COUNTY COMMISSIONER 4-YEAR TERMS
House Bills 4966 and 4967
Sponsor: Rep. Mike Pumford
Committee: Local Government and Urban Policy
Complete to 7-23-01
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILLS 4966 and 4967 AS INTRODUCED 6-19-01
The bills would make county commission terms four years in length, concurrent with the gubernatorial term of office, beginning in the year 2004.
Specifically, House Bill 4966 would amend Public Act 261 of 1966, the act that prescribes the election of county commissioners (MCL 46.410 and 46.412). The bill provides that the term of office of each commissioner elected before the 2002 November general election would be concurrent with that of state representatives. However, the term of office of each commissioner elected at or after the 2002 November general election would be concurrent with that of governor. Currently, county commission terms are concurrent with those of state representatives. That is to say, the county commissioners serve two-year terms, and are elected in even numbered years.
House Bill 4967 would amend Public Act 293 of 1966, the act that provides for the creation of charter counties and the election of commissioners (MCL 45.514), to require that the term of office of members of a charter county's board of commissioners would be as specified in House Bill 4966.
Further, Public Act 293 of 1966 currently specifies the mandatory and permissive provisions of a charter as they relate to certain existing county offices, boards, commissions, and departments. For example, in a county having a population of 1,500,000 or more, the act requires the charter to provide for the continuation of a county road system within the county, and it prescribes that responsibility for road funds must be vested in a three-member commission whose members represent jurisdictions within the county. However, the act also says that this provision does not apply to a county in which the charter is amended to provide for an alternative method of carrying out the powers and duties that are otherwise provided by law for a board of county road commissioners. House Bill 4967 would retain this provision but relocate it within the act so that the exception would immediately follow the requirement.
Finally, the bill also would clarify one portion of the definition of "road construction" to mean the building of a new road or street and the improving of an existing road or street by the
correction of grades, the installation, repair, or improvement of drainage structures, the alteration of width or alignment, or the repair or replacement of the surface. Currently "road construction" means the building of a new road or street and the improving of an existing road or street by correction grades, drainage structures, width, alignment, or surface.
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.