ADVISORY BOARD FOR FATHER MARQUETTE MEMORIAL & MACKINAC STRAITS MUSEUM

House Bill 5415 (Substitute H-1)

Sponsor:  Rep. Frank Foster

Committee:  Natural Resources, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation

                                     

Complete to 5-21-12

A REVISED SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5415 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

The bill would create the new "Father Marquette National Memorial and Mackinac Straits Area Museum Advisory Board Act."  Among other things, the bill would establish an advisory board for the Father Marquette National Memorial and Mackinac Straits Area Museum within the Department of Natural Resources, prescribe its membership, and set forth its duties. 

The board would be able to (1) advise the DNR on policies, plans, and programs concerning the museum site; (2) facilitate cooperation between the DNR and public and private entities interested in historic preservation of the site; (3) encourage real and personal property donations to the DNR, including artifacts associated with the park; (4) promote public use of the museum site; (5) advise the DNR and other authorities on maintenance and expansion of the site; and (6) seek grants and other sources of funding for the site.

The board would consist of a member appointed by the Speaker of the House; a member appointed by the Senate Majority Leader; the DNR director (or a designee) as a nonvoting, ex officio member; and nine members appointed by the Governor.  The Governor's appointment would have to include all of the following:

o                   One representative from the city of St. Ignace.

o                   One representative from Moran Township.

o                   One representative from the Mackinac County Board of Commissioners.

o                   One representative of the Michilimackinac Historical Society of Mackinac County.

o                   One representative from the Sault Ste. Marie tribe of Chippewa Indians.

o                   Three members from the general public, at least one of whom is from the Upper Peninsula.

o                   One representative from the Mackinac Island State Park Commission.

Each member would have to be a registered voter and resident of the state and the board could not consist of more than six members from the same political party.  Members would serve staggered terms ranging between two and four years.  Additionally, the board would be required to meet at least twice each calendar year and would have to elect a chair, vice-chair, and secretary every year.  Board members would serve without compensation but could be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.

All business performed by the Advisory Board would have to be conducted at public meetings in accordance with the Open Meetings Act.  All writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by the board in the performance of its official duties would be subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

House Bill 5415 (H-1) may result in increased administrative expenses for the Department of Natural Resources related to the Father Marquette National Memorial and Mackinac Straits Area Museum Advisory Board.  These increased administrative costs are indeterminate but not expected to be significant.

The bill establishes the Board and provides for the appointment of 11 members that would serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses.  These provisions may increase costs to the DNR by an indeterminate amount, depending on the amount of refundable expenses of board members.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION:

The Father Marquette National Memorial is a 58-acre site located in St. Ignace, and houses a national memorial in honor of Father Jacques Marquette, the founder of Michigan's first permanent settlement.  The Father Marquette Museum building was destroyed by a fire in March 2000.  In addition to the memorial, the site includes an outdoor interpretive trail, picnicking, and views of the Mackinac Bridge.

According to testimony, the advisory board's main purpose would be to facilitate the reconstruction of a museum at the site of the Father Marquette National Memorial and to advise the DNR on the maintenance of the museum site. 

POSITIONS:

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources supports the bill but has funding concerns. (3-27-12).

City of St. Ignace and the St. Ignace Downtown Development Authority submitted written testimony in support of the bill (3-27-12).

Moran Township submitted written testimony in support of the bill (3-27-12).

Mackinac County submitted written testimony in support of the bill (3-27-12).

 

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Jeff Stoutenburg

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Viola Bay Wild

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.