MEMBERS:
SEN. JOHN BIZON, M.D., MAJORITY VICE CHAIR
SEN. RUTH A. JOHNSON
SEN. KIMBERLY A. LASATA
SEN. MICHAEL D. MACDONALD
SEN. LANA THEIS
SEN. WINNIE BRINKS, MINORITY VICE CHAIR
SEN. CURTIS HERTEL, JR.
SEN. SYLVIA SANTANA
SEN. PAUL WOJNO
THE SENATE
COMMITTEE ON HEALTH POLICY AND
HUMAN SERVICES
SENATOR CURTIS S. VANDERWALL
CHAIR
4500 BINSFELD OFFICE BUILDING
P.O. BOX 30036
LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909-7536
PHONE: (517) 373-1725
FAX: (517) 373-0741
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
March 25, 2021
A meeting of the Senate Committee on Health Policy and Human Services was scheduled for Thursday, March
25, 2021, at 1:00 p.m., in the Senate Hearing Room of the Boji Tower.
The agenda summary is as follows:
1. Reported SB 134 (S-1) (Sen. VanderWall) with recommendation.
2. Reported SB 155 (S-1) (Sen. Daley) with recommendation.
3. Reported SB 156 (S-3) (Sen. Daley) with recommendation.
4. Reported HB 4067 (S-1) (Rep. Frederick) with recommendation.
5. Testimony regarding SB 213 (Sen. LaSata).
6. Testimony regarding SB 191 (Sen. VanderWall).
7. Presentations regarding Funeral Home Restrictions during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The Chair called the meeting to order at 1:06 p.m. He instructed the Clerk to call the roll. At that time, the
following members were present: Chair VanderWall, Sen.(s) Bizon, Johnson, LaSata, MacDonald, Theis,
Brinks, Hertel, Santana, and Wojno, a quorum was present.
The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. Bizon to adopt the meeting minutes from March 18, 2021. Without
objection, the minutes were adopted.
Sen. Brinks offered an (S-1) version of SB 134.
The Chair invited Sen. Brinks to summarize the (S-1) version of SB 134.
The Chair read the cards of those individuals not wishing to testify before the committee regarding SB 134:
Dave Worthams, Michigan Manufacturers Association – Support
The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. Brinks to adopt the (S-1) version of SB 134. The vote was as follows:
Yeas: Chair VanderWall, Sen.(s) Bizon, Johnson, LaSata, MacDonald, Theis, Brinks, Hertel, Santana,
and Wojno
Nays: None
The motion prevailed and the (S-1) was adopted.
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The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. Bizon to report the (S-1) version of SB 134 to the floor with
recommendation that it pass. The vote was as follows:
Yeas: Chair VanderWall, Sen.(s) Bizon, Johnson, LaSata, MacDonald, Theis, Brinks, Hertel, Santana,
and Wojno
Nays: None
The motion prevailed and the bill was reported.
The Chair brought up the (S-1) version of SB 155 that was adopted during the March 18, 2021 meeting.
The Chair offered, and summarized, an (S-3) version of SB 156.
The Chair read the cards of those individuals not wishing to testify before the committee regarding SB 155:
Dave Worthams, Michigan Manufacturers Association – Support
The Chair read the cards of those individuals not wishing to testify before the committee regarding SB 156:
Dave Worthams, Michigan Manufacturers Association – Neutral
The Chair read the cards of those individuals not wishing to testify before the committee regarding SB 155 and
SB 156:
Gabe Basso, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan – Support
The Chair read the cards of those individuals not wishing to testify before the committee regarding SB 156 and
(S-3):
Joseph Sullivan, Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services – Support
The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. Bizon to report the (S-1) version of SB 155 to the floor with
recommendation that it pass. The vote was as follows:
Yeas: Chair VanderWall, Sen.(s) Bizon, Johnson, LaSata, MacDonald, Theis, Brinks, Hertel, Santana,
and Wojno
Nays: None
The motion prevailed and the bill was reported.
The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. MacDonald to adopt the (S-3) version of SB 156. The vote was as
follows:
Yeas: Chair VanderWall, Sen.(s) Bizon, Johnson, LaSata, MacDonald, Theis, Brinks, Hertel, Santana,
and Wojno
Nays: None
The motion prevailed and the (S-3) was adopted.
The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. Johnson to report the (S-3) version of SB 156 to the floor with
recommendation that it pass. The vote was as follows:
Yeas: Chair VanderWall, Sen.(s) Bizon, Johnson, LaSata, MacDonald, Theis, Brinks, Hertel, Santana,
and Wojno
Nays: None
The motion prevailed and the bill was reported.
The Chair brought up the (S-1) version of HB 4067 that was adopted during the March 18, 2021 meeting.
The Chair read the cards of those individuals not wishing to testify before the committee regarding HB 4067:
Kevin McKinney, Michigan Association of Orthodontists – Support
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The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. LaSata to report the (S-1) version of HB 4067 to the floor with
recommendation that it pass. The vote was as follows:
Yeas: Chair VanderWall, Sen.(s) Bizon, LaSata, MacDonald, Theis, Brinks, Hertel, Santana, and Wojno
Nays: None
Pass: Sen. Johnson
The motion prevailed and the bill was reported.
The Chair invited Sen. LaSata to summarize SB 213.
The Chair invited the following individuals to present testimony regarding SB 213:
John Swanstrom, Citizen – Support
Salli Pung, Michigan Long Term Care Ombudsman – Support
The Chair read the cards of those individuals not wishing to testify before the committee regarding SB 213:
Melissa Seifert, AARP – Support
The Chair summarized SB 191.
The Chair invited the following individuals to present testimony regarding SB 191:
Ken Gorney, Sparrow and McLaren Psych PA – Support
Margaret Keeler, Lansing Area Outpatient Psych PA and Mental Health Association of Michigan –
Support
Anne Kreft, American Nurses Association - Michigan Chapter – Support
Dr. Duane DiFranco, Michigan Psychiatric Society – Oppose
Mark Reinstein, Michigan Psychiatric Society – Oppose
Dr. Scott Monteith, Michigan Psychiatric Society – Oppose
Amanda Absher, Disability Rights Michigan – Oppose
Melissa Roy and Colleen Allen, Autism Alliance of Michigan – Oppose
Thadd Gormas, Michigan Academy of Physician Assistants – Support
Ron Stavale, Michigan Academy of Physicians Assistants – Support
The Chair read the cards of those individuals not wishing to testify before the committee regarding SB 191:
Algeria Wilson, National Association of Social Workers - Michigan – Support
Jim Blundo, Michigan Mental Health Counselors Association – Support
Judy Didion, Michigan Association of Colleges of Nursing – Support
Dawn Kettinger, Michigan Nurses Association – Support
Dave Worthams, Michigan Manufacturers Association – Support
Judge Harvey Hoffman, Michigan Association of Treatment Court Professionals – Support
Heather Nicholoff, Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners – Support
Greg George, Mackinac Center for Public Policy – Support
Sherri Boyd, The Arc of Michigan – Oppose
Michigan Health and Hospital Association – Support
Julia Stocker Schneider, American Nurses Association - Michigan Chapter – Support
Judith Kovach, Michigan Psychological Association – Support
Kevin McKinney, Michigan Osteopathic Association – Support
Cathy Lewis, APRN Alliance of Michigan – Support
Cathy Lewis, Michigan Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists – Support
Melissa Hendriks, Michigan Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Executive Committee –
Oppose
Christine Shearer, Michigan Association of Health Plans – Support
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The Chair invited Stephen Kemp, owner of the Kemp Funeral Home in Southfield, to give a presentation
regarding funeral home restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Chair invited Brigid Lynch, who is a LPC Bereavement Counselor associated with Lynch and Sons Funeral
Directors in Clawson, to give a presentation regarding funeral home restrictions during the COVID-19
pandemic.
The Chair invited Reverend Darryl Totty to present testimony regarding funeral home restrictions during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
The Chair invited Sarah Jensen-Vatter and Allen Jensen, owners of the Palmer Bush Jensen Funeral Homes in
Lansing and Holt, to give a presentation regarding funeral home restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Chair invited Phil Douma, Executive Director of the Michigan Funeral Home Directors Association, to give
a presentation regarding funeral home restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
There being no further business before the committee, the Chair moved to adjourn the committee. Without
objection, the committee was adjourned at 3:22 p.m.
Date Adopted by Committee: April 15, 2021
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