News & Events
MNA Legislative Update #11
07.15.2011
Although the legislature is currently on their summer break, it is very important that we continue to work hard in our collective effort to keep bad legislation from moving forward and passing into law.
Along those lines, we have developed an action letter for you to send to your state representative regarding the helmet law repeal. Before the legislature broke for the summer, the Senate passed SB 291, a bill to repeal Michigan’s existing helmet law by allowing motorcycle riders 21 and over to ride without wearing a helmet as long as they obtained $100,000 catastrophic insurance coverage. When the legislature returns, this legislation will move to the House of Representatives.
This is a key piece of legislation and if it completely passes the legislature, emergency rooms could potentially see increased traumatic head injuries and/or deaths as a result. The decision to repeal the law would reverse legislation that is actually beneficial to motorcycle riders and visitors of the state of Michigan. As nurses, it is important to support legislation that keeps residents safe and healthy. The helmet law repeal will do the opposite and we must do everything we can to prevent it from moving forward in the legislative process.
Please take a minute to read, edit and send this letter to your state representative and let them know that you do NOT support this legislation because of the negative impact it will have. Not only will the lives of motorcyclists be affected, but the strain on hospital emergency rooms and surgical units will most definitely increase.
Thank you!
Click here to send an email to your State Representative telling them to vote NO on the repeal of Michigan's helmet law.
Read Senate Bill 291 here
Read what's in the media about the repeal of Michigan's helmet law:
http://www.powernewsnetwork.com/michigan-threatening-to-repeal-motorcycle-helmet-law/1781/
http://ipr.interlochen.org/ipr-news-features/episode/13998
http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/06/repeal_of_michigans_motorcycle.html
http://www.themorningsun.com/articles/2011/06/12/opinion/srv0000012017245.txt
Staying informed is critical, as well as getting involved at the local level. Get yourself out there, call or write your legislators, let us help you set up in district meetings with them, and take some time to go to their monthly coffee hours. It is imperative that we all get involved and stay involved with this process.
