The state Legislature would approve salary increases if a Senate joint resolution becomes an amendment to the Michigan Constitution.

Senate Government Operations unanimously passed the proposal Thursday. If approved by a majority vote, voters will see it on the ballot in November 2002.

The amendment also would require pay raises not take effect until the following election.

Sen. Beverly Hammerstrom, R-Temperance, said in a written statement that term limits allow senators to give themselves a pay increase with out facing another election.

Privacy for the disabled

A bill designed to protect the privacy of the disabled was reintroduced Thursday by Sen. Loren Bennett, R-Canton.

Placing Social Security numbers, license numbers or state personal identification numbers on a parking placard issued to a disabled person would be prohibited under the bill.

Bennett said in a written statement that Social Security numbers were not meant to be used as identification, only for using the Social Security System.

Sewage Overflow Prevention

A five-bill package introduced Thursday in the Senate targets sewage overflow in Michigan waterways.

Legislators point to a recent report by Clean Water Michigan that estimates $5.8 billion in improvements need to be made to the state’s sewage delivery and treatment systems in the next 20 years.

The bills offer local governments funding to correct sewer problems, requires sewage disposal systems to be inspected and certified at time property is sold, and develops a state-wide monitoring program.

The bill also limits municipalities exposure to lawsuits if they comply with a Michigan Department of Environmental Quality approved plan to correct a sewage system violation.