LANSING, Mich. - Today Senator Jim Barcia applauded the House of Representatives for unanimously passing Senate Bills 1345-1347. This package of legislation, sponsored by Barcia, extends the time period during which a new charter must be adopted following an election on the incorporation of a village from two to three years.

“Given the increased activity the State Boundary Commission is seeing and the new restrictions on when elections can occur, the two year time frame poses a problem for those who haven’t yet established a charter,” said Barcia. “By making the process consistent with the changes in the election procedures, we can give citizens more time to plan and build the type of township, village or city they choose.”

Currently the Home Rule Village Act, the Home Rule City Act and the State Boundary Commission Act allot an incorporating municipality two years to adopt a charter from the time the order is signed by the Director of the Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth. However, the Election Consolidation Act provides only four possible election dates each year. This has resulted in villages which are in the process of incorporating as cities to use the majority of the two year period currently allotted for charter adoptions before even being able to seat their charter commission.

“This issue was brought to my attention from constituents in Caro and Caseville,” said Barcia. “If the citizens of Caro and Caseville opted to become cities, ample time would be afforded to adopt their charters.”

This package of legislation extends the time period during which a new charter must be adopted following an election on the incorporation of a village, the State Boundary Commission's order to approve the proposed consolidation of municipalities, or an election on the question of the incorporation of a proposed city, respectively. Senate Bill 1345 states that an election is void if the proposed charter is rejected, except for the elector who receives the highest number for votes cast for president of the village. Senate Bill 1346 changes the time period for the adoption of a charter from a two year period to a three year period. Senate Bill 1347 is similar to SB 1345, except that the bill specifically applies to cities.

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