MICHIGAN HISTORICAL COMMISSION                                      S.B. 521 (S-1) & 522 (S-1):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 521 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Senate Bill 522 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Sponsor:  Senator Ken Horn (S.B. 521)

               Senator Margaret O'Brien (S.B. 522)

Committee:  Outdoor Recreation and Tourism

CONTENT

Senate Bill 521 (S-1) would enact the "Michigan Historical Commission Act" to:

-- Create the Michigan Historical Commission within the Department of Natural Resources.

-- Provide for the appointment of members to the Commission.

-- Require the Commission to meet annually to elect a president and vice president, appoint a secretary, and arrange a time and place for regular meetings.

-- Require the Commission to meet at least four times each year, and require one of those meetings to be held in Lansing.

-- Specify the Commission's responsibilities, such as advising the Department on its responsibilities relating to the collection of historical artifacts, performing responsibilities requested by the Director of the Department, and reviewing the fee schedule for the Michigan Historical Center.

Senate Bill 522 (S-1) would enact the "Michigan Historical Center Act" to:

-- Establish the Michigan Historical Center in the Department of Natural Resources.

-- Require the Archives of Michigan and the Michigan Historical Museum to be operated under the control and supervision of the Center.

-- Specify the responsibilities of the Center, such as advising the Department on history policies and programs, collecting and interpreting materials in all available media, and creating Michigan-focused educational programs.

-- Specify the responsibilities of the Museum, such as accessioning and deaccessioning artifacts for preservation, managing State historical sites and museums, and creating exhibits for its managed sites.

-- Allow the Department to establish and operate a store at the Center, or enter into an agreement for the establishment of a store.

-- Establish the "Michigan Heritage Publications Fund" and the "Michigan Historical Center Operations Fund" and specify the disposition of money to and from those Funds.

-- Require the Archives of Michigan to provide stewardship for archival records in all media.

-- Require confidential records obtained by the Archives to be kept confidential pursuant to a written agreement.

-- Allow the Archives to collect from public offices unused records that the Archives considered of value.

-- Prohibit the disposal, mutilation, or destruction of a record required to be kept by a public officer or filed in a public office, or a record that was a memorial of a transaction made in the discharge of a public officer's duty.

-- Allow the Department to promulgate rules necessary to implement the proposed Act.

The bill also would repeal Public Act 271 of 1913, which provides for the creation of the Michigan Historical Commission, specifies the Commission's duties, and provides for the disposition, collection, and preservation of certain public records.

The bills are tie-barred, and each would take effect 90 days after its enactment.

                                                                                   Legislative Analyst:  Jeff Mann

FISCAL IMPACT

The bills would have a likely neutral fiscal impact on the Department of Natural Resources and no fiscal impact on local units of government. The legislation would repeal the Michigan Historical Commission law and replace it with two acts that would be similar to current law and practice. Because of this, the bills are not anticipated to have a significant fiscal impact on the Department of Natural Resources.

Date Completed:  1-25-16                                                     Fiscal Analyst:  Josh Sefton

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.