MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING; GOVERNOR H.B. 4257:
SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
House Bill 4257 (as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Steven Johnson
CONTENT
The bill would enact a new law to require a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that was signed by the Governor and that applied after the Governor left office to remain in effect until it was rejected by a successive Governor or until it expired by its term, and require it to be filed with the Office of the Great Seal; require copies of it to be given to each house of the Legislature and the Senate and House of Representatives leaders; and require it to be posted online.
Specifically, under the bill, if an MOU were signed by a Governor and by its terms applied after that Governor left office, then that MOU would remain in effect during the term of the successive Governor and subsequent successive governors until rejected by a successive Governor or until it expired by its terms. "Memorandum of understanding" would mean an informal agreement between the State and another party that does not impose contractual duties or obligations on the State.
A copy of an MOU signed by the Governor under the proposed act would have to be filed in the Office of the Great Seal and made available to the public. Copies of each MOU also would have to be posted on the Department of State website. "Office of the Great Seal" would mean the Office of the Great Seal located with the executive office of the Michigan Department of State.
The Department would have to file a copy of each MOU under the proposed law with each house of the Legislature and the Senate Majority Leader, the Senate Minority Leader, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the House.
Legislative Analyst: Stephen Jackson
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.