Michigan Senate Democrats

Date: 2009-04-30

MOTIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

Motion to postpone items 1-3 (Repeal Drug Immunity) until June 2 nd 2009

The motion was adopted [RC 137: 20 yes, 16 no, 1 excused]

THIRD READING

SB 129 (Brown)

The Election Law establishes a four-member board of canvassers in each county. A board of county canvassers has the powers and duties granted to and required of all boards of canvassers established by law, with several exceptions. If a city, village, school district, or other district lies in more than one county, and a duty is to be performed by the board of county canvassers, the board in the county in which the greatest number of registered voters of the city, village, or district resides must perform the duty. Under the bill, if a school district lay in more than one county, the board of county canvassers for each county containing a portion of the district would have to canvass that portion of a school district election that was held in that county. If a school district election precinct lay in more than one county, the board of canvassers of the county in which the largest number of registered electors of that precinct resided would have to canvass the results of that precinct. Upon completion of the canvass, the clerk of the board of canvassers would have to transmit the results to the county clerk of the county in which the largest number of registered electors of that district resided. Upon receiving the canvassed results, the county clerk would have to make a statement of returns and certify the results of the school district election to the secretary of the school board.

Jacobs-1 not adopted [RC 141: 16 yes, 20 no, 1 excused]
SB 129 was passed [RC 142: 36 yes, 0 no, 1 excused]

SB 130 (Brown)

The Election Law requires the appropriate board of canvassers to canvass the votes for candidates for school board member and votes for and against a ballot question at a regular or special school election in each school district. Upon completing the canvass, the board must make a statement of returns and certify the election of school board members to the secretary of the school board, the county clerk, and the school district election coordinator, if other than the county clerk. The bill would make an exception to that requirement as otherwise provided in Senate Bill 129.

SB 130 was passed [RC 138: 36 yes, 0 no, 1 excused]

SB 455 (Brown)

The bill would amend the Michigan Election Law to require a recount petition for a school district election, either for an office or proposition, to be filed with the clerk of the board of canvassers that certified the result of the election.

SB 455 was passed [RC 139: 36 yes, 0 no, 1 excused]

SB 466 (Kuipers)

The bill (S-1) would amend the Michigan Business Tax ( MBT) Act to allow the Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) to enter into a maximum of four, rather than three, tax credit agreements for the construction of an integrative cell manufacturing facility. The bill also would increase from $90.0 million to $135.0 million the maximum amount that MEGA may authorize in total credits to all taxpayers for qualified expenses for vehicle engineering in Michigan to support battery integration, prototyping, and launch expenses. Under the Act, a taxpayer that has entered into an agreement with MEGA may claim an MBT credit equal to 50% of the capital investment expenses for any tax year for the construction of an integrative cell manufacturing facility that includes anode and cathode manufacturing and cell assembly, if the taxpayer will create at least 300 new jobs in Michigan. The Authority may enter into not more than three such agreements, each with a maximum allowable credit of $25.0 million per year for up to four years. No credit may be claimed in a tax year beginning before 2012, but credits may be based on expenses incurred in Michigan in earlier years. The Authority may not enter into an agreement after October 1, 2009. Under the bill, MEGA could enter into up to four of these agreements until that date. In addition, the Act allows a taxpayer to claim a credit of up to 75% of the qualified expenses for vehicle engineering in Michigan to support battery integration, prototyping, and launch expenses incurred for tax years that begin on or after January 1, 2009, and end before January 1, 2014. A credit may not exceed $15.0 million per year, and MEGA may not authorize more than $90.0 million in total credits to all taxpayers. The bill would increase the total allowable amount of these credits to $135.0 million.

SB 466 was passed [RC 140: 36 yes, 0 no, 1 excused]

GENERAL ORDERS

SB 430 (Van Woerkom)

The bill would amend the Airport Zoning Act to provide for the automatic granting of a permit or variance for the construction, establishment, alteration, or repair of a structure, or the growth of a tree, under certain circumstances.