Contracting Out Substitute Teachers (SB 1249)
Higher Education Budget (Senate Bill 967)
"Safe Needle" Bills Moves to Full Senate (HB 4621 and HB 4780)
Public School Employee Retirement Act (SB 614)
Changes Sought in Mail Order Prescription Procedures (HB 5870)
Reasons to Vote November 7

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Contracting Out Substitute Teachers (SB 1249)
The Senate Education Committee has approved legislation which would allow school districts to use temporary employment agencies to furnish substitute teachers.

The intention of this bill is proclaimed to be to alleviate the current shortage of substitute teachers. However, this bill erodes the quality of education by expanding the pool of non-certified teachers in the classroom.

This legislation opens wide the doors to privatize substitute teachers. Kelly Services, Incorporated, and Sub Finders were ready to contract with Michigan schools to recruit substitute teachers when they learned this was illegal under current law.

Senate Bill 1249 will soon to be taken up on the Senate Floor. Among other things, Senate Bill 1249 would:

• Permit a school board to enter into a contract with a person or entity it to furnish substitute teachers to the district.
• Exempt substitute teachers from the Code’s provisions on hiring and contracting with qualified teachers, including a requirement that a person hold a valid teaching certificate when a contract begins.
• Exempts substitute teachers who are employed by or under contract with a person or entity that contracted with a district or ISD from the Code’s provisions or leave time, salary, and hiring privileges for substitute teachers.

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Higher Education Budget (Senate Bill 967)

The Senate and House have approved Senate Bill 967, the higher education budget, and it now awaits the Governor’s signature. Overall, the budget is 6.7 percent larger than the current fiscal year and provides a minimum 5 percent increase for each of the state’s four-year public universities. Highlights are listed below:

• Increased per-student funding: Eastern Michigan University ($4,788), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ($9,767), Wayne State University ($10,759), and Michigan State University ($9,801).
• Provided a 5% increase across-the-board for public universities.
  
• Appropriated $110 million for Michigan Merit Award Program to handle an estimated 40,000 awards.
  
• Required 1.5% base reduction for any university increasing tuition more than 4.0%.
• Increased supplemental funding by 3% to help pay for infrastructure improvements, technology and equipment purchases, and maintenance for the current fiscal year ending September 30.

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"Safe Needle" Bills Moves to Full Senate (HB 4621 and HB 4780)

The Senate Health Policy Committee unanimously approved House Bills 4621 and 4780. If passed by the full Senate, hospitals and clinics will have to start using safer hypodermic needles to prevent needle stick injuries. Officials say there are as many as 600,000 needle stick injuries each year.

Under House Bill 4621, any hospital, clinic, or health practice employing fifteen or more people with occupational exposure to needles must use either needleless systems or needles that have sharps injury protection systems. For two years, pre-filled syringes--those used for common injections, such as tetanus shots--would still be allowed to be used even if they do not have protection against injuries. In addition each facility would have to set up a committee made up of a variety of health care professionals to conduct an evaluation of needleless systems.

House Bill 4780 requires that the Department of Consumer and Industry Services and the Department of Community Health to jointly study practices and procedures in the health care workplace relating to needle safety. The Department of Consumer and Industry Services shall also provide training opportunities to employees on needle safety in the health care workplace through the Department’s safety education training program.

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Public School Employee Retirement Act (SB 614)

Senate Bill 614 has been reported out of the Senate Appropriations Committee and now moves to the full Senate. This bill is designed to increase the amount of income a disabled adult child or full-time student can earn and still remain a dependent under the MPSERS health insurance plan. The MFT&SRP is supporting this bill.

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Changes Sought in Mail Order Prescription Procedures (HB 5870)

The House Senior Health, Security and Retirement Committee will hold hearings on House Bill 5870 soon. This bill would remove restrictions on Michigan pharmacies from providing drugs through the mail.

However, Representative Ehart (R-Lexington) has added language which would cause the MPSERS plan not to qualify. Under the bill, a health care payment or benefits plan cannot provide an economic benefit or any other type of benefit, such as a difference in co-pay or quantity of drugs, for using a mail order pharmacy rather than a local pharmacy.

Both situations are true of the current plan for school retirees. The maximum copayment for one month’s prescription at a pharmacy is $20, but the retiree can get a three-month supply of certain medications for $50. The MFT&SRP, along with the Retirement Coordinating Council, is lobbying to change these two items in the bill.

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	Reasons to Vote November 7
Voucher System Charter Schools Over Crowded Classrooms Staff Shortages Privatization School Violence Social Promotion Technology Certification Professional Development Core Curriculum Collective Bargaining Special Education Programs At-Risk Programs Adult Education Equitable Funding Pension Plans Medical Insurance

We must elect public officials who will protect and improve public education!

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