ICRC CLOSED MEETINGS                                                                   S.B. 728:

                                                                                         SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                         REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senate Bill 728 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Senator Ed McBroom

Committee:  Oversight

 


CONTENT

 

The bill would amend the Open Meetings Act to specify that the Act would not permit the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission to meet in a closed session for any purpose.

 

The Act allows a public body to meet in a closed session (i.e., a meeting or part of a meeting of a public body that is closed to the public) only for certain specified purposes. ("Public body" means any State or local legislative or governing body, including a board, commission, committee, subcommittee, authority, or council, that is empowered by the Michigan Constitution, statute, charter, ordinance, resolution, or rule to exercise governmental or proprietary authority or perform a governmental or proprietary function.)

 

Under the bill, the Act would not permit the Commission to meet in a closed session for any purpose.

 

The bill states that it is intended to clarify that the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission for State legislative and congressional districts, since its establishment under Article 4, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution, has been required to conduct all of its business at open meetings, without exception and in a manner that invites wide public participation throughout the State, as provided in Article 4, Section 6(10) of the Michigan Constitution, and that the Commission continues to be subject to this unqualified open meetings requirement.

 

MCL 15.268                                              Legislative Analyst:  Stephen Jackson

 

FISCAL IMPACT

 

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

 

Date Completed:  12-2-21                                       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.