LIBRARY BD OF DIRECTORS - S.B. 956: ENROLLED ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 956 (as enrolled) - PUBLIC ACT 99 of 2000
Sponsor: Senator Bill Bullard, Jr.
Senate Committee: Local, Urban and State Affairs
House Committee: Local Government and Urban Policy
Date Completed: 6-15-00
RATIONALE
Under Public Act 164 of 1877, the city council of each incorporated city may establish and maintain a public library and reading room for the use and benefit of the city inhabitants. When a city council decides to establish and maintain a public library and reading room, the mayor of the city must, with the approval of the city council, proceed to appoint a board of five directors for the library, chosen from the citizens at large; not more than one member of the city council may be at any one time a member of the library board. Other than the first members appointed, board members serve five-year terms. Some people believe that flexibility in board membership and terms of service would allow for more participation and representation, especially in growing cities.
CONTENT
The bill amended Public Act 164 of 1877 to provide that after the first appointments of the five-member board of directors for a public library and reading room, if a city council decides that the purposes of the library and reading room would better be served by a different number of members on the board, the city council may by ordinance change the number of members to an odd number not fewer than five or more than nine. The term of office for each board member also may be changed by ordinance to a term of not less than two years or more than five years. If the term of office is changed by ordinance by a city council, the term of office for subsequent appointments by the mayor must be the same as prescribed by the ordinance.
MCL 397.202
ARGUMENTS
(Please note: The arguments contained in this analysis originate from sources outside the Senate Fiscal Agency. The Senate Fiscal Agency neither supports nor opposes legislation.)
Supporting Argument
A library board makes important decisions concerning the library and reading room, on issues such as the library fund, supervision and care, and purchase or lease of grounds for an appropriate building for the library and reading room. Reportedly, it can be common for one member of a library board to be absent from board meetings, and a board president might vote only in the event of a tie. This has meant that only three people were making decisions that could affect a city's entire population. By allowing a city council to expand the number of board member appointments, the bill will allow for better representation of the growing population in some cities. In addition, a set term of five years is a long commitment for some board members to make. The bill permits flexibility in the determination of terms of service.
- Legislative Analyst: N. Nagata
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill will have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
- Fiscal Analyst: R. RossA9900\s956ea
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.