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Michigan Legislature
Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 19 of 2024
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NOTE: Dates reflect any modification to item, not necessarily a change in law.

Chapter 45 - COUNTIES
R.S. of 1846 ‑ Revised Statutes of 1846 (45.1 - 45.25)
     R‑S‑1846‑45‑1‑13 ‑ CHAPTER 13 Chapter 13. Of counties. (45.1...45.25)
          R‑S‑1846‑45‑1‑13‑COUNTIES. ‑ COUNTIES. (45.1...45.5)
               Section 45.1 ‑ Counties; boundaries.
               Section 45.2 ‑ Counties; powers, duties, privileges and immunities.
               Section 45.3 ‑ County; body corporate, purposes.
               Section 45.4 ‑ County property.
               Section 45.5 ‑ County lands; sale and conveyance.
          R‑S‑1846‑45‑1‑13‑COMMON‑JURISDICTION-OF‑CERTAIN‑COUNTIES. ‑ COMMON JURISDICTION OF CERTAIN COUNTIES. (45.6...45.14)
               Section 45.6 ‑ Wayne and Monroe counties; common jurisdiction as to Lake Erie.
               Section 45.8 ‑ Wayne, Macomb and St. Clair counties; common jurisdiction as to Lake St. Clair.
               Section 45.10 ‑ Counties bordering on Lake Michigan; common jurisdiction.
               Section 45.12 ‑ Counties bordering on Lake Huron; common jurisdiction.
               Section 45.14 ‑ Counties bordering on Lake Superior; common jurisdiction.
          R‑S‑1846‑45‑1‑13‑COUNTY‑BUILDINGS. ‑ COUNTY BUILDINGS. (45.16...45.18)
               Section 45.16 ‑ County courthouse, jail, offices, and other buildings; location, construction, maintenance, and expense thereof; examination of plan for jail.
               Section 45.16a ‑ County jails; contracts for use; lockup required.
               Section 45.17 ‑ County prison limits.
               Section 45.18 ‑ Escape due to insufficiency of county jail; liability of sheriff.
          R‑S‑1846‑45‑1‑13‑UNORGANIZED‑COUNTIES. ‑ UNORGANIZED COUNTIES. (45.19...45.19)
               Section 45.19 ‑ Unorganized counties; annexation, effect.
          R‑S‑1846‑45‑1‑13‑DIVISIONS‑OF‑COUNTIES-ETC. ‑ DIVISIONS OF COUNTIES, ETC. (45.20...45.25)
               Section 45.20 ‑ Division or alteration of county; lands within county limits.
               Section 45.21 ‑ Division or alteration; apportionment of personalty.
               Section 45.22 ‑ Division or alteration; settlement by meeting of county supervisors.
               Section 45.23 ‑ Division or alteration; apportionment of debts.
               Section 45.24 ‑ Disagreement over settlement; arbitration commissioners, appointment.
               Section 45.25 ‑ Arbitration commissioners; meeting; determination, finality.
Act 178 of 1861 ‑ Repealed-ATTACHMENT OF UNORGANIZED TERRITORY (45.31 - 45.31)
Act 74 of 1911 ‑ APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTIES (45.41 - 45.41)
     Section 45.41 ‑ Deputies of county officers in counties over 50,000; appointment, duties.
Act 123 of 1933 ‑ DEPUTIES AND EMPLOYEES (45.51 - 45.52)
     Section 45.51 ‑ Deputies and employees of county officers in counties over 500,000; appointment, compensation.
     Section 45.52 ‑ Repeal; effect on veterans' preference act.
Act 307 of 1917 ‑ PURCHASE OF SUPPLIES (45.81 - 45.97)
     Section 45.81 ‑ County offices; departments or institutions; purchase of supplies.
     Section 45.82 ‑ County purchasing agent; appointment, term, compensation; interest in contracts or bids prohibited, penalty.
     Section 45.83 ‑ County purchasing agent; oath; bond; conditions; payment of premium; sales prohibited; accepting or receiving rebate, commission, or other thing of value.
     Section 45.84 ‑ Purchasing agent; advice of county officers.
     Section 45.85 ‑ Purchasing agent; duties; estimates of county officers; advertisement for bids; manner of purchase, criteria.
     Section 45.86 ‑ Bids; bond or certified check required; acceptance.
     Section 45.87 ‑ Bids; inspection by purchasing agent; quality of supplies, rejection; estimates, content, filing, public inspection.
     Section 45.88 ‑ Invoices; transmittal, approval, payment; rejection of supplies, replacement.
     Section 45.89 ‑ Bond of successful bidder; terms, filing, recoveries.
     Section 45.90 ‑ Emergency order; approval, purchase, report, payment; limitation.
     Section 45.91 ‑ Purchases to be in accordance with appropriations.
     Section 45.92 ‑ Purchase of perishable supplies; rules and regulations.
     Section 45.93 ‑ Clerks; appointment, compensation; annual report by purchasing agent to county supervisors.
     Section 45.94 ‑ Purchasing agent and clerks; appropriation for compensation; personal use of county supplies, penalty.
     Section 45.95 ‑ Accounts; condition of payment; purchasing agent, offices, supplies and equipment.
     Section 45.96 ‑ Repeals; construction of act.
     Section 45.97 ‑ Adoption of act by counties; scope.
Act 160 of 1974 ‑ ADJUSTMENT OF COUNTY BOUNDARIES (45.101 - 45.102)
     Section 45.101 ‑ Adjustment of county boundaries; resolution or petition; placing question on ballot.
     Section 45.101a ‑ Violation of MCL 168.1 to 168.992 applicable to petitions; penalties.
     Section 45.102 ‑ Effective date of question; notice of submission; form; certifying result of vote and adjustment.
Act 174 of 1943 ‑ FISCAL YEAR FOR COUNTIES (45.201 - 45.203)
     Section 45.201 ‑ Fiscal year for certain counties; annual reports; filing; report of county road commission.
     Section 45.202 ‑ Inconsistent provisions of law superseded.
     Section 45.203 ‑ “County” defined.
R.S. of 1846 ‑ Revised Statutes of 1846 (45.318 - 45.324)
     R‑S‑1846‑45‑318‑14 ‑ CHAPTER 14 Chapter 14. Of county officers. (45.318...45.324)
          R‑S‑1846‑45‑318‑14‑FILING‑OATHS-AND‑BONDS‑BY‑COUNTY‑OFFICERS. ‑ FILING OATHS AND BONDS BY COUNTY OFFICERS. (45.318...45.324)
               Section 45.318 ‑ County officers; oaths of office, deposit, filing.
               Section 45.319 ‑ County officers; deposit, filing, and preservation of bond.
               Section 45.320 ‑ County officers; neglect to deposit oath or bond, penalty.
               Section 45.321 ‑ Neglect to deposit oath or bond; notice, effect.
               Section 45.322 ‑ Prosecuting attorney; appointment, transmittal of commission, notice.
               Section 45.323 ‑ Prosecuting attorney; oath of office, filing; delivery of commission.
               Section 45.324 ‑ County officers; commencement of terms.
Act 27 of 1873 ‑ Repealed-APPROVAL OF BONDS BY SUPERVISORS (45.351 - 45.351)
Act 251 of 1947 ‑ Repealed-COST OF BONDS (45.371 - 45.371)
Act 588 of 1978 ‑ BOND COVERAGE FOR OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF COUNTIES (45.381 - 45.385)
     Section 45.381 ‑ Bond coverage for officers or employees of county; determination by county board of commissioners.
     Section 45.382 ‑ Notification of surety companies; contract.
     Section 45.383 ‑ Completion of bonding requirement; termination of honesty and faithful discharge of duty bonds.
     Section 45.384 ‑ Repeal of MCL 45.351 and 45.371.
     Section 45.385 ‑ Conditional effective date.
Act 237 of 1919 ‑ SALARIES IN LIEU OF FEES (45.401 - 45.408)
     Section 45.401 ‑ Salaries of county officers; determination; exception; change in compensation.
     Section 45.402 ‑ County officers; statement of fees collected, disposition, receipts.
     Section 45.403 ‑ Salaries of county officers; payment, condition.
     Section 45.404 ‑ Accounting of money received by county treasurer.
     Section 45.405 ‑ Sheriffs; appointment of under-sheriff and deputies; contracts for board of prisoners; office supplies, claims of salaried officers for expenses, hearing.
     Section 45.406 ‑ Sheriff; emergency appointment of additional deputies, compensation; report of expenses, official acts and fees; appointment of deputies to protect private interests.
     Section 45.407 ‑ Sheriff, under-sheriff and deputy sheriff; duties.
     Section 45.408 ‑ Violation of act; penalty.
Act 351 of 1968 ‑ SALARIES OF COUNTY OFFICERS (45.411 - 45.411)
     Section 45.411 ‑ Members of county boards, departments, authorities, and commissions; compensation.
Act 154 of 1879 ‑ SALARIES OF COUNTY OFFICERS (45.421 - 45.421)
     Section 45.421 ‑ Salaries of county officers; determination; change in compensation.
Act 261 of 1947 ‑ SALARIES; WAYNE COUNTY (45.451 - 45.457)
     Section 45.451 ‑ Salaries of county officers of county having population of 1,000,000 or more; determination; fees or commissions payable to county; change in compensation.
     Section 45.452 ‑ County officers; additional compensation for new duties prohibited.
     Section 45.453 ‑ County officers; fees collected, payment to county treasurer, statement.
     Section 45.454 ‑ County officers; record books and accounting forms for uniform system of accounts; audit of accounts; rules and regulations of board of county auditors for deposit and disbursement of funds; duties of county treasurer.
     Section 45.455 ‑ Incumbent county officers; salaries and fees.
     Section 45.456 ‑ Violation of act; penalty.
     Section 45.457 ‑ Repeals.
Act 485 of 1978 ‑ COUNTY OFFICERS COMPENSATION COMMISSION (45.471 - 45.477)
     Section 45.471 ‑ County officers compensation commission; establishment; purpose; resolution.
     Section 45.472 ‑ County officers compensation commission; appointment, qualifications and terms of members.
     Section 45.473 ‑ Compensation of elected officials; determination; expenses.
     Section 45.474 ‑ County officers compensation commission; meetings; determination; quorum; concurrence of majority; chairperson; expenses.
     Section 45.475 ‑ Conducting business at public meeting; notice.
     Section 45.476 ‑ Resolution subject to referendum; petition; placing proposition on ballot; effect of defeat of proposition; effect of determination.
     Section 45.476a ‑ Violation of MCL 168.1 to 168.992 applicable to petitions; penalties.
     Section 45.477 ‑ Conditional effective date.
Act 34 of 1960 ‑ MONEY FOR FLOOD CONTROL (45.491 - 45.491)
     Section 45.491 ‑ Leased United States lands; appropriation of moneys received for flood control, navigation and allied purposes; payment to county treasurer.
Act 293 of 1966 ‑ CHARTER COUNTIES (45.501 - 45.521)
     Section 45.501 ‑ Charter county; body corporate.
     Section 45.501a ‑ Authority of emergency financial manager; authority and responsibilities of local emergency financial assistance loan board.
     Section 45.502 ‑ Resolution for submission of question on election of charter commission; adoption by county board of supervisors.
     Section 45.502a ‑ Violation of MCL 168.1 to 168.992 applicable to petitions; penalties.
     Section 45.503 ‑ Submission of question to qualified electors.
     Section 45.504 ‑ Number of charter commissioners to be elected; qualifications of candidate for election to office of charter commissioner; member of county board of commissioners as chief administrative officer.
     Section 45.505 ‑ Partisan election of charter commission; nomination of candidates; petition or filing fee; primary election; composition and convening of county apportionment commission; rules of procedure; quorum; majority vote; establishment of charter commission districts; requirements for districts; use of census figures; apportionment; division; date of primary; election of charter commission; filing and availability of apportionment plan and copies thereof; judicial review; appeal; submission and filing of plan by registered voter; official apportionment plan; duration; election of 1 charter commissioner for each district; limitation on representation.
     Section 45.506 ‑ Compensation for charter commissioner; appropriations to defray certain costs.
     Section 45.507 ‑ Passage of resolution; transmittal of copies to city, village and township clerks; notice of election, publication, posting.
     Section 45.508 ‑ Ballots; form, content, preparation.
     Section 45.509 ‑ Charter commission members; oath of office; first meeting, notice; presiding officer.
     Section 45.510 ‑ Charter commission; organization; quorum; conducting business at public meeting; notice of meeting; record of meetings; journal of proceedings; availability of writings to public; prohibited action; duration of charter commission; ballot questions.
     Section 45.511 ‑ Charter commission; draft of proposed charter, approval; dissolution upon failure to agree.
     Section 45.511a ‑ Submission of 2 alternative charter proposals; dissolution of charter commission; approval of proposed charters; differences between charter proposals; election of county executive; selection, term, and removal of chief administrative officer; declaration of charter adoption; votes; duties and responsibilities of county executive or chief administrative officer; veto of ordinance or resolution; contents of ballot.
     Section 45.512 ‑ Charter commission; vacancies.
     Section 45.513 ‑ Charter commission; employees and assistants, appointment, compensation; use of county departmental personnel; powers and duties; expenses.
     Section 45.514 ‑ County charter; mandatory provisions; subsection(1)(d) inapplicable to certain counties; staggered terms of office.
     Section 45.514a ‑ Satisfaction of condition with respect to transportation employees; certification by county road agency; failure of county road agency to make certification; maintenance of website; posting information; definitions.
     Section 45.515 ‑ County charter; permissible provisions.
     Section 45.515a ‑ Ordinance; designation of violation as civil infraction; civil fine; act or omission constituting crime.
     Section 45.515b ‑ Minimum staffing requirement; adoption of county charter or ordinance prohibited.
     Section 45.515c ‑ Retirement system subject to protecting local government retirement and benefits act.
     Section 45.515d ‑ Licensing requirements subject to the local government occupational licensing act.
     Section 45.516 ‑ Proposed charter; submission to governor; rejection, revision, resubmission; approval; referendum on adoption and election of officers; incumbent county officers, continuation.
     Section 45.517 ‑ Proposed charter; publication; notice of election.
     Section 45.518 ‑ Proposed charter; rejection, revision, resubmission to electorate; dissolution of charter commission.
     Section 45.519 ‑ Second charter commission; election procedures; provisions governing; rejection; dissolution of commission.
     Section 45.520 ‑ Home rule county status; when change occurs; incumbent officers.
     Section 45.521 ‑ Home rule county; succession to and vesting of property; continuation of rights, liabilities, suits, or prosecutions; debts, liabilities, tax rates, and uncollected taxes and assessments.
Act 139 of 1973 ‑ OPTIONAL UNIFIED FORM OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT (45.551 - 45.573)
     Section 45.551 ‑ Optional unified form of county government; authorization; effect of adoption.
     Section 45.552 ‑ Optional unified form of county government; alternate A; alternate B.
     Section 45.553 ‑ Optional unified form of county government; procedure for adoption; effective date.
     Section 45.553a ‑ Violation of MCL 168.1 to 168.992 applicable to petitions; penalties.
     Section 45.554 ‑ Abolition of certain offices, boards, commissions, authorities, or departments; termination of tenure; former powers as general county government powers; powers and duties of excepted boards or commissions; certain powers neither minimized nor divested; method of appointing veterans; powers vested in county department of veterans' affairs administrative committee or soldiers' relief commission.
     Section 45.554a ‑ Annual certification that certain employee-related conditions satisfied; failure to make certification; withholding distributions to county road agency; website; definitions.
     Section 45.555 ‑ Board of county commissioners as governing body of county; election, organization, and procedures.
     Section 45.556 ‑ Board of county commissioners; powers.
     Section 45.556a ‑ Ordinance; designation of violation as certain civil infraction; civil fine; act or omission constituting crime.
     Section 45.556b ‑ Minimum staffing requirement; adoption of ordinance prohibited.
     Section 45.556c ‑ Licensing requirements subject to the local government occupational licensing act.
     Section 45.557 ‑ County manager; appointment, qualifications, compensation, term, and removal.
     Section 45.558 ‑ County manager or county executive; powers and duties.
     Section 45.559 ‑ County executive; nomination, election, and term; vacancy; salary.
     Section 45.559a ‑ Death or resignation of elected county executive; successor.
     Section 45.560 ‑ County executive; responsibility.
     Section 45.561 ‑ County executive; veto of ordinance or resolution; certification; overriding veto; certain resolutions or motions not to be approved or disapproved; effective date of ordinance or resolution.
     Section 45.562 ‑ Officials; powers; functions; manner of election or appointment; term.
     Section 45.563 ‑ Departments; establishment; directors; functions.
     Section 45.564 ‑ Departments; consolidation; transfer of functions; creation of additional departments; county manager or county executive as director.
     Section 45.565 ‑ Deputy; appointment; department head and deputy exempt from civil service.
     Section 45.566 ‑ Civil service commission; appeals; secretarial and clerical assistance; personnel and employee relations.
     Section 45.567 ‑ Employee retirement and pension programs; retirement board.
     Section 45.568 ‑ Title to property to be held in name of county.
     Section 45.569 ‑ Ordinances previously enacted.
     Section 45.570 ‑ Provisions of act controlling.
     Section 45.571 ‑ Rights under civil service and merit system continued.
     Section 45.572 ‑ Retirement and pension rights.
     Section 45.572a ‑ Retirement system subject to protecting local government retirement and benefits act; "retirement system" defined.
     Section 45.573 ‑ Procedures for abolishing optional unified form of county government.
Act 186 of 1989 ‑ COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT (45.581 - 45.596)
     Section 45.581 ‑ Short title.
     Section 45.582 ‑ Definitions.
     Section 45.583 ‑ Department of solid waste management; establishment; function; control; annual budget; appointment of director.
     Section 45.584 ‑ Solid waste system; acquisition, construction, improvement, enlargement, or extension; operation and maintenance; acquisitions outside corporate boundaries; consent; contract.
     Section 45.585 ‑ Solid waste service; consent of public corporation.
     Section 45.586 ‑ Financing and contracts; resolution; merger.
     Section 45.587 ‑ Methods of financing.
     Section 45.588 ‑ Bonds generally.
     Section 45.589 ‑ Contract between county and public corporation; purpose; payment of obligations; tax levy; methods of raising money; pledge; powers.
     Section 45.590 ‑ Special assessment roll; objection to special assessment district.
     Section 45.591 ‑ Validity of bonds or notes.
     Section 45.592 ‑ Acquisition of tangible or intangible property, rights, or processes.
     Section 45.593 ‑ Contract for furnishing solid waste services to public corporation; charges subject to increase; contract for purchase or sale of solid waste services or acquisition, operation, management, or use of solid waste systems; term of contract; contract as general obligation of public corporation.
     Section 45.594 ‑ Cost of system.
     Section 45.595 ‑ Failure to pay county; notice; deduction or transfer of money; legal remedies for reimbursement.
     Section 45.596 ‑ Proceedings to take private property.
Act 518 of 1998 ‑ COUNTY JUVENILE AGENCY ACT (45.621 - 45.631)
     Section 45.621 ‑ Short title.
     Section 45.622 ‑ Definitions.
     Section 45.623 ‑ County juvenile agency; resolution; approval; adoption; powers and duties of county.
     Section 45.624 ‑ Resolution of approval; revocation by subsequent resolution.
     Section 45.625 ‑ Request by county executive, chief executive officer, or manager required.
     Section 45.626 ‑ Applicability of act; eligibility requirements.
     Section 45.627 ‑ County juvenile agency; powers and duties.
     Section 45.628 ‑ Maintenance of block grant account.
     Section 45.629 ‑ Annual state audit.
     Section 45.630 ‑ Placement of public wards and juveniles.
     Section 45.630a ‑ County as successor employer; conditions of employment.
     Section 45.630b ‑ Plan to aid displaced employees.
     Section 45.631 ‑ Existing agreements between family independence agency and private providers.

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