HOUSE BILL NO. 6276

June 22, 2022, Introduced by Reps. Fink, LaFave, Carra, Beeler, Hoitenga, Meerman, Hall, Borton, Damoose, Roth, Filler, Green, Harris, Wakeman, Hauck, Bellino and Bollin and referred to the Committee on Local Government and Municipal Finance.

A bill to prohibit local units of government from enacting or enforcing any law, ordinance, policy, or rule that limits peace officers or local officials, officers, or employees from communicating or cooperating with appropriate federal officials concerning the immigration status of individuals; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state and local officers, officials, and employees; and to prescribe penalties and remedies.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 1. This act may be cited as the "local government sanctuary policy prohibition act".

Sec. 3. As used in this act, "local unit of government" means any of the following:

(a) A county, city, village, township, or charter township.

(b) A board, department, commission, council, agency, or body that is created or primarily funded by a county, city, village, township, or charter township.

(c) An officer or official of a county, city, village, township, or charter township.

Sec. 5. A local unit of government shall not enact or enforce any law, ordinance, policy, or rule that limits or prohibits a peace officer or local official, officer, or employee from communicating or cooperating with appropriate federal officials concerning the immigration status of an individual in this state. Any law, ordinance, policy, or rule that violates this act is void and unenforceable.

Sec. 7. Not later than 60 days after the effective date of this act, if a local unit of government has an existing law, ordinance, policy, or rule that violates this act, the local unit of government shall bring that law, ordinance, policy, or rule into compliance with this act.

Sec. 9. Beginning 61 days after the effective date of this act, if a local unit of government has, enacts, or enforces a law, ordinance, policy, or rule that violates this act, an individual who is a resident of that local unit of government may do either of the following:

(a) Bring an action to enforce this act in the circuit court in the judicial district in which that local unit of government is located.

(b) File a complaint with the attorney general on a form prescribed by the attorney general.

Sec. 11. (1) The attorney general may receive complaints regarding violations of this act and investigate those complaints. A local unit of government shall cooperate with any investigation conducted by the department of the attorney general concerning a violation of this act.

(2) Beginning 61 days after the effective date of this act, if a local unit of government enacts or enforces a law, ordinance, policy, or rule that violates this act, the attorney general shall bring an action to enforce this act in the circuit court in the judicial district in which that local unit of government is located.

Sec. 13. (1) If an individual brings an action as described in section 9, or if the attorney general brings an action as described in section 11, and the court determines that the law, ordinance, policy, or rule of the local unit of government violates this act, the court shall do all of the following:

(a) Issue an injunction restraining the local unit of government from enforcing the law, ordinance, policy, or rule.

(b) Order the local unit of government to amend or repeal the law, ordinance, policy, or rule.

(c) Award actual damages, costs, and reasonable attorney fees to the party challenging the law, ordinance, policy, or rule.

(2) In addition to the requirements under subsection (1), if the court determines that an elected or appointed official of the local unit of government knowingly and willfully enacted or enforced a law, ordinance, policy, or rule in violation of this act, then the court shall assess a civil fine of not less than $2,500.00 or more than $7,500.00 against that elected or appointed official, that is in addition to any other penalty provided by law.