Recent Michigan Legislation: Three Key Bills to Watch
Senate Bill (SB) 456 -- Silver Alert System (Sen. Mallory McMorrow, 8th District)
Purpose:
To establish a Silver Alert public notification system in Michigan for missing seniors or vulnerable adults (e.g., those with Alzheimer's or dementia).
How it works:
Local law enforcement would notify the Michigan State Police (MSP) when a qualifying individual goes missing. MSP would then activate alerts through the state's emergency alert system, including wireless emergency alerts (e.g. to mobile phones), digital networks, roadway signage, etc.
The bill builds on existing frameworks which currently only allows alerts shared among law enforcement--not to the public at large.
Who qualifies:
Seniors or vulnerable adults who cannot return home without assistance; those with mental illness or cognitive impairment; those for whom there is immediate danger, etc.
What's Next:
A version of this type of legislation (House Bill 4362) has already passed the Michigan House with near unanimous bipartisan support. SB 456 has been referred to committee on Government Operations.
House Bill (HB) 4362 -- Missing Senior or Vulnerable Adult Alert System (Rep. Gina Johnsen, 78th District)
Purpose:
Similar to HB 456, this is the House's version to require that the Michigan State Police run a wireless alert plan for missing seniors or vulnerable adults.
How it works:
Local law enforcement are to report a missing senior/vulnerable adult to MSP.
MSP then has to activate an alert through existing wireless emergency alert systems under federal law.
Who qualifies:
Seniors (60+) who cannot return home without help and are reported missing.
Vulnerable adults (18+) with disabilities, mental illness, advanced age, etc., particularly if they cannot protect themselves or require supervision.
What's Next:
Passed in the House with near unanimous bipartisan support. Referred to Senate committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety.
Senate Bill (SB) 330 -- Jury Duty Exemptions / Caregiver Exemptions (Sen. McMorrow, 8th District)
Purpose:
To create additional exemptions from jury service for certain family caregivers:
a familial caretaker of a hospice patient,
parental caregiver of a child with a serious health condition.
The bill responds to arguments that caregivers (e.g. of a hospice patient, or a child with serious illness) are already under heavy burden, often cannot leave the person in their care for jury-duty obligations. There have been stories of courts requiring caregivers to repeatedly get medical letters, even after someone has passed, which is emotionally difficult.
Definitions & scope:
Familial caretaker: family member, close family friend, or another important adult in the life of the patient/family who provides full-time care, nurturing, or protection. Family members include spouses, adult children, grandparents, aunts/uncles, siblings, etc. It also includes "period of bereavement" (one year after death of patient in hospice).
Parental caregiver: someone caring for a child (biological, adopted, foster, stepchild, legal ward, child of domestic partner, or someone who stood "in loco parentis" when the child was a minor) with a serious health condition (illness, injury, impairment requiring inpatient care or continuous treatment).
Process:
To claim the exemption, the caregiver must:
request exemption with the court,
provide verification (doctor, certified nurse, or official member of hospice / health care team).
What's Next:
Referred to Senate committee on Judiciary.
Read more on these bills here.
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