In The Chair: Geiss
The Senate agreed to the title of the bill.
Protest
Senator Runestad, under his constitutional right of protest (Art. 4, Sec. 18), protested against the passage of Senate Bill No. 133.
Senator Runestad’s statement is as follows:
I used to do financial services and insurance training for continuing education. I think the hours are important, and what this bill says is that four hours of active participation in an association counts toward the required 24 hours of continuing education, and that any activity undertaken by an insurance agent can count as one hour of continuing education—any activity. I wonder how many—like in the medical profession—they can join an association and work your way around your required courses with any activity.
To me, it seems preposterous. We’re saying that joining an association—and now you run around your required education, continuing education you’re required to take. What you need to be is a dues-paying member in good standing with the organization. The agent actively participates in the function. I mean, this is basically just saying, Join an association and then you don’t have to do at least four hours of your continuing education. The director of DIFS can just unilaterally determine that anything counts. Why have it at all? Why don’t we make all 24 hours—just join an association and pay the dues. I’m sure there’s somebody wanting to pay the dues for this, and I think that’s what’s behind this because all of the required courses are there for a reason. What this says is we’re—I believe a slippery slope—pay the dues, join an association—you don’t really have to do anything else—and you get the credit. I oppose this bill.
The following bill was read a third time:
Senate Bill No. 423, entitled
A bill to amend 1893 PA 206, entitled “The general property tax act,” by amending sections 78g and 78q (MCL 211.78g and 211.78q), section 78g as amended by 2020 PA 256 and section 78q as amended by 2020 PA 33.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
The bill was passed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows: