SOCC DETERMINATION APPROVAL
House Bill 4089
Sponsor: Rep. Richard J. Brown
Committee: House Oversight and Operations
Complete to 2-19-01
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4089 AS INTRODUCED 1-31-01
Currently, under Article IV, Section 13 of the state constitution, the State Officers Compensation Commission (SOCC) determines the salaries and expense allowances of the members of the legislature, the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the justices of the state supreme court. Unless the legislature adopts, by a two-thirds majority of the members elected to and serving in each house, a concurrent resolution rejecting the salaries and expense allowances proposed by the SOCC, the salaries and expense allowances are implemented.
House Bill 4089 would amend Public Act 357 of 1968 (MCL 15.213 et al.), which implements the State Officers Compensation Commission provisions of the state constitution, to change the process for approval of the SOCC recommendations. The bill is tie-barred to House Joint Resolution B, and would take effect January 1, 2002.
The bill would require the adoption, by a majority vote (rather than, as now, a two-thirds vote) in each house, of separate concurrent resolutions accepting the SOCC recommendations for each of the three branches of government (executive, judicial, and legislative). The bill would also require the SOCC to make salary recommendations for the attorney general and the secretary of state, in addition to, as currently, the governor, lieutenant governor, supreme court justices, and the members of the legislature. Every four years, the House and Senate would alternate originating and voting first on the concurrent resolutions. Beginning in 2002 and every four years thereafter, the Senate would originate the concurrent resolutions and vote first on them; beginning in 2004 and every four years thereafter, the House of Representatives would originate the resolutions and vote first on them.
Under the bill, the commission would have to meet for not more than 15 session days beginning after January 1, 2002 and every two years thereafter (rather than, as currently, for not more than 15 days beginning after July 1 of every even numbered year). The SOCC determinations would have to be filed before February 15, 2002 and every two years thereafter, instead of, as now, between December 1 and December 31 of each even-numbered year. The house originating the concurrent resolutions would have to vote on them by March 15. If resolutions were adopted by the first house, the second house would have to vote on them by April 1. If the SOCC recommendations were adopted for a particular branch of government, they would take effect for the legislative session immediately following the next general election. If the recommendations of the commission were not adopted, the existing salary and expense allowances would remain in effect.
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.