April 24, 2013, Introduced by Reps. Tlaib, Santana, Irwin, Dillon, Hovey-Wright, Kandrevas, Knezek, Singh, Robinson, Lipton, Darany, Schor and Ananich and referred to the Committee on Michigan Competitiveness.
A bill to establish the office of immigrant integration; to
prescribe the powers and duties of the office and of certain state
and local departments and agencies; and to establish a fund.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. (1) This act shall be known and may be cited as the
"aspiring citizens act".
(2) As used in this act:
(a) "Fund" means the immigrant integration fund created in
section 3.
(b) "Immigrant" means an individual who was born outside of
the United States and who is a resident of this state.
(c) "Office" means the office of immigrant integration
established in section 2.
Sec. 2. (1) The office of immigrant integration is established
within the Michigan strategic fund under the Michigan strategic
fund act, 1984 PA 270, MCL 125.2001 to 125.2094.
(2) The office shall do all of the following:
(a) Conduct studies and recommend proposals affecting
immigrant integration services in the areas of education,
employment, civil rights, health, housing, English language
instruction, and other areas that promote social, cultural, and
economic integration.
(b) Recommend to federal, state, and local governmental
departments and agencies the creation of services, programs, and
facilities it considers necessary or advisable to aid in immigrant
integration.
(c) Serve as a clearinghouse for the collection and
distribution of information on immigrant integration.
(d) Apply for and accept grants and gifts from governmental
and private sources for deposit into the fund.
(e) Administer the fund.
(f) Review and approve grants to be made from federal, state,
or private funds that are administered by the office.
(g) Cooperate with and obtain assistance from state and local
governmental departments and agencies to provide immigrants with
access to information, resources, and services to assist the
integration of immigrants in this state.
(h) Implement and coordinate a unified policy and plan of
action to encourage and facilitate the integration of immigrants in
this state.
Sec. 3. (1) The immigrant integration fund is created within
the state treasury.
(2) The state treasurer may receive money or other assets from
any source for deposit into the fund. The state treasurer shall
direct the investment of the fund. The state treasurer shall credit
to the fund interest and earnings from fund investments.
(3) Money in the fund at the close of the fiscal year shall
remain in the fund and shall not lapse to the general fund.
(4) The office is the administrator of the fund for auditing
purposes.
(5) The office shall expend money from the fund, upon
appropriation, only for the following purposes:
(a) To facilitate the integration of immigrants in this state.
(b) To coordinate the delivery of information, resources, and
services that are available for immigrant integration in the areas
of education, employment, civil rights, health, housing, English
language instruction, and other areas that promote social,
cultural, and economic integration.