2023 House Bill 4645 / Public Act 188

Probate: powers of attorney; reference to powers of attorney in natural resources and environmental protection act; revise to reflect adoption of uniform power of attorney act.

An act to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled “An act to protect the environment and natural resources of the state; to codify, revise, consolidate, and classify laws relating to the environment and natural resources of the state; to regulate the discharge of certain substances into the environment; to regulate the use of certain lands, waters, and other natural resources of the state; to protect the people’s right to hunt and fish; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state and local agencies and officials; to provide for certain charges, fees, assessments, and donations; to provide certain appropriations; to prescribe penalties and provide remedies; and to repeal acts and parts of acts,” by amending section 20101b (MCL 324.20101b), as amended by 2000 PA 368.

Senate Fiscal Agency Analysis

House Bill 4644 would enact the "Uniform Power of Attorney Act" (UPOAA) to do the following: -- Establish a durable power of attorney process in the State that generally provides for the authorities, powers, and duties of an agent and principal under a power of attorney and the execution and termination of a power of attorney. -- Specify the scope of the Act, applying to most powers of attorneys in the State. -- Entitle an agent to reimbursement of expenses incurred and compensation for services rendered on behalf of a principal unless prohibited in a power of attorney. -- Allow specified individuals associated with a principal, such as a principal's caregiver or heir, to petition a court to review an agent's conduct under a power of attorney. -- Prescribe restitution requirements if an agent violated a power of attorney. -- Provide a model form in statute that could be used to create a power of attorney that had the meaning and effect prescribed by the Act. -- Specify that the Act would apply to a power of attorney created before, on, or after the Act's effective date, except in certain circumstances. -- Repeal Sections 5501 to 5505 of Estates and Protected Individuals Code (EPIC), which generally govern durable powers of attorney in the State. House Bill 4645 would amend Section 20101b of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to replace references to Sections 5501 through 5505 of EPIC with references to the Uniform Power of Attorney Act. House Bill 4646 would amend the Public Health Code to replace references to Sections 5501 through 5505 of EPIC with references to the Uniform Power of Attorney Act.

Introduced in the House

May 23, 2023

Introduced by Rep. Jim Haadsma (D-44) and 15 co-sponsors

Co-sponsored by Reps. Kara Hope (D-74), Nancy DeBoer (R-86), Jason Morgan (D-23), Rachel Hood (D-81), Veronica Paiz (D-11), Erin Byrnes (D-15), Reggie Miller (D-31), Julie Rogers (D-41), Tullio Liberati (D-2), Emily Dievendorf (D-77), Tyrone Carter (D-1), Sharon MacDonell (D-56), Donavan McKinney (D-14), Kimberly Edwards (D-12) and Jenn Hill (D-109)

Referred to the Committee on Judiciary

June 21, 2023

Reported without amendment

June 27, 2023

Passed in the House 104 to 4 (details)

Motion to give immediate effect by Rep. Abraham Aiyash (D-9)

The motion prevailed by voice vote

Received in the Senate

June 28, 2023

Referred to the Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety

Oct. 12, 2023

Reported without amendment

Oct. 17, 2023

Referred to the Committee of the Whole

Oct. 19, 2023

Reported without amendment

Oct. 24, 2023

Passed in the Senate 38 to 0 (details)

Signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

Nov. 7, 2023