Local courts can continue requiring convicted offenders to pay costs related to their court proceedings under legislation signed last Friday by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder.
“Ensuring fairness in our state’s court system is critically important, and these bills give trial courts the ability to require convicted offenders to pay for reasonable, court-related costs,” Snyder said. “These bills also create the Trial Court Funding Commission, which will make recommendations for long-term solutions to trial court funding in Michigan.”
House Bills 4612-4613, sponsored by state Rep. Rob VerHeulen, help maintain funding for statewide courts as broader and long-term solutions are developed. HB 4612 extends the sunset on the ability for local courts to require convicted offenders to pay costs related to their court proceedings. The bill extends the current October 2017 sunset to October 17, 2020. HB 4613 creates the Trial Court Funding Commission, which will be tasked with reviewing and recommending changes to the trial court funding system. The commission will consist of 14 members representing nominations made by the governor, speaker of the house, senate majority leader, State Bar of Michigan, and other stakeholders. The measures are now Public Acts 64-65 of 2017.
Snyder also vetoed one bill:
—Senate Bill 163 would create the “Choose Life” fundraising license plate, with proceeds going to the Choose Life Fund. In his veto letter, Snyder expressed concerns that, “The ‘Choose Life’ license plate is a political message that has the potential to bitterly divide millions of Michiganders and that, in my view, is not appropriate for a state-issued license plate.”
Snyder also signed two additional bills:
—House Bill 4169, sponsored by state Rep. Tommy Brann, amends the Liquor Control Code to codify the Michigan Liquor Control Commission’s current procedures and practices when considering the approval or denial of certain liquor licenses to establishments located within 500 feet of a church or school. The bill also allows the Liquor Control Commission to waive the 500-foot prohibition if license applicants can prove that a waiver would not adversely affect the operation of the church or school. It is now Public Act 66 of 2017.
—House Bill 4325, sponsored by state Rep. Tom Barrett, allows an insurance agent who has completed more than the required 24 hours of continuing education in one two-year period to rollover no more than 12 hours to the next period. This will help insurance agents maintain state licensure while still having use for additional earned credits. It is now Public Act 67 of 2017.
For additional information on this and other legislation, visit www.legislature.mi.gov.
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