HOUSE BILL No. 5898

 

February 25, 2010, Introduced by Reps. Rogers, Denby, Calley, Pavlov, Haines and Crawford and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

     A bill to amend 1978 PA 361, entitled

 

"Michigan exposition and fairgrounds authority act,"

 

by amending the title and sections 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14a,

 

15a, and 15b (MCL 285.161, 285.162, 285.165, 285.166, 285.167,

 

285.168, 285.171, 285.172, 285.174a, 285.175a, and 285.175b), the

 

title and sections 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14a, and 15a as

 

amended and section 15b as added by 2004 PA 468; and to repeal acts

 

and parts of acts.

 

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

TITLE

 

     An act to authorize the holding of a Michigan state fair; to

 

provide for the control and management of certain state exposition

 

centers and fairgrounds; to create a state exposition center and


 

fairgrounds authority and board within the department of management

 

and budget; to prescribe the authority's and board's powers and

 

duties of certain state agencies and officials; to provide for the

 

appointment of a state exposition center and fairgrounds manager

 

and to prescribe the manager's powers and duties; to designate the

 

method of financing state exposition centers and fairgrounds; to

 

create certain funds; to provide for appropriations; and to repeal

 

acts and parts of acts.

 

     Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the

 

"Michigan exposition and fairgrounds authority state fair act".

 

     Sec. 2. As used in this act:

 

     (a) "Authority" means the state exposition and fairgrounds

 

authority created in section 9.

 

     (b) "Authority board" means the board for the authority

 

appointed under section 9.

 

     (a) (c) "Department" means the department of management and

 

budget.

 

     (b) (d) "Director" means the director of the department.

 

     (c) (e) "Fund" means the state exposition and fairgrounds fund

 

created in section 14a.

 

     (d) "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation,

 

association, or other public or private entity.

 

     (f) "Manager" means the manager of the authority appointed

 

under section 4.

 

     (g) "Type I transfer" means that term as defined in section 3

 

of the executive organization act of 1965, 1965 PA 380, MCL 16.103.

 

     Sec. 5. The control of all land and other property held or


 

acquired by this state or its people for the purpose of holding and

 

conducting agricultural and industrial fairs and exhibitions is

 

vested in the authority department.

 

     Sec. 6. (1) The authority shall department may do all 1 or

 

more of the following:

 

     (a) Conduct an annual state fair and other exhibits or events

 

for the purpose of promoting all phases of the economy of this

 

state. This fair and the exhibits or events shall encourage and

 

demonstrate agricultural, industrial, commercial, educational,

 

entertainment, tourism, technological, cultural, and recreational

 

pursuits.

 

     (b) If the department does not conduct an annual state fair

 

under subdivision (a), authorize, on an annual basis, a person to

 

designate 1 fair to be held in the state as the "Michigan State

 

Fair" if it will accomplish the purposes described in subdivision

 

(a).

 

     (c) (b) Lease the state exposition and fairgrounds, a portion

 

of the state exposition and fairgrounds, or a building on the state

 

exposition and fairgrounds for purposes considered by the authority

 

department to be consistent with the staging of the a state fair

 

and other exhibits or events. The authority department may

 

determine and impose rental charges and other fees for the use or

 

lease of the buildings and grounds or a portion of the buildings

 

and grounds. The authority department may lease properties to

 

private and public organizations for a period not to exceed 30

 

years for consideration established by the authority department.

 

The authority department may grant leases for all or a portion of


 

the state exposition and fairgrounds to private and public

 

organizations, conditional upon construction and improvements

 

according to plans approved by the authority department to be

 

financed by the lessees, for terms not to exceed 30 years. The

 

authority department may grant an extension of the lease term for

 

not more than an additional 20 years. The use of the state

 

exposition and fairgrounds, a portion of the state exposition and

 

fairgrounds, or a building on the state exposition and fairgrounds

 

shall not interfere with the preparation for or holding of the a

 

state fair and other exhibits or events. Land, a building, or other

 

property that is leased under this subdivision to a for-profit

 

business shall be leased at fair market value. All leases and

 

contracts entered into under this act remain valid until the

 

expiration of the term of the lease or contract.

 

     (d) (c) Enter into contracts, subject to the requirements of

 

the management and budget act, 1984 PA 431, MCL 18.1101 to 18.1594,

 

to conduct the annual a state fair, exhibits, or other events, at

 

the state exposition and fairgrounds that enhance agricultural,

 

industrial, commercial, recreational, educational, entertainment,

 

tourism, technological, or cultural pursuits or government services

 

to citizens.

 

     (2) The authority department may enter into cooperative

 

agreements, contracts, or other agreements with 1 or more

 

governmental entities to use the personnel, services, or facilities

 

of the governmental entity to assist the authority department with

 

carrying out its duties under this act and as otherwise provided by

 

law.


 

     Sec. 7. (1) The authority department annually shall present a

 

report to the governor , and the legislature, and the department

 

describing the receipts or expenditures through appropriation,

 

gift, grant, or conveyance that have a material bearing on the

 

operation of the a state fair or the state exposition and

 

fairgrounds.

 

     (2) The authority department shall be subject to annual post

 

audits of its financial transactions and accounts and to

 

performance post audits by the auditor general.

 

     (3) The authority department may promulgate rules governing

 

the conduct of the an annual state fair and state exposition and

 

fairgrounds and the development and administration of the state

 

exposition and fairgrounds as a commercial, agricultural,

 

recreational, and multipurpose facility, pursuant to the

 

administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to

 

24.328. Any rules in effect on the effective date of the amendatory

 

act that added this sentence March 1, 2005 shall remain in effect

 

until rescinded by the authority.department.

 

     Sec. 8. The manager department shall do all of the following:

 

     (a) Be directly responsible to the authority.

 

     (b) Be the chief administrative officer for the management and

 

operation of the state exposition and fairgrounds, and may enter

 

into contracts and leases, subject to the requirements of the

 

management and budget act, 1984 PA 431, MCL 18.1101 to 18.1594, as

 

authorized by rule promulgated under this act.

 

     (c) Have as a primary work station the site of the state

 

exposition and fairgrounds.


 

     (a) (d) Serve as an appointing authority for any necessary

 

personnel associated with the management and operation of Manage

 

and operate the state exposition and fairgrounds.

 

     (b) (e) Be responsible for the financial operation of the

 

state exposition and fairgrounds.

 

     (c) (f) Develop ideas and programs that enhance the operation

 

and functioning of the state exposition and fairgrounds.

 

     (d) (g) Be responsible for the preparation of the Prepare an

 

annual budget for the state exposition and fairgrounds. for

 

presentation to the department.

 

     (h) Develop and present to the authority board for its

 

approval each of the following:

 

     (i) A financial plan submitted annually.

 

     (ii) A rolling 5-year operations plan submitted annually.

 

     (iii) A facility and utility renovation plan, updated as

 

determined by the manager or as requested by the authority board.

 

     (iv) A long-range master plan for authority facilities and the

 

state exposition and fairgrounds, updated as determined by the

 

manager or as requested by the authority board.

 

     Sec. 11. Except as otherwise provided in this act, the

 

authority board department shall do all things necessary or

 

convenient to implement the purposes, objectives, and provisions of

 

this act, and the purposes, objectives, and powers delegated to the

 

authority by other laws or executive orders, including, but not

 

limited to, all of the following:

 

     (a) Review and approve policies, including dates for the a

 

state fair and the budget.


 

     (b) Develop and submit to the department, the legislature, and

 

the governor on a yearly basis a rolling 5-year operational plan

 

and construction plan, including a master plan for the use of

 

buildings and the grounds.

 

     (c) Report to the director, the legislature, and the governor

 

on the operating budget, capital improvements, programs, exhibits,

 

and other matters relevant to the state exposition and fairgrounds.

 

     (d) Approve or authorize the manager to approve utilization of

 

the state exposition and fairgrounds, including its use as the site

 

for the annual a state fair, and on any other matter which the

 

authority may regard as considered appropriate.

 

     (e) Promote, encourage, and assist the manager in conducting

 

conduct exhibits or other events at the state exposition and

 

fairgrounds that enhance agricultural, industrial, commercial,

 

recreational, educational, or cultural pursuits or government

 

service to citizens.

 

     Sec. 12. (1) In staging the annual a state fair, the authority

 

department may enter into licensing agreements with concessionaires

 

permitting games of skill which that shall be conducted in

 

accordance with the following criteria:

 

     (a) Winning the game of skill does not require great skill on

 

the part of the participant.

 

     (b) The game does not constitute a fraud upon the

 

participants.

 

     (c) The game is not similar to games of chance in which

 

winning depends primarily upon fortuitous or accidental

 

circumstances beyond the control of the participant including games


 

such as roulette, beano, cards, dice, or wheels of fortune and the

 

game does not include a mechanical or physical device that directly

 

or indirectly impedes, impairs, or thwarts the skill of the player.

 

     (d) If the game is a group or contest participation game, each

 

participant shall be in attendance at the time the game is played

 

and shall actively participate throughout the entire game by

 

personally designating his or her target, goal, or desired

 

objective. A winner shall be determined by the skill of 1 or more

 

of the participants in the group or contest game, and each

 

participant shall be randomly selected. The distribution of prizes

 

shall be made in the presence of each participant at the time the

 

game is played.

 

     (e) The prize has nominal value and is not redeemable or

 

convertible into cash, directly or indirectly.

 

     (2) The department may promulgate rules pursuant to the

 

administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to

 

24.328, consistent with the criteria established in subsection (1)

 

to regulate the conduct of games of skill during the annual a state

 

fair and to protect the public from unauthorized or dishonest

 

practices in conducting those games.

 

     (3) The department may, after an administrative hearing held

 

pursuant to the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306,

 

MCL 24.201 to 24.328, revoke the licensing agreement of a

 

concessionaire if the department determines that the public is

 

being defrauded, or that this act or a rule promulgated pursuant to

 

this act is being violated.

 

     (4) The department may promulgate rules pursuant to the


 

administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to

 

24.328, to permit the operation of a bingo or a millionaire party

 

permitted and licensed under the Traxler-McCauley-Law-Bowman bingo

 

act, 1972 PA 382, MCL 432.101 to 432.120. The authority department

 

may lease facilities as a location within or at which an

 

organization qualified and licensed under that act may conduct

 

bingo or a millionaire party.

 

     Sec. 14a. (1) The state exposition and fairgrounds fund is

 

created within the state treasury. The fund shall be administered

 

by the authority .

 

     (2) The state treasurer shall direct the investment of the

 

fund. The state treasurer shall credit to the fund interest and

 

earnings from fund investments. The state treasurer may receive

 

money or other assets from any source for deposit into the fund.

 

Money generated from the operation of activities authorized by this

 

act shall be deposited into the fund. The department shall be the

 

administrator of the fund for auditing purposes.

 

     (3) Money in the fund at the close of the fiscal year shall

 

remain in the fund and shall not lapse to the general fund.

 

     (4) The authority shall submit an annual report to the

 

legislature and the department showing the amount of money received

 

under this act and how that money was spent.

 

     (4) (5) The money in the fund shall be expended pursuant to

 

appropriation of the legislature by the authority in the following

 

order of priority:

 

     (a) Providing for an annual a state fair conducted by the

 

department.


 

     (b) Maintaining the state exposition and fairgrounds.

 

     (c) Any other purpose authorized under this act.

 

     Sec. 15a. The authority department may demolish or permit the

 

demolition of any building or structure on the state exposition and

 

fairgrounds that is determined by the authority department to be

 

unsuitable for uses consistent with the holding of the state fair.

 

     Sec. 15b. (1) The authority department shall develop a

 

newsletter to be published not less often than twice per calendar

 

year for residents of the surrounding area of the state exposition

 

and fairgrounds. The authority department shall make the newsletter

 

available electronically on its website and, if requested, by mail.

 

     (2) The minutes of the meeting of the authority board shall be

 

posted on the authority's website.

 

     (2) (3) The authority department shall establish a local

 

neighborhood advisory council for the purpose of public input on

 

the authority's activities.use of the state exposition and

 

fairgrounds.

 

     Enacting section 1. Sections 4, 9, 10, and 15 of the Michigan

 

exposition and fairgrounds authority act, 1978 PA 361, MCL 285.164,

 

285.169, 285.170, and 285.175, are repealed.