KEY LEGISLATION:

STAPLES ADOPTS SALES RESTRICTIONS
ON VIOLENT VIDEOS

Staples has adopted a policy to prohibit the sale of violent movies and
video games to minors, following urging by Michigan Attorney General
Jennifer Granholm. Staples stores will now ask for identification from
customers attempting to purchase R-rated movies or M-rated games if they
look age 25 or younger.

Staples joins many of the state's major retail chains in adopting such a
policy, prompted by Granholm's November investigation in which volunteers
younger than 13 were able to purchase M-rated games at 31 of 35 stores
visited. Granholm strongly urged retailers to adopt sales policies
restricting youth access to "mature" games and movies.

"Violence shouldn't be child's play," she said. "I hope that Michigan
consumers will exercise the power of their pocketbooks to support those
retailers who've pledged to be part of the solution to youth violence."

DEMOCRATS PUSH FOR PAY EQUITY LEGISLATION

Two Michigan Democrats used Tuesday's National Pay Equity Day to stump for
bills that would prohibit gender-based pay discrimination. Sen. Alma Wheeler
Smith (D-Salem Township) and Rep. Gilda Jacobs (D-Huntington Woods) cited
1997 data showing that full-time female workers receive only 74 cents for
every dollar their male counterparts make. "In Michigan, your paycheck
should be based on the value of your work, not your gender," Smith said.
"Our families are paying the price for wage discrimination."

The lawmakers voiced frustration over legislative inaction on legislation
that would step up enforcement of laws prohibiting inequitable pay
practices. Smith and Jacobs called on Republicans to schedule a committee
hearing on the legislation.

However, Sen. Glenn Steil, who chairs the Senate Human Resources and Labor
Committee, to which the bill has been referred, said there are already laws
prohibiting the practices described by the Democratic lawmakers, and
employees should make use of remedies already available to them if such
discrimination occurs. He also voiced his desire to keep government out of
setting industry standards for wages and compensation. "The market should
determine what the pay is," Steil said.

HOME HEATING BILLS COULD BENEFIT BUSINESSES

A package of bills aimed at helping Michigan consumers deal with rapidly
escalating heating costs could result in a small financial gain for business
owners. The bipartisan bills, which recently passed the House and will go to
the Senate when it returns from spring break on April 17, seek to counteract
higher natural gas rates as Michigan utilities prepare to end rate freezes.
While most of the relief is targeted at residential customers, commercial
customers are also included in provisions that replace some of the state
sales tax on natural gas with a lower-rate energy tax.

House Bills 4476-77 would require all heating-fuel customers to pay state
sales and use taxes up to certain price thresholds. If prices were above the
thresholds, natural-gas customers would pay a replacement tax on the
difference - 3 percent for residential and 5 percent for commercial
customers. This, in effect, would result in a 1-percent sales and use tax
break on the amount above the threshold. Money generated from the
replacement tax would go into a new fund created to help pay for expansion
of a federally funded home-heating tax credit program for low-income
residents.

HEARING SET ON CONTROLLED
SUBSTANCE CHANGES

The Department of Consumer and Industry Services is holding a public hearing
on amendments to the Pharmacy Controlled Substance Rules. The hearing will
take place in Lansing on April 23 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the North
Ottawa Towers Building, 611 West Ottawa, UP Level, Conference Room 2.
MRA has been actively involved in crafting these amendments and will
represent chain pharmacies at the hearing.

LIQUOR RETAILERS TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF ELECTRONIC PAYMENT

Liquor Control Commission (LCC) officials are calling their Electronic Fund
Transfer (EFT) program a huge hit with retailers. The program, aimed at
making liquor orders more efficient for retail licensees, now has well over
650 active participants. "Our customers have given this program their vote
of confidence by paying for nearly $46 million in liquor sales via EFT to
date," said LCC Chairman Dan Gustafson.

Licensees complete an authorization form to allow the Commission to withdraw
funds from their account. After processing of the authorization form is
complete, a message will appear on the liquor invoice, "Payment by EFT."
Licensees then sign their invoice at delivery to indicate approval for an
EFT payment for that invoice. The Commission handles the rest, withdrawing
funds electronically from the licensee's account on the third day after delivery.

Liquor retailers desiring more information about LCC's EFT program can call
LCC at 517.322.1345.

BUILDING CODE SCHEDULED FOR UPDATE

The state Bureau of Construction Codes is set to adopt a new rule in the
state's Building Code, to be effective by July 31, 2001. Department of
Consumer and Industry Services Legislative Liaison Tom Martin confirmed to
MRA that the new rule would adopt the 2000 edition of the International
Building Code by reference. Certain amendments will be recommended to assure
consistency of the state statutes with national code concerning barrier-free
design, fire safety, and professional and trade licensing.

KEY BILL INTRODUCTIONS:

The legislature is on spring recess

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:
Eric R. Rule, Director of Governmental Affairs at errule@retailers.com.
Michigan Retailers Association
603 South Washington Avenue
Lansing, MI 48933
Phone: 517.372.5656
Toll Free: 800.366.3699
Fax: 517.372.1303
govt_affairs@retailers.com
http://www.retailers.com
http://www.mallofmichigan.com

Click here to find more information about any of the bills referenced above.