• House Labor Committee Approves Changes to PA152
• House Education Considers Multiple Bills
• School Safety Bills Approved by Committee 
• Senate Committee Approves Vaping Bills
• Senate Labor Committee Talks Unemployment and Workers Compensation
• Senate Passes National Teacher Certification Test 
• Registration is Open for NSBA’s Advocacy and Equity Institute 

House Labor Committee Approves Changes to PA152

On Thursday, the House Labor Committee held a hearing on House Bill 6058 which makes changes to Public Act 152, also known as the hard cap or 80/20 law. This law dictates costs public employers pay regarding health care costs.

This bill would increase the hard cap by about 7% beginning on January 1 and reset the cap as a floor.  It would also require districts using the 80/20 option to provide at least 80% of the health care costs.  The changes would go into effect upon the negotiation of a new contract or contract renewal.  However, if a contract states that its hard cap is defined by PA152, the amount will jump when the law goes into effect.

We have concerns with the costs this bill could create for districts mid budget year, as well as the change from caps and ceilings to floors.  MASB is having conversations with the bill sponsor and the MEA to address our concerns. The hard cap does need to be adjusted as it doesn’t accurately reflect the actual changes in health care costs. However, we want to make sure this is done in a fair manner for both employees and our districts.

The bill was approved by committee and sent to the House Floor. Changes are expected to be made during debate on the Floor and we will work to have our concerns addressed as this moves forward. It is expected to be pushed through the remaining days of session.

House Education Considers Multiple Bills

On Tuesday, the House Education Committee held a hearing on a handful of bills covering a variety of issues, including school safety.  However, the committee did not vote on them at that time (see following article). The following two were approved by committee and are now before the full House for consideration.

House Bill 5174  would require the Michigan Department of Education to develop or adopt a model presentation on organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation programs and make the presentation accessible to public schools. All public schools would be encouraged to share the presentation with 9th graders beginning in the 2025-26 school year. A parent or legal guardian could opt their student out of attending the presentation with a written request to the student’s school.

House Bill 5735 removes references to specific course titles a student must complete to meet the Michigan Merit Curriculum’s high school graduation requirements in mathematics, social science, and science. The bill will not change the number of credits a student needs in any core subject; it only removes the specific courses currently outlined in the law. 

The sponsor, Rep. Carol Glanville (D-Walker) has said this would benefit students by creating more flexibility to learn the required knowledge by allowing people to think in different ways on how best for students to fulfill the required credits.

Both bills are now before the full House for its consideration. 

School Safety Bills Approved by Committee 

On Wednesday, the House Education Committee reconvened to continue discussion on the school safety package. The package includes five bills aimed at terminology, behavioral assessment teams and a state commission. 

House Bills 4095-4096  would require the Michigan State Police to develop standardized response terminology. Once established, it will be shared with all schools and local police agencies to be used in any emergency situation.  HB4095 requires schools to adopt the terminology. 

House Bill 5549 would require that schools create a behavioral threat assessment and management team. The team would include at least a school administrator, mental health professional and a school resource officer or police officer from the jurisdiction of the building. The team will be tasked with a central reporting process and educating students, parents, legal guardians and school personnel on how to report concerning behavior and what is appropriate to report. 

Finally, House Bills 5659-5660 would amend the Comprehensive School Safety Plan Act to sunset the current School Safety Commission and create a new one within the Department of State Police, the School Safety and Mental Health Commission.

MASB supports the bills, and they are now before the full House. 

Senate Committee Approves Vaping Bills

On Thursday, the Senate passed SB 651-652 and SB 653-654 along party lines.  These bills establish a licensing requirement for nicotine and tobacco retailers. The license creates fines and penalties for any tobacco or nicotine retailers who sell to minors. To obtain or renew a license, a retailer must apply to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) and pay a $1,500 application fee.

A retailer would face a fine of $1,500 for selling to a minor. If four violations occur within a 36-month period, the retailer pays a $3,000 fine and will have their tobacco license revoked. Additionally, any person who sells or gives tobacco or vaping products to a minor is subject to fines and penalties of up to $2,500 for multiple offenses.

MASB strongly supports these bills as they address the health and well-being of students across the state.  They now go to the House. 

Senate Labor Committee Talks Unemployment and Workers Compensation

On Thursday, the Senate Labor Committee approved bills dealing with unemployment benefits. One of the bills, Senate Bill 40, would extend the maximum number of weeks an individual could qualify for unemployment benefits from 20 weeks to 26 weeks.  This bill was tied to a package modifying the hardship waiver process, and unemployment due to domestic violence. 

The committee also started a conversation on amending Michigan’s Worker’s Compensation law. Senate Bill 1079 and Senate Bill 1080 would make broad changes to the law regarding the percentage of wages a person would be eligible for, updating and expanding the definition of disability, and increasing the amount and length of time for death benefits.

There was a lot of discussion in committee. On one side testifiers talked about how these bills will benefit workers and allow them to maintain an income until they can go back to work. On the other side, employers expressed concerns over the broad changes and the complications it can cause in these cases and the increased costs.

A vote was not taken, further hearings may be held next week.

Senate Passes National Teacher Certification Test 

This week, the Senate passed Senate Bill 354 which would allow teachers coming from other states or countries to use a nationally approved and administered certification test to receive their Michigan teaching license without having to take Michigan’s test.

MASB continues to oppose the bill over our concerns that this law would favor one specific vendor, as well as concerns that specific topics on the Michigan test might not be covered by a nationally normed test, such as literacy or Michigan curriculum-specific topics. 

 The bill is now before the House Education Committee.

Registration is Open for NSBA’s Advocacy and Equity Institute

The National School Board Association’s annual Advocacy and Equity Institutewill take place February 2 - 4, 2025, in Washington, D.C., at the Marriott Marquis.

This is a new format this year as NSBA has combined the Equity Symposium and Advocacy Institute. Please note the Institute starts earlier this year with the first breakout session beginning at 10:30 AM. 

This new and refined conference is dedicated to advancing educational equity and advocating for policies that foster inclusive learning environments for K-12 public schools. Register today and join board members from across the country in supporting public education with our elected officials in Congress.  Early Bird Registration ends December 13, 2024.