FFICE OF SPANISH-SPEAKING AFFAIRS

Senate Bill 109 (as passed by the Senate)

Sponsor: Sen. Valde Garcia

House Committee:  Government Operations

Senate Committee:  Local, Urban, and State Affairs

First Analysis (3-29-04)

BRIEF SUMMARY: The bill would place, in statute, the Office of Spanish-Speaking Affairs and the Commission on Spanish-Speaking Affairs within the Department of Labor and Economic Growth.

FISCAL IMPACT: The bill would have no fiscal impact on the state or local units of government

THE APPARENT PROBLEM:

Executive Order 1974-6 established the 17-member Michigan Council for the Spanish-Speaking to address many of the problems confronting the state’s large Spanish-speaking population and to recommend appropriate legislation. That following year, Public 164 of 1975 abolished the council, and established an Office of Spanish-Speaking Affairs and a Commission on Spanish-Speaking Affairs within the Department of Management and Budget.  In 1991, Executive Order 1991-29 transferred the Commission and the Office to the Department of Civil Rights.  In 2000, Executive Reorganization Order 2000-3 (compiled at MCL 18.311) transferred the Commission and Office to the Department of Career Development.  Finally, Executive Order 2003-18 consolidated the Department of Career Development and the Department of Consumer and Industry Services into the Department of Labor and Economic Growth.  Despite numerous changes in location in the Office and the Commission over the years, Public Act 164 has never been updated and continues to place the Office and the Commission within the Department of Management and Budget.

THE CONTENT OF THE BILL:

The bill would amend Public Act 164 of 1975 to specify that the Commission on Spanish-Speaking Affairs and the Office of Spanish-Speaking Affairs would be established within the Department of Labor and Economic Growth, rather than the Department of Management and Budget.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ACTION:

The House Committee on Government Operations reported the bill out as it was passed by the Senate. 

ARGUMENTS:

For:

            The bill is necessary to bring some consistency between state statute and the actual location of the Office of Spanish-Speaking Affairs and the Commission on Spanish-Speaking Affairs within the state’s bureaucracy. 

POSITIONS:

There are no positions on the bill.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Mark Wolf

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Steve Stauff

■ 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.