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Michigan Council for Maternal & Child Health Friday Notes

Posted about 9 years ago by Rachel VanDenBrink

January 15, 2015
In this issue
Governor Snyder Vetoes E-Cigarette Bills
Conference Revises Revenues Down $289M for 2015, $527M for 2016
House and Senate Committee Assignments Announced
Governor Signs Cyberbullying Bill
Michigan's 50th Anniversary of Newborn Screening

Governor Snyder Vetoes E-Cigarette Bills

Governor Rick Snyder today vetoed bills that would have prohibited the sale of e-cigarettes to minors, saying they failed to go far enough in regulating the devices.

The governor has said several times that e-cigarettes should be regulated as a tobacco product, supporting the position of MDCH and numerous health advocacy groups, including MCMCH. Doing so would subject them to taxation like tobacco products and to the workplace smoking ban in addition to prohibiting their sale to minors.

"We need to make sure that e-cigarettes and other nicotine-containing devices are regulated in the best interest of public health," Governor Snyder said in a statement. "It's important that these devices be treated like tobacco products and help people become aware of the dangers e-cigarettes pose."

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Conference Revises Revenues Down $289M For 2015, $527M For 2016

Gongwer News Service

State economists have reduced revenue forecasts significantly for the current and upcoming fiscal years.

The figures reflect the agreement between the House and Senate Fiscal agencies and the Department of Treasury from today's Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference.

For the 2014-15 current fiscal year, the conference revised revenues downward by $288.9 million since the last conference in May for the General and School Aid Funds (-$324.6 million for the General Fund and +$35.8 million for the School Aid Fund). For the 2015-16 fiscal year that starts October 1, the conference revised revenues downward by $526.5 million for the General and School Aid Funds (-$532.1 million for the General Fund and +$5.6 million for the School Aid Fund).

It was not immediately clear what the exact projected year-end balance will be for the General Fund in the current year, but it will be negative. The consensus downward revision for the General Fund for the current year is close to the House Fiscal Agency's original estimate, which will likely put the General Fund shortfall at about $400 million.

The consensus revenue agreement sets the stage now for Governor Rick Snyder to issue an executive order cutting the current year 2014-15 fiscal year budget or propose a negative supplemental appropriations bill to accomplish the same task.

And it formally opens the process of putting together the 2015-16 fiscal year budget. The governor is expected to unveil his recommendation in February.

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House and Senate Committee Assignments Announced

This week Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof and House Speaker Kevin Cotter (R-Mt. Pleasant) released a full list of the members of every House and Senate committee and Appropriations subcommittees for the next Legislature. Highlights impacting maternal and child health:

Senate:
APPROPRIATIONS: Sen. Dave Hildenbrand (R-Lowell) as chair, Sen. Peter MacGregor (R-Cannon Township) as vice chair, Sen. Goeff Hansen (R-Hart), Sen. Jim Stamas (R-Midland), Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R-Lawton), Sen. Marty Knollenberg (R-Troy), Sen. Darwin Booher (R-Evart), Sen. Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake), Sen. John Proos (R-St. Joseph), Sen. Mike Nofs (R-Battle Creek), Sen. Mike Green (R-Mayville), Sen. James Marleau (R-Lake Orion), Sen. Vincent Gregory (D-East Lansing) as minority vice chair, Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D-Taylor), Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr. (D-East Lansing), Sen. David Knezek (D-Dearborn Heights) and Sen. Coleman Young II (D-Detroit)

EDUCATION: Sen. Phil Pavlov (R-St. Clair) as chair, Sen. Knollenberg as vice chair, Sen. Booher, Sen. Patrick Colbeck (R-Canton Township) and Sen. Knezek as minority vice chair

FAMILIES, SENIORS AND HUMAN SERVICES: Sen. Judy Emmons (R-Sheridan) as chair, Sen. Pavlov as vice chair, Sen. Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge), Sen. Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba) and Sen. Bert Johnson (D-Highland Park) as minority vice chair

HEALTH POLICY: Sen. Shirkey as chair, Sen. Joe Hune (R-Whitmore Lake) as vice chair, Sen. Margaret O'Brien (R-Portage), Sen. Marleau, Sen. Jones, Sen. Jim Stamas (R-Midland), Sen. Dave Robertson (R-Grand Blanc), Sen. Hertel as minority vice chair and Sen. Hopgood

COMMUNITY HEALTH: Sen. Marleau as chair, Sen. Shirkey as vice chair, Sen. Goeff Hansen (R-Hart), and Sen. Hertel as minority vice chair

House:
APPROPRIATIONS: Rep. Al Pscholka (R-Stevensville) as chair; Rep. Jon Bumstead (R-Newaygo) as vice chair; Rep. Chris Afendoulis (R-Grand Rapids Township); Rep. John Bizon (R-Battle Creek); Rep. Edward Canfield (R-Sebewaing); Rep. Laura Cox (R-Livonia); Rep. Cindy Gamrat (R-Plainwell); Rep. Larry Inman (R-Williamsburg); Rep. Nancy Jenkins (R-Clayton); Rep. Tim Kelly (R-Saginaw Township); Rep. Mike McCready (R-Bloomfield Hills); Rep. Aaron Miller (R-Sturgis); Rep. Paul Muxlow (R-Brown City); Rep. Dave Pagel (R-Berrien Springs); Rep. Earl Poleski (R-Jackson); Rep. Phillip Potvin (R-Cadillac); Rep. Rob VerHeulen (R-Walker); Rep. Roger Victory (R-Georgetown Township); Rep. Pam Faris (D-Clio) as minority vice chair; Rep. Brian Banks (D-Detroit); Rep. Brandon Dillon (D-Grand Rapids); Rep. Fred Durhal III (D-Detroit); Rep. Jon Hoadley (D-Kalamazoo); Rep. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor); Rep. Kristy Pagan (D-Canton Township); Rep. Sarah Roberts (D-St. Clair Shores); Minority Floor Leader Sam Singh (D-East Lansing); Rep. Henry Yanez (D-Sterling Heights) and Rep. Adam Zemke (D-Ann Arbor)

EDUCATION: Rep. Amanda Price (R-Park Township) as chair; Rep. Daniela Garcia (R-Holland) as vice chair; Rep. Mike Callton (R-Nashville); Rep. Lee Chatfield (R-Levering); Rep. Todd Courser (R-Silverwood); Rep. Jim Tedder (R-Clarkston); Rep. Thomas Hooker (R-Byron Center); Rep. Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan); Rep. Pat Somerville (R-New Boston); Rep. Kelly; Rep. Ken Yonker (R-Gaines Township); Rep. Zemke as minority vice chair; Rep. Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids); Rep. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit); Rep. Christine Greig (D-Farmington Hills); Rep. Andy Schor (D-Lansing) and Rep. Harvey Santana (D-Detroit).

FAMILIES, CHILDREN AND SENIORS: Rep. Hooker as chair; Rep. Jim Runestad (R-White Lake) as vice chair; Rep. Kathy Crawford (R-Novi); Rep. Anthony Forlini (R-Harrison Township); Rep. Hank Vaupel (R-Handy Township); Rep. Marcia Hovey-Wright (D-Muskegon) as minority vice chair; Rep. Alberta Tinsley-Talabi (D-Detroit) and Rep. Frank Liberati (D-Allen Park).

HEALTH POLICY: Rep. Callton as chair; Rep. Vaupel as vice chair; Rep. Bizon; Rep. Chatfield; Rep. Crawford; Rep. Garcia; Rep. Joseph Graves (R-Linden); Rep. Hooker; Rep. Holly Hughes (R-Montague); Rep. Klint Kesto (R-Commerce Township); Rep. Tedder; Rep. VerHeulen; Rep. Yonker; Rep. George Darany (D-Dearborn); Rep. Brinks; Rep. Tom Cochran (D-Mason); Rep. Sheldon Neely (D-Flint); Rep. Erika Geiss (D-Taylor); Rep. Liberati; Rep. Phil Phelps (D-Flushing); and Rep. Robert Wittenberg (D-Oak Park).

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Governor Signs Cyberbullying Bill

Among the flurry of bills signed by Governor Rick Snyder this week was legislation passed late during lame duck requiring all of the state's schools to add cyberbullying to their anti-bullying policies.

SB 74 (PA 478) also requires the Department of Education to create procedures to report this information to the state.

"We've already taken great steps to confront the challenges posed by bullying in our schools," Mr. Snyder said in a statement. "It's important that we expand our focus to include the growing problem of cyberbullying to bullying policies."

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Michigan's 50th Anniversary of Newborn Screening

2015 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Michigan Newborn Screening Program (NBS). Throughout the year, MDCH will be highlighting program milestones and recognizing the state's NBS pioneers.

Since 1965, the screening panel has expanded from one to 54 disorders -- all of which require early treatment to prevent illness, disability or death. This expansion over the last 50 years would not have been possible without support from healthcare providers that are on the front lines collecting these important specimens. The dedication and hard work of laboratory, follow-up and medical management coordinating center staff has led to continuous improvement and amazing advancements in this important public health program.

For more information, visit michigan.gov/newbornscreening.

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Contributors to this Issue
Gongwer News Service
HealthDay
MDCH
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Quick Links . . .

March of Dimes Michigan 2015 Chapter Community Grants Program

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies
by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes
funds programs of research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies and in 2003
launched a campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. As part of this effort, the Michigan Chapter provides a Community Grants Program. The goal of the community awards program is to identify and fund community-based programs
addressing the health concerns of pregnant women and infants in the state of Michigan. Award Applications (up to $3,000) will be accepted through 4 p.m. January 26, 2015. Download the application here.

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Administration to Give Federal Workers Paid Leave for Birth of Child

On Thursday President Barack Obama signed a memorandum giving federal employees at least six weeks of paid sick leave after the birth of a child and seek legislation allowing for an additional six weeks of parental leave. He also is asking for congressional approval of the Healthy Families Act, which allows workers to earn up to seven paid sick days annually, and for $2.2 billion for states to create paid leave program.
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Study Calls for Wider Vaccination to Fight Meningococcal Infection

Most meningococcal infection cases in the U.S. are seen in infants younger than 12 months, and 60% of those were triggered by the serogroup B bacterial strain, according to a study in Pediatrics. Routine immunization among infants and vaccinating mothers and potential carriers may help reduce the odds of infection, researchers said. Read more

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Missed, Misdiagnosed Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Appears Common

A study reported in Pediatrics revealed 86.5% of youths with fetal alcohol syndrome disorders had not received a diagnosis or had been misdiagnosed. "These high rates of missed diagnoses and misdiagnosis have significant implications for intervention and therapeutic services," researchers wrote. Read more
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Save the Date: Partners in Pediatric Care Course May 8 and 29
A course focusing on improving clinical care and developing effective working relationships between pediatric specialists and clinicians involved in pediatric primary care will be offered May 8 at Schuler's in Marshall and May 29 at the Grand Traverse Resort.
Presented by C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, the course will include specialized sessions on:
* Autism
* Immunizations
* Pediatric Obesity
* Pediatric Cardiology
* Adolescent Health
* Sports Medicine
Who should attend: Physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and other healthcare professionals involved in primary and specialty care for children. More information available here.