March 28, 2003
KEY LEGISLATION:
Gas Prices to be Available Online
In an effort to help motorists find affordable gasoline,
the Michigan
Department of Agriculture will operate a new website listing gas prices
in
Michigan cities. MDA Director Dan Wyant said the website is a result
of an
executive order issued by Governor Jennifer Granholm requiring the
department to monitor gasoline prices to prevent price gouging.
The new site uses data the state is purchasing that
tracks credit card
purchases of gasoline from across the state and then provides price
per
gallon data to the state. A consumer will be able to enter a zip code
or
city, and the site will display the three-day rolling average of the
highest
price charged per gallon and the lowest price charged.
Wyant explained that the state would not provide prices
on a
station-by-station basis. The site should be available to the public
in
approximately two weeks.
Bill Would Ban Lottery Vending Machines
Anti-gambling legislators and interest groups are hoping
to pass a bill
outlawing the use of vending machines to distribute Lottery tickets.
The
machines would be placed in stores currently licensed to sell tickets
and
would feature a remote shut-off switch allowing clerks to refuse sale
of the
tickets to anyone appearing underage.
The House Regulatory Reform Committee heard testimony
this week on HB 4144,
sponsored by Rep. Jack Hoogendyk (R-Portage). The bill is not expected
to
move in the near future, and its chances of passage could be hurt by
contracts recently entered into by the state for vendors to provide
the
machines at certain locations. Additional complications include the
fact
that Gov. Granholm is counting on increased revenue from the machines
to
help balance her proposed budget.
Bottle Bill Expansion Key Issue for Retailers
MRA is continuing to work with legislators and interests
groups to find ways
to solve the state’s current problem of a low recycling rate. The
current
bottle bill is often heralded as important for keeping litter off Michigan’s
roadways, but Michigan consistently lags behind neighboring states in
overall recycling. Current law also places severe burdens on retailers.
MRA and other groups are working through the Michigan
Recycling Partnership.
The group is working to identify how the state can increase the overall
recycling rate through comprehensive recycling strategies, not simply
expansion of the scope of the bottle bill to include other containers.
Discussions with environmental groups on how best to reach the goal
of
increasing the overall recycling rate have recently begun to show signs
of promise.
The Partnership and MRA will continue to advocate a
legislative solution
that does not include expansion of the bottle bill and may ultimately
lead
to distribution centers or curbside recycling as a better option for
bottle
returns.
KEY BILL INTRODUCTIONS:
SB 220, sponsored by Sen. Valde Garcia (R-Howell),
to prohibit credit card
expiration date and full account number to be printed on receipt.
SB 259, sponsored by Sen. Ray Basham (D-Taylor),
to increase penalties for
selling tobacco products to a minor.
SB 299, sponsored by Sen. Virgil Bernero (D-Lansing),
to eliminate
preemption of local ordinances pertaining to the sale of tobacco products
or
the licensure of distributors.
SB 313, sponsored by Sen. Basham, to prohibit
certain price increases on
gasoline during emergencies.
SB 320, sponsored by Sen. Tony Stamas (R-Midland),
to revise maximum number
of hours, ending hour, and other general amendments in the youth employment
standards.
HB 4219, sponsored by Rep. Gary Woronchak (R-Dearborn),
to provide exemption
of tangible personal property brought into this state 90 days after
purchase.
HB 4267, sponsored by Rep. Dave Woodward (D-Madison
Heights), to prohibit
sale or rental of certain video games to minors.
HB 4313, sponsored by Rep. Andy Meisner (D-Ferndale),
to provide an
environmental fee for annual wastewater discharge.
HB 4323, sponsored by Rep. Ruth Johnson (R-Holly),
to prohibit certain
credit and debit transactions.
HB 4355, sponsored by Rep. Glenn Anderson (D-Westland),
to require all costs
incurred in getting reinstated, all unpaid medical bills, and certain
percentage interest be paid if benefits are reinstated.
HB 4360, sponsored by Rep. Triette Reeves (D-Detroit),
to prohibit
dispersing sexually explicit matter to a minor, and require businesses
to
display sexually explicit matter only in restricted areas.
HB 4430, sponsored by Rep. Clark Bisbee (R-Jackson),
to exclude gift
certificates, electronic gift cards, and credit memos from unclaimed
property.
To view the content and current status of retail-related
bills, visit BillTrack,
MRA's legislative tracking database exclusively for members, at
www.retailbilltrack.com
If you are currently receiving Capitol F@cts by fax
and would like to receive
it via e-mail, please contact Kathleen Wilson at 517.372.5656 or
kawilson@retailers.com.
For back issues of online Capitol F@cts, visit MRA's main Capitol F@cts page.
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
517.372.5656
Toll-Free: 800.366.3699
Fax: 517.372.1303
govt_affairs@retailers.com
www.retailers.com
www.mallofmichigan.com
