The Michigan Legislature has had a busy few months between right-to-work legislation and gun bills, but few students might know dozens of other bills are introduced everyday. Here are a few of many bills the Michigan legislators are working on at the moment.
Drunken driving
State Rep. Andrea LaFontaine, R-Columbus Township, hopes to take further precautions to keep drunken drivers off the road. LaFontaine introduced House Bill No. 4093 to prevent the blood alcohol content level someone can operate a vehicle at from changing from 0.08 to 0.10. The change is expected to take effect Oct. 1 if LaFontaine’s bill isn’t passed.
Keeping puppies safe
Senators are looking out for the dogs visiting breeding kennels.
The puppy protection act, Senate Bill No. 0117, outlines specific requirements for large-scale commercial dog breeding kennels.
The bill explains in detail kennel owners must provide food, water, shelter and exercise. The bill specifies the appropriate size of the dog’s enclosure, which must allow puppies “to turn and stretch freely and to fully extend all limbs simultaneously without touching another dog or puppy.”
Guns in schools
After the Connecticut elementary school shooting caused a nationwide gun control debate, Michigan lawmakers are attempting to pass legislation to allow teachers to have guns at school.
House Bill No. 4098 permits administrators, teachers and other school employees to carry a concealed pistol on school property as long as the school’s chief executive officer approves. The gun owner will have to complete training outlined by the chief executive officer.
If the gun owner doesn’t carry the weapon on his or her person, the individual must put the pistol in a locked container that only can be accessed by the gun owner.
Abortion restrictions
Introduced by state Rep. Tom Hooker, R-Byron Center, House Bill No. 4162 requires that the physician who determines the age of a fetus in a pregnant woman is 19 weeks or older to perform an abortion for the woman only in a hospital that has a neonatal unit.
The bill is heading to the Committee on Health Policy for review.
Commemorative week and month laws
Senators and representatives often introduce bills to name certain things.
House Resolution 0019 declares Feb. 3-9 as Boy Scout Week in Michigan to recognize the accomplishments of the group.
Senate Resolution 0011 recognizes Feb. 4 as Cancer Prevention Day. The resolution explains about 469 out of 100,000 Michigan residents are diagnosed with cancer annually and the disease has “touched the lives of nearly everyone, either directly or indirectly.”
Senate Resolution 0009 designates January 2013 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month to encourage Michigan residents to educate themselves about the dangers of sex trafficking.
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