Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday signed legislation allowing for more providers to approve a designation for a communication impediment to be listed on driver’s licenses, ensuring an effective process between Michiganders with communication impediments and law enforcement.
“By broadening the list of professionals who can approve someone’s communication impediment designation on a driver’s license application, more Michiganders will be able to get the designation they need,” said Whitmer. “This will help achieve more efficient and effective interactions between Michiganders with communication impediments and law enforcement.”
House Bill 4364 and HB 4365 together will allow the certification for a communication impediment designation on an application for a driver’s license could be signed by an audiologist, a speech language pathologist, or a psychologist.
House Bill 4364 was sponsored by Jim Lilly, R – Park Twp., and House Bill 4365 was sponsored by Tim Sneller, D – Burton.
“The original legislation provided a simple fix for those in our community who struggle with communication impediments and needed a way to ensure law enforcement officials would understand,” said Sneller. “By expanding the list of medical professionals that can certify the need for a marker, we’re expanding accessibility, making things a little easier for Michigan families.”
House Bil 4366 specifies that the Secretary of State (SOS) would implement the process to allow a person with authorized access to the Law Enforcement Information Network (LEIN) to view a communication impediment designation on a driver’s license.
House Bill 4366 was sponsored by Jim Lilly, R – Park Twp.
“This bipartisan legislation is important to ensure professionals that regularly work with individuals that have communication impediments and hearing loss can sign off on a patients communication impediment designation,” said Lilly.
Whitmer on Thursday also signed House Bill 4207, House Bill 4485, House Bill 4295, and Senate Bill 686, making things easier for workers and small businesses while putting Michigan first.
House Bill 4207 will amend the Occupational Code to allow an individual to become a barber by either completing a barber apprenticeship program if certain conditions are met or completing a course of study at a barber college.
“By creating an alternative pathway for Michiganders to enter the barber profession, House Bill 4207 is eliminating barriers for entry into the field,” said Whitmer. “As a state, it is critical that we meet the needs of our ever-changing industries and find innovative ways for Michiganders to launch their careers.”
House Bill 4207 was sponsored by Rep. John Roth, R-Traverse City.
“This legislation recognizes the vital importance and value of hands-on learning within a shop setting,” said Roth. “It’s a common-sense plan providing people with flexibility and aligning the profession with others that are operating under the same parameters. I look forward to the opportunities this is going to provide people who are pursuing livelihoods in this industry going forward.”
House Bill 4485 will amend the Tobacco Products Tax Act to eliminate an October 31, 2021, sunset date on a provision limiting the maximum tax on a cigar to $0.50.
House Bill 4485 was sponsored by Rep. Matt Hall, R-Kalamazoo.
House Bill 4295 will modify eligibility for medical marijuana license and allow spouses of elected or state-employed individuals to obtain a license. Currently, applicants for a state operating license to grow, process, sell, transport, or test marijuana for the commercial medical marijuana market must meet stringent eligibility requirements. The law automatically excludes from license eligibility an applicant who holds certain elective offices (state, local, or federal), is a member of or employed by a governmental regulatory body or is employed by the state of Michigan.
House Bill 4295 was sponsored by Rep. Julie Alexander, R-Jackson.
Senate Bill 686 will amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to extend the expiration date for wastewater and storm water operator training and certification fees collected by the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) under the act.
Senate Bill 686 was sponsored by Sen. Sean McCann, D-Kalamazoo.
The governor also signed House Bill 4700, House Bill 4739, and House Bill 4832, which amend the Michigan Memorial Highway Act.
House Bill 4700 will name the bridge on M-13 over Cheboyganing Creek in Bay County as the “Sergeant Kristopher J. Gould Memorial Bridge.”
House Bill 4700 was sponsored by Rep. Timothy Beson, R-Bay City.
House Bill 4739 will name the portion of Highway M-49 between W. Montgomery Road and Austin Road in Camden Township in Hillsdale County as the “Marine Sergeant Michael P. Hodshire Memorial Highway.”
House Bill 4739 was sponsored by Rep. Andrew Fink, R-Hillsdale.
House Bill 4832 will name the portion of Highway M-34 in the city of Adrian beginning at the intersection of Highway M-34 and South Main Street and extending west to the intersection of Highway M-34 and South Madison Street as the “Patrolman Bobby Lynn Williams Memorial Highway.”
House Bill 4832 was sponsored by Rep. Bronna Kahle, R-Adrian.
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