FR. MARQUETTE/MAC. STRAITS MUSEUM BD                                            H.B. 5415 (H-1):

                                                                                                      FLOOR SUMMARY

House Bill 5415 (Substitute H-1 as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Representative Frank Foster

House Committee:  Natural Resources, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation

Senate Committee:  Outdoor Recreation and Tourism

CONTENT

The bill would create the "Father Marquette National Memorial and Mackinac Straits Area Museum Advisory Board Act" to create the Advisory Board within the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The Advisory Board would consist of the DNR Director or his or her representative, as a nonvoting, ex officio member; one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; one member appointed by the Senate Majority Leader; and nine members appointed by the Governor.  Advisory Board members would serve without compensation, but could be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.  The Advisory Board would have to meet at least twice annually at the call of the chairperson.  The Advisory Board would be subject to the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act.  The Advisory Board could do all of the following:

-- Advise the DNR of the policies, plans, and programs concerning the site of the Father Marquette National Memorial and Mackinac Straits Area Museum.

-- Facilitate cooperation between the DNR and public and private entities interested in historic preservation at the site.

-- Encourage donations of real and personal property to the DNR for purposes incidental to, or connected with, the museum site, including artifacts associated with the park.

-- Promote public use of the site.

-- Advise the DNR and other appropriate authorities on maintenance and expansion of the site.

-- Apply for grants and seek other sources of funding to support the site.

                                                                                Legislative Analyst:  Julie Cassidy

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would result in an indeterminate, but likely minor, increase in administrative costs for the Department of Natural Resources.  Existing DNR resources would be used to pay for necessary expenses incurred by Board members in the performance of their official duties.  Other new costs such as venue rental could result as well.

Date Completed:  12-5-12                                                     Fiscal Analyst:  Josh Sefton

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.