Dear Friend,
Thank you for reading my e-newsletter. It’s an honor serving Kalamazoo County as your Michigan State Senator.
Featured in this newsletter:
- Bill to add Kalamazoo and Allegan County circuit court judgeships clears Senate
- Joint Capital Outlay Committee advances funding for WMU, KVCC projects
- Legislature Passes $1 billion to invest in Michigan’s economy, good-paying jobs
- Overdose Fatality Review Team legislation receives hearing in health policy
- A Guide on Michigan Elections
As always, please feel free to contact my office to let me know your thoughts, concerns and how I and my staff can be of service to you.
Sincerely,
Sean McCann
State Senator
District 20
BILL TO ADD KALAMAZOO AND ALLEGAN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT JUDGESHIPS CLEARS SENATE
On Wednesday, the Senate voted unanimously to pass my Senate Bill 1047. This bipartisan bill would add one new circuit court judge each in Kalamazoo and Allegan Counties. A change in state law is required to create these positions and it is endorsed by resolutions of support by both county commissions.
The State of Michigan’s Judicial Resources Recommendations data demonstrates a need for greater judicial capacity in these counties. I have spoken with local community leaders in Kalamazoo County who have expressed the need for this capacity for a long time. This bill is a bipartisan and reasonable recognition of the growth of our justice needs in Southwest Michigan. Next, it will move to the House of Representatives for consideration.
JOINT CAPITAL OUTLAY COMMITTEE ADVANCES FUNDING FOR WMU, KVCC PROJECTS
As a member of the Joint Capital Outlay Committee, it was my privilege to testify to fellow committee members in support of two critical local projects at Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo Valley Community College. I was pleased that my colleagues joined me in supporting these projects, which now move forward to the Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration.
Under Senate Bill 78, Kalamazoo Valley Community College would receive $19.5 million in state funding to match the college’s contributions to renovate and expand its skilled trades training facilities and construct a new Automotive Technology Program space. Western Michigan University would receive $22.5 million in state funds to renovate Knauss Hall, which is now over 50 years old but still one of the most widely utilized instructional facilities on WMU’s campus.
I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to advance these measures and secure the needed funds to ensure quality higher education facilities in Kalamazoo.
LEGISLATURE PASSES $1 BILLION TO INVEST IN ECONOMY, GOOD-PAYING JOBS
On Wednesday, September 28, the Michigan House and Senate passed two budget supplemental bills that make key investments in Michigan’s economy and support good-paying jobs.
Senate Bill 844 sends nearly $1 billion in funding (from the state’s $7 billion surplus) to the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO). Of that, $846.1 million is being directed into the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve (SOAR) Fund, including $250 million for site development and $100 million for landfill cleanup.
Senate Bill 842 amends the state School Aid Act and includes:
- $250 million invested in the Michigan Achievement Scholarship for Michigan high school graduates whose expected family contribution through FAFSA was $25,000 or less beginning in Fiscal Year 2023, which begins Oct. 1. Providing a minimum of $1,000 per student, the scholarship would be available for five years, with no more than three of those years spent at a community or tribal college, and provide:
- Up to $2,750 to community college students;
- Up to $5,500 to public university students; and,
- Up to $4,000 to private university students.
- $12.2 million of General Fund money into the School Aid Fund, with $12 million targeted to providing literacy tutoring services and enrichment programs, with a pilot program in three geographically diverse districts. It also invests $200,000 into Square One to host robotics programs and competitions for K-12 students, and creates two new scholarship programs.
- $10 million of the above $250 million would be set aside for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship Training Program that would make $2,000 grants available for students enrolled in occupational training programs.
The two new scholarship programs would begin in the 2023-2024 academic year.
OVERDOSE FATALITY REVIEW TEAM LEGISLATION RECEIVES HEARING IN HEALTH POLICY
Recently, I had the opportunity to appear before the Senate Committee on Health Policy to testify about my bill, Senate Bill 1080, which would enable counties to create Overdose Fatality Review Teams (OFRT) to investigate drug related deaths.
It was a privilege to be joined by some of my local partners in crafting this legislation, Abigail Grande, the executive director of Michigan Association of Medical Examiners, and Dr. Amanda Fisher Hubbard from Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine. They shared how having the option to create an OFRT would give them the ability to work in collaboration with community partners such as paramedics, law enforcement, substance abuse, and others to more effectively respond to and prevent overdose fatalities.
I appreciated my Senate colleagues’ interest and questions about the legislation. I look forward to advocating for this bill through the fall in the hopes of seeing it passed into law before the end of this legislative term. I will keep fighting to give our local experts the tools they need to prevent future drug overdose fatalities.
A GUIDE ON MICHIGAN ELECTIONS
As the November 8th elections approach, Kalamazoo County residents can check out my resource guide on how to:
📪Request an absentee ballot
🗳Look up your clerk’s office to vote early
📮Find your clerk’s ballot drop box
✅Track your ballot
Many constituents have asked me for this information, so I wanted to make sure it was available to everyone, because everyone should have the freedom to vote and have a say in the decisions that impact our lives. Click here to read on!
STAY IN TOUCH
Visiting the Michigan Capitol? If you plan to visit Lansing for a conference or to advocate for an issue important to you, please contact my office so we can set up a time to meet you.
Paying tribute? It is my pleasure to produce official legislative tributes honoring Kalamazoo County residents for milestone birthdays, anniversaries, retirements, and special accomplishments. If you would like a tribute from state officials, please let me know and we would be glad to assist.
HELPFUL LINKS