HOUSE BILL No. 6438

 

 

October 4, 2018, Introduced by Rep. Yaroch and referred to the Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs.

 

     A bill to amend 1967 PA 150, entitled

 

"Michigan military act,"

 

by amending section 251 (MCL 32.651), as amended by 2008 PA 305.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 251. (1) The governor, as commander-in-chief, may

 

activate within the military establishment such number of units, to

 

be known as the Michigan volunteer defense force, as the governor

 

considers necessary for adequate emergency assistance to the state.

 

When activated by proper authority, the Michigan volunteer defense

 

force shall perform missions as determined by the department of

 

military and veterans affairs in cooperation with the department of

 

state police and the state emergency preparedness plan. During

 

times other than a national emergency, organization of the Michigan

 

volunteer defense force shall not exceed 15% of the Michigan

 


national guard National Guard authorized strength.

 

     (2) A list of former officers, warrant officers, and enlisted

 

personnel of the Michigan national guard National Guard shall be

 

maintained with their consent in the office of the adjutant general

 

to aid in forming the Michigan volunteer defense force.

 

     (3) The adjutant general may accept funding for the Michigan

 

volunteer defense force from sources other than the state or

 

federal government but shall expend those funds only pursuant to in

 

accordance with an appropriations act. The adjutant general shall

 

deposit the funds in a special account within the department of

 

military and veterans affairs.

 

     (4) As used in this act, a reference to the Michigan defense

 

force means the Michigan volunteer defense force.

 

     (4) (5) The department of military and veterans affairs shall

 

establish affirmative action guidelines for membership goals in the

 

Michigan volunteer defense force . The department shall and take

 

all steps necessary to carry out and implement those guidelines.

 

     (5) (6) Members of the Michigan volunteer defense force shall

 

not be equipped with any type of weapon except under the following

 

conditions:

 

     (a) The president has called or ordered all or part of the

 

national guard National Guard into federal service in time of a

 

national emergency and the mission of the Michigan volunteer

 

defense force to whom weapons are issued consists primarily of the

 

protection of public property.

 

     (b) During training to be conducted by the national guard or

 

state police in the proper use of such those weapons.


     (6) (7) Not later than 1 year after the effective date of the

 

amendatory act that added this subsection December 18, 2008 and

 

each year thereafter, after that, the department of military and

 

veterans affairs shall report to the standing committees of the

 

senate and house of representatives that are responsible for

 

legislation concerning military affairs, and the senate and house

 

appropriations committees as to regarding the proposed and actual

 

status of development of the Michigan volunteer defense force. The

 

reports shall must include all of the following:

 

     (a) Regulations or proposed regulations to define and limit

 

the type and duration of missions that may be undertaken by the

 

Michigan volunteer defense force may undertake.

 

     (b) Proposals for meeting the training and equipment needs of

 

the Michigan volunteer defense force in fulfilling the missions

 

that it may be undertaken, undertake, and a 3-year projection of

 

the costs of that training and equipment.

 

     (c) A description of the requirements or proposed

 

requirements, including physical ability, for membership in the

 

Michigan volunteer defense force.

 

     (d) Procedures that are used in use or are proposed to be used

 

to screen membership in the Michigan volunteer defense force as to

 

regarding character and fitness, including standards that will to

 

ensure that no person an individual with a serious criminal record

 

is not a member.

 

     (e) The A plan detailing the methods and procedures used for

 

the coordination of coordinating the operations of the Michigan

 

volunteer defense force with the state police, local law


enforcement agencies, and state and federal disaster relief

 

authorities.

 

     Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days

 

after the date it is enacted into law.