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That includes laws improvements to unemployment benefits and requirements for AEDs in schools.
LANSING, Mich. (WJRT) – As we ring in the new year, there are a number of new laws taking effect within the coming months.
In the last year of full Democratic control, 185 different bills were signed into law. Still, the biggest change you’re going to notice, was not one of them.
The minimum wage is set to increase twice this year, once this month and once next month. That’s because the Supreme Court ruled back in late July that the legislature acted unconstitutionally when they voted to adopt and amend two ballot initiatives in the same session in 2018.
Now, on February 21, the minimum wage will go all the way up to $12.48 per hour.In addition, the state will also begin phasing out the tipped minimum wage, and all workers will have the opportunity to earn paid time off.
It’s a change that has had a mixed reaction. Some business owners are happy to see the increase.
“I’m all for minimum wage going up. That is like a very important thing. We’ve been trying to get that to be a thing for a long time in every state,” Keysa Smith, owner of Spectacular Spuds told ABC12 shortly after the decision.
Meanwhile, others are worried that there could be a reduction in tipping because of the change.
“That is our biggest fear is that when people start to think that we are making minimum wage or making more money that they’re thinking you know, that they’re going to stop tipping,” said bartender Mariah Donmyer.
When it comes to the tipped minimum wage don’t expect any changes to stick in stone. ABC12 has heard from several legislators on both sides of the aisle who say fixing that is a top priority in the New Year.
Nevertheless, another major change is coming to Michigan’s schools. House Bills 5527 and 5528 require schools to have cardiac response plans and AEDs throughout campus.
The package also requires high school coaches to certified in CPR and using the AEDs.
“It’s an opportunity for the state to step up and and raise the floor of what our standard of care is,” State Rep. John Fitzgerald (D-Wyoming) told ABC12 while the bills were still in the House of Representatives.
The vast majority of the new laws were not passed with immediate effect. That means they don’t begin taking effect until 91 days after the final session of the year.
That includes changes to Michigan unemployment benefits. For the first time in over 20 years, the maximum weekly benefit is increasing by $252 to $614 per week.
Unemployed workers will also be able to collect benefits for an additional 6 weeks after the change.
Those include laws permitting cameras in work zones and incentives to donate organs.
MDOT will soon be allowed to place automated cameras in work zones. The move is designed to keep workers safe and prevent crashes in construction areas.
The state is required to notify drivers of the cameras with a sign placed at least one mile before the start of the work zone.
“A lot of times they are working with limited staff. They’re already stretched thin, so a lot of times the police officers just aren’t able to come and sit in the work zones, so this gives another level of enforcement for them,” Genesee County Road Commission Communications Coordinator Kylie Dontje told ABC12 when legislators were considering the changes.
The state is also attempting to put money back into the hands of donors. The new $10,000 tax credit would help living organ donors pay for expenses like child care costs, transportation, and lost wages.
“When it came to the American Kidney Fund ranking states for friendly public policy for donation, Michigan was failing. And with this legislation and others like it, Michigan is now up to a grade B, and we should see more and more lives saved because of it,” said Patrick Wells-O’Brien, with Gift of Life Michigan.
While there is no presidential election this year, Michiganders can expect to see some changes at the polls. Firearms are now banned at polling places and election counting board locations in an attempt to prevent voter intimidation.
You can see the full list of laws passed last year in the document attached below:
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