AFRICAN-AMERICAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION                                                        S.B. 90:

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 90 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Senator Rick Jones

Committee:  Government Operations

CONTENT

The bill would enact the "African-American Affairs Commission Act" to:

-- Create the African-American Affairs Commission in the Department of Civil Rights.

-- Require the Commission to consist of 15 appointed members having a particular interest or expertise in African-American concerns.

-- Specify the Commission's responsibilities, such as advising the Governor and the Legislature on the nature of problems affecting African-Americans, working to ensure equal access to all levels of education for African-Americans, making recommendations regarding changes in State programs and statutes, and serving as a reporting agency for incidents of anti-African-American harassment.

-- Create the Office of African-American Affairs in the Department, if an appropriation were made for that purpose, and provide that the director of the Office would be the director of the Office of Hispanic/Latino Affairs in the Department.

-- Require the Office of African-American Affairs to conduct studies on the problems of African-Americans in such areas as employment, health, and education; review the performance of State departments and agencies as to the hiring and promotion of African-Americans and the provision of services to them; and perform other specified activities.

-- Require the Office to submit a written annual report of its activities and recommendations to the Governor, the Legislature, and various African-American communities.

-- Require the Department to furnish administrative services and assign staff to the Commission and the Office, and provide office space to the Office.

-- Create a State Interagency Council on African-Americans within the Office to coordinate and provide for the exchange of information on all programs relating to services for African-American people.

                                                                                    Legislative Analyst:  Jeff Mann

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have a cost to the Department of Civil Rights of approximately $150,000.  According to the Department, the creation of the Commission and the Office of African-American Affairs would require the hiring of one additional FTE to staff the Commission and the Office, as required under the bill. The bill also would allow for Commission members to receive reimbursement for per diem costs associated with attending quarterly and special meetings, as proposed.  The estimated cost of $150,000 would include the Commission member reimbursement, operating costs, and the office space to be provided by the Department.

In FY 2015-16, the Department receives appropriations of $254,800 for the Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan and $110,900 for the Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission. These appropriations cover the administrative and personnel costs associated with the operation of the two Commissions.

The bill would have no fiscal impact on local government.

Date Completed:  1-13-16                                                    Fiscal Analyst:  Joe Carrasco

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.