Lansing Update: March 25, 2016

1. Abortion Coercion Bills Continue to Michigan Senate
2. State Budget Discussions Continue; Lawmakers Head for Spring Recess
3. Bill to Provide Information About Spina Bifida to Parents Considered in Committee
4. U.S. Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments in Little Sisters of the Poor HHS Mandate Case
5. Detroit Archbishop Opens House Session With Prayer

Abortion Coercion Bills Continue to Michigan Senate

The Michigan House of Representatives approved legislation this week that would make it a criminal offense to intentionally coerce a pregnant woman to have an abortion. The bills passed by a 65–43 vote. Testimony back in September on House Bills 4787 and 4830 highlighted the need for such legislation to protect women. MCC supports the bills, which are sponsored by Representatives Amanda Price (R-Holland) and Nancy Jenkins (R-Clayton) and now await further consideration in the Senate.

State Budget Discussions Continue; Lawmakers Head for Spring Recess

Lawmakers met over the past several weeks in subcommittees to examine and make recommendations for specific areas of the October 2016–September 2017 state budget (Fiscal Year 2017). In the subcommittees, they considered the governor’s recommendations and heard public testimony on those issue areas. This week, several proposals were voted out of their subcommittee, continuing the legislation forward to the Appropriations Committee. The Appropriations Committee considers the entire budget before it can go before the House or Senate. Greater detail will be provided in the paragraphs below. Lawmakers left after session on Thursday to begin their spring legislative recess and to work back in their legislative districts. They are expected to return on Tuesday, April 12.

• Water Testing for Lead in Schools

  In February, Governor Snyder included $9 million in his budget recommendations to reimburse schools across the state, on a voluntary basis, for the cost of testing water for lead. This week, the House Environmental Quality Subcommittee agreed with the governor’s recommendation for this purpose. An amendment from Representative Sarah Roberts (D-St. Clair Shores) ensured that all schools, public and non-public, could receive reimbursement for this testing.

• School Safety Grants

  Last year, Michigan offered $4 million in state grant funding to support school safety initiatives. In March, 56 public schools districts, 15 private schools, 11 charter schools, and 5 sheriff departments were announced as the winners, with the chosen safety improvements benefiting over 217,500 students. Governor Snyder recommended $4 million again this year for safety improvements for schools and sheriff departments in his budget. The House State Police Subcommittee proposed $2 million, with up to 20 percent of the funding eligible for sheriff departments and the rest for schools. The Senate State Police and Military Affairs Subcommittee proposed $4 million but would only make the funding available for schools who apply.

• School Health, Safety, and Welfare Mandates

  

  Each year, non-public schools complete health, safety, and welfare requirements from the State. Some of these requirements include conducting regular fire and lockdown drills, performing criminal background checks for staff and volunteers, and keeping child immunization records. Michigan currently reimburses public schools for these mandates, but not non-public schools. The House School Aid Subcommittee included $1 million for this reimbursement. MCC staff will also pursue funding through the Senate Appropriations process.

• Tuition Grant Program

  $34 million was recommended in the governor’s proposal for the Tuition Grant program, which allows eligible low-income students to receive financial aid to attend one of Michigan’s independent colleges or universities. The House Higher Education Subcommittee also recommended $34 million, increasing the amount from the General Fund by $1.2 million from last year’s budget (3.4 percent). The Senate Higher Education Subcommittee increased the grant by $748,000 to $34.7 million.

• Tuition Incentive Program

  Governor Snyder’s recommendation increased by $2 million, to $50.5 million this year, for the Tuition Incentive Program. This program incentivizes completion of high school by providing Medicaid-eligible students with tuition assistance for the first two years of college. The House Higher Education Subcommittee and the Senate Higher Education Subcommittee agreed with this proposal.

• Dual Enrollment

  The governor and the House General Government Subcommittee proposals include a $500,000 increase for dual enrollment for non-public schools, bringing the total up to $1.5 million. Dual enrollment allows non-public school students to take community college or university classes for credit while still in high school. The Senate General Government Subcommittee will vote on its proposal when members return from break.

A few budget items of interest remain in the proposals from the Senate and House Health and Human Services Subcommittees, which will not receive a vote until after the spring recess ends. Michigan Catholic Conference will keep members updated when these items have received consideration.

Bill to Provide Information About Spina Bifida to Parents Considered in Committee

Spina bifida is a type of birth defect where a child’s spine does not form properly. When expectant or new parents hear their child has spina bifida, the diagnosis can be overwhelming, and many have questions about how to address the condition. Advances in medicine have allowed for fetal surgery in utero, for some cases, or other treatment for the child. House Bill 5098, sponsored by Representative Henry Vaupel (R-Fowlerville), ensures parents whose child is diagnosed with spina bifida are given medically accurate information at the health provider or facility about the condition, as well as up-to-date information about possible physical, developmental, and psychological outcomes, medical treatment, and spina bifida support programs and services. The measure was considered this week by the House Health Policy Committee, but no vote was taken. Michigan Catholic Conference is supportive of this bill but is also encouraging the adoption of more comprehensive measures that help parents who receive a variety of poor prenatal diagnoses. Senate Bill 287, sponsored by Senator Jim Marleau (R-Lake Orion) and House Bill 5065, sponsored by Representative Jason Sheppard (R-Lambertville), will help to provide parents with medically-accurate information about treatment, support, and assistance. The bills also provide parents with referral information to perinatal hospice programs, which allow families whose child is likely to die before, or shortly after birth, with the opportunity to go through the natural grieving process.

U.S. Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments in Little Sisters of the Poor HHS Mandate Case

This week marked the beginning of Zubik v. Burwell, a case which will decide whether the Little Sisters of the Poor and other ministries can be forced to comply with the contraception mandate from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard opening arguments from both sides. Earlier in the year, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops filed an amicus brief in support of the Little Sisters of the Poor and other religious nonprofits, citing the importance of allowing faith-based agencies who serve the most vulnerable to continue to serve in a manner consistent with their religious beliefs. The court is expected to reach a decision by June.

Detroit Archbishop Opens House Session With Prayer

On Tuesday of this week, Archbishop Allen Vigneron of the Archdiocese of Detroit led the Michigan House of Representatives in prayer. He was invited as a guest of Representative Bill LaVoy (D-Monroe). Here is an excerpt from that prayer:

“We pray in particular today for the members of this distinguished House, who, while selected through election, hold their authority in trust from You. They, ‘grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom, earnestly desire to secure these blessings undiminished [for] us all and [for] our posterity.’ In order to fulfill the responsibilities You have given them to protect and advance our wellbeing, they need Your help. Theirs is a heavy burden, and for this stewardship You will one day ask them to give an accounting. They are willing to bear this burden for the sake of their neighbors and all their fellow citizens. How could we not join in prayer for them with the full measure of our hearts’ ardor, in order to ask You, Lord God, to guide and sustain them?”

Enjoy the remainder of your Holy Week. On behalf of the Michigan Catholic Conference Board of Directors and staff here in Lansing, Happy Easter!

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