FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 11, 2022

Contact: [email protected]

Gov. Whitmer Signs Legislation to Strengthen Unemployment Insurance Agency, Fight Fraud, Lower Costs for Small Businesses

 Bipartisan legislation will decrease financial obligations for small businesses and tackle waste, abuse, and fraud 

LANSING, Mich. – Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed HB 5525, legislation making a deposit in Michigan’s Unemployment Compensation Fund and funding ongoing efforts to crack down on waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer funds.

“This fiscally-responsible, bipartisan bill will lower costs for small businesses and fight waste, fraud, and abuse in our unemployment system,” said Governor Whitmer. “This is the latest step we are taking to fight fraud, hold people accountable, and strengthen the Unemployment Insurance Agency after decades of disinvestment. By making a deposit into the Unemployment Compensation Fund, we can help small businesses balance their books by lowering the costs of unemployment. Together, we will pursue anyone who improperly exploits unemployment benefits to pad their own pockets and ensure they are prosecuted to the full extent of our laws. Attorney General Dana Nessel, Michigan’s UIA agency, our federal partners, and my administration will continue working together to utilize this funding as effectively as possible to crack down on fraud and save taxpayers money.”

HB 5525 Details

The bill appropriates a total of $139.8 million, including $106.8 million in federal funds, $24.0 million of Michigan’s General Fund, and $8.9 million of state restricted funds. The majority of the resources would be deposited into the Unemployment Compensation Fund to lower future costs for small businesses. The bill will also make customer service improvements at the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) and hire dozens of additional employees to enhance fraud enforcement efforts. Finally, the bill helps the Office of Attorney General Dana Nessel pursue unemployment claimant fraud, employer fraud, and identify theft.

Pause on Collections

Recently, the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency paused new wage and state income tax refund garnishment until May 7th for approximately 398,000 Michiganders marked with overpayment statuses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the start of the pandemic, UIA has worked quickly to increase capacity and meet Michiganders’ unprecedented needs. When the federal government’s lack of clarity caused issues regarding who could receive payments, Governor Whitmer intervened to seek legal authority from the U.S. Department of Labor for a temporary pause on state collections until cases could be reviewed and/or issued waivers. Thanks to the recently granted pause and expanded eligibility for waivers, eligible Michiganders will not be penalized for following the established rules at the time they applied for benefits, and HB 5525 will continue improving the UIA system to better serve Michiganders.

Fighting Unemployment Fraud

Over the last several years, the Whitmer-Gilchrist administration and the UIA has leveraged resources on the federal and state levels to fight unemployment insurance fraud. It has worked closely with U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the DOL’s Tiger Team initiative, other agencies such as the FBI and a former member of the United States Secret Service to monitor and quickly crack down on fraud, especially illegal activity committed by crime syndicates nationwide.

On the state level, UIA is an active member of the Governor’s Unemployment Insurance Fraud Response Team, working with the Department of the Attorney General and local law enforcement to identify and prosecute criminals. To date, 54 individuals have been charged and 13 have been convicted or pleaded guilty. The funding approved by Gov. Whitmer will allow UIA to hire more investigators and collections staff to pursue criminals and work to recover stolen funds. As the new head of UIA, Director Julia Dale will oversee implementation of the funding to continue to crack down on fraud and hold bad actors accountable.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 11, 2022

Contact: [email protected]

Governor Whitmer Announces Road Repair Projects Kicking Off Today in Iron, Ontonagon, Berrien, Jackson, Oakland and Macomb Counties 

In 2022, Gov. Whitmer is making the largest investment in state roads and bridges in Michigan’s history

LANSING, Mich. — Governor Whitmer announced that multiple road rebuilding projects are expected to begin today. The projects include the rebuilding of four bridges in Iron and Ontonagon counties, resurfacing US-12 in Berrien County, expansion of I-94 and rebuilding the I-94/Portage Road interchange in Jackson, the next phase of the I-96 flex route project in Oakland County and drainage work at 14 Mile Road at M-3 (Gratiot Avenue) in Macomb County. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to directly and indirectly support 7,450 jobs.

“Across Michigan, we continue to fix the damn roads to save motorists time and money. Investments like these in Iron, Ontonagon, Berrien, Jackson, Oakland and Macomb will ensure families, emergency services, and school buses can get where they need to go safely and efficiently,” said Governor Whitmer. “My Rebuilding Michigan Plan and the recently enacted Building Michigan Together Plan are helping us fix our roads and bridges with the right mix and materials, making them much less susceptible to our notorious pothole seasons, all without raising taxes by a cent. Since I took office, Michigan has repaired, rebuilt, or replaced over 13,000 lane miles of road and over 900 bridges, supporting nearly 82,000 jobs. These projects will add to that total and continue to support even more good-paying jobs in these communities.”

Projects Starting Today: 

US-45, M-64, and US-141 Projects in Ontonagon County 

MDOT will invest $4.9 million to rebuild four bridges in Iron and Ontonagon counties. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to directly and indirectly support 62 jobs. Work will include deck replacement, substructure repairs, scour countermeasures, beam end repairs, steel cleaning and coating, and roadway approach work on M-64 over the Floodwood River, M-64 over Halfway Creek, US-141 over the East Branch of the Net River, and US-45 over Roselawn Creek.

US-12 Project in Berrien County

MDOT will invest $2.7 million to resurface 5.1 miles of US-12 from the state line to Red Arrow Highway. Work includes milling and asphalt resurfacing, joint and crack repairs, railroad approach resurfacing, and pavement markings. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to directly and indirectly support 34 jobs.

I-94 Project in Jackson County

Work is resuming next week on the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) I-94 Jackson County project. Work will proceed from the Calhoun County line to Parma Road. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to directly and indirectly support 2,057 jobs.

Funding for this project is made possible by Governor Whitmer’s Rebuilding Michigan program to rebuild the state highways and bridges that are critical to the state’s economy and carry the most traffic. The investment strategy is aimed at fixes that result in longer useful lives and improves the condition of the state’s infrastructure.

 I-96 Project in Oakland County

Work on the I-96 Flex Route along Kent Lake Road and the I-275/I-696/M-5 interchange continues with bridge work closing the Wixom Road ramps beginning 6 a.m. Monday, April 11, through Monday, April 25. The I-96 Flex Route project includes rebuilding the freeway, rebuilding the median shoulders for use during peak periods, sign upgrades, and active traffic management installation, including intelligent transportation systems (ITS) equipment, overhead gantry installation and ramp signals for metering traffic onto the freeway. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to directly and indirectly support 3,416 jobs. More information including lane closures and detours can be found here.

Funding for this project is made possible by Governor Whitmer’s Rebuilding Michigan program to rebuild the state highways and bridges that are critical to the state’s economy and carry the most traffic. The investment strategy is aimed at fixes that result in longer useful lives and improves the condition of the state’s infrastructure.

 I-94 Project in Kalamazoo County

The east leg of Kilgore Road will be closed at Portage Road as part of the Michigan Department of Transportation project to expand I-94 and rebuild the I-94/Portage Road interchange. Crews will be rebuilding the intersection, requiring the total closure. Based on economic modeling, this $87 million investment is expected to directly and indirectly support 1,105 jobs.

14 Mile Road Drainage Project in Macomb County 

Starting at 7 a.m. Monday, April 11, 14 Mile Road will be closed at M-3 (Gratiot Avenue) in Macomb County until Friday, April 15, weather permitting, for drainage work in the median. This work is part of the second year of the two-year M-3 (Gratiot Avenue) project to rebuild 1.7 miles of M-3 (Gratiot Avenue) between Common and 14 Mile roads in the city of Roseville. Work includes replacing the asphalt roadway, water main and storm sewer work, sign replacement, and signal modernization, along with ramp and sidewalks to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The project is expected to be completed by late fall. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to directly and indirectly support 838 jobs. More information including lane closures and detours can be found here.

Rebuilding Michigan Plan

Since Governor Whitmer took office, Michigan has repaired, rebuilt, or replaced 13,198 lane miles of road and 903 bridges, supporting nearly 82,000 jobs. Recently, Governor Whitmer signed the Building Michigan Together Plan, a bipartisan plan to invest nearly $5 billion in Michigan’s infrastructure, grow the economy, create jobs, and benefit families in every region of the state. The Building Michigan Together Plan calls for critical investments of $645 million in Michigan’s infrastructure, including $317 million for road and bridge programs, benefitting both state and local projects.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 7, 2022

Contact: [email protected]

Gov. Whitmer Signs Bills to Support Small Businesses, Improve Insurance Processes, Other Legislation 

LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Senate Bill 247 and House Bills 4205, 4206, 4332, 4994, and 5541 into law. These bills cover a range of issue areas from improving the process for Michiganders to get prior authorization from insurers for their prescriptions and medications, helping small businesses make space for inventory or other needs, updating outdoor recreation laws, and modernizing the State Bar of Michigan admissions process.

“Today, I will be signing six bipartisan bills, adding on to the over 800 bipartisan bills I have signed since taking office,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “Today’s bills will make insurance benefit preauthorization more accessible, support winter recreation and shoe repair businesses, and amend the state bar admittance process. I am proud to sign these bills and will continue to work with anyone to get things done. Together, we can continue delivering on the kitchen-table issues that matter most to Michiganders, growing our economy, and creating good-paying jobs.”

Insurance Code

Senate Bill 247 would amend the Insurance Code to increase transparency among insurers and decrease consumer wait times for prescription drugs and services that require prior authorization. Prior authorization describes situations where an insurer must approve coverage for requested services, prescriptions, or medications before they are received by a covered individual.  The bill shortens the time for insurers to consider  prior authorization requests before they are deemed granted and places obligations on insurers to provide more information to the public and health care providers regarding the  prior authorization process.

“Today’s action by Gov. Whitmer to sign this overwhelmingly bipartisan legislation will directly help patients across Michigan,” said state Senator VanderWall, R-Ludington. “This new law reforms the prior authorization process, which has created barriers and inefficiencies with access and quality of care in the health care system. It will promote transparency of practices used by insurers, allowing enrollees and health care providers to be fully informed while making coverage and care decisions.”

“While the intent behind the prior authorization process is to promote safe, timely, and cost-effective care, the process itself has been widely viewed as inefficient and burdensome,” VanderWall continued. “This can directly affect the treatment and care a patient receives and could pose significant risks to a patient’s health. This law will help improve the process and ultimately benefit patients.”

Senate Bill 247 was sponsored by Sen. Vanderwall, R – Ludington, and a copy can be found here.

Supporting Snowmobile Tourism 

House Bills 4205 and 4206 allow for one weekend prior to the start of each snowmobile season, that individuals can operate snowmobile-on-snowmobile trails without the required registration or a trail permit.

House Bill 4205 was sponsored by Rep. Steve Johnson, R – Wayland Twp., and a copy can be found here.

House Bill 4206 was sponsored by Rep. John Roth, R – Traverse City, and a copy can be found here.

ORV Licenses

House Bill 4332 specifies that a two-wheel off-road recreation vehicle (ORV) must have the license attached at either the center of the rear fender or visible on a front suspension.

House Bill 4332 was sponsored by Rep. Steve Johnson, R – Wayland Twp., and a copy can be found here.

Unclaimed Shoe Donation

House Bill 4994 allows shoe repair businesses to donate unclaimed shoes if they have been unclaimed for six months or more.

“This is a victory for Michigan’s small businesses and their communities,” said state Representative Angela Witwer, D-Delta Township. “This bill supports entrepreneurs and charities at the same time. Cobblers get to clear out space and charities receive high-quality footwear. When it comes to those in need, we must do better, and this bill helps make that vision a reality.”

House Bill 4994 was sponsored by Rep. Angela Witwer, D – Delta Township, and a copy can be found here.

State Bar

House Bill 5541 amends the Revised Judicature Act to allow individuals to utilize their Uniform Bar Examination scores when seeking admission to the State Bar of Michigan.

“With the Governor’s signature, Michigan keeps pace with 40 other jurisdictions that have already implemented the Uniform Bar Exam, score portability makes our state more attractive to law school graduates nationwide and gives our state’s law firms and businesses more tools for attracting the best legal talent,” said Chief Justice Bridget M. McCormack.

House Bill 5541 was sponsored by Rep. Andrew Fink, R – Adams Twp., and a copy can be found here.