HOUSE BILL No. 5811

 

February 16, 2010, Introduced by Reps. Valentine, Meadows, Bauer, Jackson, Bennett, Angerer and Johnson and referred to the Committee on Ethics and Elections.

 

     A bill to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled

 

"Michigan vehicle code,"

 

by amending section 205 (MCL 257.205), as amended by 1980 PA 398.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 205. (1) The Subject to subsection (2), the secretary of

 

state shall maintain an office in the state capitol complex , and

 

in other places in the state as the secretary of state he or she

 

considers necessary to carry out the powers and duties vested in

 

the secretary of state. At least 1 office shall be established in

 

each county of the state and in each city of the state having a

 

population of 10,000 or more, but not within a radius of 5 miles

 


from a county office location. This subsection does not apply in a

 

county having a population of 300,000 or more, nor to contiguous

 

cities having a combined population of 10,000 or more.

 

     (2) Beginning the effective date of the amendatory act that

 

added this subsection, the secretary of state shall cease the

 

closure, opening, or consolidation of branch offices until such

 

time as the conditions described in subsections (3) and (4) are

 

fulfilled. Subsection (3) is considered fulfilled when a report

 

describing the decision process is filed with the secretary of

 

state and published on the secretary of state's website.

 

     (3) The secretary of state shall establish, by administrative

 

order, a written procedure regarding the closure, opening, or

 

consolidation of branch offices that includes, but is not limited

 

to, the following factors:

 

     (a) The method of calculating the amount of financial savings

 

to the department of the change. The amount of financial savings

 

shall identify and provide a specific breakdown of the current

 

operational costs, proposed operational costs, and moving costs.

 

The calculation shall also determine the length of time over which

 

the costs are considered recoverable.

 

     (b) Factors demonstrating convenience due to the change in

 

location or consolidation. The determination of convenience shall

 

address the increase or decrease in space, points of service,

 

staffing, hours of operation, and location insofar as proximity to

 

the largest population considered likely to physically visit the

 

office.

 

     (c) Close proximity to public transportation.

 


     (d) Factors demonstrating any increased efficiency in the

 

delivery of service.

 

     (4) Not later than 30 days before the department signs any

 

documentation executing the move or consolidation of the office,

 

the secretary of state shall send written notice to the following:

 

     (a) The chair of the county board of commissioners.

 

     (b) The county executive or administrator.

 

     (c) Any member of the senate or the house of representatives

 

representing the district in which the move or consolidation is

 

occurring.

 

     (d) The auditor general.

 

     (5) A person licensed as a dealer under section 248 , is not

 

eligible for appointment to conduct, manage, or be an employee of a

 

branch or fee office of the secretary of state.

 

     (6) (2) A bond may be required of a person in an office

 

established under subsection (1) in an amount that the secretary of

 

state prescribes to cover the safe handling of money received under

 

this act. The secretary of state shall not be held personally

 

liable for a loss of money because of armed robbery, larceny,

 

embezzlement, riot, act of God, or other act of a person resulting

 

in a loss of money which is within the authority and responsibility

 

of the secretary of state as the administrator of this act.

 

     (7) (3) A person appointed to conduct a branch office shall

 

receive the necessary expenses of the office and compensation to be

 

fixed by the secretary of state. , and necessary expenses of the

 

office. The compensation and expenses shall be paid out of the

 

Michigan transportation fund established in section 10 of 1951 PA

 


51, MCL 247.660, and shall be deducted from the fund before the

 

fund is certified to the state treasurer.