A package of bills to remove the cap on charter schools, to allow a charter school to operate at more than one site (prohibited under current law), expand schools of choice among traditional public schools and expand dual enrollment opportunities and online education programs for all children, including those who are homeschooled or attend non-public schools. The chief bill in the package is SB 618.

• Sponsor: Sen. Phil Pavlov (SB 168)
• Status: SB 618 signed by Governor, remaining bills passed Senate, currently in House Education Committee.
• MFF Position: Supports

Requires individuals who purchase health insurance through the new state health exchange programs authorized by the new federal healthcare law, to purchase a separate rider to cover the cost of abortion services.

• Sponsor: Rep. Jud Gilbert, Senator Mark Jansen
• Status: House committee on Health Policy, 612-614 passed Senate Health Policy Committee, currently before full senate.
• MFF Position: Supports

Increases the age of eligibility for foster care support from the age of 18 to 21 in specific circumstances. Specifically, if the child (a ward of the state) resides in a foster home or other approved setting and is enrolled full-time in a college program, apprenticeship or job training program, foster care benefits will continue to support that young person until the age of 21 or they are no longer enrolled in the program, whichever occurs first. (The bill has several minor companion bills SB 436-440.)

• Sponsor: Sen. Bruce Caswell
• Status: Signed by Governor, Public Act 225
• MFF Position: Supports

Creates incentives for engaged couples to participate in premarital education programs, removes obstacles to clergy providing marriage and family counseling, requires divorcing couples with children to participate in a divorce education program and encourages them to develop a post-divorce parenting plan.

Sponsors: SB 545 Sen. John Gleason, SB 546 & 549 Sen. Tupac Hunter, SB 547 Sen. John Moolenar, SB 548 Sen. Judy Emmons
Status: Senate Judiciary Committee
MFF Position: Supports

Prohibits a public university from punishing a counseling or psychology student who will not counsel a client to engage in activity that violates the student counselor’s religious beliefs.

• Sponsor: Sen. Tupac Hunter, Rep. Joe Haveman
• Status: Senate and House Education Committees
• MFF Position: Supports

Allows a second adult, not married to the parent of a child, to adopt the child. The second parent could be a relative, a family friend or a live-in partner and would presumably provide the child with additional benefits such as healthcare, greater household income and a legal parent in case of the biological parent’s death.

• Sponsor: Rep. Jeff Irwin
• Status: House Committee on Families, Children and Seniors
• MFF Position: Oppose

Requires abortion providers to provide abortion-minded clients with an opportunity to view the ultrasound on the most up-to-date imiaging equipment available at the facility. The legislation would effectively end the practice of showing a woman her fetus on a low resolution machine while conducting the abortion with the use of a high resolution machine.

• Sponsor: Sen. Arlen Meekhof
• Status: Senate Health Policy Committee
• MFF Position: Support

Requires school districts to adopt an anti-bullying policy in conjunction with parents, local law enforcement and community stakeholders. The legislation treats all students equally and does not enumerate groups of students based on characteristics or behaviors.

• Sponsor: Sen Rick Jones, Rep. Phil Potvin
• Status: Signed by Governor, Public Act 241
• MFF Position: Support

Legislation to reverse Civil Service Commission’s action providing healthcare benefits to partners of state employees. A two-thirds vote of each chamber is required to overturn the Civil Service Commission’s action.

• Sponsor: Rep. Dave Agema
• Status: Passed House and Senate,presented to Governor
• MFF Position: Support