The bill amends the Recreational Authorities Act in Michigan to facilitate the establishment and operation of recreational authorities by reducing the number of municipalities required to form an authority from two to one. It clarifies that a recreational authority is a governmental subdivision of the state and mandates that articles of incorporation include specific details such as the authority's name, participating municipalities, and its purposes, which now explicitly encompass the acquisition and management of public forests and natural resources areas. Additionally, the bill introduces provisions for the dissolution of an authority, stating that upon dissolution, all property and assets will vest in the participating municipalities unless otherwise specified.

Moreover, the bill revises the laws governing tax proposals and financial operations of recreational authorities, requiring tax proposals to be adopted by a board resolution and certified to the county clerk at least 60 days before an election. It emphasizes the mandatory nature of these requirements by changing "shall" to "must" in several instances. The bill also restricts the use of tax proceeds to designated purposes related to the authority's operations and allows recreational authorities to borrow money and issue bonds for public facilities, ensuring that total debt does not exceed 2 mills of the taxable value within the district. Any tax levied for bond obligations is limited to five years without voter approval, and all bonds issued are considered debts of the authority, not the municipalities.

Statutes affected:
Substitute (H-1): 123.1135
House Introduced Bill: 123.1135
As Passed by the House: 123.1135