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MiMfg Magazine
July 2019
Orlene Hawks
Keynote
Department of Licensing
Conversation and Regulatory Affairs
on your
Q: Congratulations
appointment to Director of
the Michigan Department of
Licensing and Regulatory
Affairs (LARA). What’s
your approach to licensing
and regulation?
Hawks: I’ve dedicated my career
to public service and, throughout
my 20 years in state government, I’ve
served under Republicans and Democrats in three
different administrations. I understand the
importance of finding common ground to find
solutions and I bring that same approach as LARA
director where I’m focused on partnering with a
variety of stakeholders to ensure that our oversight
is fair, efficient, consistent and transparent.
I want to work with job providers, consumers
and groups on all sides, including the MMA on
what I see as my main responsibility — to continue
to improve our vast and diverse regulatory systems
that serve all 10 million of our residents.
Can you tell us how LARA’s new online system
Q: for
corporate filings will help manufacturers?
Hawks: LARA’s Corporations Online Filing
System (COFS) makes doing business with the
State of Michigan easier and more convenient for
the more than 800,000 business customers. The
new online system facilitates business growth by
utilizing more online capabilities; consequently,
offering many real-time and same-day services.
With COFS, businesses can submit documents and
annual filings, pay filing fees, and order certificates
and certified copies online; set up a secure electronic
debit account; and sign up for subscription-based
electronic notification of reporting requirements.
Certificates of Good Standing are processed by
COFS and emailed to business owners. COFS
features an expanded search functionality (name,
trademark, service mark and insignia records);
capability to search rejected submissions and
search the Corporations Division’s Card Files.
Existing businesses were assigned new entity
identification numbers by the Corporations Division
for use when submitting documents. The new entity
ID will not affect a business customer’s taxes. The
identification number(s) used by the Michigan
1 1 Appointed director of the Michigan Department
of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs by Governor
Gretchen Whitmer in January 2019.
1 1 Served in the Michigan Senate, Governor’s Office,
Department of Technology, Management and Budget,
and the Department of Community Health.
1 1 Selected in 2018 to lead a team of state officials
to address institutional problems regarding Child
Protective Services investigations.
Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) remain unchanged. Manufacturers
can find more information on COFS on the
Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing
Bureau’s website at www.michigan.gov/cscl.
is LARA doing to help job providers
Q: What
comply with the Paid Medical Leave Act?
Hawks: On 3/29/19, the Paid Medical Leave Act
(PMLA) took effect. In order to ensure manufacturers
and other job providers comply with the act, LARA’s
Wage and Hour Division holds outreach events
with employer groups across the state and has
developed FAQs, complaint resources, a dedicated
e-mail for PMLA questions and the PMLA poster
that employers are required to display.
would you recommend manufacturers
Q: How
engage with MIOSHA to support safety initiatives?
Hawks: We encourage manufacturers to utilize the
wide variety of services provided by MIOSHA’s
Consultation Education & Training (CET)
Division. The division provides occupational safety
and health consultation, education, and training to
prevent injuries and illnesses by assisting with the
development and implementation of safety and
health management systems.
Services are provided throughout the state by
an in-house, non-enforcement staff of professional
occupational safety consultants and industrial
hygienists who cover health hazards. The MIOSHA
CET services are provided to Michigan employers
or employees at no additional cost. Information
can be found at www.michigan.gov/cet.
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Get More!
Access resources at mimfg.org or contact
MMA’s Delaney McKinley, at 517-487-8530 or
[email protected], for more information .