INCOMPATIBLE OFFICE EXCEPTIONS                                                      H.B. 4070 (S-1):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 4070 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Sponsor:  Representative Kurt Heise

House Committee:  Oversight and Ethics

Senate Committee:  Local Government

CONTENT

The bill would amend Public Act 566 of 1978, which prohibits a public officer from holding incompatible offices, to increase the maximum size of a local unit in which public officers or employees may be allowed to serve as emergency medical services personnel or firefighters, or perform other additional services for the local unit. This exception to the prohibition currently applies to a local unit with a population of less than 25,000. Under the bill, it would apply to a local unit with a population of less than 30,000, and would include service as a police officer, police or fire chief, or other public safety officer.

In addition, the current exception applies if the firefighter is not a full-time firefighter, a fire chief, or a person who negotiates with the local unit on behalf of firefighters. Under the bill, it would apply if the firefighter, police officer, police or fire chief, or public safety officer were not a person who negotiated a collective bargaining agreement with the local unit on behalf of firefighters, police officers, police or fire chiefs, or public safety officers.

The bill would take effect 90 days after its enactment.

MCL 15.183                                                            Legislative Analyst:  Patrick Affholter

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would allow additional local units of government the option to consolidate certain functions that currently are considered incompatible offices, based on a statutory population ceiling. A local unit could realize cost savings of an unknown amount, if it were able to combine functions as permitted by the bill. The bill would have no fiscal impact on State government.

Date Completed:  6-17-15                                                  Fiscal Analyst:  Elizabeth Pratt

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.