Michigan Legislature Roll Call

For the week ending Oct. 23

House Bill 6137, Require nursing home coronavirus disclosures and rules: Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate

To require the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to post coronavirus data for each nursing home in the state on its public website starting Nov. 15, 2020. The department would also have to post the nursing home virus historical data it has collected. This would have to include the number of new and cumulative cases among residents and staff for the reporting period, testing regimes, transferred residents, visitation policies and more.

• 33 Sen. Rick Outman R - Six Lakes Y

• 35 Sen. Curt VanderWall R - Ludington Y

House Bill 6293, Slightly reduce coronavirus test giver restrictions: Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate

To make explicit in statute that until the end of 2020, a coronavirus test may be administered by a "qualified licensee," defined as a licensed pharmacist, "advanced practice registered nurse," "registered professional nurse," "licensed practical nurse" or a licensed "physician's assistant." The bill would also make explicit that a license is not required to screen an individual receiving a test, observe self-collection of a saliva sample, temporarily store a specimen pending its transmittal to a lab, and certain reporting and referral activities.

• 33 Sen. Rick Outman R - Six Lakes Y

• 35 Sen. Curt VanderWall R - Ludington Y

House Bill 5757, Waive license extension late fees in epidemic: Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate

To waive late fees on renewing an enhanced driver license or enhanced state identification card that expired during the coronavirus epidemic until, if renewed by Dec. 11, 2020.

• 33 Sen. Rick Outman R - Six Lakes Y

• 35 Sen. Curt VanderWall R - Ludington Y

House Bill 6294, Authorize electronic legal document signatures during epidemic: Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate

To establish that, for the period between April 30, 2020, and Jan. 1, 2021, the requirements for signing or witnessing the execution of a will, a funeral representative designation, a parental appointment of a guardian for a minor, an appointment of a guardian for a legally incapacitated individual, a durable power of attorney, or a patient advocate designation "are considered satisfied by use of a 2-way real-time audiovisual technology" using procedures specified in the bill.

• 33 Sen. Rick Outman R - Six Lakes Y

• 35 Sen. Curt VanderWall R - Ludington Y

House Bill 6297, House Bill 6297: Authorize electronic notarizations during epidemic: Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate

To permit notary publics to provide notarizations through the end of 2020 using a "2-way real-time audiovisual technology that allows direct interaction between the individual seeking the notary's services, any witnesses, and the notary," as specified in the bill.

• 33 Sen. Rick Outman R - Six Lakes Y

• 35 Sen. Curt VanderWall R - Ludington Y

House Bill 6296, Authorize electronic deed and document recording during epidemic: Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate

To permit and require county registers of deeds to accept electronic documents for recording for the period between April 30, 2020, and Jan. 1, 2021, for which they "need only act in substantial compliance" with an existing law that permits but does not require this.

• 33 Sen. Rick Outman R - Six Lakes Y

• 35 Sen. Curt VanderWall R - Ludington Y

SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, nonpartisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, nonpartisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Please visit MichiganVotes.org.

Permission to reprint this legislative summary in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided that MichiganVotes.org is properly cited.

Y = Yes, N = No, X = Not Voting