March 5, 2009, Introduced by Senators BIRKHOLZ, KUIPERS, VAN WOERKOM, BARCIA, GEORGE, RICHARDVILLE, ALLEN, BASHAM, HARDIMAN and CROPSEY and referred to the Committee on Economic Development and Regulatory Reform.
A bill to create certain offices in the Michigan economic
development corporation; to provide for the appointment of certain
officers with the advice and consent of the senate; and to impose
certain duties and responsibilities on those officers and on
certain state employees and public employees.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. As used in this act, "Michigan economic development
corporation" means the public body corporate created under section
28 of article VII of the state constitution of 1963 and the urban
cooperation act of 1967, 1967 (Ex Sess) PA 7, MCL 124.501 to
124.512, by a contractual interlocal agreement effective April 5,
1999 between local participating economic development corporations
formed under the economic development corporations act, 1974 PA
338, MCL 125.1601 to 125.1636, and the Michigan strategic fund.
Sec. 2. (1) The office of business ombudsman is created in the
Michigan economic development corporation. The business ombudsman
shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of
the senate. The individual appointed business ombudsman shall have
experience in creating jobs in the private sector. The business
ombudsman shall report directly to the president of the Michigan
economic development corporation.
(2) The business ombudsman shall do all of the following:
(a) Assist in resolving disputes between private businesses
and state agencies.
(b) Coordinate programs across government to create and retain
business in this state.
(c) Aid and assist business development in this state.
(d) Work to create a business environment that encourages and
sustains entrepreneurship in this state.
(e) Work to empower entrepreneurs to take advantage of the
opportunities the market offers in this state.
(f) Coordinate processing of permits and resolving disputes
that involve multiple state agencies.