IN THIS EDITION
In the legislature
Committee updates
Update on conversion therapy ban
Other news and notes
In the legislature
The Senate unanimously voted in support of Senate Bill 228, which would create a Suicide Prevention Commission in Michigan to study, better understand, and help formulate solutions to the growing threat that suicide poses to residents of our state.
While this is a crucial first step, we have to do more right now to prevent suicides in our communities — a threat that currently stands as the #2 cause of death for young people in Oakland County. We know the risk of suicide increases exponentially when an individual has access to a firearm, which is why I’m continuing to fight for a hearing for my bill, SB 165. This legislation is part of a package that would allow police to temporarily confiscate firearms from an individual deemed an immediate risk to themselves or others, while still respecting due process and the 2nd Amendment.
On Thursday, I voted in favor of Senate Bill 239, which would allow mortuary science students actively enrolled in a college or university to practice the embalming process under the supervision of a licensed mortuary.
Currently, students are prohibited from practicing the embalming process without a license, which has become a training and educational barrier for those entering the trade. Appropriately caring for and treating a loved one’s body after they pass is an important part of the process to ensure families can trust they’re being taken care of in the safest, most professional manner possible.
I was proud to support this bill. SB 239, which passed with full support from the Senate, now heads to the House.
Committee updates
Senate Insurance and Banking Committee
Late last Monday, our office learned we’d be called into the Senate Insurance and Banking Committee on Tuesday morning at 8:30 a.m., and that we’d be reviewing and voting on Senate Bill 1. This bill would make sweeping changes to Michigan’s auto no-fault insurance system.
I voted in opposition to it in committee and when it was brought to the Senate floor for a vote.
You can find more information about Senate Bill 1, where we’re at in the no-fault conversation, and why I could not support it this week on my website.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The day following the vote in the Senate on SB 1, the House took up, altered and voted on the same bill in the House, which passed largely on party lines. The status of the issue is changing day-by-day, so some of the details in the link above regarding the Senate bill are different in the House bill that passed early Thursday morning. We’ll release more information as we have it, so you can best understand what is and is not in the latest bill.
Committee on Economic and Small Business Development
The Committee on Economic and Small Business Development listened to a presentation from CrossBraining, an education-technology startup dedicated to expanding the ways in which we teach students 21st century skills. Additionally, we heard from ServSuccess and Workforce Development, as well as the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association, on how businesses are experimenting with new management training techniques and the work being done to empower their employees.
Legislative update on conversion therapy ban
On May 2, I was named Progress Michigan’s April Legislator of the Month for my sponsorship of Senate Bill 284, which prohibits the practice of conversion therapy in Michigan. SB 284 has gained momentum and drawn quite a bit of media attention, and I hope it will help support movement of the legislation this session.
WXYZ-Detroit recently covered an important story of a family impacted by conversion therapy.
Other news and notes
1. Sunday, April 28 – Dropped in for Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin’s Rochester Hills Office Open House.
| 2. Monday, April 29 – Joined local certified public accountants and the Michigan Association of CPAs for a breakfast conversation in Troy. 3. Tuesday, April 30 – Stopped by the first official meeting of the Michigan Credit Union League’s FUEL MI Conference to share with young professionals what it means to be a Millennial in the legislature. I also offered tips on how to be an effective advocate. |
4. Wednesday, May 1 – Met with local nurses and members of the Michigan Nurses Association to talk about guidelines for staffing and patient safety.
5. Thursday, May 2 – Had a great conversation about equal employment opportunities for persons with Down syndrome with three amazing young women and self-advocates from the district.
Afterward, I enjoyed a quick visit with moms from Mothering Justice during their Mamas Policy Day.
6. Friday, May 3 – Attended the Troy Community Coalition Prayer Breakfast alongside Rep. Padma Kuppa. I was incredibly proud to write and share a Prayer for Peace and America, which you can watch and share here.
7. Thursday, May 9 – Hosted Rabbi Megan Brudney of Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills as she gave the invocation before the Senate session.
8. Friday, May 10 – Joined Rep. Sherry Gay-Dagnogo (D-Detroit) in Troy to speak with local health care providers and residents personally impacted by catastrophic car accidents. We talked about how changes to Michigan’s auto no-fault system would impact their lives and patient care.