CANDIDATE FILING FEE - S.B. 864: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Senate Bill 864 (as introduced 10-28-99)
Sponsor: Senator Bev Hammerstrom
Committee: Government Operations
Date Completed: 3-16-00
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Election Law to allow candidates in primary elections for certain local and judicial offices to pay a nonrefundable filing fee of $100, instead of filing nominating petitions. The bill would apply to candidates for a city office, including a ward office; township office; circuit court judgeship; probate judgeship; and district court judgeship. Payment of the fee and certification of the name of the candidate paying the fee would be governed by the same provisions as prescribed for nominating petitions under the Election Law.
A candidate for city office would have to pay the fee to the city clerk, for deposit in the city's general fund; a candidate for township office would have to pay the fee to the township clerk for deposit in the township general fund; a candidate for the office of circuit or district court judge would have to pay the fee to the Secretary of State for deposit in the State's General Fund; and a candidate for a probate court judgeship would have to file the fee with the county clerk for deposit in the county's general fund.
Currently, under the Election Law, to have their names printed on a primary election ballot, city, township, and judicial candidates must file nominating petitions that contain, in general, between 1% and 2% of the number of votes cast for the Secretary of State at the previous general election within the relevant jurisdiction.
The bill would repeal provisions in the Election Law that provide for the nomination and election of judges for "municipal courts of record" (which no longer exist in the State).
MCL 168.322 et al. - Legislative Analyst: G. Towne
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State government. The fiscal impact on local government is indeterminate. The provisions of this bill could increase revenue to local units of government. However, the amount of the increase would depend on the number of candidates who paid the nonrefundable fee.
- Fiscal Analyst: E. LimbsS9900\s864sa
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.