March 10, 2016, Introduced by Reps. Howrylak, Lauwers, Lucido, Kelly, Hooker, Tedder, Glenn, Goike, Aaron Miller, Iden, Yonker, Johnson, Runestad, Chatfield, Barrett, Somerville, Potvin, Victory and Muxlow and referred to the Committee on Commerce and Trade.
A bill to amend 1939 PA 280, entitled
"The social welfare act,"
by amending section 57i (MCL 400.57i), as amended by 2011 PA 131,
and by adding sections 14k and 57w.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 14k. A recipient of food assistance or cash assistance
benefits shall have his or her photographic image captured or
reproduced upon issuance of a bridge card. A photographic image
captured or reproduced under this section shall appear on the
recipient's bridge card. If more than 1 individual is authorized by
the department to use the bridge card, both individuals'
photographic image shall appear on the bridge card.
Sec. 57i. (1) If a landlord or provider of housing
participates in the department rent vendoring program, the landlord
or provider of housing shall certify that the dwelling unit being
provided meets all of the following requirements:
(a) The dwelling unit does not have a condition that would
facilitate the spread of a communicable disease. As used in this
subdivision, "communicable disease" means that term as defined in
section 5101 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.5101.
(b) The dwelling unit is fit for human habitation.
(c) The dwelling unit is not dangerous to life or health due
to lack of repair of, a defect in, or the construction of a
drainage source or device, plumbing, lighting, ventilation, or a
heating source or device.
(2) If the department is notified by an enforcing agency that
a landlord or provider of housing has a violation of a housing code
that constitutes a hazard to the health or safety of the occupants,
the department shall terminate that landlord's or provider's
participation in the rent vendoring program for the dwelling unit
until the violation is corrected.
(3) A landlord or provider of housing shall not evict an
occupant from a dwelling unit based solely on termination of the
landlord's or provider's participation in the rent vendoring
program due to action taken by the department under subsection (2)
or subsection (4). An occupant who is evicted in violation of this
subsection may bring an action in any court having jurisdiction to
recover treble damages, costs of the action, and reasonable
attorney fees.
(4) If the department is notified that a landlord or provider
of housing is delinquent on payment of property taxes or if the
title of the property reverts to the state for nonpayment of
property taxes, the department shall terminate that landlord's or
provider of housing's participation in the rent vendoring program
for that property.
(5) In addition to the rent vendoring program administered
under this section, the department shall establish and administer
vendoring programs that include payments to recipients' utility
providers and child care providers. The department shall administer
the vendoring programs established under this subsection in a
similar manner as the rent vendoring program administered under
this section.
(6) The department shall disburse all vendored payments first,
and any assistance balance remaining after the vendored payments
shall be disbursed to the recipient on the bridge card.
Sec. 57w. (1) A bridge card shall not be used to access cash
from an automated teller machine or point of sale device.
(2) Cash assistance or other assistance provided under this
act by means of a bridge card or otherwise shall only be used for
the following:
(a) Rent if the landlord is enrolled as a vendor in the
department's rent vendoring program.
(b) Direct payment to utility companies.
(c) Direct payment to a child care provider.
(d) Certain products as allowed by the department at state-
approved grocery stores.
(e) Other assistance available under this act, but only if the
provider of the service is enrolled as a vendor with the department
and payment is made directly to the provider of the service.