Detroit Public Schools

On Thursday House Republicans passed a revised plan for Detroit Public Schools that pays down $500 million in debt and provides a $33 million emergency loan. The district is split into two and new language on strikes or lockouts in the district is added.

House Democrats remained in opposition largely due to the lack of the Detroit Education Commission being involved in the placement of schools and because the $500 million supplementary bills would prohibit current collective bargaining agreements from transferring. HB 5384, which creates a new district and outlines reforms, passed 57-51. HB 5383, which provides the $500 million passed 55-53.

Other bills in the package include SB 822 passing 55-53, HB 5387 passing 59-49, SB 711 passing 61-47, and SB 820 passing 59-49. No’s were predominantly Democratic with a few Republicans joining. Representative Sam Singh (D-East Lansing) said the House bills did not fully address the issues and criticized the majority for not working with the Democrats.

Under this legislation, the Financial Review Commission (FRC) is given an expanded role allowing them to oversee the school’s finances post-bankruptcy and allows them to oversee the community district. The FRC also approves the school board’s superintendent pick and any changes in their contract. The school board would be elected in August 2017, with the Governor appointing the interim board.

The House also plans on putting a School Reform/Redesign Office (SRO) in charge of closing schools. The SRO has the ability to rescind a school closure if the closure would negatively impact the students in the area.

House Speaker Kevin Cotter (R-Mount Pleasant) said it is too early to tell when the Senate will act on this legislation.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, May 6, 2016 10:48 AM
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Budget Bills Move from Senate

The Senate passed the state department and education budget bills to the House on Wednesday. State departments budgets total $38.77 billion and public schools, community college and universities budgets total $16.1 billion.

Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof (R-West Olive) commended the budget as $1 billion in debt was paid off with a half a percent budget increase. Among the provisions in the budget, an additional $2.2 million in the Department of State Police was added for enhanced 911 services and $1 million was removed from the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. The budget passed on a 26-11 vote.

SB 801 provides an education omnibus in the amount of $16.11 billion for overall educational efforts. $14.11 billion is provided for K-12 schools, $1.6 billion for universities and $399.03 million for community colleges. The bill passed on a 23-13 vote primarily among party lines.

posted by PAA Online , 10:47 AM
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Criminal Justice Reform

Senator John Proos (R-Saint Joseph) introduced on Tuesday a long-anticipated package of bills aimed at reforming the juvenile criminal justice system. The current rate of paroled or probationary prisoners in Michigan is 50 percent, where the national average is around 30 percent.

SB 932 creates a Parole Sanctions Certainty Act within the Corrections code that requires the department to adopt a system of sanction certainty for violations of conditions of parole. The system is to be created within the five counties in the state with the greatest number of criminal violations. SB 933 changes the penalties for technical probation violations. SB 934 reduces the felony probation period after the violator has completed half of the period, or, if after review of the case, the court determines the violator warrants reduction.

SB 935 creates an incentive program within Treasury to encourage the supervising regions with probation and parole officers that implement supervision practices. SB 936 requires the use of “evidence-based supervision practices” that reduce recidivism among individuals on probation, parole or post-release supervision. SB 937 defines recidivism as “re-arrest, reconviction and reincarceration in prison or jail within three to five years of his or her initial release.”

SB 938 establishes a criminal justice data and management program to effectively show how all the different elements of the criminal justice life cycle fit together. SB 939 requires Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) to submit quarterly reports with reasons inmates beyond their earliest release date have not been paroled. SB 940 requires MDOC to develop screening and registration policies and procedures for reentry services to correctional institutions by certain organizations.

SB 941 allows for expeditious commutation hearings and procedures if requested based on a prisoner’s heath condition and outlines the procedure for the Parole Board in such an event. SB 942 allocates $1 million in the crime victims fund for child assessment centers for trauma or abuse as a result of a criminal offense. SB 943 requires MDOC to report parole absconders to the Department of Health and Human Services and SB 944 ensures these individuals cannot receive state financial assistance.

SB 945 requires those between the ages of 17 and 22 to be housed with others in the facility of that same age unless under special circumstances and SB 946 establishes and implements a work opportunity employer reimbursement program to allow the Talent Investment Agency to incentivize employers to hire parolees. SB 947 revises a reference to general education development to high school equivalency.

SB 948 establishes the Swift and Sure Probation Supervision Fund within the state treasury where courts may apply for grants, and how individuals may be eligible for the program. SB 949 allows the expansion of the Swift and Sure Sanctions program in any judicial circuit if adopted by statute or court rule. A court can accept participants from any other jurisdiction so long as the specific parties agree it to.

posted by PAA Online , 10:46 AM
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PAAdvisory Briefs

Many School Bond Proposals Pass

Michigan schools districts voted to raise property taxes to pay for bond sales to fund improvements to school buildings on Tuesday. All but five of the 42 bond proposals passed. Substantial bonds include Warren Consolidated School District at $134.53 million, Lansing Public Schools with $120 million, Romeo Community Schools with $86 million, Sparta Area Schools with $58.62 million and Comstock Public Schools at $40.13 million. Albion schools voted to annex Marshall into their district as well.

Michigan Tax Burden Below Average

Michigan has ranked in the lower tier of all states in per capita tax burden according to a report from the Citizen Research Council. Michigan came in lowest among the Great Lakes states. Property taxes ranked 26^th in per capital total burden and 35^th in total state and local tax burden in the country. Property taxes by 2013 were just over 31 percent in its total tax burden, compared to 41 percent in 1993. Sales tax revenues increased to 34.1 percent of the burden. Corporate income taxes went from 5^th highest in 1993 to 39^th highest in 2013.

Unemployment Insurance Agency Testifies Before Committee

Officials from the Unemployment Insurance Agency testified before the first House Oversight and Ethics; Unemployment Reform subcommittee hearing to defend the program’s operations in its fraud detection program. Since 2013 the program has received two audits and major litigation claiming serious problems in the administration of the program. Subcommittee chairman Representative Joseph Graves (R-Linden) said the panel will hear from claimants and employers before reporting anything to the full House Oversight and Ethics Committee by May 25.

Senate Approves Flint Supplemental

On Wednesday the Senate approved a $127.99 million supplemental appropriation to provide a variety of health, infrastructure, and educational services to the city of Flint. A majority portion of the funds will go to the emergency reserve city fund. $25 million will cover water infrastructure and water filters for the city. The bill was approved 34-3.

Snyder Booed at Public Speech

Governor Rick Snyder addressed a crowd of nearly 1,000 at Northwestern Preparatory School on Wednesday. The Governor spoke before President Obama gave a speech to the crowd. In his speech, Governor Snyder reiterated how to government failed the city of Flint, which was greeted with a chorus of boos. This marks the first time the Governor has directly addressed the citizens of Flint, on the water crisis.

posted by PAA Online , 10:45 AM
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