MEMBERS:
SEN. DAN LAUWERS, MAJORITY VICE CHAIR
SEN. ARIC NESBITT
SEN. JIM ANANICH, MINORITY VICE CHAIR
SEN. STEPHANIE CHANG
THE SENATE
COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT
OPERATIONS
SENATOR MIKE SHIRKEY
CHAIR
S-106 CAPITOL BUILDING
P.O. BOX 30036
LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909-7536
PHONE: (517) 373-5932
FAX: (517) 373-5944
** DRAFT **
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
September 14, 2021
A meeting of the Senate Committee on Government Operations was scheduled for Tuesday, September 14,
2021, at 1:00 p.m., in room 403 of the Capitol Building.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
The agenda summary is as follows:
1. Adopted the committee rules.
2. Testimony regarding SB 597 (Shirkey) and SB 598 (Sen. Bizon)
_______________________________________________________________________________________
At 1:00 p.m., the Chairman called the meeting to order He instructed the Clerk to call the roll. At that time,
the following members were present; Chairman Shirkey, Sen.(s) Lauwers, Nesbitt, Ananich and Chang a
quorum was present.
The Chairman entertained a motion by Sen. Ananich to adopt the Government Operations Committee rules.
The vote was as follows:
Yeas: Chairman Shirkey, Sen.(s) Lauwers, Nesbitt, Ananich and Chang
Nays: None
The committee rules were adopted.
Next, the Chairman summarized SB 597 & SB 598 for the committee.
The Chairman invited the following individuals to present testimony regarding SB 597 and SB 598:
Jim Haveman, former Health Department Director – Support
Davin Hemmila, Patient Advocate – Support
Dr. Steve Bergman, Patient Advocate – Support
Laura Marshall, Patinate Advocate
Alan Bolter, Community Mental Health Association of Michigan - Oppose
Dominic Pallone, Michigan Association of Health Plans – Support
The Chairman read the cards of those individuals that did not wish to testify regarding SB 597 and SB 598:
Paul, Tarr, Team Wellness – Support
Jan Gulliver-Kline, Academy of Certified Social Workers – Oppose
Charles Tommasulo, Family Service Agency of Mid-Michigan – Oppose
Merissa Kovach, ACLU of Michigan – Oppose
Akeem Pack, SEIU Michigan – Oppose
Sherri Boyd, The Arc of Michigan – Oppose
Deborah Ehle, National Association of Social Workers Michigan Chapter – Oppose
Robyn Gothelf, National Association of Social Workers Michigan – Oppose
Florence Igbawua, National Association of Social Workers Member – Oppose
Josh Thelen, Social Worker - Intensive Case Management – Oppose
James Ryan, Michigan Probate Judges Association – Oppose
Paula Bowman, League of Women Voters of Michigan – Oppose
Christina Schlitt, League of Women Voters of Michigan – Oppose
Thom Lattig, Michigan Association for Family Court Administrators – Oppose
Dana Lasenby, Oakland Community Health Network – Oppose
Maxine Thome, National Association of Social Workers – Oppose
Due to time constraints, the following individuals were unable to present testimony:
Dunya Borash, Families Against Narcotics – Support
Lt. Mario Basenelli, Sterling Heights Police Department – Support
There being no further business before the committee, the Chairman adjourned the committee at 2:50p.m.
Date Adopted by Committee: