ELECTIONS; REPORTS & GIFTS                                                                                                                                           S.B. 284:

                                                                                                                                                                SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL

                                                                                                                                                                                                                IN COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 284 (as introduced 3-24-21)

Sponsor:   Senator Dan Lauwers

Committee:   Elections

Date Completed:   5-25-21

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan Election Law to do the following:

 --     Require the Secretary of State (SOS) to provide, on specified dates each year, a report to the Legislature on each contract the SOS had entered into with an entity for an election related activity or service.

 --     Prohibit the State or a county, city, village, or township from accepting from an individual or entity a gift of money or other consideration to be used for an election related activity or equipment.

Under the bill, by July 1 of each odd-numbered year, and by March 1 and July 1 of each even-numbered year, the SOS would have to provide a report to the Legislature that detailed each contract the SOS had entered into with an entity for an election related activity or service.

The State, a department, agency, commission, or board of the State, or a county, city, village, or township could not accept from an individual or entity, either directly or indirectly, a gift of money or other consideration to be used for an election related activity or for election related equipment.

"Election related activity" would include voter registration, voter eligibility review, mailing of election material, sharing of voter information, creation, or dissemination of advertisements about an election, or recruiting and hiring precinct election inspectors.

"Election related equipment" would include tabulators, communications devices, signs, tents, voting facilities or locations, or absent voter ballot drop boxes.

Proposed MCL 168.31b et al.                                                                                 Legislative Analyst:   Dana Adams

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

                                                                                                                                                                          Fiscal Analyst:   Joe Carrasco

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.