Gov. Rick Snyder Monday signed legislation allowing DNA samples to be collected at the time of arrest for all felonies.
“Collecting DNA samples at the time of arrest has proved to be an important tool in solving serial rape, murder and cold cases across the country,” Snyder said. “Collecting samples will help identify suspects earlier in the investigation process, reduce the chance of violent repeat offenders and ultimately improve public safety in Michigan.”
Senate Bills 105 and 106, sponsored by state Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker and SB 107, sponsored by state Sen. Rick Jones, expand the list of violent felonies for which DNA is currently collected to include all felonies. DNA samples will now be taken at the time of arrest from individuals who commit or attempt to commit any felony. Samples will only be sent for testing in cases where the individual is arraigned. The bills bring Michigan in line with the policies of 28 other states.
The bills are now Public Acts 457-459 of 2014.
The governor also signed seven other bills:
SB 325, also sponsored by Jones, gives courts the opportunity to prevent child abductions during child custody proceedings. The bill allows the court to order parents to refrain from taking a child without consent of the co-parent in cases where evidence indicates there is a substantial risk of abduction. It is now PA 460.
SB 596, sponsored by state Sen. David Robertson, creates the Human Trafficking Health Advisory Board, charged with making recommendations to the Legislature on the physical and mental health needs of human trafficking victims. The board also will develop a human trafficking public awareness program. This legislation further supports human trafficking victims and builds on a package of bills signed by Snyder last fall. It is now PA 461.
SB 1049, also sponsored by Schuitmaker, allows police officers to carry and administer opioid medications to people at risk of a narcotic overdose. In addition, police officers are exempt from criminal prosecution for administering the medications in good faith to people in need. The bill adds to lifesaving legislation signed by Snyder last fall requiring EMS responders to be trained in the use of opioid medications. It is now PA 462.
HB 4186, sponsored by former state Rep. Stacy Erwin Oakes, expands current rules for expunging a criminal record from offenders under the age of 21 to all offenders. The bill allows people with up to one felony and two misdemeanor charges to petition to clear their records five years after the completion of their sentence. The decision to ultimately expunge a criminal record remains with the courts. It is now PA 463.
HB 5667, sponsored by state Rep. Lisa Posthumus Lyons, gives flexibility to county clerks in deciding which approved electronic voting system best serves the needs of their community. It is now PA 464.
HBs 5928 and 5929, sponsored by former state Rep. Joe Haveman, create the Criminal Justice Policy Commission. The commission will be responsible for reviewing current sentencing guidelines, exploring alternatives to incarceration, promoting rehabilitation programs and making recommendations to the Legislature. The bills aim to improve local alternatives to prison for eligible non-violent offenders and create court consistency across the state. They are now PAs 465 and 466.
On Tuesday, Snyder signed 21 bills focusing on various transportation-and education-related issues across Michigan. The bills range from fighting cyberbullying to streamlining regulations for professional development to making sure veterans attending community college have access to benefits.
“We’ve already taken great steps to confront the challenges posed by bullying in our schools,” Snyder said. “It’s important that we expand our focus to include the growing problem of cyberbullying to bullying policies.”
Senate Bill 74, sponsored by former state Sen. Glen Anderson, strengthens Michigan’s anti-bullying efforts signed into law by Snyder in 2011 by requiring all Michigan schools to add cyberbullying to their anti-bullying policies. The legislation requires the Michigan Department of Education to create procedures to report this information to the state. It is now Public Act 478.
SB 492, sponsored by former state Sen. Bruce Caswell, aligns the Revised School Code with the School Aid Act as it pertains to kindergarten age requirements. The bill also applies the current age requirements to children attending schools out of district. It is now PA 479.
SB 1088, sponsored by state Sen. Darwin Booher, loosens investment restrictions for community colleges to provide additional investment options. The legislation will allow interested community colleges to create a more diversified portfolio, while still requiring specific investment grades to prevent additional financial risk. It is now PA 480.
SB 1142, sponsored by former state Sen. Mark Jansen, reduces the required number of annual fire drills for colleges and universities from eight to three. In addition, the legislation adds reporting and enforcement provisions for all postsecondary institutions. It is now PA 481.
House Bills 5035 and 5036, sponsored by state Reps. Ken Goike and Bruce Rendon, respectively, ensure veterans receive all opportunities available while attending Michigan’s community colleges. The bills require all community college applications to include a question about military service to help quickly identify veterans for educational assistance. The legislation also ensures veterans receive information on how academic credits may be earned for previous military training. The bills are now PAs 482 and 483.
HB 5669, sponsored by state Rep. Rob VerHeulen, ensures that nonpublic school teachers in Michigan receive the same credit for professional development as public school teachers. This reform ensures that all teachers in Michigan receive credit for professional development opportunities, regardless of the type of school worked in. It is now PA 484.
HB 5806, sponsored by state Rep. Al Pscholka, gives community colleges more flexibility in paying energy conversation improvements. The legislation increases the financing payback time frame from 10 to 25 years and removes the previous rule that projects could only be done if energy savings would cover the cost of the project. It is now PA 485.
SBs 695-697, sponsored by former state Sen. Randy Richardville, state Sens. Virgil Smith and Tom Casperson, respectively, add provisions ensuring the M-1 RAIL project will receive the same range of powers and legal protections that other railways receive. These provisions will allow the project to move forward without barriers. The bills are now PAs 486-488.
SB 1140, sponsored by state Sen. Virgil Smith, ensures that individuals involved in stealing vehicles are not covered by no-fault insurance benefits. The bill clarifies that anyone involved with stealing a vehicle, whether driving or not, is not entitled to personal injury protection benefits. It is now PA 489.
HB 4788, sponsored by former state Rep. and current Sen. Jim Stamas, creates a fundraising license plate benefitting Michigan veterans. Benefits from the license plate are designated for county veterans outreach activities, tuition support for members of the Michigan Natural Guard or the Children of Veterans Tuition Grant Program. It is now PA 490.
HBs 5045 and 5636, sponsored by state Rep. Kevin Cotter, allows villages, cities or townships with a population under 30,000, by resolution, to permit golf carts to be driven on streets. The legislation also excludes golf carts, commercial quadricycles and power-driven mobility devices including motorized wheelchairs from the list of motor vehicles requiring no-fault auto insurance. The bills are now PAs 491 and 492.
HB 5714, sponsored by state Rep. Mike McCready, streamlines the application process for for-hire motor carriers in Michigan. For-hire motor carriers include freight, towing and household moving companies. The legislation eliminates 64 unnecessary steps to help the Motor Carrier Division within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs issue licenses 67 percent faster. It is now PA 493.
For more information on this and other legislation, visit legislature.michigan.gov.
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