KEY LEGISLATION:

House Panel Approves Telemarketing Controls

A package of bills aimed at increasing consumer protection from deceptive
telemarketers cleared the House Committee on Energy and Technology and will
move to the full House. The main bill would create a do-not-call list that
would enable residents to exempt themselves from telemarketers’ calls.
Violators would be subject to misdemeanor penalties of six months in jail
and $500 in fines.

A companion bill requires telemarketers to provide certain information, such
as their first name at the beginning of the call, as well as when a purchase
is made. It also prohibits them from intentionally blocking caller ID.

Groups opposing the bills (House Bills 4042, 4154, 4250, 4631 and 4632) were
able to win several exemptions, including one for small businesses with
fewer than 25 employees that do not regularly conduct telemarketing. Larger
businesses would also be allowed to call if it was not part of a
"telemarketing marketing plan." In addition, businesses that currently have
a business relationship with a customer could continue to call that
customer. Consumer groups argued against this loophole, claiming it would
lead to unfair competition.

Revenue Forecasts Impact
Pharmacy Budget Decisions

Forecasts of continued revenue declines are throwing a monkey wrench into
the budget process. Revenue shortfalls have caused the governor and
lawmakers to stress the need for large-scale reductions, threatening
decisions already made for the 2001-02 fiscal year budget working its way
through the legislature.

Because of these ominous developments, MRA has been lobbying aggressively to
preserve the earlier victory reinserting the pharmacy dispensing fee
language into the House bill containing the pharmacy budget. Members are
encouraged to get involved by writing or faxing key legislators on the
issue. The list is available from MRA’s Governmental Affairs unit.

The most up-to-date revenue estimates will be decided next Tuesday when the
Revenue Estimating Conference meets. The Senate Subcommittee on Community
Health will be meeting at the same time to pass the budget bill on to the
full committee.

Lawmakers Want to Split Ameritech and Verizon

Two House members announced their intentions to introduce a bill removing
Ameritech’s and Verizon’s domination of the telephone market’s
infrastructure in Michigan. Reps. Andy Neumann (D-Alpena) and Mickey
Mortimer (R-Horton), the bill’s main sponsors, said the legislation would
break each company into two entities: one providing retail phone services
and the other offering access to telecommunications infrastructure.

House Technology and Energy Committee Chair Ken Bradstreet, whose committee
will receive the bill, has indicated he believes the idea has merit. The
legislation is not expected to be taken up before the summer recess.

Business Groups Explore Revising
Youth Employment Standards

Michigan’s current employment standards for school-age youth limit teens to
a total of 38 hours per week of employment and school instruction. The trend
of lengthening the school day is creating a growing problem for some
students and businesses, however. Spending more hours in school reduces the
number of hours students are able to devote to earning money for college or
necessary expenses while meeting the important employment needs of the
retail sector.

The Michigan Retailers Association, in conjunction with the Michigan
Restaurant Association and corporations such as McDonald’s, is working to
revise the standards. Legislation is being drafted to clearly set in statute
the number of hours a student may work during the school year. Language also
is being considered to allow those youths with written parental approval to
exceed the ceiling by as many as six hours per week.

The groups involved hope that clearly setting a number in statute will
protect against further erosion of the time allowed for employment as the
school day continues to lengthen. Rep. Tony Stamas (R-Midland) has agreed to
sponsor the legislation. Rep. Stamas’ family has owned a restaurant for
several generations, and he understands that certain school-age employees
are more capable than others of working increased hours.

KEY BILL INTRODUCTIONS:

HB 4735, sponsored by Rep. Jason Allen (R-Traverse City), to make certain
technical changes to Principal Shopping District Act.

HB 4736, sponsored by Rep. Samuel Thomas III (D-Detroit), to create business
improvement districts.

SB 463, sponsored by Sen. Harry Gast (R-St. Joseph), to provide for
withdrawal of funds from countercyclical budget and economic stabilization
fund for fiscal year.

HB 4758, sponsored by Rep. Andrew Raczkowski (R-Farmington Hills), to revise
single business tax credit for apprenticeship programs to include
individuals enrolled in a literacy center.

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:
Kathleen Wilson, Administrative Assistant to the Governmental Affairs Office at
kawilson@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.