KEY LEGISLATION:
Violent Video
Game Legislation Moves to Floor
Legislation aimed at how video games are displayed and labeled moved
from
the House Judiciary Committee to the House floor. MRA took a position
of
neutral/not opposed to the two bills, which represent a more moderate
approach than a pair of Senate bills to regulating video games.
Of the two House bills, HB 4703, sponsored by Rep. Tom Pearce (R-Rockford),
is the most relevant to retailers. It would require a retailer selling
video
games to display the industry standard rating system near the games.
This is
in an effort to educate parents about the content of some of the games.
The Senate package seeks to restrict sales of mature video games to
minors.
The Senate bills are up for testimony next week in the Senate Judiciary
Committee.
Senate Panel
Approves Pseudoephedrine Bill
Legislation aimed at making it more difficult for “meth cookers”
to obtain
common cold-remedy products used to make the illegal drug was approved
by
the Senate Health Policy Committee. But Senate Bill 189, sponsored by
Sen.
Patti Birkholz (R-Saugatuck), was approved without an amendment classifying
products containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine as Schedule V drugs,
which
are available only from a pharmacist. This was a significant victory
for
consumers and retailers selling cold remedies and other products.
The bill, which would require such products to be kept behind the pharmacy
counter and purchased only with photo identification, now goes to the
Senate
floor, where it is possible that such an amendment could once again
arise.
‘Merlot-to-Go’
Bill Finally Ripe for Passage
Legislation to allow restaurant patrons to take home an unfinished,
re-corked bottle of wine won approval in the House and is on its way
to the
governor for signature. Backers of SB 199 said it will encourage diners
to
purchase a bottle of wine without being concerned about not finishing
it.
Governor Urges
GOP Action on Legislative Agenda
Governor Jennifer Granholm took Republican lawmakers to task for not
passing
her legislative agenda. According to Granholm, only one of her bills
has
been enacted by the legislature, and she released a list of the agenda
items
she expects to see action on:
• Restructure the Single Business Tax
• Expand the Michigan bottle bill
• Increase the school dropout age from 16 to 18
• Create a Water Legacy Act to govern large uses of water
• Modify age and weight requirements for booster seat use by young
children
• Pass a constitutional amendment authorizing the state to sell
$200 million in bonds to foster small business growth
• Adopt land use recommendations, including making schools subject
to local zoning
• Facilitate a seamless transfer of student disciplinary records
between schools
KEY BILL INTRODUCTIONS:
No New Bill Introductions to Report at this Time
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
