelt Santana
Bayer Geiss McDonald Rivet Shink
Brinks Hertel McMorrow Singh
Camilleri Huizenga Moss Webber
Cavanagh Irwin Polehanki Wojno
Chang Johnson
Nays—14
Albert Damoose Lindsey Outman
Bellino Hauck McBroom Theis
Bumstead Hoitenga Nesbitt Victory
Daley Lauwers
Excused—0
Not Voting—2
McCann Runestad
In The Chair: Moss
Senator Singh moved to reconsider the vote by which the conference report was adopted.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
The question being on the adoption of the conference report,
Roll Call No. 354 Yeas—23
Anthony Cherry Klinefelt Santana
Bayer Geiss McCann Shink
Brinks Hertel McDonald Rivet Singh
Camilleri Huizenga McMorrow Webber
Cavanagh Irwin Moss Wojno
Chang Johnson Polehanki
Nays—15
Albert Damoose Lindsey Runestad
Bellino Hauck McBroom Theis
Bumstead Hoitenga Nesbitt Victory
Daley Lauwers Outman
Excused—0
Not Voting—0
In The Chair: Moss
Senator Singh moved that the bill be given immediate effect.
On which motion Senator Singh requested the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered, 1/5 of the members present voting therefor.
The motion did not prevail, 2/3 of the members serving not voting therefor, as follows:
Roll Call No. 355 Yeas—23
Anthony Cherry Klinefelt Santana
Bayer Geiss McCann Shink
Brinks Hertel McDonald Rivet Singh
Camilleri Huizenga McMorrow Webber
Cavanagh Irwin Moss Wojno
Chang Johnson Polehanki
Nays—15
Albert Damoose Lindsey Runestad
Bellino Hauck McBroom Theis
Bumstead Hoitenga Nesbitt Victory
Daley Lauwers Outman
Excused—0
Not Voting—0
In The Chair: Moss
Senators Nesbitt, Daley, Bellino, Runestad, Damoose, Theis, Hoitenga and Outman, under their constitutional right of protest (Art. 4, Sec. 18), protested against the adoption of the first conference report on House Bill No. 5503.
Well, Mr. President, this morning the majority had an opportunity, not this half-baked bill before us now, but a real opportunity. They could have fully restored funding for school security and student mental health support services. An opportunity to avoid the massive cuts coming to these critical funds in a matter of days—all because of the budget they passed earlier this year, where they refused to negotiate, refused to compromise with Republicans. Yet, they all voted “no” this morning. Well, except those brave souls who refused to vote at all.
Now we have a bill that Democrats are
celebrating with press conferences and press releases. But of course, there’s a
catch—there’s a catch. The bill that was just voted
before us restores only half the funding. A half-baked idea that came up this
morning. So while Democrats in Lansing are patting each other on the back, here’s
what their half-baked bill would mean for our kids’ schools. Half of the door
locks that should be installed in classrooms won’t be. Half the security
cameras that should be installed to detect intruders won’t be. Half the
students facing a mental health crisis won’t receive the help needed.
Mr. President, budgets are a statement of priorities, and for the majority, the health and safety cuts our students apparently need doesn’t make the cut. Maybe if schools renamed themselves after some Chinese communist corporation, maybe they would receive the full funding. Perhaps then, Democrats might give them the funding they need.
By unanimous consent the Senate proceeded to the order of
Statements
The motion prevailed.
Senator Camilleri’s statement is as follows:
The bill that we just passed was a major investment in mental health and school safety—$125 million that we saw go back into the classroom, on top of the $600 million that we sent to the classroom last week on an ongoing basis for years to come. It is infuriating to stand here and receive criticism from our colleagues on the other side of the aisle when they just voted to not send this money immediately to classrooms that need it the most. You saw a record roll call vote that decided whether or not this $125 million would go to the classrooms the minute the Governor signs this supplemental budget.
We heard criticism from the Minority Leader, as well as others on the other side of the aisle, that we do need more funding for mental health and school safety. I agree. That is why we just sent $125 million back to the classroom. But then Republicans, just now, the overwhelming majority of them, voted to pause this money from getting to our classrooms right away. What kind of leadership does that show our kids, our teachers, our counselors, our school resource officers, that you are blocking this money from getting to the classrooms the minute the Governor signs this budget. What is wrong with you?
There are kids who are dealing with safety issues in the classroom every single day; from mental health crises to guns in classrooms and schools. They want this money and they want it right now. We did our part. We are sending $125 million. Last week, you voted “no” on $600 million going back into the classroom as well. I really don’t know what to say other than you should be ashamed of yourselves for blocking this money from going back to classrooms immediately.
Senator McBroom’s statement is as follows:
Well, here we are again, after a long absence, and we’re supposed to be doing something that matters. Yet, for our state employees at corrections: No answers, no solutions, no help. We continue to allow these hardworking men and women, who put themselves on the line every single day—weekends, holidays—for us, to go unhelped in the midst of a staffing crisis of epic proportions. We have state employees who are working incredible amounts of hours every week, well over 100-hour work weeks, violating the 32-hour rule, spending time away from their families repeatedly, lucky to get home and have enough time to eat something, get a shower, and take five hours of sleep before they’re called back to the job again.
Just the other day, one of my colleagues from the Upper Peninsula toured a prison, and right in front of him, an inmate punched out one of our officers. We don’t hold this department accountable for the lies they tell us, for the spin they give us. When we try to force them to report the 32-hour rule, they give us an answer that says, Well we don’t have any software to do that. And we accept that answer from them. That was the whole point of mandating that they report it, so that they would develop something. Right now, they do have that information, it’s just in pencil, on timesheets, but it’s there, it’s available, but they don’t want to acknowledge that, they don’t want to be transparent with us or their employees about what they’re doing to our staff.
I walked the picket lines with them this summer. A number of other legislators walked those lines. Officers from around the state, and retired officers from around the state, showed up at our facilities to go out there and try to spread the word about the dangerous circumstances at our state facilities. Dangerous circumstances not just for our employees, but for the inmates who are in there as well—inmates who are not getting the full gambit of services that they need to have in order to be released, who are not being properly allowed their time out in the yard because we have so many closed positions day after day.
We have an incredible crisis going on as
officers leave this state and go somewhere else to other states that are paying
far better than us, offer retirement benefits, and offer a work environment
that’s safe, a work environment where their employer cares about their safety.
This crisis needs an immediate addressing. We have both the short—like
tomorrow—what are we going to do for these people? We have a short-term set of
goals of how do we stop the attrition of officers who are just—we just
graduated a bunch. How long will they stay? And a long-term goal of how do we
incentivize people to stay on these jobs and how do we take care of them when
they retire with serious injuries and mental health concerns that aren’t yet
covered by Medicare because they retire before they reach that age.
Many officers will tell you, If we don’t do something soon, somebody is going to get hurt. I’ll tell you, people are already getting hurt. People are already being seriously injured, like that officer the other day in the U.P. The assaults that are happening at our facilities on a regular basis, every week, is shocking. It’s absolutely shocking that we don’t have the director here and the administration begging us to run a supplemental to help the situation, begging us for help in change of policy, begging us to get the pension bills done. I know we have the support for these, and yet we don’t take them up for a vote due to pressure from—somewhere. I ask all of you, consider these state employees—our neighbors, our families—who need our help and they need it urgently.
Senator Hertel’s statement is as follows:
I listened to the speech that my colleague from the 4th District gave during Statements, and I have to say I share his frustration. Now I am trying to figure out, when I keep listening to the statements that are made on the other side of the aisle, and they continue to want to go on social media and create a bunch of chaos. I am trying to figure out where you’ve been because the people of Michigan are sick and tired of politicians showing up at this Capitol and continuing to play politics with the issues that impact their lives every single day.
Now, I look at the legislation we passed in recent weeks, Senate Bill No. 911 and the House bill that did the same thing—it puts $600 million dollars back into our school districts across the state. That’s an average of $400 per-pupil in every school district in the state that allows our school districts to invest in important things like school safety, like teacher pay increases, like staff pay increases, the resources that they need to educate our students. But when that bill was on the board, all of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle decided to vote “no,” and they continue to come to the microphone and talk about these cuts to our school districts. But when you look at the money that we put, historic money we put last year in our school districts, that we continue to say to our school districts, throw the $600 million on top of it, and now another $125 million today that you seem to want to hold onto and not allow our school districts to have access to.
We are doing the work that educators have asked us to do and that superintendents need to make sure they have the resources. Don’t take my word for it, because when we passed Senate Bill No. 911 last week, the Michigan Association of Superintendents said it was the biggest win for public education in decades. Macomb County Intermediate School District, a large portion of the district I represent, said it was, “transformational for our school district.” So I will stand every single day with our educators and our superintendents, and those doing the work on the ground, to make sure they have what they need, and you can stay here and continue to play politics.
Senator Damoose’s statement is as follows:
Well, I’ve got to tell you, this is a total fraud what just happened here. Everybody in this room knows that there are people like myself who are willing to work across the aisle and get real stuff done, but what we see instead are these pre-planned speeches, this bill dropped in our laps last second, and recognized that there was not one call over the last several months saying, Let’s work together on a solution. This is nothing but pure politics, make no mistake. Every one of us sees it, and I hope the public sees what happens too. You could have reached out any time and yet, nothing. Pure political gamesmanship, and the reason I am so furious is this is inexcusable because you’re talking about our kids, and you’re talking about my kids in school. Make no mistake, and I want everyone in the public to recognize, that you cut school safety funding and school resource officers by 92 percent. People watch that. You’re still cutting them by 50 percent. We could have helped you with that, but not one call. You take the time to write speeches where you can say, What is wrong with you? That’s nuts. This is a one-time deal, I hope everybody gets it.
You think a school can hire a student resource officer knowing this funding is gone next year? You don’t think people can see through this? And burying a million dollars in there to enforce your gun control agenda? You know damn well that people can’t support that and that this takes a long time to resolve, to discuss, and to think about. Putting that in there just to score political points. This is an outrage. This is a real outrage, but you’ve probably scored the political points you were looking for, so I hope you enjoy your win. Thanks.
Senator Albert’s statement is as follows:
Yeah, this is a real spin job here. You
know, a lot of people might not understand at home the technical aspects of how
this works, but this bill comes from a conference committee, so there’s no
amendments; whatever comes out here, you have to take it or leave it. There is
so much we can do. I have a bill on my desk with language we could have put in
here, talking about cell phones. Why are we having such a mental health crisis
with our kids? Whatever they are seeing on their cell phones, whatever social
media they are looking at, is causing some pretty serious changes in the
development of our kids.
Over the summer, I read a book called “The Anxious Generation.” There’s a lot in there I agree with. I agree with the data, some of the stuff I just have a different point of view than the author, but I agree overall there is something we have to do. No conversation about that. Nope, let’s just try to go after the symptoms, let’s just go after the mental health, throw some money at them and go home. Nope, no talk about real problems. Let’s try to adjust the problems—nope, nope, don’t have time for that.
Another spin job. I was completely perplexed at this $600 million. What in the world can Republicans be blamed about for not putting $600 million back into the school systems? They are talking about raiding the pension fund. That money is not going back; it’s being taken from. For something to be taken back, it needs to go somewhere and then come back. The money is just being diverted. Absolutely ridiculous spin job. That is the worst rhetoric I have ever seen. At least try a little harder next time. My gosh, you guys are the best at it. You guys are way better at spinning than we are. That was pathetic.
My gosh. What other stuff was in here? Oh, the tattletale provision, so we can have a government where we set up a hotline for kids to call and tell on their parents to the government. Great job, really, that is exactly what our founding fathers had in mind when they designed our government. Hey, let’s make sure kids can tattle on their parents so we can go in their houses and check on them. Brilliant. That’s going to work.
Didn’t know, here is another one, this one really burns me, this is like a cat and mouse game, year after year. Is the school safety money going to be able to go to private schools or nonpublic schools to make sure those kids are safe? No, not going to happen this year. I am sick of it. I am so sick of it. Those kids have the same risks as everyone else. My wife works at a private school. This is not some highfalutin place. It is in the middle of the country, it started in 1893 by a Catholic priest who said, We are going to have these rural kids get an education. Well, good luck trying to keep them safe, it’s not like their parents pay taxes. Unbelievable. Every year, back and forth, I have to check and see are my kids going to be eligible for these funds or not? Are the other kids who go to Catholic school going to be eligible? No, not this year. Great work.
This funding is one time, that is another issue, another practical issue that would have been nice to discuss. Schools are not going to invest in school resource officers, which is the absolute best way to keep our kids safe. If they don’t know the funding is going to be there year after year, they make contracts with local law enforcement agencies, for several years typically. Well, if it is a one-year funding, then they might not do it. They might not feel comfortable making that long-term investment. No discussion about that because it came out of conference. No discussion ahead of time, no ability to put amendments up.
There are other things that are not right about this bill. Part of the problem I can’t tell you about is I didn’t have time to really review it and talk to my local administrators, do my normal due diligence. They will tell you the biggest problem with it—it’s not the bill we voted on this morning. My fellow colleague from Grand Rapids has a bill that would fully restore this funding and it doesn’t have any of this nonsense in it. That’s the bill we should be voting on right now.
Senator Runestad’s statement is as follows:
This is the kind of thing you see when there’s political shenanigans, there’s no other word to use to describe what has happened here. Slopping together this bill that should have been really, really important. Last minute talking points, slop the bill together. I have one thing to say about that, and that is shame on you. This bill only adds back one-half of what was cut for public safety. We tried to add the whole thing back today, that was shot down. I have only one thing to say about that, shame on you. This eliminates private schools from public safety funding, I guess they don’t need this, nothing could happen in those schools. I have only one thing to say about that, shame on you. This adds a provision that they’re going to spend a million dollars as kind of a spy-on-you type of provision. If somebody sees something, they can already turn that in to the police, but we’re going to spend another million just dropped into this slopped-together bill. I have only thing to say about that, and that’s shame on you.
Senator Singh’s statement is as follows:
I typically don’t speak during Statements, but I felt, after hearing the rhetoric, that I needed to set the record straight. First thing, I appreciate when the Minority Leader, the Senator also from the 23rd District, the Senator from the 18th District, come up here and give speeches. You voted against the budget a year ago that had the school safety money in it. So don’t tell me that you support it, because you already voted against it. Remember that. You can give your speeches all you want, but you voted against it the first time. The first time, it was also told to our school districts that this was one-time money, that we have resources and it was one-time money. So don’t try to explain that somehow this is a cut, because they were told that this is one-time money, and they should utilize it in a one-time fashion.
Now we come to this year’s budget. Again,
many of the same people voted against that budget, and now when we have an
opportunity to put dollars back into this area because we have found the lapsed
funds that are available to go to this, you have not only voted against this,
you have decided not to give the school districts the opportunity to get this
on day one.
Now why do I know that this is politics and grandstanding from my colleagues across the aisle? Because across the chamber, across this building, the Republicans joined with Democrats 98 to 11 to pass this money, gave it immediate effect. We brought it here, we asked for immediate effect. I get it if you don’t like the amount, you wanted to have more, you don’t like a couple of the items, but why would you stop the immediate effect opportunity to give resources to these school districts? So don’t stand here and tell me—you can debate the policy, but when you decide not to give that money to those schools, I want you to go back to your superintendents and say, Hey, the reason you’re not going to get this until April is because I was able to give a speech on the Senate floor. That’s what you’re doing here today. Always, we can debate the policy, but if you’re going to withhold money from the schools, don’t stand here and lecture us. That’s what you’re doing today.
Senator McMorrow’s statement is as follows:
You know, I wasn’t going to stand up here and speak on any of this until I heard one aspect of what we just passed, $1 million out of the entirety of the supplemental budget, be hoisted up and laughed at. I’m not going to stand here and say shame on you and shame on them, I think it’s childish to place blame. Safe storage and the education about safe storage and preventing people from getting access to firearms, especially in homes with children, is not some, quote, gun control agenda.
Earlier this year, I joined with parents and three of our police chiefs from Royal Oak, Clawson, and Eastpointe, on a panel about gun safety. This was organized by a teacher in Clawson who pulled this meeting together because, as a teacher, she has watched multiple students be shot and killed. Alexandria Verner, who was one of the students shot and killed in the Michigan State shooting, and Cailin Heath a fifteen-year-old girl who was shot and killed by her stepfather during a domestic abuse dispute when she tried to save her mother. Her stepfather shot and killed her, then barricaded himself in the home and shot and killed himself. The chief of police from Clawson who responded to the scene was in tears—as you can hear, I still am—and said this was the most gruesome scene she’s ever responded to. Ever.
Throughout the course of the conversation, the parents who were in attendance at this town hall asked one simple question, How do I have this conversation with other parents? In a moment where so many of our kids are dying because there are easily accessible firearms in the home, and deaths that could be prevented, how do we have this conversation? The chief of police from Royal Oak—someone who carries a gun every day as part of his job and also as a parent of two young daughters—led the conversation and says that he thinks it’s his duty to make that conversation less uncomfortable for other parents. He leads; he gives other parents permission to ask questions.
Ted Verner, who is Alex Verner’s dad, I’ve gotten to know him a lot over the last couple of years. I don’t know that he ever wanted to get to know me as well as he has. Having looked at pictures and memorials, when you go to Clawson now, there’s a new gym that has Alex’s initials in the middle of it, AV. There’s bumper stickers all over the city. He said, Don’t ever be afraid to ask. You’re going to feel dumb. Yeah, it’s going to feel silly. For kids who want to have this conversation, this education, for $1 million in this budget, is a drop in the bucket to encourage kids, if you see something, say something, because parents are afraid to ask. And Ted would give anything to have Alex here today, even asking a dumb question.
Or providing a little bit of funding in a moment when we supposedly care about saving kids’ lives. This is a drop in the bucket. It is not about an agenda. It is about preventing some of the most devastating conversations that I have ever been a part of with people who just want their kids back.
Protest
Senator McBroom, under his constitutional right of protest (Art. 4, Sec. 18), protested against the adoption of the first conference report on House Bill No. 5503.
Senator McBroom’s statement is as follows:
Mr. President, as you’ve heard from some
of my other colleagues, I find this bill to be very lackluster and
disappointing, and that’s why I voted “no” on it today. It restores less than
half, really, of what we’ve done in the past. It sets up a termination point
that leads to great uncertainties for our schools. It creates an unnecessary
hotline when we already hotlines, 9-1-1, and many other services available, and
yet has decided this is the best way to spend an additional million dollars. It
continues to disallow the spending for school safety in other schools, as the
previous speaker also mentioned. And after being lectured by some of my
colleagues on how shameful it is that we voted “no” to restore half of the
funding after we already voted earlier today to restore the full funding, we’ve
got an additional lecture from another member who chose to not even vote this
morning on restoring the full funding. That seems shameful to me. This is
obviously an opportunity to help out some of the extracurricular activities
that legislators have to participate in, in certain even-numbered years, and is
not a serious attempt at fixing this problem. That’s why I voted “no” on it.
Announcements of Printing and Enrollment
House Bill Nos. 5943 5944 5945 5946
Committee Reports
COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE REPORT
The Conference Committee on House Bill No. 5503 submitted the following:
Meeting held on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at 11:30 a.m., Room 352, House Appropriations Room, 3rd Floor, Capitol Building
Present: Senators Camilleri, Anthony and Bumstead
Scheduled Meetings
Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety – Thursday, September 26, 12:00 noon, Room 1200, Binsfeld Office Building (517) 373-5312
Health Policy – Thursday, September 26, 1:30 p.m., Room 1100, Binsfeld Office Building (517) 373-5323
Regulatory Affairs – Thursday, September 26, 9:00 a.m., Room 1100, Binsfeld Office Building (517) 373-1721
Senator Singh moved that the Senate adjourn.
The motion prevailed, the time being 6:14 p.m.
The President pro tempore, Senator Moss, declared the Senate adjourned until Thursday, September 26, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.
DANIEL OBERLIN
Secretary of the Senate