AG Shifts Focus to Care Facilities Violating Executive Orders 

AG Shifts Focus to Care Facilities Violating Executive Orders 

by | Aug 6, 2020 | Uncategorized

Attorney General Dana Nessel

Media Contact:

Ryan Jarvi
(o) 517-335-7666 (c) 517-599-2746

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, August 6, 2020

AG Nessel Shifts Focus to Long-term Care Facilities Violating Executive Orders

LANSING – To make sure long-term care facilities are operating within the requirements of law during the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office is ramping up efforts to enforce Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s executive order that provides rules and procedures those facilities must follow to protect the health of their employees and residents.

Executive Order 2020-148 outlines protections for residents at long-term care facilities, like barring their evictions for nonpayment, and lists several requirements those institutions must follow to safeguard the health and safety of their residents and employees. There are more than 4,900 long-term care facilities across the state impacted by Executive Order 2020-148. Long-term care facilities include nursing homes, homes for the aged, adult foster care facilities and assisted living facilities.

Among other requirements under the executive order, long-term care facilities must cancel communal dining and group activities, implement disinfection and sanitation regimens, provide personal protective equipment to employees, inform employees of a COVID-19-positive patient, and report presumed positive cases and additional data to their local health departments and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).

Willful violations of this executive order are considered a misdemeanor offense, which carry a $500 fine and/or 90 days in jail.

“Over the last several months, this virus has claimed more than 6,000 lives in Michigan and presented us with countless challenges that we have had to work together to overcome,” Nessel said. “My office is prepared to continue our role of enforcing the law as this virus lingers and as Michigan’s most vulnerable populations remain at risk. The measures outlined in Executive Order 2020-148 to protect those vulnerable populations and the people who care for them must be followed.”

The Attorney General’s Health Care Fraud Division receives federal funding to investigate and prosecute alleged abuse and neglect of residents of long-term care facilities, including taking legal actions to address violations of this executive order. However, the division may only act in response to a formal complaint.

The division has been working with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to review reports of executive order violations since the orders were issued. Responses to those reports thus far have been handled through education and outreach measures, rather than the pursuit of criminal charges. However, the Attorney General’s office is prepared to take legal action if necessary. Details about ongoing investigations will not be released.

The enforcement of Executive Order 2020-148 at long-term care facilities is a coordinated effort among the Attorney General’s office, MDHHS and LARA, which maintains regulatory oversight of these facilities. It’s also supported by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

“Across Michigan, nursing home staff, residents, and their families have made unprecedented sacrifices over the past four months to protect each other from the spread of COVID-19,” said Gov. Whitmer. “Their work has undoubtedly saved lives. However, if there are facilities in our state that are putting their residents and staff at risk by not following the rules, they must be held accountable. I’m grateful that the Attorney General is prepared to take action to ensure every long-term care facility is doing everything they can to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect our most vulnerable residents.”

As of Monday, Michigan has recorded more than 2,000 resident deaths in long-term care facilities that have resulted from COVID-19 exposure, with around 7,800 positive COVID-19 cases emanating from people residing in those facilities. There have also been 22 deaths of staff members at long-term care facilities and more than 3,700 infected.

“Our staff works with the employees and owners of Michigan’s long-term care facilities day in and day out and while I’m confident that the vast majority of them are doing things the right way, it is vital that we take action against those who are not following the rules,” said LARA Director Orlene Hawks. “I appreciate AG Nessel and her team in leading the efforts for consumers to file complaints on possible violations related to the EO violations and spread of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities.”

As part of the concerted effort, LARA will refer complaints it receives involving violations of the various safety protocols outlined in EO 2020-148 to the Attorney General’s Health Care Fraud Division, which will review the complaint and determine whether additional steps must be taken, such as seeking more information from the facility, launching a formal investigation or taking action in the courts.

The Department of Attorney General’s Health Care Fraud Division has jurisdiction to investigate claims of abuse and neglect in long-term care facilities. Violations can be reported by calling the Attorney General’s Health Care Fraud Division at 800-24-ABUSE (800-242-2873) or filing a complaint online.
Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week

Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week

by | Aug 6, 2020 | Uncategorized

EGLE Main GovD banner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 6, 2020
Nick Assendelft, Public Information Officer, [email protected], 517-388-3135

Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week Aug. 8-16 spotlights Michigan’s water resources

Michigan is uniquely defined by our Great Lakes and our water plays an important role in our heritage, our communities and the economy, including a robust tourism industry. Michiganders can celebrate everything the state’s water resources have to offer as well as pledge to be faithful stewards of those resources during Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week Aug. 8-16.

A proclamation by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer notes the Great Lakes system is the largest freshwater system in the world and it is the responsibility of all Michiganders to practice stewardship, increase their water literacy and raise awareness of the value of the state’s water resources.

“Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week is an excellent reminder about how vitally important it is to protect our state’s lakes and rivers and even our groundwater,” said Liesl Clark, director of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. “Every Michigander benefits in many important ways from this abundant natural resource that we sometimes take for granted. I’m happy to work with partners across the state to highlight the many wonderful efforts to protect, restore and sustain our fresh water for future generations.”

A stroll on the beach. Water skiing on the Great Lakes. Spending the day at your favorite fishing hole. Share your photos and videos on social media of your favorite water recreation or stewardship activities or post your pledge to be a guardian of the state’s water resources using the hashtag #MiGreatLakesWeek.

Join the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) for a webinar from 1-2:15 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10, that will kick off the weeklong water-related celebration. Information on the webinar will help local communities understand the importance of Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week, our connection to water and how the One Water Campaign serves as a tool to get communities involved in protecting water resources.

“We are proud to be part of this statewide celebration of the Great Lakes and all of our freshwater resources,” said Kathleen Lomako, executive director of SEMCOG. “Water is critical to our quality of life, and we all need to do our part to ensure access to high quality water for generations to come.”

SEMCOG also has a list of virtual and in-person water education events in which the public can participate to learn about Michigan’s abundant water resources and help Michiganders take action to become water stewards.

“I look forward to Great Lakes Week every year,” said Michele Arquette-Palermo, head of the Freshwater Forum at Cranbrook Institute of Science and Coordinator of Slow Row LO, a paddling group based in Lake Orion. It is a great time to highlight our local lakes and streams. I enjoy promoting paddling sports by hosting an event every year.”

Michigan has more than 11,000 inland lakes, tens of thousands of miles of rivers and streams, approximately 6.5 million acres of wetlands, roughly 3,200 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, an estimated 74,000 acres of coastal dunes, and vast groundwater resources. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy collaborates with community organizations across the state to highlight the successes and seek solutions for the challenges related to water stewardship.
Whitmer Signs Order Requiring Masks at Child-Care Centers

Whitmer Signs Order Requiring Masks at Child-Care Centers

by | Aug 6, 2020 | Uncategorized

Governor Gretchen Whitmer Banner - headshot with bridge graphic

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 6, 2020

Contact: [email protected]

 

Governor Whitmer Signs Executive Order Requiring Masks at Child-Care Centers and Camps

 

LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-164 which requires face coverings to be worn in all child-care centers and camps. Michigan has seen COVID-19 outbreaks at these locations, adding to the mounting evidence that children can contract and spread the virus. By requiring face coverings, child-care centers and camps can remain open while keeping children and staff members safe.

 

“Child-care workers have been on the front lines of this crisis and have worked tirelessly to provide a safe place for our children and families during this time. COVID-19 is still a very real threat to Michiganders of all ages, and we must continue to stay vigilant and use every tool at our disposal to protect ourselves and each other,” said Governor Whitmer. “I am committed to doing everything in my power to protect people of all ages from COVID-19. By masking up, we can all be a part of the solution to further prevent the spread of the virus and save lives.”

 

“Masks continue to be one of the best ways to contain the spread of COVID-19, and they can be safely worn by most of us over the age of two,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and MDHHS chief deputy for health. “Be a role model for your children and demonstrate the importance of wearing a mask. Have your child practice properly wearing a mask – over their nose, mouth and chin – while they are at home so they are comfortable with it in public. It will take all of us, of all ages, doing our part to continue slowing the spread of this disease and to protect our families and communities.”

 

Executive Order 2020-164 requires all staff and children ages 2 and up to wear a face covering on a school bus or other transportation. Additionally, all staff and children ages 4 and up must wear a face covering in all indoor common spaces. All staff and all children 12 and older are required to wear a face covering when in classrooms, homes, cabins, or similar indoor small-group settings. The governor also strongly encourages that all children ages 2 and up wear face coverings when indoors. These rules align with the existing rules on face coverings that already apply to preK-12 schools across Michigan.

 

If a child-care center is located in a region in Phase 5 of the MI Safe Start Plan, face coverings are not required, but are still strongly recommended. Furthermore, face coverings are not required for any child who cannot medically tolerate it, during meal time, while swimming, during high-intensity activities, outside while physically distanced, or if a child is under the age of 2.

 

Child-care centers and camps may use facilities that are otherwise closed under Executive Order 2020-160. Furthermore, child-care centers and camps must follow additional guidelines on infection control as determined by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

 

The governor also extended Executive Order 2020-146 until August 15, 2020.

 

To view Executive Order 2020-164, click the link below:
AG, SOS Warn Michiganders to Read Petitions Before Signing 

AG, SOS Warn Michiganders to Read Petitions Before Signing 

by | Aug 5, 2020 | Uncategorized

Attorney General Dana Nessel

Media Contact:

Ryan Jarvi
(o) 517-335-7666 (c) 517-599-2746

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, August 5, 2020

AG Nessel, SOS Benson Warn Michiganders to Read Petitions Before Signing

Circulators May be Misleading People to Gain More Petition Signatures

LANSING – Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson are teaming up to warn Michiganders of an increase in complaints of deceptive petition circulation, with circulators allegedly misleading people about the true nature behind the petitions they’re being asked to sign.

In some reports, complainants indicated they were told by circulators that the petition was about one topic, such as helping small businesses or supporting medical marijuana initiatives, while the actual printed content was completely different from what was described by the circulator — like repealing state legislation.

Circulators are often paid per signature collected, so there is an incentive for them to collect as many as possible.

“Regardless of what your political stance is, I am urging anyone who is approached by a petitioner to carefully read and make every best effort to understand what you are agreeing to sign,” Nessel said. “The petition process is an important right that belongs to the people of this state, but these deceptive and dishonest practices are not being conducted in the spirit of a free and transparent democracy, one in which the power truly rests with an informed populace.”

“For decades we’ve seen Michigan citizens intentionally deceived about ballot petitions, and particularly our most vulnerable populations,” Benson said. “The recent increase in complaints demonstrates it’s high time for the Legislature to act to make it a crime to intentionally mislead a voter into signing a petition.”

More than a dozen complaints have been received. Complaints have primarily been focused in southeast Michigan in places like Saline, Madison Heights and Dearborn Heights, with Kalamazoo also making the list.

###

Adopt-a-Forest cleanup challenge passes 50-site midpoint 

by | Aug 5, 2020 | Uncategorized

 

Share or view as webpage  |  Update preferences

– DNR News –
Aug. 5, 2020
Contact: Conor Haenni, 989-429-5542

Adopt-a-Forest cleanup challenge passes 50-site midpoint

A young person cleans up trash in a forestRefrigerators, tires, old cars, barrels with mysterious contents and an entire body cast are among the strange things pulled out of the woods by Adopt-a-Forest volunteers in the program’s nearly 30-year history.

The DNR program’s summer forest cleanup challenge, which recently passed the halfway mark toward its goal with more than 50 completed cleanups, is unearthing similarly weird finds as volunteers step up to care for Michigan’s woods.

“We’ve found roofing materials, rat traps and lots of other trash,” said DNR Adopt-a-Forest program coordinator Conor Haenni. “It’s satisfying to use a little elbow grease to help return a dump site back to nature.”

Adopt-a-Forest program organizers aim to get 100 forest sites where trash has been dumped cleaned up in an ambitious 100 days. The challenge launched June 15 and will run through Sept. 22. There are more than 600 sites across the state in need of cleanups.

While Adopt-a-Forest helps organize volunteer cleanups year-round, this special campaign was organized to celebrate the National Association of State Foresters 100th anniversary, highlighting the work foresters do to keep forests thriving for generations to come.
A person poses next to buckets and bags of trash cleaned from the forestCleanups make a real impact on Michigan’s landscape: 22,000 pickup loads of trash have been removed from forests since the program went statewide in 1991, with about half of those materials able to be recycled.

Volunteers can join in by finding a site, learning about cleanup safety and signing the volunteer waiver at CleanForests.org. When finished with a cleanup, they can report it online and spread the word on social media with #trashtag and #100in100 forest cleanup challenge to inspire others.

On-site, people should follow the guidance of health experts and practice social distancing of at least 6 feet and wear face coverings if volunteering with those outside their immediate household.

Will the work slow down after Sept. 22?

“No way,” said program manager Ada Takacs. “We’re ready to celebrate 30 years of protecting forests and have exciting plans for the future that we can’t wait to share.”

/Note to editors: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows.

Adopt-a-Forest: A volunteer cleans up a dump site in a pine forest.

Trash_cleanup: A volunteer poses next to bags of trash picked up from public forest land in Barry County.

Shell_casings: A bucket of shotgun shell casings cleaned up from forest land.
DNR COVID-19 RESPONSE: For details on affected DNR facilities and services, visit this webpage. Follow state actions and guidelines at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus.