SENATE BILL NO. 661
July 3, 1997, Introduced by Senator YOUNG and referred to
the Committee on Government Operations.
A bill to establish a black affairs commission; and to pre-
scribe the commission's powers and duties.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
1 Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the
2 "black affairs commission act".
3 Sec. 2. As used in this act:
4 (a) "Chairperson" means the chairperson of the commission.
5 (b) "Commission" means the black affairs commission created
6 in section 3.
7 Sec. 3. (1) The black affairs commission is created in the
8 department of civil rights and consists of 19 members as
9 follows:
10 (a) One member appointed by the senate majority leader.
11 (b) One member appointed by the speaker of the house of
12 representatives.
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1 (c) Seventeen members, as provided in subsection (2),
2 appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the
3 senate.
4 (2) Of the members appointed by the governor:
5 (a) Two members each from each of the following shall be
6 appointed from a list of 6 candidates submitted by each of the
7 following:
8 (i) The Michigan association of black organizations.
9 (ii) The national association for the advancement of
colored
10 people (NAACP).
11 (iii) The national urban league.
12 (iv) Black ministers.
13 (b) One member each from each of the following shall be
14 appointed from a list of 3 candidates submitted by each of the
15 following:
16 (i) The black association of state employees (BASE).
17 (ii) Black Greek letter organizations including, but
not
18 limited to, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Alpha Phi Alpha, Delta Sigma
19 Theta, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma, Sigma
20 Gamma Rho, and Zeta Phi Beta.
21 (iii) The wolverine bar association.
22 (iv) The national medical association.
23 (v) The national association of black accountants.
24 (vi) The Michigan alliance of black educators.
25 (vii) The national association of black journalists.
26 (viii) Community action agencies.
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1 (ix) The Negro business and professional women clubs.
2 (3) Commission members appointed by the governor shall be
3 appointed for terms of 3 years, except that of the members first
4 appointed, 6 members shall serve for 1 year, 6 members shall
5 serve for 2 years, and 5 members shall serve for 3 years.
6 Commission members appointed by the senate majority leader or the
7 speaker of the house of representatives shall be appointed for
8 terms of 2 years. A vacancy created other than by the expiration
9 of a term shall be filled for the balance of the unexpired term
10 in the same manner as the original appointment. A member may be
11 reappointed for additional terms.
12 (4) The commission shall elect annually from its membership
13 a chairperson, vice-chairperson, and other officers that the com-
14 mission considers necessary. The chairperson is the chief execu-
15 tive officer of the commission. an executive director in accord-
16 ance with civil service procedures who shall serve as secretary
17 to the commission.
18 (5) A commission member shall receive reimbursement only for
19 actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of the
20 commission's business.
21 Sec. 4. (1) The commission shall comply with the open meet-
22 ings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275, in conducting busi-
23 ness and in providing public notice of the time, date, and place
24 of commission meetings.
25 (2) In accordance with the freedom of information act, 1976
26 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246, the commission shall make available
27 to the public a writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession
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1 of, or retained by the commission in the performance of an
2 official function.
3 Sec. 5. The commission shall do all of the following:
4 (a) Stimulate and encourage the study and review of the
5 status of black Americans in this state.
6 (b) Recommend methods of overcoming discrimination against
7 black Americans in the exercise of civil and political rights,
8 and in employment, both public and private.
9 (c) Study, devise, and promote effective methods to provide
10 black Americans with the means for skill development, job
11 retraining, and educational advancement.
12 (d) Commission or conduct surveys and studies as necessary
13 or appropriate.
14 (e) Secure appropriate recognition of the accomplishments
15 and contributions of black Americans to this state.
16 (f) Cooperate with and coordinate activities with the Indian
17 affairs commission created by 1972 PA 195, MCL 16.711 to 16.720,
18 the commission on Spanish-speaking affairs created by 1975
19 PA 164, MCL 18.301 to 18.308, and the Michigan women's commission
20 created by 1968 PA 1, MCL 10.71 to 10.77.
21 (g) Monitor, evaluate, investigate, advocate, and initiate
22 programs for the betterment of the black community in this
23 state.
24 (h) Monitor, evaluate, investigate, and advocate all public
25 and private programs that have a direct impact on the black com-
26 munities in the areas of legislation, employment, education,
27 housing, health, and the judiciary system.
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1 (i) Appoint advisory committees in fields that shall
2 include, but not be limited to, education, social service, labor
3 and employment, law enforcement, health, legal rights, family
4 relations, and volunteer services.
5 (j) Approve employees required to carry out assigned respon-
6 sibilities in accordance with civil service regulations and
7 within limitations provided by law, and prescribe their duties.
8 Sec. 6. The executive director of the commission shall
9 implement the policies and programs of the commission and be
10 responsible for staff assignments and the administration of the
11 commission office. The executive director shall also perform
12 additional duties as assigned by the chairperson.
13 Sec. 7. The commission may accept federal funds or private
14 gifts or donations. However, the acceptance and use of federal
15 funds does not commit state funds and does not place any obliga-
16 tion upon the legislature to continue the purpose for which the
17 funds are made available.
18 Sec. 8. All executive departments and agencies of this
19 state shall fully cooperate with the commission in the per-
20 formance of the commission's duties.
21 Sec. 9. The commission shall submit an annual report to the
22 governor, which shall include recommendations based on the
23 commission's studies.
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