By Elena Durnbaugh
Gongwer News Service
The bill to create an AI governing board moved forward as written on Tuesday, despite some discussion of amendments during a House Communications and Technology Committee meeting.
HB 5899 would create an artificial intelligence governing board and a pilot program for testing the use of AI, especially in government spaces. The three-member board would include someone with expertise in artificial intelligence and data science, someone with expertise in AI ethics, civil rights and privacy and someone representing the private sector.
Rep. Phil Skaggs, D-East Grand Rapids, offered an amendment to replace the private sector member of the committee with someone representing a public employee of a labor union.
“My amendment simply makes sure that there is a member of our government’s employees that’s in a labor union, so the people that are really making the government work and function, not just the administrators, but people that are on the ground, that they have a seat at the table at this pilot program,” he told the committee.
Rep. Jaime Greene, R-Richmond, who chairs the committee and sponsored the bill, asked Skaggs if he would consider changing his amendment to add a fourth board member representing union members.
“I still would like the private sector to have representation,” she said. “I understand your concerns is that you believe AI is going to impact labor unions’ jobs, so they would like input on the board, and the whole point of the AI pilot program is to study its efficacy on AI and how the government is using AI and how that’s the whole purpose of the bill is to see does it eliminate jobs.”
The committee went at ease for a few moments while Greene and Skaggs discussed options, but ultimately, Skaggs presented his amendment as written and it was voted down by the committee.
“Given our language was supported by the ACLU without the substitute and it was just dropped as we were gaveling in, we did not pass it,” Greene said in a statement to Gongwer News Service. “I gave him an opportunity to amend his amendment. We realized it would have changed the whole structure of the bill and couldn’t be done. We are open to conversations however we are happy the ACLU supports the bill.”
Skaggs said the changes would have been minimal.
“It’s extraordinarily important to include rank and file workers in this vitally important discussion about AI,” Skaggs said. “I look forward to working with Chair Greene to ensure workers have a voice.”
The bill was unanimously reported to the House Rules Committee with Skaggs’ support, though.
The committee also listened to a presentation from the Broadband Association of Michigan during Tuesday’s meeting.
Joelle Demand, president of the association, discussed the challenge the industry is facing with grant programs and improving broadband infrastructure.
“When I began here five years ago, members told me it took about $25,000 a mile to put in fiber. Last year, I was hearing upwards of $75,000-80,000 a mile,” she said. “Many of my members have also seen the prices of equipment, fiber and electronics go up.”
Demand highlighted action by the Legislature to alleviate some permits and surveys driving up the cost of improving infrastructure and a study included in the House Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity that would require the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office to conduct a report on impediments to broadband expansion.
She also asked that the Senate act on a bill, HB 4287, that would exempt grant funds from Corporate Income Tax.
“Many businesses, not just broadband companies, will argue that each dollar spent on taxes will not be invested in broadband, and giving broadband to all is a longtime public policy goal,” she said.
The House passed HB 4287 last May in a vote of 97-8, and it currently awaits action in the Senate Finance, Insurance and Consumer Protection Committee.
Gongwer News Service
The bill to create an AI governing board moved forward as written on Tuesday, despite some discussion of amendments during a House Communications and Technology Committee meeting.
HB 5899 would create an artificial intelligence governing board and a pilot program for testing the use of AI, especially in government spaces. The three-member board would include someone with expertise in artificial intelligence and data science, someone with expertise in AI ethics, civil rights and privacy and someone representing the private sector.
Rep. Phil Skaggs, D-East Grand Rapids, offered an amendment to replace the private sector member of the committee with someone representing a public employee of a labor union.
“My amendment simply makes sure that there is a member of our government’s employees that’s in a labor union, so the people that are really making the government work and function, not just the administrators, but people that are on the ground, that they have a seat at the table at this pilot program,” he told the committee.
Rep. Jaime Greene, R-Richmond, who chairs the committee and sponsored the bill, asked Skaggs if he would consider changing his amendment to add a fourth board member representing union members.
“I still would like the private sector to have representation,” she said. “I understand your concerns is that you believe AI is going to impact labor unions’ jobs, so they would like input on the board, and the whole point of the AI pilot program is to study its efficacy on AI and how the government is using AI and how that’s the whole purpose of the bill is to see does it eliminate jobs.”
The committee went at ease for a few moments while Greene and Skaggs discussed options, but ultimately, Skaggs presented his amendment as written and it was voted down by the committee.
“Given our language was supported by the ACLU without the substitute and it was just dropped as we were gaveling in, we did not pass it,” Greene said in a statement to Gongwer News Service. “I gave him an opportunity to amend his amendment. We realized it would have changed the whole structure of the bill and couldn’t be done. We are open to conversations however we are happy the ACLU supports the bill.”
Skaggs said the changes would have been minimal.
“It’s extraordinarily important to include rank and file workers in this vitally important discussion about AI,” Skaggs said. “I look forward to working with Chair Greene to ensure workers have a voice.”
The bill was unanimously reported to the House Rules Committee with Skaggs’ support, though.
The committee also listened to a presentation from the Broadband Association of Michigan during Tuesday’s meeting.
Joelle Demand, president of the association, discussed the challenge the industry is facing with grant programs and improving broadband infrastructure.
“When I began here five years ago, members told me it took about $25,000 a mile to put in fiber. Last year, I was hearing upwards of $75,000-80,000 a mile,” she said. “Many of my members have also seen the prices of equipment, fiber and electronics go up.”
Demand highlighted action by the Legislature to alleviate some permits and surveys driving up the cost of improving infrastructure and a study included in the House Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity that would require the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office to conduct a report on impediments to broadband expansion.
She also asked that the Senate act on a bill, HB 4287, that would exempt grant funds from Corporate Income Tax.
“Many businesses, not just broadband companies, will argue that each dollar spent on taxes will not be invested in broadband, and giving broadband to all is a longtime public policy goal,” she said.
The House passed HB 4287 last May in a vote of 97-8, and it currently awaits action in the Senate Finance, Insurance and Consumer Protection Committee.
