Legislative Updates, Upcoming Events, and Resources

Hello Neighbor,

I hope you are well. In this e-newsletter you will find upcoming events in Senate District 3, legislative updates, helpful resources, and more! 

Legislative Updates 

Introduction of Language Access Plan Bills  

Last week, Sen. Mary Cavanagh, Rep. Ranjeev Puri , Rep. John Fitzgerald, and I introduced Senate Bills 382-383 and House Bills 4720-4721, which would make state services more accessible and available to those who are English Language Learners/limited English proficient.  

Over 944,928 Michiganders five years and up speak another language besides English at home. Whether it’s accessing public benefits, being able to vote in a language they understand, or getting help with unemployment, every Michigander deserves to get the help they need from state departments and agencies, in order to make sure their needs are met. This is an important piece of legislation that will help move Michigan forward and not leave immigrant communities behind. These bills support work that the Office of Global Michigan is already implementing within the department and were developed in consultation with immigrant serving organizations.  

These bills ensure that state departments and agencies will take reasonable steps to provide equal language access, which could include a variety of things such as oral language services and translating vital documents into languages spoken by LEP populations that constitute at least 3 percent of the population in that geographic area or 500 or more people served by that local office. The bill also requires that every two years, each department and agency will submit to the Office of Global Michigan a report detailing their plans for implementation of equal language access. The language access plan will include items such as the number of bilingual workers, a plan to address any insufficiency, a list of vital documents it has translated, and the name of the individual designated as the entity’s language access coordinator. 

DPSCD Bargaining Bill in Senate Education Committee  

Last week, I testified in the Senate Education Committee about SB 359, my bill that will restore collective bargaining rights regarding compensation for educators in the Detroit Public Schools Community District. In 2016, when DPSCD was created, the legislature limited the ability of new DPSCD teachers and the district to consider longevity and advanced degrees in determining compensation. This makes Detroit the only district in the state of Michigan with this unfair prohibition, sometimes forcing good teachers out to other districts. Passing my bill will help make sure we keep good teachers in DPSCD schools, in the long run benefitting our kids.  The committee voted to report my bill yesterday and I look forward to it receiving a vote soon.

Sentencing Commission Bills 

This past week, Senator McBroom and I introduced SB 376-377 and testified in support of the bills in the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety. Our bills create a sentencing commission to review our sentencing guidelines on a regular basis to determine if updates are needed to better ensure public safety and reflect current research and understanding. My bill, SB 376, would create the Michigan Sentencing Commission within the State Legislative Council. The commission would consist of 14 voting members: 4 legislators, 2circuit court judges, 1 law enforcement representative, 1 prosecutor, 1 attorney specializing in criminal defense law, 1 mental health expert, 1 formerly incarcerated person, 1 designee by the Department of Corrections, 1 designee by the Attorney General, and 1 nonprofit member that serves victims of crimes. SB 377 details the responsibilities of the commission, such as reviewing sentencing guidelines to ensure their effectiveness and suggesting policy recommendations to the state. The committee voted to report these bills yesterday.   

Proposal 2 Implementation Legislation 

Last week, I testified in support of Senate Bill 373, my bill that implements part of Proposal 2 passed by the Michigan voters in 2022. Proposal 2 included language reaffirming our state’s strong photo identification law. My bill clarifies the list of educational institutions whose ID cards may be used as voter ID and adds municipal ID cards, per Proposal 2. Detroit, Washtenaw and Kalamazoo all have municipal ID cards issued by local clerks, and those ID cards would be considered proof of identity and address during the voting process. Municipal ID cards do not automatically register anyone to vote. My bill is part of a larger package that updates our state election law to comply with Proposal 2, including early voting, drop box, precinct size, postage for absentee ballots and other requirements now in our Constitution. The committee voted on this and many Proposal 2 implementation bills yesterday and are headed to the full Senate for a vote very soon. 

Update on Highland Park Water Debt Issue 

Last week, the Great Lakes Water Authority and Highland Park announced an interim agreement that includes a $1 million payment now, no immediat levy on Highland Park residents, and more time for negotiation. The interim agreement is an important and positive step forward and Rep. Mike McFall and I commend the Great Lakes Water Authority and the City of Highland Park for working together to find solutions. The agreed-upon compromise helps offer residents and the community some relief in the short term while also giving all parties involved, including the State of Michigan, the gift of time to keep communicating and negotiating on a comprehensive, permanent resolution of this situation. As public servants, we continue to advocate for the needs of Highland Park residents and all of the communities we represent, and we will keep working in our roles in state government to ensure safe, healthy water is accessible and affordable for all Michiganders. 

Upcoming Events  

Coffee Hour with Rep. Sharon MacDonell 
WHEN: Friday, June 30, 2023, from 11 – 12 pm
WHERE: Tavern on the Main, 235 S Main St, Clawson, MI 48017 

Criminal Justice Town Hall 
WHEN: Thursday, July 13, 2023, from 6 – 8 pm
WHERE: Church of the Messiah, 231 E Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI 48207 

Coffee and Conversation
WHEN: July 24, 2023, from 12 – 1 pm
WHERE: Unique Coney Island, 33102 Dequindre Rd, Sterling Heights, MI 48310 

Resources in the District 

Protecting Your Health During Periods of Poor Air Quality Caused By Wildfires 

Recently, Air IQ ranked the city of Detroit as the third city in the world that had the worst air quality due to the Canadian wildfires. There are neighborhoods in Detroit who deal with air quality concerns on a regular basis, Canadian wildfires or not. Everyone should be able to breathe clean air. 

While we cannot fix the air pollution issues in our state in a day, here are some steps you can take to protect yourself as the air quality continues to get worse. You can visit AirNow to find out the Air Quality Index in your area. If you are advised to stay indoors, take steps to keep indoor air as clean as possible. When smoke levels are high, try to avoid using anything that burns, such as wood fireplaces and candles. Do not vacuum. That stirs up particles already inside your home. 

Run your air conditioner if you have one. Keep the fresh air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent bringing additional smoke inside. Note: If you don’t have an air conditioner, staying inside with the windows closed may be dangerous in extremely hot weather. In these cases, seek alternative shelter. 

If you have heart or lung disease, if you are an older adult, or if you have children, talk with your doctor about whether and when you should leave the area. When smoke is heavy for a prolonged period of time, fine particles can build up indoors, even though you may not be able to see them. 

Severe Hot Weather Prevention 

As we saw last week, our state suffered an extreme heat wave. As the summer continues to progress it will only get hotter. Team Chang has put together a comprehensive list of all the cooling centers located in Senate District 3. 

Cooling Centers in Detroit/Wayne County 

• Detroit Public Library-5201 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48202 
• M, Thu, F, Sat: 10:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M., Tues and Wed: 12:00 A.M. – 8:00 P.M., Sunday: 1:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.  
• Detroit City – Recreation Department – Butzel Family/Senior Citizens Center -7737 Kercheval Detroit, MI 48214 
• M-F, 11 A.M. – 7 P.M. 
• Detroit Public Library – Knapp Branch-13330 Conant Detroit, MI 48202 
• M, W, F: 10:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M., Tues, Thurs: 12:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. 
• Detroit City – Recreation Department – Farwell Recreation Center-2711 East Outer Drive Detroit MI, 48234 
• M-F, 11 A.M. – 7 P.M.  

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warns residents that they may be targeted by scammers claiming to be representing government entities. 

The Department has received reports that a missed jury duty scam is currently being perpetrated in Oakland County. In this scam, fraudsters call unsuspecting residents and tell them that they have failed to appear for jury duty in federal court. The caller threatens the person with arrest if they don’t pay a “cash bond,” which has reportedly been as high as $5,000. 

Two complaints involving the missed jury duty scam have been reported to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. In both cases, the scammer claimed to be an Oakland County Sheriff’s deputy. Another imposter scam involves letters mailed to residents that appear to be from a state agency. The letters, which indicate that they are a “final demand for payment” related to a tax line, threaten potential foreclosure unless payment is made. 

The individuals perpetrating these scams may expand the deception to other agencies, such as the FBI, IRS, or some other state or federal government entity. If you are concerned that you are being targeted by a government imposter, you can protect yourself by doing your own internet research. Looking up the phone number for the government agency allows you to call and inquire without relying upon information provided by the scammer. AG Nessel wants all Michigan residents to be on the alert so they can avoid being scam victims. 

For more information about popular consumer scams, or if you believe you’ve been a victim, residents can contact the Consumer Protection Team Monday-Friday at 877-765-8388 or complete our online complaint form. 

End of Federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Brings Changes to Insurance Coverage for Michiganders 

The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) is alerting consumers that there may be changes to their health insurance coverage for COVID-related testing and treatments now that the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) has ended. For more specific information about different types of medical care that have been affected by the ending of the PHE, see below: 

At-Home and Laboratory COVID Tests: 

Private Insurers: The federal mandate requiring health insurers to provide no-cost coverage for COVID-19 testing, including at-home tests, has ended. Most people with health insurance will continue to have coverage for laboratory COVID-19 tests, subject to the plan’s cost sharing. At-home testing for COVID-19 is an eligible medical expense for flexible spending arrangements (FSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs). Michiganders should check with their plan for more details. 

Medicare: Medicare is no longer required to provide coverage for at-home COVID-19 testing. Medicare Part B participants can still obtain laboratory COVID-19 testing, with authorization by a medical provider, without out-of-pocket cost. Medicare Advantage participants may have additional flexibility regarding COVID-19 testing. Michiganders should check with their plan for more details. 

Medicaid: Under federal law, Medicaid and MIChild participants can obtain at-home and laboratory COVID-19 tests through September 30, 2024. 

Helping Medicaid members keep their coverage 

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE), allowing Medicaid members to keep their health care coverage. Per recent federal legislation, eligibility renewals will start again in June. Monthly renewal notifications will be sent by mail beginning in May. 

Following these steps will help determine if you still qualify: 

• Make sure your contact information is up to date. 
• Check mail or text messages for a letter. 
• Complete your renewal form (if you get one). 

If you’re a Medicaid member, learn more about how these changes may affect your health care coverage at Michigan.gov/2023benefitchanges. 

With gratitude,

Stephanie Chang
State Senator, District 3