Assisted suicide up for consideration, again

April 02--LANSING -- Lawmakers will try once again to legalize physician-assisted suicide in Michigan, which became the epicenter for the issue back in the 1990s.

Bills have been repeatedly introduced to legalize the practice, without success. But state Rep. Tom Cochran, D-Mason, is trying again with the bill he proposed last week to allow doctors to prescribe a lethal dose of drugs to a terminally ill person who has less than six months to live..

Michigan became inextricably linked with the assisted-suicide movement because of Dr. Jack Kevorkian, a reitired Royal Oak pathologist who assisted in about 130 cases of euthanasia beginning in 1990. He was convicted of second-degree murder in 1999 and served eight years in prison. He died in 2011 at the age of 83.

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Michigan voters rejected legalization of physician-assisted suicide in 1998 by a 3-1 margin. Six states -- California, Colorado, Montana, Oregon, Vermont and Washington and Washington, D.C. -- have legalized some form of the practice. Thirty-seven states have laws specifically prohibiting physician-assisted suicide.

Other bills introduced last week would allow eligible people to carry a concealed weapon without having to get a permit.

HB 4412: Revise the procedures for property tax tribunals. Sponsor: Rep. Brandt Iden, R-Kalamazoo.

HB 4413: Require one full-time military employee to be stationed at each armory or military facility in the state and to be armed with a gun. Sponsor: Rep. Pamela Hornberger, R-Chesterfield Township.

HB 4414: Change the prohibition against an elected official's contact information from appearing on ballot related materials, including absentee ballots, to include e-mails. Sponsor: Rep. Pamela Hornberger, R-Chesterfield Township.

HB 4415: Modify the procedure to change the speed limit restrictions on county gravel roads to include input from township officials. Sponsor: Rep. Michael Webber, R-Rochester Hills.

HB 4416-4419: Repeal the laws requiring a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Sponsors: Reps. Michele Hoitenga, R-Manton, Pamela Hornberger, R-Chesterfield Township, Sue Allor, R-Wolverine, Triston Cole, R-Mancelona.

HB 4420: Allow for the extension of business tax brownfield credits beyond 10 years. Sponsor: Rep. Jim Tedder, R-Clarkston.

HB 4421: Expand eligibility for substitute teaching to include people who have received a professional license or certification in the subject area that they will be teaching. Sponsor: Rep. Holly Hughes, R-White River Township.

HB 4422: Eliminate the sunset on a law which allows public school retirees to teach under certain circumstances without forfeiting retirement benefits. Sponsor: Rep. Holly Hughes, R-White River Township.

HB 4423: Establish grants for sheriff patrol assistance in distressed counties. Sponsor: Rep. James Lower, R-Cedar Lake.

HB 4424: Increase the penalties for possession certain parts of a deer or elk killed in another state. Sponsor: Rep. John Kivela, D-Marquette.

HB 4425-4426: Prohibit the department of health and human services from setting vaccination rules that are more stringent than already in statute, and prohibit schools from excluding unvaccinated students from schools. Sponsors: Reps. Tom Barrett, R-Potterville, Jeffrey Noble, R-Plymouth.

HB 4427: Prohibit the release of certain recordings taken by law enforcement officers who are wearing body cameras. Sponsor: Rep. Jim Runestad, R-White Lake.

HB 4428: Prohibit the automatic renewals of state service contracts. Sponsor: Rep. Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, D-Detroit.

HB 4429: Modify the definition of an involuntary statement given by a law enforcement officer to clarify the statement must be truthful. Sponsor: Rep. Peter Lucido, R-Shelby Township.

HB 4430: Restrict the state from assisting the federal government with data collection. Sponsor: Rep. Martin Howrylak, R-Troy.

HB 4431-4432: Expand the Legislature's authority to subpoena records and files to include access to local public bodies. Sponsor: Rep. Joseph Graves, R-Linden.

HB 4433: Provide for the automatic criminal record expungement of nonviolent juvenile offenses. Sponsor: Rep. Sheldon Neeley, D-Flint.

HB 4434: Require housing development authorities to offer vacant apartments to mobility impaired tenants. Sponsor: Rep. Sheldon Neeley, D-Flint.

HB 4435: Revise the calculation formula for vehicle registration fees. Sponsor: Rep. Martin Howrylak, R-Troy.

HB 4438: Provide for an exemption from domestic septage laws for portable toilets for farm laborers. Sponsor: Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Potterville.

HB 4439: Provide for use tax exemptions for back to school clothing and school supplies. Sponsor: Rep. Robert Kosowski, D-Westland.

HB 4440: Create a public education awareness campaign for cytomegalovirus, a common virus that infects people of all ages. Sponsor: Rep. Robert Kosowski, D-Westland.

HB 4441-4443: Require animal control officers and child protective service workers to report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect. Sponsors: Reps. Robert Kosowski, D-Westland, Peter Lucido, R-Shelby Township; Eric Leutheuser, R-Hillsdale.

HB 4444: Require notice for public utility projects that are located within a right-of-way. Sponsor: Rep. Mary Whiteford, R-Casco Township.

HB 4445: Prohibit the sale of certain prescription drug discount cards. Sponsor: Rep. Mary Whiteford, R-Casco Township.

HB 4446: Authorize a condominium board of directors to initiate or defend legal actions. Sponsor: Rep. Klint Kesto, R-Commerce Township.

HB 4447-4455: Create the local government professional services selection act. Sponsors: Reps. Robert Kosowski, D-Westland; Peter Lucido, R-Shelby Township; Jason Sheppard, R-Temperance, Klint Kesto, R-Commerce Township; Andy Schor, D-Lansing; Sylvia Santana, D-Detroit.

HB 4456: Repeal the law allowing local governments' rent control policies. Sponsor: Rep. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit.

HB 4457: Provide for energy improvement financing for universities and colleges. Sponsor: Rep. Brandt Iden, R-Oshtemo Township.

HB 4458: Lower the penalties for people carrying a concealed weapon without a permit in certain circumstances. Sponsor: Rep. Shane Hernandez, R-Port Huron.

HB 4459: Allow people who register to vote by mail to show their identification to any county, city or township clerk. Sponsor: Rep. Michael Webber, R-Rochester Hills.

HB 4460: Allow for reimbursement of registration fee for a return of vehicle plates or tabs before their expiration. Sponsor: Rep. Brett Roberts, R-Eaton Township.

HB 4461-4462: Allow physician assisted suicide. Sponsor: Rep. Tom Cochran, D-Mason; Kevin Hertel, D-St. Clair Shores.

HB 4463: Allow limited liability company members to represent the company in civil procedure evictions. Sponsor: Rep. Scott VanSingel, R-Grant.

HB 4464: Require child care centers to provide rules regarding safe sleep to parents. Sponsor: Rep. Andy Schor, D-Lansing.

HB 4465: Provide for notice before a communications company promotional rate expires. Sponsor: Rep. Jeremy Moss, D-Southfield.

HB 4466: Enhance the penalties for texting while driving. Sponsor: Rep. Martin Howrylak, R-Troy.

HB 4467: Prohibit abortions without first determining whether there is a detectable heartbeat. Sponsor: Rep. Lana Theis, R-Brighton.

HB 4468: Repeal the law that prohibits companies from recruiting and hiring workers to replace striking workers. Sponsor: Rep. Steven Johnson, R-Wayland.

HB 4469: Provide for senior citizen eligibility for participation in senior farmers' market nutrition programs. Sponsor: Rep. Vanessa Guerra, D-Bridgeport.

HB 4470-4471: Enact the uniform commercial real estate receivership act. Sponsor: Rep. Brandt Iden, R-Oshtemo Township.

HB 4472: Allow pharmacists to dispense FDA-designated interchangeable biological drug products. Sponsor: Rep. John Bizon, R-Battle Creek.

HB 4473: Create a supplemental appropriation to pass $100 million in federal funding through to the city of Flint to replace water infrastructure. Sponsor: Rep. Phil Phelps, D-Flushing.

Senate bills

SB 275: Remove the exemption from prosecution for law enforcement officers who engage in sex with prostitutes while working undercover investigations. Sponsor: Sen. Judy Emmons, R-Sheridan.

SB 276-277: Enhance penalties for crimes against animals. Sponsors: Sens. Steven Bieda, D-Warren; Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge.

SB 278: Create interstate library compact. Sponsor: Sen. John Proos, R-St. Joseph.

SB 279: Increase the representation of firefighters on construction code commissions and advisory committees. Sponsor: Sen. Jim Stamas, R-Midland.

SB 280: Clarify the criteria for expenditures from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. Sponsor: Sen. Darwin Booher, R-Evart.

SB 281: Increase the reporting requirements for campaign committees to include 527 groups that don't have to disclose all donors. Sponsor: Sen. Steven Bieda, D-Warren.

SB 282-283: Eliminate an employer's and insurance company's authority to refuse worker's compensation reimbursement for chiropractic services. Sponsors: Sens. Mike Nofs, R-Battle Creek; Jim Stamas, R-Midland.

SB 284: Remove the requirement to state marital status on property or mortgage documents. Sponsor: Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge.

SB 285: Lower the ratio of patients to nursing care personnel and aides in nursing homes. Sponsor: Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood, D-Taylor.

SB 286: Provide for the registration of nurse aides. Sponsor: Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood, D-Taylor.

SB 287: Regulate pharmacy benefit managers. Sponsor: Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker, R-Lawton.

SB 288-289: Regulate and certify emergency medical services personnel and community paramedics. Sponsor: Sen. David Robertson, R-Grand Blanc.

SB 290: Increase the fee for recounts. Sponsor: Sen. David Robertson, R-Grand Blanc.

SB 291: Prohibit a collision and comprehensive insurance provider from requiring the use of a specific vendor or process. Sponsor: Sen. Joe Hune, R-Whitmore Lake.

SB 292: Provide for a risk analysis and possible termination of the pipelines running under the Great Lakes. Sponsor: Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge.

SB 293-294: Provide for penalties for storing or leaving a firearm where it may be accessed by a minor. Sponsor: Sen. Rebekah Warren, D-Ann Arbor.

SB 295 and HB 4436: Provide for a graduated income tax. Sponsors: Sen. Rebekah Warren, D-Ann Arbor; Rep. Robert Wittenberg, D-Oak Park.

SB 296 and HB 4437: Increase the personal and special income tax exemptions. Sponsors: Sen. Rebekah Warren, D-Ann Arbor; Rep. Jim Ellison, D-Royal Oak.

SB 297: Require electricians to present identification to certain government officials. Sponsor: Sen. Kenneth Horn, R-Frankenmuth.

For more information on bills, go to www.legislature.mi.gov

Contact Kathleen Gray: 313-223-4430, [email protected] or on Twitter @michpoligal

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