ZOOLOGICAL AUTHORITIES ACT
Act 49 of 2008
AN ACT to provide for the establishment of zoological authorities; to provide powers and duties of a zoological authority; to authorize the levy of a property tax by a zoological authority; and to provide for the powers and duties of certain government officials.

History: 2008, Act 49, Imd. Eff. Mar. 27, 2008

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

123.1161 Short title.

Sec. 1.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the "zoological authorities act".

History: 2008, Act 49, Imd. Eff. Mar. 27, 2008

123.1163 Definitions.

Sec. 3.

As used in this act:

(a) "Accredited zoological institution" means an institution located in this state that is accredited by the association of zoos and aquariums.

(b) "Articles" means the articles of incorporation of an authority.

(d) "Board" means the board of directors of the authority.

(e) "Electors of the authority" means the qualified and registered electors of the county.

(f) "Zoological services" means the operation of an accredited zoological institution that is open to the general public.

History: 2008, Act 49, Imd. Eff. Mar. 27, 2008

123.1165 Formation; authority as public corporate body; powers; limitation.

Sec. 5.

(1) Any county may form a zoological authority.

(2) A zoological authority is an authority under section 6 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963. A zoological authority is a public corporate body with the power to sue and be sued in any court of this state.

(3) A zoological authority possesses all the powers necessary for carrying out the purposes of its formation. The enumeration of specific powers in this act shall not be construed as a limitation on the general powers of an authority, consistent with its articles.

(4) An authority shall not obtain an interest in real property or participate in the governance of an accredited zoological institution.

History: 2008, Act 49, Imd. Eff. Mar. 27, 2008

123.1167 Articles of incorporation; preparation; contents; adoption; publication; filing; effect upon filing.

Sec. 7.

(1) To initiate the establishment of an authority, articles of incorporation shall be prepared by a majority of the members of the county board of commissioners of the county establishing the authority. The articles of incorporation shall include all of the following:

(a) The name of the authority.

(b) The size of the board of the authority, which shall be composed of an odd number of members and shall not exceed 15 members; the qualifications and terms of office of board members; the manner of appointing the members of the board of the authority; and the filling of vacancies in the office of board member.

(d) The method of dissolution of the authority.

(e) Any other matters considered advisable.

(2) The articles shall be adopted and may be amended by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the county board of commissioners of the county establishing the authority.

(3) Before the articles or amendments to the articles are adopted, the articles or amendments to the articles shall be published not less than once in a newspaper generally circulated within the county. The adoption of articles or amendments to the articles by the county shall be evidenced by an endorsement on the articles or amendments by the clerk of the county.

(4) Upon adoption of the articles or amendments to the articles by the county, a printed copy of the articles or the amended articles shall be filed with the secretary of state by the clerk of the county.

(5) The authority's articles of incorporation, or amendments to the articles, take effect upon filing with the secretary of state.

History: 2008, Act 49, Imd. Eff. Mar. 27, 2008

123.1169 Vacancy; removal; quorum; compensation; business conducted at public meeting; notice; availability of writings; election of officers; adoption of bylaws.

Sec. 9.

(1) A vacancy occurs on the board on the happening of any of the events set forth in section 3 of 1846 RS 15, MCL 201.3. Members of the board may be removed by the county board of commissioners for good cause after a public hearing. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner as provided for in the authority's articles of incorporation.

(2) A majority of the members of the board constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting business and exercising the powers of an authority. Official action may be taken by an authority upon the vote of a majority of the board members present, unless the authority adopts bylaws requiring a larger number.

(3) A member of the board shall not receive compensation for services as a member of the board but is entitled to reimbursement for reasonable expenses, including expenses for travel previously authorized by the board, incurred in the discharge of his or her duties.

(4) The business that an authority may perform shall be conducted at a public meeting of the authority held in compliance with the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275. Public notice of the time, date, and place of the meeting shall be given in the manner required by the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275.

(5) A writing prepared, owned, or used by an authority in the performance of an official function shall be made available in compliance with the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246.

(6) At its first meeting, a board shall elect a chairperson, a secretary, a treasurer, and any other officers it considers necessary.

(7) A board may adopt bylaws to govern its procedures.

History: 2008, Act 49, Imd. Eff. Mar. 27, 2008

123.1171 Authority; powers.

Sec. 11.

An authority may do 1 or more of the following:

(a) Contract for zoological services with an accredited zoological institution.

(b) Levy a tax as provided in section 13.

(d) Contract for or retain professional services.

History: 2008, Act 49, Imd. Eff. Mar. 27, 2008

123.1171a Contract; time for entering.

Sec. 11a.

An authority and an accredited zoological institution shall enter into a contract for zoological services before the vote for a tax levy under section 13 occurs.

History: 2008, Act 49, Imd. Eff. Mar. 27, 2008

123.1172 Contract; preferences or benefits for residents.

Sec. 12.

If a majority of electors in the county voting on the question of a tax as provided in section 13 approve the tax, the contract for zoological services between the authority and an accredited zoological institution shall include preferences or benefits for the residents of the county that may include, but are not limited to, any of the following:

(a) Discounted admission fees.

(b) Discounted membership fees.

(d) Access to educational programs.

History: 2008, Act 49, Imd. Eff. Mar. 27, 2008

123.1173 Tax levy; limitation; submission of tax proposal to electors; ballot proposal; authorization.

Sec. 13.

(1) An authority may levy a tax of not more than 0.2 mills for a period of not more than 20 years on all of the taxable property within the county for the purpose of providing revenue to an accredited zoological institution that is an accredited zoological institution as of the date of the electors' approval of the levy. The authority may levy the tax only if a majority of the electors in the county voting on the tax at a statewide general or primary election approve the tax. The proposal for a tax shall be submitted to a vote of the electors of the authority by resolution of the board.

(2) A ballot proposal for a tax shall comply with the requirements of section 24f of the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.24f. A proposal for a tax shall not be placed on the ballot unless the proposal is adopted by a resolution of the board and certified by the board not later than 60 days before the election to the county clerk of the county for inclusion on the ballot. The proposal shall be certified for inclusion on the ballot at the next eligible election, as specified by the board's resolution.

(3) If a majority of the electors in the county voting on the question of a tax approve the proposal as provided under subsection (1), the tax levy is authorized. Not more than 2 elections may be held in a calendar year on a proposal for a tax authorized under this act.

History: 2008, Act 49, Imd. Eff. Mar. 27, 2008 ;-- Am. 2010, Act 328, Imd. Eff. Dec. 21, 2010

123.1175 Ballots to be provided by county election commission; conduct of election.

Sec. 15.

(1) The county election commission of the county shall provide ballots for an election for a tax under section 13.

(2) An election for a tax shall be conducted by the city and township clerks and election officials of the municipalities located within the county.

History: 2008, Act 49, Imd. Eff. Mar. 27, 2008

123.1177 Notice of close of registration and election; final canvass by board of county canvassers; certification.

Sec. 17.

(1) If an election for a tax under section 13 is to be held in conjunction with a general election or a state primary election, the notices of close of registration and election shall be published as provided for by the state election laws. Otherwise, the county clerk of the county shall publish the notices of close of registration and election. The notice of close of registration shall include the ballot language of the proposal.

(2) The results of an election for a tax shall be canvassed by the board of county canvassers of the county. The board of county canvassers of the county shall make the final canvass of an election for a tax based on the returns of the election inspectors of the municipalities in that county. The board of county canvassers of the county shall certify the results of the election to the board of the authority.

History: 2008, Act 49, Imd. Eff. Mar. 27, 2008

123.1179 Tax levy and collection.

Sec. 19.

A tax authorized to be levied by an authority under this act shall be levied and collected at the same time and in the same manner as provided by the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.1 to 211.155.

History: 2008, Act 49, Imd. Eff. Mar. 27, 2008

123.1180 Transfer of funds to accredited zoological institution; requirements.

Sec. 20.

Within 10 business days of the receipt of the funds from the local property tax collecting unit for the tax levied under this act, the authority is required to transfer the funds to an accredited zoological institution.

History: 2008, Act 49, Imd. Eff. Mar. 27, 2008

123.1181 Election costs; reimbursement to county or municipality.

Sec. 21.

(1) If a majority of the electors in the county voting on the question of a tax as provided in section 13 approve the tax, the county clerk of the county shall charge the authority and the authority shall reimburse the county for the actual costs the county incurs in the election for the tax under section 13.

(2) If a municipality conducts the election and a majority of the electors in the county voting on the question of a tax as provided in section 13 approve the tax, the clerk of that municipality shall charge the authority and the authority shall reimburse the municipality for the actual costs the municipality incurs in conducting the election if the election is not held in conjunction with a regularly scheduled election in that municipality.

(3) If a majority of the electors in the county voting on the question of a tax as provided in section 13 approve the tax, in addition to costs reimbursed under subsection (1) or (2), a county or municipality shall charge the authority and the authority shall reimburse the county or municipality for actual costs that the county or municipality incurs and that are exclusively attributable to an election for a tax authorized under this act.

(4) The actual costs that a county or municipality incurs shall be based on the number of hours of work done in conducting the election, the rates of compensation of the workers, and the cost of materials supplied in the election.

History: 2008, Act 49, Imd. Eff. Mar. 27, 2008

123.1183 Annual audit; preparation of budgets and appropriations acts; immunities; filing financial plan to correct deficit condition; investment or deposit of funds.

Sec. 23.

(1) A board shall obtain an annual audit of the authority, and report on the audit and auditing procedures, in the manner provided by sections 6 to 13 of the uniform budgeting and accounting act, 1968 PA 2, MCL 141.426 to 141.433. The audit shall also be in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards as promulgated by the United States general accounting office and shall satisfy federal regulations relating to federal grant compliance audit requirements.

(2) An authority shall prepare budgets and appropriations acts in the manner provided by sections 14 to 19 of the uniform budgeting and accounting act, 1968 PA 2, MCL 141.434 to 141.439.

(3) The state treasurer, the attorney general, a prosecuting attorney, bank, certified public accountant, certified public accounting firm, or other person shall have the same powers, duties, and immunities with respect to the authority as provided for local units in sections 6 to 20 of the uniform budgeting and accounting act, 1968 PA 2, MCL 141.426 to 141.440.

(4) If an authority ends a fiscal year in a deficit condition, the authority shall file a financial plan to correct the deficit condition in the same manner as provided in section 21(2) of the Glenn Steil state revenue sharing act of 1971, 1971 PA 140, MCL 141.921.

(5) The board may authorize funds of the authority to be invested or deposited in any investment or depository authorized under section 1 of 1943 PA 20, MCL 129.91.

History: 2008, Act 49, Imd. Eff. Mar. 27, 2008

Rendered 9/18/2024 8:34 AM
Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 122 of 2024
Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov