SB 929 Summary

• Increases civil penalties for serious violations of the Michigan occupational safety and health act from $7,000 to $15,000 per violation, effective March 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.

• Establishes a minimum penalty of $5,000 for willful or repeated violations (previously no minimum), with maximum penalties increased to $70,000 per violation.

• Enhances criminal penalties for willful violations causing employee death: first conviction punishable by up to 1 year imprisonment or $10,000 fine; subsequent convictions punishable by up to 3 years imprisonment or $20,000 fine.

• Reorganizes penalty language to specify that non-serious violations may be assessed up to $7,000, clarifying which violations trigger penalty assessments.

• Updates department naming references to reflect the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity and Department of Health and Human Services.