HOUSE BILL NO. 4505

April 25, 2019, Introduced by Reps. Garza, Liberati, Sowerby, LaGrand, Brenda Carter, Coleman, Shannon, Tyrone Carter, Kennedy, Elder, Brixie, Howell, Cynthia Johnson, Sneller, Ellison, Guerra, Hope, Chirkun and Love and referred to the Committee on Elections and Ethics.

A bill to amend 1954 PA 116, entitled

"Michigan election law,"

(MCL 168.1 to 168.992) by adding section 634b.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 634b. (1) If a vacancy occurs in the office of state senator or representative and the governor directs that the vacancy be filled at a special election in that senatorial or representative district, this state shall reimburse each county, city, or township for the cost of conducting the special election. The reimbursement must not exceed the verified account of actual costs of the special election as provided in this section.

(2) Payment must be made upon presentation and approval of a verified account of actual costs to the department of treasury, local audit and finance division, after the department of treasury and the secretary of state agree as to what constitutes valid costs of conducting an election. Reimbursable costs do not include salaries of permanent local officials or the cost of reusable supplies and equipment.

(3) The legislature shall appropriate from the general fund of this state an amount necessary to implement this section.

(4) To qualify for reimbursement, a county, city, or township must submit its verified account of actual costs before the expiration of 90 days after the date of the special election. This state shall pay or disapprove all or a portion of the verified account before the expiration of 90 days after this state receives a verified account of actual costs under this subsection.

(5) If this state disapproves all or a portion of a verified account of actual costs under subsection (4), this state shall send a notice of disapproval along with the reasons for the disapproval to the county, city, or township. Upon request of a county, city, or township whose verified account or portion of a verified account was disapproved under this section, this state shall review the disapproved costs with the county, city, or township.