SB-0248, As Passed Senate, April 19, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE BILL No. 248

 

 

March 16, 2017, Introduced by Senators WARREN, COLBECK, ROCCA, BIEDA, ANANICH, KOWALL, CONYERS, O'BRIEN and SCHMIDT and referred to the Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs and Homeland Security.

 

 

     A bill to create a commission to commemorate the centennial of

 

World War I; to prescribe the powers and duties of the commission;

 

and to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state agencies

 

and officials.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "World

 

War I centennial commission act".

 

     Sec. 2. As used in this act:

 

     (a) "Commission" means the World War I centennial commission

 

created in section 3.

 

     (b) "Department" means the department of military and veterans

 

affairs.

 

     (c) "Veteran" means that term as defined in section 1 of 1965

 

PA 190, MCL 35.61.

 


     Sec. 3. (1) The World War I centennial commission is created

 

within the department.

 

     (2) The commission shall consist of the director of the

 

department and 13 members, appointed by the governor with the

 

advice and consent of the senate.

 

     (3) The members first appointed to the commission must be

 

appointed within 90 days after the effective date of this act.

 

     (4) If a vacancy occurs on the commission, the governor shall

 

make an appointment in the same manner as the original appointment.

 

     (5) The governor may remove a member of the commission for

 

incompetence, dereliction of duty, malfeasance, misfeasance, or

 

nonfeasance in office, or any other good cause.

 

     (6) The first meeting of the commission must be called by the

 

director of the department. At the first meeting, the commission

 

shall elect from among its members a chairperson and other officers

 

as it considers necessary or appropriate. After the first meeting,

 

the commission shall meet at least quarterly, or more frequently at

 

the call of the chairperson or if requested by 7 or more members.

 

     (7) A majority of the members of the commission constitute a

 

quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of the

 

commission. A majority of the members present and serving are

 

required for official action of the commission.

 

     (8) The business that the commission may perform must be

 

conducted at a public meeting of the commission held in compliance

 

with the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275.

 

     (9) A writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or

 

retained by the commission in the performance of an official


function is subject to the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442,

 

MCL 15.231 to 15.246.

 

     (10) Members of the commission shall serve without

 

compensation. However, members of the commission may be reimbursed

 

for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance

 

of their official duties as members of the commission.

 

     Sec. 4. The commission shall do all of the following:

 

     (a) Plan, develop, and execute programs, projects, and

 

activities to commemorate the centennial of World War I.

 

     (b) Encourage private organizations and state and local

 

governments to organize and participate in activities organized by

 

the commission.

 

     (c) Facilitate and coordinate World War I centennial

 

activities throughout this state.

 

     (d) Serve as a clearinghouse for the collection and

 

dissemination of information about World War I centennial events

 

and plans.

 

     (e) Develop recommendations on ways to commemorate the World

 

War I centennial in this state and provide a report on these

 

recommendations to the director, the governor, and the legislature.

 

     Sec. 5. The department shall assist the commission in carrying

 

out its duties under this act.

 

     Enacting section 1. This act takes effect 90 days after the

 

date it is enacted into law.