Gov. Snyder signs gun bills!
Today, Gov. Rick Snyder signed HB 4159 and SB 516, the two gun bills MCO members have wanted for years!
The bills will allow certain MDOC corrections officers and retired officers to carry firearms in gun-free zones. MCO has been pushing hard for these bills this legislative session. See past updates on the bills. If you are one of the many members who called or emailed legislators in support of this bill, we thank you. Without your comments, this wouldn’t have been possible. MCO Deputy of Governmental and Community Affairs Director Jeremy Tripp also deserves thanks for the countless hours he has put in meeting with legislators to get this done.
Below is the text of a press release from Gov. Snyder’s office:
Gov. Snyder signs legislation granting reciprocity to out-of-state firefightersAlso signs six additional bills, including civil immunity for emergency service providers Monday, Nov. 30, 2015 LANSING, Mich. – Firefighters who have trained and been certified in other states will be eligible for employment in Michigan, under legislation signed today by Gov. Rick Snyder. “We want to welcome residents from other states and make it as easy as possible for them to find jobs here,” Snyder said. “This new law also will help municipalities save money, as they do not have to pay to retrain new hires.” Senate Bill 372, sponsored by state Sen. Dale Zorn, directs the state fire marshal to waive examination requirements for firefighters who have completed a program that meets or exceeds the standards for Firefighter I and II found in the National Fire Protection Association Standards used by all 50 states. The measure was approved unanimously in both chambers and is now Public Act 203 of 2015. Gov. Snyder also signed six additional measures today: SB 369, sponsored by state Sen. Wayne Schmidt, and SB 370, sponsored by state Sen. Jack Brandenburg, clarify that sales and use tax do not apply to industrial processing equipment used to produce alcoholic beverages sold at retail through the manufacturer’s location. The bills are now PAs 204 and 205. House Bill 4159, sponsored by state Rep. Joel Johnson, and SB 516, sponsored by state Sen. Rick Jones, allow retired county corrections officers and certain Department of Corrections officers and retired officers who hold a concealed pistol license to carry concealed in no-carry zones, if they received firearms training during their employment. Currently, probation and parole officers and corrections officers of a county sheriff’s department are allowed to carry in a no-carry zone; the bill extends this authority to a retired probation or parole officer, a retired corrections officer of a county sheriff’s department, or an active or retired MDOC corrections officer. The bills were approved with bipartisan support in both chambers and are now PAs 206 and 207. SB 274, also sponsored by Jones, increases the maximum length for saddle-mount vehicle combinations used in commercial trucking from 75 feet to 97 feet, making the standard the same as federal regulations and increasing economic opportunity via businesses that move vehicles throughout Michigan. The bill is now PA 208. SB 427, sponsored by state Sen. Goeff Hansen, grants protection from civil liability for emergency service providers who provide uncompensated care to individuals during emergency situations. It is now PA 209. For more information on this and other legislation, please visit www.legislature.mi.gov. |