COMPENSATION FOR MEMBERS

OF LIBRARY GOVERNING BOARDS

House Bill 5617 (Substitute H-2)

Sponsor:  Rep. Ken Yonker

Committee:  Local Government

Complete to 11-12-14

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5617(H-2) AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 5617(H-2) would amend Public Act 164 of 1877—a law authorizing cities, villages and townships to establish free public libraries—to allow library board members to be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official duties, and also to be compensated up to $30 per meeting, as determined by the governing boards of libraries. 

Currently the law prohibits a library board member from receiving compensation.  House Bill 5617 (H-2) would eliminate that prohibition.  Instead, the bill allows (but does not require) that the governing board of a library to reimburse a board member for necessary expenses.  Further, board members may be compensated for attending official board meetings or committees of the board, and the amount of compensation must be included in the annual budget.  Under the bill, compensation cannot exceed $30 per board member per meeting.  Further, the governing board cannot compensate a board member for attending more than 52 meetings each year.

MCL 397.204

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

House Bill 5617 would have no fiscal impact on the state, but could increase costs for local units of government to the extent that a city, village, or township’s library board approves compensation for its board members.  There are no available data to indicate how many library boards would adopt board member compensation or the potential levels of compensation.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Bethany Wicksall

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.