Child labor, charter school transparency, public transit among bills signed by Whitmer – Detroit Free Press

Child labor, charter school transparency, public transit among bills signed by Whitmer  Detroit Free Press

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Jan 18, 2025 - 11:00
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Child labor, charter school transparency, public transit among bills signed by Whitmer – Detroit Free Press

Charter school transparency

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed House Bills 5231, 5232, 5233, and 5234 to require charter schools to disclose their partner organizations in promotional materials, websites, and student application forms. She also approved House Bill 5269 which requires charter schools to publicly disclose the average salary information for teachers and support staff.

Name change proceedings

House Bills 5300 and 5303 change the process for someone changing their name or gender identity on legal documents. The legislation eliminates the requirement for an affidavit from a doctor certifying sex reassignment surgery to change the sex designation on a birth certificate.

Equality Michigan, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group, applauded the changes as a victory for transgender individuals.

Wayne County opt-out communities

House Bill 6088 signed by Whitmer would end the ability of Wayne County communities to opt out of the transit millage that funds the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) regional bus system in Southeast Michigan.

Child labor in Michigan

House Bill 5594 signed by Whitmer makes changes to Michigan’s child labor law to require the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity instead of schools to issue work permits for minors and modify the hours minors can work.

Education savings and disabled residents

Whitmer approved House Bill 5783 which expands the type of expenses the Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP) can cover. Another bill she signed, House Bill 5781, expands the eligibility for the Michigan Achieving a Better Life Experience (MiABLE) savings program to about 500,000 disabled residents in the state and their families.

State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks celebrated the new laws in a statement, highlighting the financial empowerment they provide to Michigan residents and taxpayers.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

  • SDG 4: Quality Education
  • SDG 5: Gender Equality
  • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
  • SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

  • SDG 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles.
  • SDG 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
  • SDG 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labor in all its forms.
  • SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
  • SDG 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

  • Indicator for SDG 4.7: Percentage of students who have acquired the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development.
  • Indicator for SDG 5.1: Percentage of women and girls who have experienced discrimination in various aspects of their lives.
  • Indicator for SDG 8.7: Number of children engaged in child labor.
  • Indicator for SDG 10.2: Percentage of population reporting experiences of discrimination or harassment based on various characteristics.
  • Indicator for SDG 16.3: Number of people who have equal access to justice and legal services.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs Targets Indicators
SDG 4: Quality Education 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles. Percentage of students who have acquired the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development.
SDG 5: Gender Equality 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere. Percentage of women and girls who have experienced discrimination in various aspects of their lives.
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labor in all its forms. Number of children engaged in child labor.
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status. Percentage of population reporting experiences of discrimination or harassment based on various characteristics.
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. Number of people who have equal access to justice and legal services.

Source: freep.com