March 14, 2006, Introduced by Rep. Ward and referred to the Committee on House Oversight, Elections, and Ethics.
A bill to amend 1954 PA 116, entitled
"Michigan election law,"
(MCL 168.1 to 168.992) by adding section 634a.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 634a. (1) If the governor calls a special election under
section 178 or 634 to fill a vacancy in the office of state senator
or representative and the special election is held on 1 of the
regular election dates provided in section 641(1)(a) through (d),
this state shall reimburse each county, city, and township in that
state senatorial or representative district for the cost of
conducting the special election as provided in this section. The
reimbursement shall not exceed the verified account of actual costs
of the special election.
(2) Payment shall be made upon presentation and approval of a
verified account of actual costs to the department of treasury,
local government audit division, after the department of treasury
and the secretary of state agree as to what constitutes valid costs
of conducting an election. Reimbursable costs do not include
salaries of permanent local officials, the cost of reusable
supplies and equipment, or costs attributable to local special
elections held in conjunction with the special election to fill the
vacancy in the office of state senator or representative.
(3) The legislature shall appropriate from the general fund of
this state an amount necessary to implement this section.
(4) To qualify for reimbursement, a county, city, or township
shall submit its verified account of actual costs before the
expiration of 90 days after the date of the special election to
fill the vacancy in the office of state senator or representative.
The department of treasury shall pay or disapprove all or a portion
of the verified account before the expiration of 90 days after the
department of treasury receives a verified account of actual costs
under this subsection.
(5) If the department of treasury disapproves all or a portion
of a verified account of actual costs under subsection (4), the
department of treasury shall send a notice of disapproval along
with the reasons for the disapproval to the county, city, or
township. Upon request of a county, city, or township whose
verified account or portion of a verified account was disapproved
under this section, the department of treasury shall review the
disapproved costs with the county, city, or township.