CLOSED SESSION; VET. SERVICES BOARD S.B. 10 (S-1):
SUMMARY OF SUBSTITUTE BILL
IN COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 10 (Substitute S-1)
Committee: Families, Seniors, and Veterans
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Open Meetings Act to allow a county veteran services board to meet in a closed session to interview a veteran or a veteran's spouse or dependent regarding that individual's application for benefits and to discuss that individual's application for benefits, if the applicant requested a closed hearing.
The Act allows a public body to meet in a closed session (i.e., a meeting or part of a meeting of a public body that is closed to the public) only for specified purposes, for example, to consider the dismissal, suspension, disciplining, or evaluation of a public officer, employee, or staff member, if requested by that individual. ("Public body" means any State or local legislative or governing body, including a board, commission, committee, subcommittee, authority, or council, that is empowered by State constitution, statute, charter, ordinance, resolution, or rule to exercise governmental or proprietary authority or perform a governmental or proprietary function.)
Under the bill, a county veteran services board could meet in a closed session to interview a veteran or his or her spouse or dependent regarding that individual's application for benefits and to discuss that individual's application for benefits, if the applicant requested a closed hearing. The bill specifies that this provision would not apply to a county veteran services board discussing or voting on whether to grant or deny an individual's application for benefits.
"County veteran services board" would mean a committee created by a county board of commissioners under Section 1 of Public Act 192 of 1953. Public Act 192 allows a county board of commissioners to create a county department of veterans' affairs and to appoint three to seven veterans to administer the department.
MCL 15.268 Legislative Analyst: Tyler VanHuyse
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
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.