February 8, 2018, Introduced by Reps. Miller, Johnson and LaFave and referred to the Committee on Elections and Ethics.
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the state
constitution of 1963, by amending section 5 of article VIII and
adding section 5a to article VIII, to provide for term limits and
to reduce the term of office for certain university governing
boards.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
state of Michigan, That the following amendment to the state
constitution of 1963, to provide for term limits and to reduce the
term of office for certain university governing boards, is
proposed, agreed to, and submitted to the people of the state:
ARTICLE VIII
Sec. 5. The regents of the University of Michigan and their
successors in office shall constitute a body corporate known as the
Regents of the University of Michigan; the trustees of Michigan
State University and their successors in office shall constitute a
body corporate known as the Board of Trustees of Michigan State
University; the governors of Wayne State University and their
successors in office shall constitute a body corporate known as the
Board of Governors of Wayne State University. Each board shall have
general supervision of its institution and the control and
direction of all expenditures from the institution's funds. Each
board shall, as often as necessary, elect a president of the
institution under its supervision. He or she shall be the principal
executive officer of the institution, be ex-officio a member of the
board without the right to vote, and preside at meetings of the
board. The board of each institution shall consist of eight members
who shall, except as otherwise provided in this section, hold
office for terms of eight years and who shall be elected as
provided by law. Beginning at the general election in 2020, the
term of office of members elected to the Regents of the University
of Michigan, the Board of Trustees of Michigan State University,
and the Board of Governors of Wayne State University is four years.
The governor shall fill board vacancies by appointment. Each
appointee shall hold office until a successor has been nominated
and elected as provided by law.
Sec. 5a. (1) An individual shall not be elected to membership
on the board of regents of the University of Michigan, the board of
trustees of Michigan State University, or the board of governors of
Wayne State University more than two times. Any individual
appointed to fill a vacancy on the board of regents of the
University of Michigan, the board of trustees of Michigan State
University, or the board of governors of Wayne State University for
a period greater than one half of a term of the office is
considered to have been elected to serve one time in that office
for purposes of this section. The limitation on the number of times
an individual shall be elected to membership on the board of
regents of the University of Michigan, the board of trustees of
Michigan State University, or the board of governors of Wayne State
University applies to terms of office beginning on or after January
1, 2021.
(2) This section shall be self-executing. Legislation may be
enacted to facilitate operation of this section, but no law shall
limit or restrict the application of this section. If any part of
this section is held to be invalid or unconstitutional, the
remaining parts of this section shall not be affected but will
remain in full force and effect.
Resolved further, That the foregoing amendment shall be
submitted to the people of the state at the next general election
in the manner provided by law.