Black Leadership Advisory Council updates

Since 2020, when Gov. Gretchen Whitmer convened the council, BLAC has been diligent in advocating for policies and actions to eradicate and prevent discrimination and racial inequity in Michigan. With the end of the year fast approaching, it’s a great time to reflect on some key highlights from the Black Leadership Advisory Council’s efforts to address gaps and barriers that affect Black Michiganders.

In 2022, BLAC offered 11 policy recommendations to Gov. Whitmer based on subject expert presentations and other forms of research and analysis. The recommendations and their respective policy updates are as follows:

1. Support a Michigan payday loan interest rate cap. Since urging the Michigan Legislature to adopt and Gov. Whitmer to sign legislation that would cap interest rates for payday loans at 36% APR, BLAC celebrated Sen. Anthony’s introduction of Senate Bill 632 in alignment with BLAC’s recommendation.
2. Include Black businesses in Michigan’s $10B federal infrastructure projects. BLAC asked Gov. Whitmer administration to work closely with business organizations that serve Black business owners to help Black entrepreneurs get the resources, credit and training they need to be able to participate in a meaningful way in contracting opportunities presented by the federal infrastructure investments that are coming to Michigan. In February,  BLAC celebrated Gov. Whitmer’s executive directive to improve the State of Michigan’s contracting process by increasing business opportunities for Geographically Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (GDBEs) to contract with the state.
3. Protect Black voting rights. BLAC urge state officials to remain vigilant in the fight against schemes to disenfranchise Michiganders of color. Since then, Gov. Whitmer has included election security as a priority on her “What’s Next” agenda, and there has been significant progress on election and voting legislation this session. This includes expanding eligible identification to include student IDs and establishing permanent absentee voting by mail. Pending legislation includes creating a state Voting Rights Act, setting penalties for people intimidating election officials or interfering with the voting and recount process, implementing universal early voting and requiring the Michigan Department of Corrections to provide voting and elections information to returning citizens.
4. Increase mental health supports for the Black community. BLAC recommended Michigan set a goal of increasing the number of Black mental health service providers by 20% each year over five years, and the health committee recommends reviewing state licensure policies to address the barriers that Black psychologists face in obtaining licensure in Michigan. Gov. Whitmer’s FY24 budget includes $278 million to expand certified community behavioral health clinics, providing care and treatment regardless of ability to pay.
5. Ban no-knock warrants. BLAC urged the House Government Operations Committee to hold hearings on HB 5013 and other legislation that would ban or limit the use of no-knock or quick knock warrants, and urged the state legislature to pass meaningful reform and advise Gov. Whitmer to sign the bill after the legislature adopts it. While no bills have been formally introduced,  Michigan legislators continue to express interest in this issue.
6. Better collection and analysis of criminal justice data. BLAC recommended data collection and professional analysis be initiated with the assistance of our Attorney General, Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES), Association of Michigan Prosecutors and other stakeholders to collaborate, collect and analyze data strategically. The new state budget includes new funding for a statewide case management system and $4.5 million towards the Statewide Court Data Transparency Project. These investments will enable resource sharing and provide a common set of data communities can use with grassroots organizations to assess problems and share solutions across the state
7. Increase school funding. BLAC recommended statutory changes to increase the School Aid Fund revenue by at least $3.6 billion and establish a permanent weighted funding formula based on student and community needs and universal early education. Gov. Whitmer’s FY24 budget recommendation pushed for a weighted funding formula and the final budget raised the foundation allowance 5% to $9,508 per pupil and increased funding for districts with higher concentrations of poverty — up to 15.3% reimbursement per at-risk pupil.
8. Support the CROWN Act. In June, Gov. Whitmer signed the CROWN Act,  legislation that prohibits race-based hair discrimination, which is the denial of employment and other opportunities because of hair texture or protective hairstyles such as braids, locs, twists or Bantu knots.
9. Reject censorship in history instruction. BLAC requested Gov. Whitmer veto any bill that prohibits discussion of, or academic inquiry into, the complex history of America, including our nation’s history of race and gender discrimination, as well as any bill that attempts to ban efforts by schools to correct discriminatory practices. While other states have moved forward with aggressive legislation that would severely limit the teaching of race and gender studies courses, momentum for efforts to pass such legislation in Michigan have significantly waned. In June, the MI State Board of Education passed a Freedom to Read resolution to counter censorship and book banning efforts.
10. Ensure equitable distribution of state health funds. BLAC recommended ensuring all Michigan communities with a significant Black population receive adequate funds to address mental health issues. Recommendations from the Coronavirus Racial Disparities Task Force to advance health equity are being discussed and worked into policy, where applicable, for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
11. Support diversity on corporate boards and in c-suites. BLAC requested Michigan legislature hold hearings on HB 597, which encourages corporate boards to have more diverse representation and pass the legislation. Given recent court action striking down similar legislation in California regarding racial and gender diversity on corporate boards, this issue is now a lower priority for BLAC.

Read and share BLAC’s full report and recommendations designed to eradicate and prevent discrimination and racial inequity in Michigan.