February 16, 2012, Introduced by Reps. McMillin, Somerville, MacMaster, Lund, Price, Yonker and Hooker and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the state
constitution of 1963, by amending section 4 of article VIII, to
require state universities to provide certain information on
expenditures to the legislature and the public.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
state of Michigan, That the following amendment to the state
constitution of 1963, to require state universities to provide
certain information on expenditures to the legislature and the
public, is proposed, agreed to, and submitted to the people of the
state:
ARTICLE VIII
Sec.
4. The legislature shall appropriate moneys money to
maintain
the University of Michigan, Michigan State University,
Wayne
State University, Eastern Michigan University, Michigan
College
of Science and Technology, Central Michigan University,
Northern
Michigan University, Western Michigan University, Ferris
Institute,
Grand Valley State College, by whatever names such
institutions
may hereafter be known, and other institutions of
higher
education established by law each
state university.
The legislature shall be given an annual accounting of all
income
and expenditures by each of these educational institutions
state university. The accounting of expenditures shall include at
least all of the following information regarding the expenditure of
state money by the state university, unless that information is
considered confidential under state or federal law:
(a) If the person is not an employee of the state university,
the name and address of the person to which the money is paid.
(b) If the person is an employee of the state university, the
name of the person to whom the money is paid.
(c) The amount of the expenditure.
(d) The type of transaction for which the expenditure is made.
(e) The budget source of the money.
(f) A description of the purpose of the expenditure.
(g) Any other information required by law.
Not later than January 1, 2013, each state university shall
develop and operate a searchable website accessible by the public
at no cost to access the information provided in the preceding
paragraph.
Formal sessions of the governing boards of
such institutions
board of a state university shall be open to the public.
As used in this section:
(a) "Expenditure of state money" means the expenditure of any
appropriated or nonappropriated money by a state university,
including, but not limited to, any of the following:
(i) Purchases of goods or services.
(ii) Contract or subcontract payments.
(iii) Payment of employee wages and benefits and any other
employee compensation.
(iv) Payment of grants.
(b) "State university" means an educational institution
described in section 5 or 6 of this article.
Resolved further, That the foregoing amendment shall be
submitted to the people of the state at the next general election
in the manner provided by law.