LEGISLATIVE REDISTRICTING - S.B. 814: ENROLLED SUMMARY
Senate Bill 814 (as enrolled) - PUBLIC ACT 223 of 1999
Sponsor: Senator Bill Schuette
Senate Committee: Reapportionment
House Committee: Family and Civil Law
Date Completed: 1-3-00
CONTENT
The bill amends Public Act 463 of 1996, which provides for legislative redistricting plans, to provide that districts must not violate the Federal Voting Rights Act; and specify that the Supreme Court has exclusive State jurisdiction to hear all cases or controversies involving a legislative redistricting plan.
Under the bill, Senate and House districts must not violate Section 2 of Title I of the Federal Voting Rights Act, which provides that no voting qualification or prerequisite to voting or standard, practice, or procedure may be imposed or applied by any state or political subdivision in a manner that results in a denial or abridgment of the right of any U.S. citizen to vote on account of race, color, or membership in a language minority group (42 USC 1973).
The bill specifies that the Supreme Court has exclusive and original State jurisdiction to hear all cases or controversies in Michigan's one court of justice involving a redistricting plan under Public Act 463. A case or controversy in Michigan's one court of justice involving a redistricting plan must not be heard or received by the State Court of Appeals or any State trial court.
If a case or controversy involved a legislative redistricting plan but an application or petition for review has not been filed under the Act, the Supreme Court may, but is not required to, follow all or a portion of the procedures described in the Act.
MCL 4.261 et al.
- Legislative Analyst: S. Lowe
FISCAL IMPACT
Statutorily providing that the Supreme Court has exclusive and original State jurisdiction to hear all controversies regarding redistricting plans under the Act will have an indeterminate impact on State government.
- Fiscal Analyst: B. BowermanS9900\s814es
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.