HOUSE BILL No. 5442

 

November 8, 2007, Introduced by Reps. Dean, Tobocman, Lahti, Sheltrown, Simpson, Scott, Meadows, Miller, Alma Smith, Sak, LeBlanc, Clack, Hammel, Lemmons, Hammon, Byrum, Gonzales, Polidori, Corriveau, Constan, Wojno, Kathleen Law, Leland, Espinoza, Brown, Ebli, Hopgood, Bauer and Jackson and referred to the Committee on Banking and Financial Services.

 

     A bill to amend 1966 PA 346, entitled

 

"State housing development authority act of 1966,"

 

by amending section 21 (MCL 125.1421), as amended by 2000 PA 257.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 21. (1) There is created a public body corporate and

 

politic to be known as the "Michigan state housing development

 

authority". The authority shall consist of 3 heads of principal

 

departments of the executive branch of the state government and 4

 

persons appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of

 

the senate. Excluding the 3 heads of principal departments of the

 

executive branch of state government and the designated resident

 

member described in subsection (2), not more than 2 of the persons

 

appointed shall be members of the same political party. Upon

 


completion of each term, a person shall be appointed for a term of

 

4 years, except that a vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired

 

term. A member of the authority shall not receive compensation for

 

services but is entitled to the necessary expenses, including

 

traveling expenses, incurred in the discharge of the member's

 

duties. Each member shall hold office until a successor has been

 

appointed and has qualified. A certificate of appointment or

 

reappointment of a member shall be filed with the authority and

 

this certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the proper

 

appointment of that member.

 

     (2) If federal law requires designation of a resident member

 

on the authority, the number of gubernatorially appointed members,

 

in addition to the 3 heads of principal departments, increases from

 

4 to 5. One of the 5 gubernatorially appointed members shall be the

 

designated resident member. The resident member shall meet both of

 

the following requirements:

 

     (a) The person is an individual directly assisted by a federal

 

housing program administered through the authority. As used in this

 

subdivision, "directly assisted" means residing in federally-

 

supported public housing or receiving section 8 tenant-based

 

assistance. Directly assisted does not include a state-financed

 

housing assistance program, section 8 project-based assistance, or

 

section 8 new construction assistance.

 

     (b) The person is an eligible resident. As used in this

 

subdivision, "eligible resident" means a person whose name appears

 

on the lease of the assisted housing who is 18 years of age or

 

older.

 


     (3) A person who no longer meets either requirement of

 

subsection (2)(a) or (b) is removed from the authority for cause

 

upon the appointment of another person as the resident member

 

position.

 

     (4) The powers of the authority shall be vested in the members

 

in office. A majority of the members of the authority constitutes a

 

quorum for the purpose of conducting the authority's business, for

 

exercising the authority's powers, and for other purposes,

 

notwithstanding the existence of any vacancies. Action may be taken

 

by the authority upon a vote of a majority of the members present,

 

unless the bylaws of the authority require a larger number, except

 

that to the extent required by federal law, the resident member

 

shall only take part in, vote on, and exercise the powers of the

 

authority concerning decisions related to the administration,

 

operation, and management of federal public housing programs and

 

section 8 tenant-based assistance programs. The resident member

 

shall not take part in, vote on, or exercise the powers of the

 

authority in a matter that uniquely applies to the resident member

 

and is not generally applicable to all residents. In the absence of

 

fraud, a determination of the authority with respect to findings of

 

fact made by the authority acting within the scope of its powers is

 

conclusive, except with respect to the approval of the municipal

 

finance commission or its successor agency as required by law.

 

     (5) Meetings of the members of the authority may be held

 

anywhere in this state. The business that the authority may perform

 

shall be conducted at a public meeting of the authority held in

 

compliance with the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to

 


15.275. Public notice of the time, date, and place of the meeting

 

shall be given in the manner required by the open meetings act,

 

1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275.

 

     (6) The authority shall elect a chairperson and vice-

 

chairperson. The authority shall employ an executive director,

 

legal and technical experts, and other officers, agents, and

 

employees, permanent and temporary, as the authority requires, and

 

shall determine their qualifications, duties, and compensation. The

 

authority may delegate to 1 or more agents or employees those

 

powers or duties as the authority considers proper.

 

     (7) The authority shall be within the department of consumer

 

and industry services labor and economic growth and shall exercise

 

the authority's prescribed statutory powers, duties, and functions

 

independently of the head of that department. However, the

 

budgeting, procurement, and related functions of the authority

 

shall be performed under the direction and supervision of the

 

director of consumer and industry services.

 

     (8) As used in this section, "section 8" means section 8 of

 

the United States housing act of 1937, chapter 896, 88 Stat. 662,

 

42 U.S.C. USC 1437f.