LOCAL POLITICAL PARTY COMMITTEES                                             H.B. 5287:

                                                                                         SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                         REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 5287 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Representative David Martin

House Committee:  Local Government and Municipal Finance

Senate Committee:  Elections

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan Election Law to transfer certain responsibilities given to a city or township party committee to a county party committee.

Under Section 370 of the Law, if a vacancy occurs in an elective township office and the vacancy is not filled by the township board or the board of county election commissioners within 45 days after the beginning of the vacancy, the county clerk of the county in which the township is located must call a special election within five calendar days to fill the vacancy.

By 4 PM on the 15^th calendar day after the county clerk calls a special election, the township party committee for each political party in the township must submit a nominee to fill the vacancy. Instead, under the bill, the county party committee for each political party in which the township was located would have to submit a nominee to fill the vacancy.

The Law requires the election commission of each city and township to perform those duties relative to the preparation, printing, and delivery of ballots as are required by law of the boards of county election commissioners.

The duties and privileges enjoined and granted by the Law upon and to the various committees of the different political organizations are prescribed for city or township committees in matters pertaining to any city or township election, except that it is not necessary for a city or township committee of a political party or organization to furnish a heading for the ballots other than to designate the name of the party or political organization that they represent. The bill would refer to a county committee instead of a city or township committee. 

MCL 168.370 & 168.719                         Legislative Analyst:  Stephen P. Jackson

FISCAL IMPACT

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

Date Completed:  5-9-22                                   Fiscal Analyst:  Joe Carrasco, Jr.

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.