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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2018.06.13 - 37178 June 13, 2018 Chairperson Long called the meeting of the General Government Committee to order at 6:05 p.m. in Committee Room A of the Commissioners’ Auditorium Wing, County Service Center in Pontiac, Michigan. COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Christine Long, Wade Fleming, Marcia Gershenson, Eileen Kowall, Adam Kochenderfer, Nancy Quarles COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT WITH NOTICE: Bob Hoffman OTHERS PRESENT : COMMUNITY & HOME IMPROVEMENT Karry Rieth, Manager CORPORATION COUNSEL Keith Lerminiaux, Corporation Counsel ELECTIONS Wendy McBride, Office Assistant II EXECUTIVE OFFICE Malcolm Brown, Deputy Executive I FACILITIES MANAGEMENT Art Holdsworth, Director HUMAN RESOURCES Jordie Kramer, Director MANAGEMENT & BUDGET Laurie Van Pelt, Director BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Chris Ward, Administrative Director Michael Andrews, Senior Analyst Jami Monte, Committee Coordinator AGENDA Fleming moved approval of the agenda, as presented. Supported by Gershenson. Motion carried on a voice vote. PUBLIC COMMENT None. AGENDA ITEMS 1. MR #18063 – BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – SUPPORT OF MICHIGAN HOUSE BILL 4706, EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ACT Gershenson moved to report to recommend approval of the attached suggested resolution. Supported by Fleming. OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 1200 NORTH TELEGRAPH ROAD, PONTIAC, MICHIGAN 48341-0470 Telephone: (248) 858-0100 FAX: (248) 858-1572 GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Bob Hoffman Eileen Kowall Adam Kochenderfer Nancy Quarles CHRISTINE LONG Chairperson WADE FLEMING Vice Chairperson MARCIA GERSHENSON Minority Vice Chairperson General Government Committee Page 2 June 13, 2018 Kochenderfer moved to amend the resolution as follows: MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #18063 BY: Commissioners Marcia Gershenson, District #13; William Dwyer, District #14; IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – SUPPORT OF MICHIGAN HOUSE BILL 4706, EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ACT FOR EXTREME PROTECTION ORDER LEGISLATION IN MICHIGAN To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen: WHEREAS recent senseless tragedies in Las Vegas, NV, Sutherland Springs, TX and Parkland, FL have deeply shaken our communities and the nation, these horrific acts have brought the issues of public safety and gun violence to the forefront of our attention; and WHEREAS developing practical, effective and legally sustainable polici es to separate firearms from people at risk of violence or suicide represents an important, but challenging public health opportunity for gun violence prevention; and WHEREAS an independent data collection and research group, Gun Violence Archive, has compiled incidents of gun violence and gun crime nationally and found that 346 instances of Mass Shootings had occurred in 2017 and 383 had been reported and confirmed in 2016; and WHEREAS Representative Robert Wittenberg recently introduced House Bill No. 470 6, to provide for the issuance of restraining orders prohibiting certain individuals from possessing or purchasing firearms and ordering the seizure of a restrained individual's firearms; and WHEREAS House Bill No. 4706, commonly known as the “extreme risk protection act”, is modeled after “red flag” legislation that has been adopted in five states - California, Oregon, Connecticut, Washington and Indiana; and WHEREAS this “red flag” legislation aims to authorizing extreme protection orders can address a critical public safety problem by empowering families and law enforcement with the ability to seek immediate relief from the judiciary to keep deadly weapons out of the hands of individuals who pose a clear and present risk of harm to themselves or others; and WHEREAS “red flag” legislation has the potential of breaking the partisan divide on the critical issue of addressing gun violence – attracting support from a diverse group of political leaders from Republicans, Sen. Marco Rubio and Fmr. Florida Governo r Jeb Bush to Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Salud Carbajal; and WHEREAS now, more than ever, Oakland County constituents are demanding leadership from elected leaders at all levels of government on the critical issue of preventing gun violence and ensuring the safety of our children .; and WHEREAS law enforcement officials have drawn attention to the need for provisions to ensure this tool is not used as a retaliatory tactic and adding capabilities for law enforcement to access online data to in tervene before individuals pose an extreme threat; and WHEREAS, as “red flag” laws are debated throughout the nation, another significant issue that has arisen is the lack of mental health care and resources associated with an extreme protection order decision; and WHEREAS while the concept of “red flag” legislation is rapidly gaining momentum throughout the nation, it is critical that legislators take adequate time to carefully craft this legislation to ensure that the rights of all parties are respected a nd that this new tool can be effectively utilized by families and law enforcement to enhance public safety. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby declares their support of House Bill 4706 and urges the legislatu re to adopt this important public safety legislation without further delay. the concept of extreme protection order or “red flag” legislation and encourages members of the Michigan Legislature to carefully consider as they move forward with their deliberat ions the following issues: the rights of all parties, including due process under the law; create provisions to ensure individuals in need of mental health treatment receive appropriate General Government Committee Page 3 June 13, 2018 care; strengthen provisions to allow law enforcement to intervene and assist troubled individuals prior to tragedies occurring; create penalties to ensure this tool is not used as a retaliatory tactic; and learning from the most effective statutes in the nation to create an effective tool for law enforcement and families. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds is requested to forward copies of this adopted resolution to the Governor of the State of Michigan, the Lt. Governor of the State of Michigan, the Oakland County members of the Michigan congressional delegation , and the members of the Michigan House Judiciary Committee and all members of the Michigan Legislature . Chairperson, I move the adoption of the foregoing resolution. Supported by Gershenson. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Hoffman absent. Main motion, as amended, carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Hoffman absent. COMMUNICATIONS A. DHHS Memo – 6/6/18 B. Letter from Rose Twp. Clerk Kochenderfer moved to receive and file Communication Item s A – B. Supported by Fleming. Motion carried on a voice vote. OTHER BUSINESS/ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Commi ttee, the meeting adjourned at 6:12 p.m. ______________________________________ _____________________________________ Jami Monte, Committee Coordinator Chris Ward, Administrative Director NOTE: The foregoing minutes are subject to Committee approval.