Legislative Update: Week of June 11th

As time winds down on the legislative calendar with the summer break coming at the end of Thursday, the activity in both chambers ramped up with the chambers considering school retiree reform, tax reform, the new bridge to Canada, abortion and more. Let's review the activities of the final week before summer break:

House:

With session times being set to earlier times this week, most House committees did not meet this week.

The full House considered several issues this week but one of the most controversial came from the House Health Policy committee, the abortion omnibus, House Bill 5711. This bill was the main part of the three bill package that addressed several issues that Right to Life Michigan considered important to consider. Debate on the floor was emotional, heated, and provided for several gavels from the speaker for inappropriate remarks. Several members from both sides of the aisle had commented on their desire not to vote on the legislation stating that it went way to far based on the comments of supporters of the package said were a problem. After the debate, the House did vote on 5711 with it passing 70-39 (Roll Call # 448).

Senate:

The Senate did have committees this week but were very limited in the time they had to meet. The Senate Insurance committee continued again to take testimony on the Patient's First Reform package. Many stories were with the committee that said their physician had some if not all of the responsibility in their stories and how the package would not allow the physician and those who were wronged to receive the justice they deserve. At the end of the committee they did not take a vote on the package, with it now moving into the summer months.

The Senate Judiciary committee considered and took testimony on several items concerning Michigan's Medical Marihuana program including the MSMS supported House Bill 4851 which defines the patient/physician relationship when dealing with medical marihuana. It is unknown when the committee is expected to vote out the legislation. The Senate Health Policy committee also met to consider Senate Bill 975 which provides an opportunity for a health professional if they choose not to treat based on religious objections to what treatment is required. The committee just took testimony on the legislation similar to what they did last week on the nursing scope expansion bill. It is unknown when the committee will consider the legislation again.

The Senate floor was less lively than the House's this week but they did move a two pieces of legislation that is supported by MSMS. Senate Bills 402 and 403 that provides protections for physicians to voluntarily report patients to the Secretary of State if they believe in their professional judgment that the patient is impaired and not able to drive. Physicians are not making the decision whether the patient can drive or not, that is the duty of the Secretary of State, but it allows them to report and have liability protections for reporting to the Secretary of State. These bills were voted out of the Senate and sent to the House for their consideration.

Now the legislature goes on break until July 18th where they will meet for one day. The MSMS Legislative blog will be taking a break until the Legislature comes back into session unless there is breaking election news to post. Stay with the MSMS advocacy section of the website at http://www.msms.org/advocacy. Also with elections right around the corner your support of the candidates helps keep things like tort reform intact. Go to http://www.mdpac.org to see how you can help!