Legislative Advocacy
Opportunity for Input on Overtime Rules: As you may know, in October, Governor Gretchen Whitmer directed the Michigan's Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) to submit an administrative rule change request to expand overtime pay eligibility to more Michigan workers. Under the current federal standard that went into effect this year, salaried workers who earn less than $35,568 are now eligible for overtime pay. In Michigan, the Governor seeks to raise the salary threshold even more to guarantee overtime pay to nearly 200,000 Michigan workers who are not eligible under the federal standard. The Governor's office is exploring raising the threshold to somewhere in the $45,000-$60,000 range.
To help provide perspectives from the nonprofit sector and inform the rule making process, Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA), the Council of Michigan Foundations (CMF), and the Michigan Association of United Ways (MAUW), are asking for member feedback on the overtime threshold increase via an online survey, which is open now through February 21 .
Violations of the Open Meetings Act: On Thursday, February 13, the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee took testimony on Senate Bill 104 (Runestad). SB 104 would amend Michigan's Open Meetings Act to specify that if a public body is not complying with the Act, the Attorney General, prosecuting attorney of the county in which the public body serves, or another person could commence a civil action to compel compliance or enjoin further noncompliance with the Act. The Committee did not vote on SB 104. This bill mirrors House Bill 4179 (Miller), which the House Judiciary Committee considered last year, but has not voted on yet.
Board of Ed Considers Perkins Plan: A state plan aimed at providing further access for career and technical education programs came before the State Board of Education on Tuesday, February 11, garnering an extremely positive response. The Perkins V State Plan comes following the federal reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act and is dedicated to increasing access to high-quality CTE programs of study. It is a four-year state plan, which the Department of Education has worked on in tandem with the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.
The plan will focus on 17 different career clusters, including energy, health science, agriculture and natural resources, human services, and marketing. It will also monitor special populations involved in CTE programs including new special populations for homeless individuals, youth who are in or have aged out of foster care system, and youth with a parent who is a member of the armed forces and is on active duty.
HELPFUL LINKS
Michigan Legislature’s website (bill tracking and committee meetings)
Michigan House of Representatives
Community College Legal Authority (Michigan Constitution)
For the map of the community college districts, click here.