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Friends, I hope you are staying safe and warm as we continue to dig our way out of this snowstorm. Please remember to hydrate, take breaks, and ask for help if you need it. Please also remember to have some patience as snowplow crews are working as diligently as they can, but they must prioritize high-traffic, high-volume roads first. For more information on this, you can visit the Road Commission for Oakland County’s website. As always, if I can be of any assistance to you or your family, please call my office at (517) 373-2417, or email me at SenRBayer@senate.michigan.gov. Be well, |
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This week, my colleagues and I introduced bills to create extreme risk protection order (ERPO) laws, or ‘red flag’ laws, to temporarily prohibit a person from possessing firearms if their behavior raises a ‘red flag’ that they could be a threat to themselves or others. If passed, Senate Bills 856-858, would make Michigan the 20th state in the nation to enact red flag legislation. Extreme risk protection orders save lives by allowing family members and law enforcement to act before warning signs escalate into tragedies, like the one we recently saw happened at Oxford High School in our district on November 30th last year. Michigan needs red flag laws on the books to not only help us prevent the next school shooting, but so that we can also help protect our loved ones in their darkest hour. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2019, there were 39,707 firearm-related deaths in the U.S., which equates out to 109 people dying from a firearm-related injury each day. Six out of every 10 deaths were firearm suicides and more than three out of every 10 were firearm homicides. The introduced legislation would allow a judge to issue an ERPO after the court considers testimony, documents, and other evidence in support of the request, including whether the person had previously inflicted, or threatened to inflict, personal injury or harm to others, and any other facts the court deems relevant. Once an order is issued, law enforcement could then take temporary possession of the individual’s firearms, and the individual would be prohibited from purchasing new firearms while the order remains in effect. We need to stop the spread of gun violence, which is an epidemic not just in Michigan, but across the country. This is commonsense legislation that could prevent suicides, protect women from domestic violence, and stop mass shooters from carrying out a planned attack. As legislators, we have a responsibility to act and provide law enforcement with the tools they need to keep our communities safe.
GOV. WHITMER AWARDS MI CLEAN WATER GRANTS TO PONTIAC, ROCHESTER HILLS This week, awarded nearly $5 million in grants under the umbrella of the MI Clean Water plan to 11 Michigan cities, villages, and townships. The money will be used to help local water suppliers move toward reducing the risks associated with lead in drinking water and make other improvements to ensure safe, clean tap water for residents. I’m pleased to see that Pontiac was one of the recipients of a $456,600 grant and that Rochester Hills also received a grant of $707,180. The MI Clean Water plan is a $500 million investment to rebuild the state’s water infrastructure to help provide clean, affordable water to Michiganders through investments in communities. Issued through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), the grants support work including the replacement of lead service lines, enhancements to water affordability plans, and connecting homes with contaminated drinking water wells to safe community water supplies.
ORDER YOUR FREE, AT-HOME, RAPID COVID-19 TESTS Testing is one of the best tools we have in helping to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Public health experts and the CDC recommend that you take an at-home test if you begin to have symptoms, if it’s been at least five days after being in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, and before you plan on traveling or attending a large gathering. Thanks to the Biden Administration wanting to ensure that everyone has the tools they need to stay safe during the ongoing pandemic, at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests are now available for free at COVIDtests.gov, with every household eligible for four free tests that will be shipped directly to Michiganders’ homes. Tests will usually ship within 7-12 days of ordering and arrive in the mail. Here’s what you need to know about your order:
The tests can’t withstand temperatures that are too hot or too cold, so removing them from your mailbox within a few hours — no more than 24 hours — is important to eliminate concerns of the tests being inaccurate when used. Tests should sit at room temperature for at least two hours before using in order to get more accurate results. The Biden Administration and USPS is working to rectify the challenges some residents have seen with ordering tests due to address errors. If someone is experiencing any issues with ordering a test through the USPS portal, you can complete a USPS inquiry detailing the issue, which will get you more help. If you do not have internet access or a computer to order the four free COVID tests from the federal government, please use these toll-free numbers: 1-800-232-0233 or TTY 1-888-720-7489. For more information on how the Biden Administration plans to ensure that this program results in fair distribution and its plans for future distributions, read the full briefing here.
WHITE HOUSE TO GIVE 400 MILLION N95 MASKS AWAY The Biden Administration is making 400 million N95 masks available for free to Americans at various retailers. Meijer, Walgreens, CVS, and Kroger stores are expected to receive free masks for distribution available at participating locations. Masks are limited to three per person, while supplies last. The retailers anticipate having signs posted to indicate availability. Contact your local store for more information, as supplies will vary by region while this program rollout begins. The masks will come from the government’s Strategic National Stockpile, which has more than 750 million highly protective masks on hand. They should not be shared with others and while they cannot be washed, they do offer better protection against the omicron variant of COVID-19 over cloth face coverings.
REUNITE WITH YOUR MONEY: SEARCH FOR UNCLAIMED PROPERTY The Michigan Department of Treasury has millions of dollars in lost or forgotten assets that includes dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, valuables left in safe deposit boxes, and stock certificates. These properties were all turned over to the state once they were determined to be abandoned as required by law. Treasury is the custodian of these assets and reunites them with their owners — or the owners’ heirs — when they are rightfully claimed. To find out if you have cash or property, check multiple states at UCPday.com or go directly to the Michigan Unclaimed Property website, which provides enhanced search options and the ability to upload verifying documentation easily and securely. Individuals are encouraged to search their name, a maiden name, or the name of a business or nonprofit. The search is free. Claimants may also call 517-636-5320 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. Businesses, corporations, nonprofits, public entities and other organizations holding unclaimed or abandoned property, can find instructions on how to prepare and easily submit their report and remittance online on the Michigan Unclaimed Property website as well. Nearly 33 million people in the U.S. – 1 in every 10 – has what the industry calls unclaimed property: financial accounts or items of value where the owner has not initiated any activity for several years. Common examples include unpaid life insurance benefits, forgotten bank accounts, and unused rebate cards. For more information about other services provided by the state Treasury Department, go to Michigan.gov/Treasury or follow @MITreasury on Twitter.
AUTO INSURANCE REFUND CHECKS COMING SOON Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) are reminding consumers to be on the lookout for refund checks from the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA) fund surplus that will be sent out by auto insurers later this spring. In December, the MCCA announced it will refund Michigan policyholders $400 per vehicle, or $80 per historic vehicle, for each vehicle that was insured under a policy that meets the minimum insurance requirements for operating a vehicle on Michigan roads as of 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 31, 2021. The funds will be turned over by the MCCA to the insurance companies by March 9, 2022. DIFS has directed insurers to issue refund checks or ACH deposits to consumers as expeditiously as possible, but in no event later than 60 days after the transfer of funds, which is May 9, 2022. Consumers who have questions or concerns that cannot be resolved directly with their insurer should contact DIFS by calling Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 833-ASK-DIFS (833-275-3437) or by emailing autoinsurance@michigan.gov. DIFS has also launched a consumer FAQ page at Michigan.gov/MCCArefund. The webpage contains important information and answers common questions about the refund timeline and eligibility requirements.
WATCH MICHIGAN SENATE TV AND STAY INFORMED Michigan Senate TV is available online for anyone interested in watching the proceedings of the Michigan State Senate during session, as well as committee meetings. The broadcast system recently underwent some upgrades to improve the system’s stability and to make viewing even easier. Tune in and stay informed about what’s happening at your State Capitol in Lansing!
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