FR. MARQUETTE/MAC. STRAITS MUSEUM BD H.B. 5415 (H-1):
COMMITTEE SUMMARY
House Bill 5415 (Substitute H-1 as passed by the House)
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 the following nine members appointed by the Governor:
-- One representative from the City of St. Ignace.
-- One representative from Moran Township.
-- One representative from the Michilimackinac Historical Society of Mackinac County.
-- One representative from the Sault Ste. Marie tribe of Chippewa Indians.
-- Three members from the general citizenry of the State, including at least one resident of the Upper Peninsula.
-- One representative from the Mackinac Island State Park Commission.
Each member would have to be a Michigan resident. A member appointed by the Speaker of the House or Senate Majority Leader would hold office for a term of two years to coincide with the term of office of State Representative. Except for members first appointed, the term of office of each member appointed by the Governor would be four years. Of the members first appointed by the Governor, three would serve for four years, three would serve for three years, and three would serve for two years. A vacancy would have to be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term.
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 members annually would have to elect a chairperson, vice-chairperson, and secretary. The Advisory Board would have to meet at least twice annually at the call of the chairperson. A majority of the members would constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
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.
The Advisory Board would be subject to the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act.
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.
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.