LOCAL LIBRARY BOARD MEMBERS & VACANCIES
Senate Bill 546 (Substitute S-1)
Sponsor: Sen. Dave Robertson (Enacted as Public Act 131 of 2014)
House Committee: Elections and Ethics
Senate Committee: Local Government & Elections
Complete to 4-29-14
A SUMMARY OF SENATE BILL 546 AS REPORTED FROM HOUSE COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 546 (S-1) would amend Public Act 164 of 1877, which governs city, village, and township libraries, to revise provisions regarding library governing boards. Specifically, the bill would do the following:
o Establish four-year terms for members of library boards established by cities or villages that hold elections for local officers every four year.
o Require a candidate for city, village, or township library governing board member to be a qualified elector of that city, village, or township.
o Require a nonpartisan library governing board election to be held in conjunction with the applicable local unit's next regularly scheduled primary or general election.
o Specify conditions that would constitute a vacancy on a library governing board.
o Specify that an individual appointed to fill a vacancy on a city or village library board would serve until the next regular election, and a person appointed to fill a vacancy on a township library board would serve until the next November general election.
Under the bill, a member who was serving on the bill's effective date (assuming the bill is enacted into law) and who ceased to be a qualified elector of the city, village, or township during that term could serve the remainder of the term but could not seek another term without being a qualified elector of that local unit.
Now the statute provides that a governing board member holds office until a successor is elected and qualified. Senate Bill 546 (S-1) would create an exception to this provision, specifying that a member office would become vacant when the incumbent died, resigned, was convicted of a felony, was removed from office by the governor under the State Constitution, or ceased to be a qualified elector of the city, village, or township in which he or she was appointed or elected.
MCL 3976.202 et al.
The House Elections and Ethics Committee reported out the Senate-passed version of the bill without amendments.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The bill would have no fiscal impact on state and local government.
POSITIONS:
The Secretary of State supports the bill. (4-29-14)
The Michigan Association of County Clerks supports the bill. (4-29-14)
The Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks supports the bill. (4-29-14)
The Michigan Election Reform Alliance supports the bill. (4-29-14)
Legislative Analyst: J. Hunault
Fiscal Analysts: Bethany Wicksall
Karen Shapiro
■ 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.