The following are newly introduced bills in the Michigan legislature:

Senate Bill 1198: Authorize unemployment benefits while earning self-employment money

Introduced by Sen. Vincent Gregory (D), to exempt unemployment benefit recipients from the duty to seek and accept employment if the person participates in government-approved “self-employment assistance activities,” including “entrepreneurial training, business counseling and technical assistance.” The bill would also allow a person to earn self-employment income and still collect unemployment benefits.

Referred to committee; no further action at this time.

Senate Bill 1204: Suspend truants’ drivers licenses

Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R), to suspend for six months the drivers license of a minor who is prosecuted for “willful and repeated” school absence (or withhold a license from a minor who doesn’t have one yet).

Referred to committee; no further action at this time.

Senate Bill 1212: Revise ocean ship ballast flushing requirements

Introduced by Sen. Michael Green (R), to require ocean-going ships to completely flush their ballast tanks with sea water in a deep-sea location (more than 2,000 meters deep) in order to get a required state permit to discharge or take on cargo or passengers at a Michigan port.

Referred to committee; no further action at this time.

House Bill 5769: Increase EITC; authorize savings account grants

Introduced by Rep. Jim Ananich (D), to increase the state earned income tax credit from an amount equal to 6 percent of the federal EITC, to 20 percent. This is a “refundable” credit for low-income workers (meaning that a check is sent to the taxpayer for the balance of the credit exceeding any taxes owed). Also, to give up to $150 in matching grants to an EITC recipient who places at least $50 in a “qualified savings account,” the nature of which would be determined by the Department of Treasury.

Referred to committee; no further action at this time.

House Bill 5737: Authorize enhanced penalties for drive-by shooting

Introduced by Rep. Stacy Erwin Oakes (D), to authorize up to life in prison for intentionally discharging a firearm from a vehicle when this causes death (as in a “drive-by” shooting), and 15 to 20 years if someone is injured. These penalties would be on top of any imposed for assault, attempted murder, etc.

Referred to committee; no further action at this time.

House Bill 5738: Repeal mandatory expulsion of violent students

Introduced by Rep. Thomas Stallworth, III (D), to repeal the law that requires public schools to expel a student who commits a physical assault against a school employee or other student. The bill changes the law to say “may expel” instead of “shall expel.” It also requires schools to undertake additional procedures before suspending or expelling a student “guilty of gross misdemeanor or persistent disobedience,” and requires county social service agencies to take specified actions with students who are expelled for bringing a gun to school.

Referred to committee; no further action at this time.

House Bill 5740: Create annual “Coleman Young Day” in Michigan

Introduced by Rep. John Olumba (D), to designate May 24 of each year as “Coleman A. Young Day” in the state of Michigan.

Referred to committee; no further action at this time.

House Bill 5741: Ban doctors from banning online posting of negative info

Introduced by Rep. John Olumba (D), to prohibit doctors and health care facilities from requiring patients to agree not to post a negative comment online as a condition of receiving medical services.

Referred to committee; no further action at this time.

House Bill 5742: Allow neighbors to abate abandoned property nuisances

Introduced by Rep. John Olumba (D), to allow an individual who lives within 1,000 feet of a vacant dwelling to enter the property to secure it against entry, control vermin, trim weeds, remove garbage and take other measures to eliminate nuisance conditions, unless expressly forbidden by the owner.

Referred to committee; no further action at this time.

House Bill 5743: Provide morality and character instruction in schools

Introduced by Rep. John Olumba (D), to require public schools to provide age-appropriate “instruction designed to develop morality and build character,” and require the Department of Education to make information on model programs available to schools.

Referred to committee; no further action at this time.

House Bill 5749: Screen welfare applicants for truancy scofflaws

Introduced by Rep. John Olumba (D), to require a person who applies for welfare and who has a school age child to sign an affidavit affirming the child is not a truant, and authorizing the welfare agency to confirm this by checking school attendance records.

Referred to committee; no further action at this time.

House Bill 5754: Authorize charter boarding school for low income students

Introduced by Rep. John Olumba (D), to allow charter schools to operate residential boarding schools for “at-risk” youth (meaning ones whose low family income makes them eligible for free or reduced price federal school lunch programs). Money for this would come out of the state welfare budget rather than the school aid budget.

Referred to committee; no further action at this time.

House Bill 5760: Mandate more windmills and other “non-conventional” electricity

Introduced by Rep. John Olumba (D), to mandate that 30 percent of the electricity sold by utilities come from non-conventional sources by the year 2025. Current law mandates that 10 percent come from “renewable” sources by 2015.

Referred to committee; no further action at this time.