Four-year terms for county commissioners stall in Lansing

Due to the underlying political current in Lansing, the bills to convert county commissioner terms to four years, beginning with the 2022 election, have stalled in the House. House Bill 4937 and HB 4938, by Rep. Ann Bollin (R-Livingston) and Rep. Sarah Lightner (R-Jackson) respectively, were up for consideration in the House Ways and Means Committee earlier this week. But due to disagreement on whether the elections should take place on a gubernatorial election cycle or a presidential election cycle, the bills were held.

MAC continues to support the bills and will continue to work to find common ground on the issue once the Legislature resumes regular sessions in January. 

For more information, contact Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org.

Initial policy ideas shared by Jail Task Force

The Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration held their fifth meeting which included public discussion about proposed changes to state laws and policies regarding county jail incarceration. Outside of public meetings, task force members have been working diligently in subcommittees dedicated to analyze data collected from 20 sample counties around the state. After reviewing the data and trends, the subcommittees deliberated policy proposals and brought those forward to colleagues and the public for further input.

Some of the potential recommendations include:

-reclassification of low-level offenses such as driving without a license. Under a policy change, a person would receive a ticket rather than being charged with a misdemeanor. According to PEW data, 64% of people stayed 1 day or less in jail for driving without a valid license.

-increase funding for diversion programs, including more resources for mental health and additional services. Additionally, the group discussed the need for better data-sharing between law enforcement and mental health offices and more training for mental health crisis response.

-Mandatory 48 hour appearance in front of a judge or magistrate after arrest. The group discussed various timeframes that may be appropriate, taking in to consideration some concerns from domestic violence victim advocates.  

The task force subgroups will continue to meet over December before voting on final policy recommendations on Jan. 9 in Lansing. After a final report is agreed upon, the task force will present it to the Legislature for further deliberation.

More information can be found here. For questions, contact Meghann Keit at keit@micounties.org. 

MAC attends sustainability conference focused on local government

Earlier this week, MAC staff attended the 2019 Sustainability Conference, hosted by the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and MI Greening Communities; an organization that highlights and works with municipalities and counties to promote sustainable action and initiatives.

The sold-out conference held in Lansing at the Lansing Center, was an opportunity for stakeholders from local government and the private sector to network and learn about good work being done that creates a more efficient and sustainable Michigan. Presentations included topics like: planning for sustainability in big and small communities alike, a presentation on the current recycling market, a breakout on energy and sustainability from EGLE, how to build a triple bottom-line business, climate and health impacts, and many more. You can look at the various presentations that were given here. Presentations will be available within a few weeks: if you see one you’d like to obtain, flag Michael Ruddock and he’ll make sure to get it to you when it has become available. 

MAC also wants to extend a congratulations to Monroe county, who was awarded the Bronze award from MI Greening Communities for administering the Monroe County Environmental Fund Grant and accomplishing 6 of the 12 action-items!

For more information please contact Michael Ruddock at ruddock@micounties.org

Jail Task Force will meet Nov. 19 in Lansing

MAC encourages county leaders to attend the next public hearing of the Jail and Pretrial Detention Task Force, a joint project of Michigan’s counties and the state.

The session starts at 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 19 at the Boji Tower (124 W. Allegan St.) in downtown Lansing and will include public testimony from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. The session will be livestreamed by Senate TV.

This is the fifth and final public meeting in advance of the task force’s release of its report, which will occur in a public session on Jan. 9, 2020, in Lansing.

Pew Trusts, which is providing technical assistance to the task force, has reported that Michigan spent $478 million in county jail/correction costs. Pew also has advised the task force that:

• Jail populations have tripled since the mid-1980s
• Rural counties have seen substantial growth in their jail populations
• Jail populations have grown even as crime rates have declined

“Pew has told us that the last time the crime rate was this low, in 1960, the jail incarceration rate was a third of what it is today,” noted Stephan Currie, MAC executive director. “Courts and public safety take up the biggest slices of the county budget, but how we operate jails is mostly mandated by state law. The recommendations of this task force will help counties and the state to work together on best practices to address cost and capacity issues.

“Those recommendations, of course, should be built on the broadest possible feedback from county leaders, which is why we have urged our members to attend task force sessions wherever possible,” he added.

For more information on this issue, contact Meghann Keit at keit@micounties.org.

PFAS standards move into new phase of rule-making process

The Environmental Rules Review Committee (ERRC), established in 2018 by statute, voted to advance this week further guidelines for seven PFAS/PFOS chemicals found in Michigan drinking water. The committee is tasked with “overseeing all rule-making of the Department of Environmental Quality (now Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy).” This includes Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s priority of regulating harmful PFAS chemicals.

Different variations of PFAS/PFOS can be found in thousands of unique chemical strains. The Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART), created under Gov. Rick Snyder, relied on the expertise of a scientific subcommittee to identify seven of the most harmful chemicals using Health Based Values (HBVs): PFNA, PFOA, PFHxA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFBS, and GenX. After finding HBVs for those chemicals, EGLE and MPART created Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) to help with the rule-making process. 

That’s where the ERRC comes into play. Before those departmental rules can be adopted and implemented, the rules must go through a secondary screening by the committee that is comprised of industry professionals, environmental organizations and business stakeholders. The rules approved by the ERRC include mandatory testing for all community waters supplies. Initial test results would determine if a source will have to follow up with quarterly or annual testing to ensure compliance with those maximum contaminant levels. 

Next up is a public comment phase, with sessions around the state in January. After that, EGLE will incorporate feedback into the existing rules before sending them to a final vote of the ERRC by April 2020.

MAC will continue to monitor the rule-making process.

For more information on this issue, contact Michael Ruddock at ruddock@micounties.org.

Budget deal forms, collapses in another Lansing letdown

What appeared to be a final agreement to resolve the FY20 budget showdown between the governor and Legislature collapsed on Thursday afternoon when Senate Republicans insisted on a statutory restriction on the governor’s ability to move money around in budgets via the State Administrative Board. While other details remain unresolved, placing restrictions on the State Administrative Board is the sticking point. 

As this budget argument rages on in Lansing, counties around Michigan continue to compile the toll that vetoes by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will take on county services and residents. Most counties do not have the kind of financial cushion the state enjoys (the state’s “rainy day fund” is now at $1.2 billion, or more than 10 percent of the state’s General Fund) and are looking at drawing down limited reserves, restricting programs and preparing layoffs to keep their budgets in balance.

After Senate Republicans announced opposition to the deal backed by Whitmer and House Speaker Lee Chatfield (R-Emmet), the Senate left town, not to return until Tuesday of next week. The House has scheduled a session for Wednesday of next week and again on Nov. 20 in the hopes that a deal can be reached and most of the vetoed funds can be restored.

MAC continues to urge any county commissioner who has not already done so to convey urgency to state leaders via our Advocacy Center.

For more information on the budget, contact Deena Bosworth at Bosworth@micounties.org.

Nov. 22 is deadline to opt out of opioids lawsuit

Counties have until Nov. 22, 2019, to opt out of the class action lawsuit against opioid manufacturers, distributors and retailers for causing the national opioid epidemic. While not all counties are party to the lawsuit, this deadline affects all U.S. counties.

The notice sent by the federal court reviewing the case states: “NO SETTLEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED. HOWEVER, IF YOUR COUNTY OR CITY STAYS IN THE CLASS, it will be bound if a Class settlement is approved in the future. Your county or city will likely NOT be provided another opportunity to be excluded from this Class action, so you should read this notice carefully and consult with your counsel regarding your county or city’s rights.”

MAC is not party to the lawsuit, but we have been tracking the progress of this complex federal litigation. Counties are on the front line for responding to this opioid crisis, as well as working toward educating the public and preventing further opioid addictions. From the medical examiner’s office, to county jails and child welfare case increases, counties have contributed significant funds to address this crisis, which critics say pharmaceutical firms propelled in pursuit of huge profits.

Please refer to this website: https://www.opioidsnegotiationclass.info/Home/Documents, or contact MAC at 517-372-5374 for additional questions.

Bill to require spraying notice gets first hearing

A bill to require a minimum notice of five business days by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to local public health departments before aerial spraying is conducted to combat Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) received its first hearing this week.

The House Health Policy Committee took testimony on House Bill 5125, by Rep. Brad Paquette (R-Berrien). The bill was filed after an aerial spraying treatment for EEE notification was sent with only 48 hours’ warning to 14 counties in southwest Michigan. Legislative offices and county commissioners received numerous calls from constituents worried about the spraying’s effects. During testimony, DHHS said the 2019 spray was the first since 1980.

DHHS opposes the bill as introduced, but said it is willing to work on a robust notification process. A five-business day requirement could be problematic in public health emergencies, it noted, where fast responses are critical. Rep. Paquette said he’s willing to work with DHHS and local health officials to tweak the bill.

MAC has not taken a position on HB 5125, but is committed to ensuring proper public notifications that don’t exacerbate public health risks.

For more information on this issue, contact Meghann Keit at keit@micounties.org.

Asbestos abatement bills move quickly out of committee

Bipartisan legislation to more strictly regulate asbestos abatement projects passed out of the House Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Committee this week.

House Bills 5046-51 were introduced earlier this month in response to a 2017 audit of Michigan’s effectiveness in inspecting asbestos abatement projects by contractors across the state. The audit found that only 12 percent of the more than 17,000 projects were inspected by officials in what was then the Department of Environmental Quality to ensure compliance with state and federal laws.

HBs 5046, 5049 and 5050 all increase precautions that public entities, including counties, must take when working with asbestos abatement contractors (and subcontractors). Some of those precautions include mandatory background checks on all contractors; mandating contractors sign affidavits beforehand ensuring compliance with environmental laws; and ensuring provisions in contracts that would allow public entities to withhold payments to contractors that later entered into consent agreements with what is now the Department of Energy, Great Lakes and Environment (EGLE).

HB 5047, by Rep. LaTanya Garrett (D-Wayne), would create an Asbestos Inspection Fund within EGLE and a fee system to fund it. At present, all owners/operators of properties with asbestos notify EGLE when demolition/renovation is set to occur. HB 5047 would create a $100 notification fee paid by the owner/operator that would be deposited in the Asbestos Inspection Fund, with the intent of funding more full-time inspection employees across Michigan to ensure compliance.

While MAC understands the need for greater investment for inspectors in these situations, the local entity is already paying its fair share for the abatement by paying all costs of remediation. MAC suggests the state fund the Asbestos Inspection Fund through general appropriations. On that basis, MAC opposes HB 5047.

The bill package now moves to the House Ways & Means Committee.

For more information on this issue, contact Michael Ruddock at ruddock@micounties.org.