INFORMATION YOU NEED TODAY AND TOMORROW
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Tomorrow - National Summit on Equality of Opportunity
Thursday, June 25 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. - FREE Registration
All Americans should have the opportunity to earn their success, rise on their own merit, and live their own American Dream. But far too often, the opportunity to obtain an education, secure a job, start a business, and provide for your family is determined by the color of your skin. These systemic inequalities hurt individuals, communities, our economy, and our society.
Join us Thursday, June 25th for the National Summit on Equality of Opportunity, where leaders from across the private and public sectors will discuss solutions to some of the underlying challenges driving inequality of opportunity for Black Americans in four critical areas: education, employment, entrepreneurship, and the criminal justice system.
This historic virtual event kicks off the Equality of Opportunity Initiative, through which the U.S. Chamber has partnered with more than 500 chambers and associations across the country, including the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce, to pursue policy and private sector solutions to bridge underlying racial divides that contribute to broader, systemic inequalities in our society.
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Michigan GOP Leaders Propose Using $1.3 Billion in Fed Funding to Bail Out Schools
By Ron French for Bridge
Michigan GOP leaders proposed Tuesday to use $1.3 billion in federal funding to help bail out schools facing increased costs from fighting the coronavirus and a potentially calamitous drop in state dollars.
The proposal includes a one-time $800 per-pupil payment to school districts to pay for improved remote learning and safety precautions. Teachers would get $500 in what amounts to battle pay for their work during the crisis.
The funding would be part of the current state budget year, which ends Sept. 30. If approved, the $1.3 billion to schools would represent the bulk of the approximately $1.9 billion the state’s remaining unspent funds from the Coronavirus Relief Act, a $150 billion bailout from the federal government to states.
Some have raised concerns about whether the money could be spent directly to schools because CARES Act funding is generally limited to offsetting direct costs incurred due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Governor Whitmer Signs Communication Bill on Impediment Designation on ID and Absent Voting Counting Board into Law
On Tuesday, June 23, Governor Whitmer signed House Bills 5141 and 5541, as well as Senate Bills 278 and 279 into law today.
House Bill 5541 and Senate Bills 278 and 279 together allow an individual applying for or renewing a vehicle registration, driver license, state personal ID card, or enhanced driver license or state personal ID cards to elect to have a communication impediment designation associated with his or her record. HB 5541 was sponsored by Representative Frank Liberati, D-Allen Park, SB 278 was sponsored by and Senator Tom Barrett, R-Potterville, and SB 279 was sponsored by Senator Curtis Hertel Jr., D-East Lansing. SB 278 and 279 are tie-barred to the rest of the package.
House Bill 5141 amends the Michigan Election Law to allow a city or township clerk to enter into a written agreement regarding the creation of an absent voting counting board with the clerks of other cities or townships in the county. The agreement must be entered at least 75 days before the election to assist with the expected increase resulting from Proposal 3 from 2018. The bill was sponsored by Representative Julie Calley, R-Portland
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Governor Signs Bills Increasing Health Care Access into Law
Governor Whitmer signed House Bills 5412-5416, which increase access to health care for Michiganders through telemedicine and remote patient monitoring services. The governor also signed Senate Bill 940 into law.
“I was pleased to sign bills today that will increase access to healthcare in Michigan by ensuring that telemedicine and remote patient monitoring services will be covered by insurers and by Medicaid,” said Governor Whitmer in her signing letter to the Legislature. “These bills codify significant pieces of Executive Order 2020-86, which broadly expanded access to telemedicine as part of Michigan’s emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the virtues of telemedicine are not unique to this moment, so Michiganders will benefit from reduced costs, increased accessibility, and lower transmission rates of infectious diseases at the doctor’s office for years to come.”
House Bills 5412, 5413, 5414, 5415, and 5416 make up a bill package designed to facilitate remote provision of healthcare services. The bills require health insurance companies and group/non-group healthcare services to cover telemedicine visits without requiring in-person visits. The bill package was sponsored by Representative Hank Vaupel, R-Howell (HB 5412), Representative Doug Wozniak, R-Shelby Twp. (HB 5413), Representative Phil Green, R-Huron Twp. (HB 5414), Representative Frank Liberati, D-Allen Park (HB 5415), and Representative Mary Whiteford, R-Allegan (HB 5416).
Senate Bill 940 delays the principal residence exemption application deadline under certain circumstances related to the COVID state of emergency. The bill was sponsored by Senator Roger Victory, R-Grand Haven.
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Executive Order Enabling Remote Transactions Extended
Governor Whitmer today signed Executive Order 2020-131, which extends a previous executive order temporarily allowing e-signatures on official documents and remote notarizations to avoid unnecessary in-person contact during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Executive Order 2020-131 expires on July 31, 2020.
“As we continue to suppress the spread of COVID-19 and make every effort to prevent a second wave, it’s crucial that we take all measures to avoid unnecessary in-person contact while ensuring documents can be signed or notarized,” Governor Whitmer said. “Encouraging the use of e-signatures and alternative means of notarization will protect more people during this ongoing public health crisis.”
Under Executive Order 2020-131, requirements for in-person notarizations are temporarily suspended and transactions that require a notary to be completed via two-way, real-time audiovisual technology are allowed. The order also extends the validity of notary commissions until July 31, 2020. It also permits the use of electronic signatures in all cases, except in rare circumstances when a physical signature is required.
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Governor Signs Executive Order Reestablishing the Michigan Statewide Independent Living Council
Executive Order 2020-130 reestablishes the Michigan Statewide Independent Living Council. This order will ensure compliance with current requirements under federal law and strengthen working relationships among the Council and entities providing services to individuals with disabilities, centers for independent living and other programs. The order takes effect July 15, 2020.
The Council will be comprised of members who provide statewide representation, represent a broad range of individuals with disabilities from diverse backgrounds and are knowledgeable about centers for independent living and independent living services. Most of the members of the Council must be individuals with disabilities who are not employed by a center for independent living or any agency of the State of Michigan.
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Resources for Business and the Community
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The Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce maintains a list of federal, state, and local resources that provide aid and information for your business, employees and our community during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. This information is ever-changing, please check the Chamber's
website,
Facebook, and your email frequently.
We will add links, resources, and updates as information becomes available. We are also converting our At A Glance Newsletter to include Coronavirus links and information as well as local updates, job availability, member coupons and most importantly Member News. Please let us know what your business is doing and how you are functioning during this uncertain time. We need to stay connected and support each other.
If you are offering a service to help the Saginaw County Community or local businesses weather this storm, please email your information to
info@saginawchamber.org.
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Thank you and stay healthy.
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