DETROIT — A group of Democratic lawmakers and community leaders from Detroit are taking issue with the failure of Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) to lead on needed legislation. At a press conference earlier this month in front of the Spirit of Detroit, members of the Michigan Black Caucus expressed their concerns and disappointment.
A press release prior to the press conference laid out the specific complaints:
“Members of the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus have continued to serve the citizens of Michigan, often facing disrespect by their colleagues, and the inability to have the priorities that they have outlined addressed, leaving many bills with solutions for African American communities to fend for themselves. These bills often die before even receiving a committee hearing, and with a Democratic majority, that’s unacceptable.”
A list of bills that the coalition called for to be passed in lame duck are:
Affordable Auto Insurance:
SB 530 and 531 (Cavanaugh) introduced last October. The House has yet to hold a hearing on them. Sponsors of SB 530 – September 26, 2023, Introduced by Senators ANTHONY, CAVANAGH, DAMOOSE, IRWIN, POLEHANKI, MCMORROW, CHANG, GEISS, SINGH, WOJNO, BAYER, KLINEFELT, BRINKS, MOSS, CAMILLERI, SHINK, BUMSTEAD and OUTMAN and referred to the Committee on Finance, Insurance, and Consumer Protection.
HB 4884 concerning changes to Utilization Reviews was also introduced Sponsors: June 28, 2023, Introduced by Reps. Rogers, Breen, Steckloff, Koleszar, Puri, McFall, Brabec, Brixie, Neeley, Phil Green, Grant, Pohutsky, Haadsma, Wozniak, Martus, Churches, Morse, Weiss, Hood, Roth, Paiz, Hope, Wilson, Morgan, Farhat, Byrnes, Dievendorf, Tyrone Carter, Arbit, MacDonell, Conlin, Skaggs, Coffia, Rheingans, Andrews, Snyder, Tsernoglou, Scott, Glanville, Price, Martin, Hill, McKinney, Wegela, Hoskins, Miller, Stone, Liberati, VanderWall, O’Neal, Aiyash, BeGole, Borton, Edwards, Young, Zorn and Meerman and referred to the Committee on Insurance and Financial Services.
ANF consumer protection bills that are expected to be introduced during lame duck.
5842’24 Amends insurance code to require insurers to comply with utilization reviews.
5841’24 Amends insurance code to provide requirements for manuals of rules filed by automobile insurers (Auto insurer rules enforcement).
5839’24 Increase penalties for insurers that pay claims late.
5838’24 Provides additional transparency for insurance underwriting (adopting the NCOIL underwriting transparency model act).
5837’24 Amends insurance code to prohibit post-claim underwriting.
5836’24 Requires insurers to pay for market conduct exams.
5835’24 Updates to insurers’ data security enforcement provisions.
5834’24 Increase civil penalties for violation of insurance code.
5842’24 Amends insurance code to require insurers to comply with utilization reviews.
Calling for an end on the attack on:
- Black Maternal Health
- Black Legislators
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and equal opportunity
- Equal Opportunity for Our Youth
Education
- School Safety (Emergency Response Systems)
- Emergency Management Law (HB 4065)
- Equitable Funding
- African American History (Helena Scott)
- Black Leadership Advisory Council (Geiss)
- Community Violence Intervention
Closing the Wealth Gap:
- Pay Day Loans
- Equitable Procurement Opportunities (SB 317)
Public Safety:
- Public Safety Trust Fund
- School Safety
- Safer Michigan Act HB 4450-4453 SB 861-864
- Health Policy EM Tech Senate Bill 1051
Criminal Justice Reform:
- Clean Slate Expungement Fix HB 5957-58
- SB 861-864 (Santana)
- SB 243 (Santana)
The coalition includes:
Honorable Sherry Gay-Dagnogo (D-Detroit), Former Detroit Caucus Chair
Michigan Legislative Black Caucus
Senator Sylvia Santana, Chair MDHHS
State Representative Amos O’Neal, Vice Chairman
State Representative Donovan McKinney
State Representative Karen Whitsett
State Representative Stephanie Young
Wayne County Commission
Wayne County Commission Chairwoman Alisha Bell
Wayne County Commissioner Monique Baker McCormick
Wayne County Commissioner Jonathan C. Kinloch
City of Detroit
Council President Mary Sheffield
Councilmember Angela Calloway
Councilmember Scott Benson
Councilmember Fred Durhal, III
Councilmember Mary Waters
Former Detroit Caucus Members
The Honorable Dr. Brian Banks
The Honorable LaTanya Garrett
The Honorable Adam Hollier
The Honorable Shanelle Jackson
The Honorable Lamar Lemmons
The Honorable Harvey Santana
The Honorable Dr. Keith “KB” Stallworth
The Honorable Virgil K. Smith
The Honorable Judge Virgil C. Smith
Community Organizations:
Force Detroit
Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus, Keith Williams, Honorable Virgil K. Smith
Muhammad’s Mosque #1, Student Minister Troy Muhammad
African American Alliance for Michigan, Al Williams & Tashawna Gill
Black Marriage Movement, #BlackWivesMatter KrystalLarsosa
Voter Access for All, Angela Davenport
