A portion of highway I-94 in Kalamazoo County will be named in honor of Fire Chief Ed Switalski under legislation signed by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder. Fire Chief Switalski was struck and killed by a vehicle while responding to an accident on June 13, 2017.
"Michigan's first responders put their lives on the line daily to help ensure the safety of all Michiganders, and Fire Chief Switalski made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty," Snyder said. "On behalf of all Michiganders, it's an honor to recognize his bravery and service by naming this stretch of highway in his memory."
Senate Bill 543, sponsored by state Sen. Margaret O'Brien, names a portion of I-94 as the "Chief Ed Switalski Memorial Highway." The portion of highway on I-94 is in Kalamazoo County beginning at exit 80 and ending at mile marker 86. It is now Public Act 19 of 2018.
Snyder also signed seven additional bills:
- Senate Bill 316, sponsored by state Sen. Darwin Booher, revises the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to remove restrictions on the open season to take frogs and the use of artificial light for spearing them at night. It is now Public Act 20 of 2018.
- Senate Bills 529 and 530, sponsored by state Sen. Peter MacGregor, develop an improved child welfare and juvenile justice policy and process. SB 529 establishes an administrative appeal processes for use in disputes regarding Child Care Fund reimbursement requests. SB 530 allows for a substantial modification to the current foster care payment process which will allow for more prompt payments to private child welfare providers. The measures are now Public Acts 21-22 of 2018.
- Senate Bill 574, sponsored by state Sen. Dave Hildenbrand, permits charter schools to share the tax revenue generated by future regional enhancement property taxes approved by local voters, allowing more students to benefit from regional enhancement millages that residents pay. Under the legislation, a charter school would not be eligible to receive enhancement funds if its two most recent audits show successive, unresolved material findings and if it does not provide documentation to the Michigan Department of Education proving that it has a special education program in compliance with state and federal law. In addition, a cyber charter school would only qualify to receive funds if 100% of its students live within the taxed intermediate school district. It is now Public Act 23 of 2018.
- Senate Bill 634, sponsored by state Sen. Wayne Schmidt, provides an opportunity for temporary limited license psychologist (TLLP) license holders to become permanently licensed limited license psychologists (LLP). The bill also establishes specific timelines for educational programs. It is now Public Act 24 of 2018.
- House Bill 4787, sponsored by state Rep. Curtis VanderWall, provides more flexibility for ice shanty identification requirements and removal dates. The bill requires the owners of a fishing ice shanty to identify themselves by posting either their name and address, driver license or sport card number to each side of the outside of a fishing shanty. It is now Public Act 25 of 2018.
- House Bill 5284, sponsored by state Rep. Vanessa Guerra, provides a right-of-way conveyance in downtown Saginaw to be completed between the State of Michigan, the City of Saginaw and Delta College to allow Delta College to begin construction of its new Saginaw Center. The construction of the Saginaw Center is a capital outlay project that was recommended by Governor Snyder as part of the Fiscal Year 2016 Executive Recommendation. The bill requires the City of Saginaw to transfer the parcel of property to Delta College by September 30, 2018. It is now Public Act 26 of 2018.
For additional information on this and other legislation, visit www.legislature.mi.gov.
Published: Fri, Feb 16, 2018
