HOUSE BILL NO. 5600
A bill to create the office of the tribal legislative liaison; and to prescribe the powers and duties of the office, the liaison, and the legislative council.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
(a) "Council" means the legislative council established under section 15 of article IV of the state constitution of 1963.
(b) "Liaison" means the tribal legislative liaison.
(c) "Office" means the office of tribal legislative liaison created under this act.
Sec. 2. (1) The office of the tribal legislative liaison is created within the legislative council to help establish and maintain a government-to-government relationship between the federally recognized tribes in this state and the legislature, and to consult with the legislature during the development of legislation that affects the federally recognized tribes in this state.
(2) The principal executive officer of the office is the tribal legislative liaison who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the council.
(3) The council shall appoint the liaison from a list of not fewer than 3 names provided by the elected council of sovereign tribal leaders assembled as the United Tribes of Michigan, or a successor organization.
Sec. 3. (1) The council shall establish procedures for approving the budget of the office, for expending money in the budget, and for the employment of personnel for the office.
(2) The personnel for the office must consist of not fewer than all of the following individuals:
(a) The liaison.
(b) Two tribal legislative policy advisors, who are responsible for legislative and policy work on behalf of the liaison.
Sec 4. (1) The liaison shall do all of the following:
(a) Maintain a relationship with each federally recognized tribe in this state and visit each tribe not less than once per year.
(b) Provide guidance for members of the legislature and the member's staff during the development of legislation based on how proposed legislation may impact tribes and tribal members.
(c) Inform the legislature of the impact that specific legislation will have on the tribes of this state.
(d) Provide an annual not less than hour-long training to members of the legislature and the member's staff on each of the following topics:
(i) How to consult and coordinate with the liaison.
(ii) The history and current state of the federally recognized tribes in this state.
(2) The liaison may communicate with any tribal liaison in the executive branch.
(3) By not later than December 31 of each year, the office shall submit a written report to the governor, the senate majority leader, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the chairperson of each committee in the legislature that must include, but is not limited to, a summary of concerns that were presented by elected tribal leaders during the development of legislation in the previous year. The office shall also post the written report described in this subsection on a website that is accessible to the public.