PETITION REQUIREMENTS - H.B. 5185: FLOOR ANALYSIS

House Bills 5185 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor: Representative Patricia Birkholz

House Committee: Local Government

Senate Committee: Government Operations

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Liquor Control Act to provide that petitions, as well as the circulation and signing of petitions, under that act would be subject to the provisions and penalties prescribed in Section 488 of the Michigan Election Law. (House Bill 5138 (H-1) would add Section 488 to the Michigan Election Law to specify that Section 544c would apply to a nominating petition for an office in a political subdivision under a statute that referred to Section 488, and to the circulation and signing of the petition. Section 544c prescribes the size, form, content, and handling of nominating petitions; provides for violations of petition requirements; and prescribes penalties for violations.) Section 488 also provides that portions of Section 482 of the Election Law would apply to a petition to place a question on the ballot before the electorate of a political subdivision under a statute that referred to Section 488, and to the circulation and signing of the petitions. (Section 482 prescribes the form, content, and handling of petitions for initiative or referendum.) The bill states that a person who violated provisions of the Election Law regarding a petition described in Section 488, would be subject to penalties prescribed in the Election Law.

The bill would apply to petitions to put questions before the voters in various elections to decide questions regarding the sale or manufacture of liquor. The bill is tie-barred to House Bill 5138.

Proposed MCL 436.18b - Legislative Analyst: G. Towne

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State government.

There could be some minimal increases in administrative costs for local units to implement some of these changes. However, there are currently no data to indicate how much costs could increase.

Date Completed: 6-9-98 - Fiscal Analyst: E. Limbs

FLOOR\HB5185 - Analysis available @ http://www.michiganlegislature.org

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.