Michigan Update on Covid-19 Policies and More...

The ARC Michigan is the largest organization in the state advocating for people with developmental disabilities. As the parent of two sons with profound intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), I often disagree with the policies the organization has promoted over the years that ignore the real-life consequences of severe disabilities on the individual and his or her family. Along with many other disability advocacy organizations, the Arc attempts to promote public acceptance of disabled individuals by painting a rosy and unrealistic picture of life with a disability and applies it to all who fall under that category. I do give them credit, however, for making available information that individuals and families need to participate in effecting change in government policies.

The ARC Michigan e-newsletter update has timely information on legislation, other state and national policies, and recent court decisions affecting people with IDD. The archives for the newsletter are available on the website. You can also sign up to receive the newsletter by e-mail.
 
This is from the May 29, 2020, Government Affairs Update from RWC Advocacy, A Governmental Affairs Law Firm in Lansing, Michigan:

Emergency Authorities & COVID-related Legislation

The Michigan House of Representatives has yet to take action on Senate Bill 690, which provides $523 million in supplemental appropriations for Fiscal Year 2020 from the federal coronavirus relief fund for various purposes, most notable of which is the inclusion of a $3/hour increase for direct care worker wages. [emphasis added] We can likely expect the supplemental to move the first week of June.

[This appears on page 11 of the bill: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Section 451. (1) From the funds appropriated in part 1 for pay enhancement for direct care workers, the department of health and human services shall provide sufficient funding to increase the wages paid to direct care workers described in subsection (2) by $3.00 per hour above the rates paid on March 1, 2020 retroactive to April 1, 2020 through September 30, 2020.
(2) The direct care wage increase shall be provided to direct care workers employed by the department of health and human services, its contractors, and its subcontractors who received a state-funded wage increase in April 2020. The total combined increase from the April 2020 wage increase and the wage increase outlined in this section shall be $3.00 per hour and shall be in effect from April 1, 2020 to September 30, 2020.
(3) A direct care wage increase of $3.00 per hour shall be provided to direct care workers employed by skilled nursing facilities, retroactive to April 1, 2020 and shall continue until September 30, 2020.
(4) Contractors and subcontractors receiving funding to support these pay enhancements shall be required to provide documentation of the wage increases provided pursuant to this section to the department of health and human services.
(5) Any payment enhancement above the hourly rate in effect on March 1, 2020 shall be of no effect in determining any employee's average compensation as provided by any contract or other provision of law...]
 
[The bill is 18 pages long and contains funding information on many other departments of state government. To find out more, read the bill.]
 
Stay Home, Stay Safe 

On Thursday, May 21, Governor Whitmer announced that she signed another iteration of the Stay Home, Stay Safe order – Executive Order 2020-96 – reaffirming the measures set forth in the previous order but taking the following new actions:

• Repeal of Executive Orders 2020-17 and 2020-34, which imposed a prohibition on elective dental, medical and veterinary services statewide, beginning on Friday, May 29 at 12:01 a.m.

• Allowing statewide reopening of auto showrooms, by appointment only, on Tuesday, May 26.

• Allowing statewide retail, by appointment only, starting on Tuesday, May 26. Stores will be limited to 10 customers at any one time.

• Allowing statewide gatherings of 10 people or less are allowed, but necessary health and safety measures should be used.
...

...Executive Authority Lawsuit
 
Judge Cynthia Stevens issued a ruling in the Michigan Court of Claims on Thursday, May 21 in Michigan House v. Whitmer upholding the Governor’s authority to declare a state of emergency under the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act of 1945. However, the judge also ruled that the Governor could not declare a state of emergency and disaster declaration under the Emergency Management Act of 1975 without legislative intervention.
 
[The Governor also has authority under the Emergency Powers of Governor Act of 1945 that does not require the intervention of the legislature.]

See more about Medicaid funding and the legislative attempt to direct funds from recent federal legislation to help the state get through the financial disaster that the corona virus has created.