Senate Judiciary Committee Reports Blight Package (Misc News: March 12, 2013)
Last week, the state Senate Judiciary Committee voted on and reported Senate Bills 35-39, legislation that would increase fines and add criminal penalties for blight violations issued by municipalities, allow municipalities to block zoning variances and building permits for violators through ordinances and provide the authority to foreclose on liens for outstanding blight violations.
The package’s primary sponsor, Sen. Virgil Smith, D-Detroit, agreed to amend the legislation to exempt credit unions and CUSOs, along with other financial institutions, from the new penalties, recognizing that financial institutions are not the root cause of blight and need to be included as partners in community redevelopment.
The legislation, which is also supported by the Snyder administration, now travels to the Senate floor for further consideration in the coming weeks.
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