Senate Bill 801 as passed by the Senate
First Analysis (2-9-04)
Sponsor: Sen. Jason E. Allen
House Committee: Government Operations
Senate Committee: Government Operations
THE APPARENT PROBLEM:
Public Act 44 of 1899 governs the publication and distribution of state laws and other documents. It currently requires that the Department of Management and Budget (unless directed otherwise by the Legislative Service Bureau) distribute a specified number of publications containing the public and local acts” of each session of the legislature. The DMB is to distribute 42 copies imprinted “Senate” and 120 copies imprinted “House of Representatives” to the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House, respectively, to be used as desk copies. Members of the legislature also receive a complete set of the public and local acts published subsequent to the most recent edition of the Michigan Compiled Laws for the personal property during each term they serve. The act also allows the LSB to have additional copies published as the bureau consider necessary. Legislation has been introduced that would eliminate the required distributions and instead require the LSB to make the public and local acts to be available on the Internet and make printed copies available at the discretion of the Legislative Council. Reportedly, the savings involved would help offset recent reductions in the LSB budget for the current fiscal year.
THE CONTENT OF THE BILL:
The bill would amend Public Act 44 of 1899 to require the Legislative Service Bureau, at the direction of the Legislative Council, to publish at least one print copy of the publication containing the public and local acts of each session of the legislature, and to also make the publication available on the Internet. Additional copies could be published as the LSB, upon the direction of the Legislative Council, considers necessary.
MCL 24.2
HOUSE COMMITTEE ACTION:
The House Committee on Government Operations made no changes to the bill; it remains in the form that it passed the Senate.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
The House Fiscal Agency reports that the bill would result in savings to the state of perhaps between $5,000 and $10,000. Any savings would help offset reductions taken in the FY 2004 Legislative Council and Legislative Service Bureau budgets. (1-30-04)
ARGUMENTS:
For:
The bill would give the Legislative Council and Legislative Service Bureau discretion over how many copies to print and distribute of the publication containing the public acts and local acts of a legislative session. This is seen as a cost-saving measure. The public and local acts would be available on the Internet.
POSITIONS:
There are no positions at present.
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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.