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
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
September 21, 2021
A meeting of the Senate Committee on Government Operations was scheduled for Tuesday, September 21,
2021, at 1:00 p.m., in room 403 of the Capitol Building.
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The agenda summary is as follows:
1. Testimony regarding SB 597 (Shirkey) and SB 598 (Sen. Bizon).
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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. Lauwers to adopt the committee meeting minutes from the
September 14, 2021 meeting. Without objection, the minutes were adopted.
Next, the Chairman and Sen. Bizon summarized SB 597 & SB 598 for the committee.
The Chairman invited the following individuals to present testimony regarding SB 597 and SB 598:
Dominic Pallone, Sean Kendell, & Christine Shearer, Michigan Assn of Health Plans – Support
Dr. Jayne Courts, Michigan State Medical Society – No Position
Megan Keit-Corrion, Michigan Association of Counties – Opposet
Sherri Boyd, The ARC Michigan, - Oppose
Kevin Fischer, NAMI Michigan – Oppose
Angela Martian, Michigan Developmental Disabilities – Oppose
Julie Rupp, Health West – Oppose
Lisa Williams, West Michigan CMH – Oppose
Kim Flowers & Anya Eliassen, Oakland County CMH – Oppose
Jennifer Durell, Citizen – Oppose
Mark Roman, Citizen – Oppose
Dian Holman, Citizen – Oppose
Joseph Brehler, Eaton County Commissioner – Oppose
The Chairman read the cards of those individuals that did not wish to testify regarding SB 597 and SB 598:
Nicole Felex, Meridian Health – Support
Sean Sorenson-Abbott, Michigan Health & Hospital Association – Support
Fred Cummins, Alliance for the Metally Ill of Oakland County – Oppose
Cheryl Patel, Alliance for the Metally Ill of Oakland County – Oppose
Paul Tarr, Team Wellness – Support
Melissa Holmquist, Upper Peninsula Health Plan – Support
Rory Lafferty, Health Alliance Plan (HAP) – Support
Allisyn Mattice-Eskav, McLaren Health Plan – Support
Brendon Hostetler, United Health Group – Support
Barb Valliere, Citizen – Oppose
John Shaski, Physician Health Plan – Support
Due to time constraints, the following individuals were unable to present testimony:
Dunya Borash, Families Against Narcotics – Support
Paul Palmer, CEI – Oppose
Gabe Basso & Paul Loffreda, Blue Cross Blue Shield – Support
Dr. Farhan Bhatti, Care Free Medical – Support
Rick Murdock, Citizen – Support
Daniel Cherrin, Michigan Behavioral Health Wellness Coalition – Oppose
Chris Pinter, Bay Area Behavioral Health – Oppose
There being no further business before the committee, the Chairman adjourned the committee at 3:10p.m.
Date Adopted by Committee: 9-28-21