Act No. 97
Public Acts of 2017
Approved by the Governor
July 13, 2017
Filed with the Secretary of State
July 13, 2017
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 13, 2017
STATE OF MICHIGAN
99TH LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION OF 2017
Introduced by Senators Warren, Colbeck, Rocca, Bieda, Ananich, Kowall, Conyers, O’Brien and Schmidt
ENROLLED SENATE BILL No. 248
AN ACT to create a commission to commemorate the centennial of World War I; to prescribe the powers and duties of the commission; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state agencies and officials; and to repeal acts and parts of acts.
The People of the State of Michigan enact:
Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the “World War I centennial commission act”.
Sec. 2. As used in this act:
(a) “Commission” means the World War I centennial commission created in section 3.
(b) “Department” means the department of military and veterans affairs.
(c) “Veteran” means that term as defined in section 1 of 1965 PA 190, MCL 35.61.
Sec. 3. (1) The World War I centennial commission is created within the department.
(2) The commission shall consist of the director of the department, or his or her designee, and 13 members. The governor shall appoint 11 of those 13 members with the advice and consent of the senate, and the senate majority leader and the speaker of the house of representatives shall each appoint 1 member.
(3) The members first appointed to the commission must be appointed within 90 days after the effective date of this act.
(4) If a vacancy occurs on the commission, the governor shall make an appointment in the same manner as the original appointment.
(5) The governor may remove a member of the commission for incompetence, dereliction of duty, malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance in office, or any other good cause.
(6) The first meeting of the commission must be called by the director of the department. At the first meeting, the commission shall elect from among its members a chairperson and other officers as it considers necessary or appropriate. After the first meeting, the commission shall meet at least quarterly, or more frequently at the call of the chairperson or if requested by 7 or more members.
(7) A majority of the members of the commission constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of the commission. A majority of the members present and serving are required for official action of the commission.
(8) The business that the commission may perform must be conducted at a public meeting of the commission held in compliance with the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275.
(9) A writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by the commission in the performance of an official function is subject to the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246.
(10) Members of the commission shall serve without compensation. However, members of the commission may be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties as members of the commission.
Sec. 4. The commission shall do all of the following:
(a) Plan, develop, and execute programs, projects, and activities to commemorate the centennial of World War I.
(b) Encourage private organizations and state and local governments to organize and participate in activities organized by the commission.
(c) Facilitate and coordinate World War I centennial activities throughout this state.
(d) Serve as a clearinghouse for the collection and dissemination of information about World War I centennial events and plans.
(e) Develop recommendations on ways to commemorate the World War I centennial in this state and provide a report on these recommendations to the director, the governor, and the legislature.
Sec. 5. The department shall assist the commission in carrying out its duties under this act.
Enacting section 1. This act is repealed December 31, 2018.
This act is ordered to take immediate effect.
Secretary of the Senate
Clerk of the House of Representatives
Approved
Governor