SENATE BILL NO. 1204

October 21, 2020, Introduced by Senator HOLLIER and referred to the Committee on Families, Seniors, and Veterans.

A bill to create the space force task force in the department of military and veterans affairs and to prescribe its powers and duties; and to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state governmental officers and entities.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 1. As used in this act:

(a) "Adjutant general" means the adjutant general of this state.

(b) "Space force" means the space warfare branch of the United States Armed Forces.

(c) "Task force" means the space force task force created in section 3.

Sec. 3. (1) The space force task force is created in the department of military and veterans affairs.

(2) The task force consists of all of the following members:

(a) The adjutant general.

(b) The director of the department of labor and economic opportunity.

(c) A member of the public, appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate.

(d) Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the republican leader of the house of representatives.

(e) Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the democratic leader of the house of representatives.

(f) Two members of the senate, appointed by the republican leader of the senate.

(g) Two members of the senate, appointed by the democratic leader of the senate.

(3) The first members appointed to the task force must be appointed no later than 60 days after the effective date of this act.

(4) Members of the task force shall serve for 2 years.

(5) A vacancy on the task force must be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. A member of the task force appointed to fill a vacancy must be appointed for the balance of the unexpired term.

(6) The individual who appointed a member of the task force may remove that member of the task force for incompetence, dereliction of duty, malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance in office, or any other good cause.

(7) The adjutant general shall call the first meeting of the task force no later than 30 days after the first members of the task force are appointed. At the first meeting, the task force shall elect from among its members a chairperson and other officers it considers necessary or appropriate. After the first meeting, the task force shall meet at the call of the chairperson or if requested by 6 or more members of the task force.

(8) A majority of the members of the task force constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of the task force. A majority of the members present and serving are required for official action of the task force.

(9) The business that the task force may perform must be conducted at a public meeting of the task force held in compliance with the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275.

(10) A writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by the task force in the performance of an official function is subject to the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246.

(11) Members of the task force shall serve without compensation. However, members of the task force may be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties as members of the task force.

Sec. 5. The task force shall do all of the following:

(a) Work with the department of military and veterans affairs, the department of labor and economic opportunity, and the department of technology, management, and budget to ensure this state is as competitive as possible as a candidate for the site of the space force's headquarters.

(b) Work with the United States Department of Defense to ascertain and understand the space force's needs and expectations.

(c) Organize veterans' service groups and key stakeholders around the recruitment and development of industries necessary to make this state a competitive candidate for the site of the space force's headquarters.

(d) Not more than 1 year after the effective date of this act, prepare and present a report to the governor, and the house of representatives and senate standing committees that primarily address legislation relating to military and veterans affairs, that contains recommendations on necessary actions to make this state a competitive candidate for the site of the space force's headquarters.