INCOMPATIBLE OFFICES:  PUBLIC SAFETY                                               H.B. 4939 (S-1):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 4939 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Sponsor:  Representative David M. Knezek, Jr.

House Committee:  Local Government

Senate Committee:  Local Government and Elections

CONTENT

The bill would amend Public Act 566 of 1978, which prohibits a public officer or public employee from holding incompatible offices, to expand exceptions to that prohibition for certain positions in local units of government with a population of less than 25,000.  The bill would do the following:

-- Include serving as a police chief, fire chief, police officer, or public safety officer in an exception that allows public officers or employees to serve as firefighters.  

-- Increase the population ceiling to less than 100,000 for that exception, as well as an exception that allows public officers or employees to serve as emergency medical services personnel or perform additional services.

-- Delete a provision under which the exception for firefighters does not apply to service as a full-time firefighter or fire chief.

-- Delete a provision allowing a public officer or employee of a municipality with a population of less than 3,000 to serve as its fire chief.

(The Act defines "incompatible offices" as public offices held by a public official that, when he or she is performing the duties of any of the offices, results in the subordination of one public office to another, the supervision of one public office by another, or a breach of duty of public office.) 

MCL 15.183                                                            Legislative Analyst:  Patrick Affholter

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

Date Completed:  2-14-14                                                         Fiscal Analyst:  David Zin

This 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.