Snyder signs almost 50 more bills into law

As term-limited Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder prepares to leave office next week, he signed several dozen bills today that arrived on his desk during the frenzied legislative Lame Duck session.

One of the bills makes cyberbullying a crime, House Bill 5017, sponsored by state Rep. Peter Lucido (R-Shelby Twp.). The bill is now Public Act 457 of 2018.

“Cyberbullying can cause just as much trauma as traditional bullying so it’s important that it be considered a crime,” Snyder said. “With this bill, we are sending a message that bullying of any kind is not tolerated in Michigan.”

Many of the high-profile measures passed by the Legislature are still awaiting the GOP governor’s decision. They include bills that would allow the House or Senate to intervene in court cases, place limits on ballot proposals and spend $1.3 billion in a budget supplemental,

Other bills signed today were sponsored by both Democrats and Republicans. They include:

• Senate Bill 416, sponsored by Sen. Tory Rocca (R-Sterling Heights), allows for the adoption of certain animals used in fighting operations. The bill is now PA 461 of 2018.
• SB 541, sponsored by Sen. Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake), would create a license for dental therapists in Michigan to provide dental services under certain circumstances. The bill is now PA 463 of 2018.
• SB 882, sponsored by Sen. David Knezek (D-Dearborn Heights), provides an exemption in the Open Meetings Act for school boards when discussing preventive security planning. The bill is now PA 467 of 2018.
• SB 995, sponsored by Sen. Mike Green (R-Mayville), clarifies language on membership and duties of the Wetland Mitigation Board. The bill is now PA 471 of 2018.
• SB 1231, sponsored by Sen. Peter MacGregor (R-Rockford), eliminates sunset provisions related to pilot programs for child welfare and juvenile justice services. The bills are now PA 483 of 2018.

  

• SB 1261, sponsored by Sen. Adam Hollier (D-Detroit), sets up procedures to accommodate the absence of members of a public body at public meetings. The bill is now PA 485 of 2018.
• HB 5121, sponsored by Rep. Jim Runestad (R-White Lake), and HB5122, sponsored by Rep. Pam Hornberger (R-Chesterfield Twp.), codify existing Department of Health and Human Services policies and practices of providing rights to children placed in foster care. The bills are now PAs 489 and 490 of 2018.

Snyder also signed several highway re-naming bills:

• SB 209, sponsored by Sen. Coleman Young II (D-Detroit), designates a portion of highway M-10 in Wayne County as “Sergeant Collin Rose Memorial Highway”. The bill is now PA 459 of 2018.
• SB 940, sponsored by Sen. Curtis Hertel (D-East Lansing), names a portion of US-127 as the “Trooper Craig Scott Memorial Highway”. The bill is now PA 470 of 2018.
• SB 1132, sponsored by Sen. Arlan Meekhof (R-Grand Haven), names a portion of I-196 in Holland as “Marine Daniel Price Memorial Highway”. The bill is now PA 475 of 2018.
• SB 1137, sponsored by Sen. Ian Conyers (D-Detroit), designates a portion of M-10 as the “Violet T. Lewis Memorial Highway”. The bill is now PA 476 of 2018.