Budgets dominated the legislative process again as the Senate passed the Community Health, Corrections, Education and School Aid budgets for the 2000-2001 fiscal year. In the House, the Judiciary, State Police, Consumer and Industry Services and Career Development budgets all were passed and now move to the upper chamber for consideration.
In a somewhat unusual scheduling move, the House adjourned on Thursday and will not return until April 11. The Senate, meanwhile, remains in session and will take its spring break later in April. In the past the two chambers have both recessed at the same time.
The House approved $100,000 in the Department of Environmental Quality budget to help communities pay for the costs of extinguishing scrap tire fires. Should a community exhaust its own resources attempting to put out a scrap tire fire, it could be eligible for money from the state.
The House also approved language creating a new post to assist companies that make fuel out of scrap tires. Should the legislation pass, these companies would receive assistance working through the often confusing and time-consuming process of applying for permits.
In addition, legislation is currently before the House Committee on Conservation and Outdoor Recreation that would increase the penalties for illegal disposal of scrap tires. The three-bill package sponsored by Reps. Mead, Allen and Tabor would also increase record-keeping demands on tire retailers and raise the vehicle title fee by $1 to provide additional funds for scrap tire cleanup on government property.
The Advisory Commission on Electronic Commerce held its final meeting Tuesday in Dallas, Texas, but failed to achieve a supermajority consensus for a formal recommendation to Congress. Instead, the Commission will forward what is being termed a "majority decision" providing direction to Congress on Internet tax issues.
Under the proposal, the Commission voted to:
- Reduce consumers' taxation burden by repealing the federal
three-percent excise tax on telecommunications services.
- Forge a meaningful pathway to simplification of states' sales and use taxation
systems.
- Permanently prohibit states or localities from taxing Internet access subscription
charges.
- Extend the current moratorium on multiple and discriminatory taxation of the
Internet legislated by Congress.
- Clarify nexus standards that determine which businesses are obliged to collect
and remit state and local taxes on remote transactions.
Addressing privacy concerns, the Commission noted that any tax administration system for e-commerce should be developed in a manner that minimizes disclosure of consumers' personal information and should contain sufficient security to protect that information.
Appointed by Congress in October 1998 as part of the Internet Tax Freedom Act, the 19-member Commission has studied the impact of federal, state, local and international taxation and tariffs on Internet access and transactions using the Internet.
HB 5529, sponsored by Rep. Bob Brown (D-Dearborn Heights), to establish uniform method of prorating property tax when real estate is sold.
HB 5530, sponsored by Rep. Bob Brown, to allow consumers to add information to credit reports; to require consumer reporting agencies to maintain a too-free telephone number for consumers.
HB 5535, sponsored by Rep. Ruth Johnson (R-Holly), to increase penalties for sale or furnishing of tobacco products to minors.
HB 5537, sponsored by Rep. Andrew Richner (R-Grosse Pte. Park), to create uniform electronic transactions act.
SB 1171, sponsored by Sen. Bill Bullard (R-Highland), to revise number of days allowable for payment for services to workerÕs compensation patients.
SB 1173, sponsored by Sen. Bullard, to clarify workerÕs compensation insurance policy notice and information disclosure exemption and circumstances under which information may be disclosed.
SB 1175, sponsored by Sen. Joanne Emmons (R-Big Rapids), to revise good faith definition for sales tax blanket exemption certificate.
For back issues of Capitol F@cts on-line visit MRA's web site at http://www.retailers.com/capfax/capfax.html.
Specific comments or questions regarding this bulletin should
be directed to:
Jason Klonowski, MRA's Manager of Governmental Affairs at jklonowski@retailers.com.
Michigan Retailers Association 603 South Washington Avenue Lansing, MI 48933
517.372.5656
800.366.3699
Fax: 517.372.1303
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here to find more information about any of the bills referenced above.