COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIR TWO- YEAR TERMS

House Bill 5952

Sponsor: Rep. Rick Johnson

Committee: Local Government and Urban Policy

Complete to 9-27-00

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5952 AS INTRODUCED 9-26-00

House Bill 5952 would amend Public Act 156 of 1851, an act that defines the powers and duties of the county boards of commissioners, to specify that the chairperson of a county board could serve two years instead of one.

Currently a county board of commissioners at its first meeting in each year chooses one member as chairperson and one member as vice-chairperson. Under the law, that chairperson presides at a meeting of the board during that year, unless absent, in which case the vice-chairperson presides.

House Bill 5952 would require that the county board of commissioners choose one member as chairperson and one member as vice-chairperson. The bill further specifies that the chairperson would be elected each odd numbered year for a two-year term, unless the county board of commissioners provided by resolution that the chair was elected annually for a one-year term. Under the bill the vice-chairperson would continue to be elected annually for a one-year term. In addition, House Bill 5952 would require that the election of a chairperson or vice-chairperson take place at the first meeting of the county board of commissioners in a year in which a chairperson or vice-chairperson, respectively, is to be elected, and the terms of office for both leaders would begin upon their elections. Finally, the bill specifies that a resolution providing for a one-year term for the chairperson would not shorten the term of office of a sitting chairperson elected to a two-year term.

The bill would take effect January 1, 2001.

MCL 46.3

Analyst: J. Hunault