Legislative Analysis
Phone: (517) 373-8080
RISK LEVELS FOR CONTRACTING CORONAVIRUS
http://www.house.mi.gov/hfa
House Bill 4318 as introduced Analysis available at
Sponsor: Rep. Bronna Kahle http://www.legislature.mi.gov
Committee: Health Policy
Complete to 2-23-21
SUMMARY:
House Bill 4318 would amend the Public Health Code to require the Michigan Department of
Health and Human Services (DHHS) to establish specified risk levels for counties and regions
in the state, based on coronavirus test positivity rates in each area.
Under the bill, DHHS would have to establish, or work with a third party to implement, a
website containing information on coronavirus in Michigan. The website would have to assign
a risk level of low, A, B, C, D, or E to each county and each region in the state, with a risk
level of low indicating that a person in that county or region is at the lowest risk of contracting
coronavirus and a risk level of E indicating the highest risk. The risk levels would be assigned
as follows:
Test positivity rate in the county or region Risk level
Less than 3% Low
3-7% A
7-10% B
10-15% C
15-20% D
Greater than 20% E
These test positivity rates would have to be calculated daily for each county and region by
dividing the number of positive test results for that area on that day by the total number of tests
performed for that area on that day.
Region would mean the Michigan Economic Recovery Council reporting regions
identified in the “MI Safe Start: A Plan to Re-Engage Michigan’s Economy,” a
publication dated May 7, 2020.1
Additionally, 2020 PA 231 required DHHS to provide, among other things, a statewide
visitation policy for nursing homes.2 The bill would require DHHS to use only the risk levels
described above when making any updates to the visitation policy in counties and regions in
Michigan.
MCL 333.5145
1
MI_SAFE_START_PLAN_689875_7.pdf (michigan.gov)
2
https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2019-2020/billanalysis/House/pdf/2019-HLA-1094-AB1D4141.pdf
House Fiscal Agency Page 1 of 2
FISCAL IMPACT:
House Bill 4318 would have cost implications for DHHS to establish a website of coronavirus
risk mapping by county and region, to be updated daily based on the most recent day's
coronavirus tests and percentage of positive tests. DHHS currently has an established
coronavirus information website that is supporting this data as MI Safe Start Map.3 It is not
currently known what the cost for this daily data tracking and public website is or the source
of funding. Some of these costs may be supported by ongoing or coronavirus epidemiology
and surveillance appropriations of DHHS and possibly by federal funds received by the state
for costs related to coronavirus response.
Legislative Analyst: Jenny McInerney
Fiscal Analyst: Susan Frey
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their
deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
3
https://www.mistartmap.info/
House Fiscal Agency HB 4318 as introduced Page 2 of 2


Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 333.5145