24
MiMfg Magazine
October 2018
MFG
@ Work
What’s Happening
in Michigan
Manufacturing
MMA Joins Governor
in Ceremonial Signing
of HICA Elimination
Legislation
After years of turmoil over
the rising cost of health care and
Medicaid financing, Governor
Rick Snyder in June 2018
signed into law MMA-driven
legislation that will eliminate
Michigan’s uncompetitive Health
Insurance Claims Act (HICA)
tax. MMA joined Governor
Snyder and legislative leaders
earlier this month for a ceremonial
bill signing of MMA-led
legislation eliminating the anti-
competitive Health Insurance
Claims Act (HICA) tax.
Public Acts 173-175 will repeal
the HICA tax and replace it with
a smaller Insurance Provider
Assessment (IPA) tax, reducing
the cost of purchasing health care
in the state of Michigan by a net
$272.5 million annually.
“This creative solution will
reduce employer health care costs,
ensuring Michigan manufacturers
can properly compete in a global
market,” said Delaney McKinley,
MMA senior director of government
affairs and membership. “The new
laws will also provide stability to
the state budget and eliminate the
perpetual threat of tax increases
under the unpredictable and
defective HICA tax.”
For more information on the
impact of PAs 173-175, check
out MMA’s recent analysis of the
legislation at mimfg.org . Contact
MMA’s Delaney McKinley, at
517-487-8530 or mckinley@
mimfg.org, with questions.
MMA’s Delaney McKinley (second from right) represented manufacturing during
Governor Snyder’s ceremonial bill signing of the long-awaited HICA tax elimination.
Apply for a Share of
$250,000 in Available
MIOSHA Safety Grants
Manufacturers with fewer than
250 employees are eligible for
matching grants of up to $5,000
for facility safety and health
improvements through the Michigan
Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (MIOSHA). The
goal of the MIOSHA Workplace
Improvement to Safety and Health
(MIWISH) grant program is to
create a safer and healthier work
environment and reduce the risk
of injury and illness to workers
in Michigan.
“We are encouraging employers
to step up workplace safety and
health,” said MIOSHA Director
Got Good News?
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news to MMA’s Brett Gerrish
at [email protected].
Bart Pickelman. “With a total of
$250,000 available from MIOSHA,
we’re pleased to partner with
employers who want to expand
their safety and health programs.”
According to a release from
MIOSHA, the MIWISH grants
will be offered to employers to
purchase safety and health-related
equipment and equipment-related
training and preference will be
given to employers in high hazard
industries identified in MIOSHA’s
2019-2023 Strategic Plan. The
grant period began 10/1/18 and
will continue until grant funding
is expended.
To qualify for the MIWISH
grant program, an employer must
meet the following conditions:
• Have 250 employees or less,
company-wide.
• Come under the jurisdiction
of MIOSHA.
• A qualified safety professional
or safety committee must
have conducted a site-specific
evaluation justifying the
equipment purchase.