SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTIONS S.B. 129 & 130:
COMMITTEE SUMMARY
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Senate Bills 129 and 130 (as introduced 1-28-09)
Sponsor: Senator Cameron S. Brown
Committee: Education
Date Completed: 3-25-09
CONTENT
The bills would amend the Michigan Election Law to require the board of canvassers for each county containing a portion of a school district to canvass the portion of a school district election that was held in its county, and transmit the results to the county clerk in the county in which the greatest number of registered voters in the district reside. The county clerk would have to make a statement of returns and certify the results to the secretary of the school board.
The two bills are tie-barred to one another, and are described in detail below.
Senate Bill 129
The Election Law establishes a four-member board of canvassers in each county. A county board of canvassers has the powers and duties granted to and required of all boards of canvassers established by law, with several exceptions. If a city, village, school district, or other district lies in more than one county, and a duty is to be performed by the board of county canvassers, the board in the county in which the greatest number of registered voters of the city, village, or district resides must perform the duty.
Under the bill, if a school district lay in more than one county, the board of county canvassers for each county containing a portion of the district would have to canvass that portion of a school district election that was held in that county. Upon completion of the canvass, the clerk of the board of canvassers would have to transmit the results to the county clerk of the county in which the largest number of registered electors of that district resided. Upon receiving the canvassed results, the county clerk would have to make a statement of returns and certify the results of the school district election to the secretary of the school board.
Senate Bill 130
The Election Law requires the appropriate board of canvassers to canvass the votes for candidates for school board member and votes for and against a ballot question at a regular or special school election in each school district. Upon completing the canvass, the board must make a statement of returns and certify the election of school board members to the secretary of the school board, the county clerk, and the school district election coordinator, if other than the county clerk. The bill would make an exception to that requirement as otherwise provided in Senate Bill 129.
MCL 168.24a (S.B. 129) Legislative Analyst: Curtis Walker
168.307 (S.B. 130)
FISCAL IMPACT
The bills would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Fiscal Analyst: Joe Carrasco
David Zin
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. sb129&130/0910