CITY-FORMED NONPROFIT CORP - S.B. 360 (S-2) & 361 (S-2): FIRST ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 360 (Substitute S-2 as passed by the Senate)
Senate Bill 361 (Substitute S-2 as passed by the Senate)
Sponsor: Senator Joel D. Gougeon
Committee: Local, Urban and State Affairs
Date Completed: 4-30-01
RATIONALE
In general, nonprofit corporations are organized to operate for charitable, religious, scientific, literary, or educational purposes. Nonprofit corporations do not pay State or local business taxes, and they may be able to obtain exemptions from the State's sales and use taxes, the Federal income tax, and local property taxes. In addition, nonprofit corporations are permitted to raise funds by receiving public and private grant money and donations from individuals and companies. Further, nonprofit corporation status protects the corporation's directors, officers, and members from personal liability for the corporation's debts and liabilities.
Apparently, some cities have formed, or are interested in forming, nonprofit corporations for economic development purposes. Although cities are not specifically precluded from forming a nonprofit corporation under the Nonprofit Corporation Act, there has been some question as to whether a city actually has the authority to form a nonprofit corporation.
CONTENT
The bills would amend separate laws to provide that a home rule city could form a nonprofit corporation, and to make the board of such a corporation subject to the Open Meetings Act. The bills are tie-barred to each other.
Senate Bill 360 (S-2)
The bill would amend the Home Rule City Act to provide that the legislative body of a city could by ordinance or resolution form a nonprofit corporation under the Nonprofit Corporation Act. A nonprofit corporation formed under the bill could be organized only for purposes that are valid public purposes for cities in the State.
(The Nonprofit Corporation Act defines "nonprofit corporation" as a corporation incorporated to carry out any lawful purpose or purposes not involving pecuniary profit or gain for its directors, officers, shareholders, or members.)
Senate Bill 361 (S-2)
The bill would amend the Open Meetings Act, which requires meetings of certain public bodies to be open to the public, to include under the definition of "public body", the board of a nonprofit corporation formed by a city under the Home Rule City Act (pursuant to Senate Bill 360); and to include under the definition of "meeting", any meeting of the board of a nonprofit corporation formed by a city.
The Open Meetings Act currently defines "public body" as any State or local legislative or governing body, including a board, commission, committee, subcommittee, authority, or council that is empowered by State constitution, statute, charter, ordinance, resolution, or rule to exercise governmental or proprietary authority or perform a governmental or proprietary function; or a lessee performing an essential public purpose and function under the lease agreement. The term "meeting" means the convening of a public body at which a quorum is present for the purpose of deliberating toward or rendering a decision on a public policy.
Proposed MCL 117.4o (S.B. 360)
MCL 15.262 (S.B. 361)
ARGUMENTS
(Please note: The arguments contained in this analysis originate from sources outside the Senate Fiscal Agency. The Senate Fiscal Agency neither supports nor opposes legislation.)
Supporting Argument
Senate Bill 360 (S-2) specifically would allow cities to form a nonprofit corporation for valid public purposes. For example, Bay City has proposed a project to construct a $28 million hotel and conference center to address the area's increased need for expanded lodging, as well as business and conference facilities. The project is expected to create 164 direct new jobs and 376 indirect new jobs, and generate new business in the city and surrounding areas. For economic development purposes, Bay City is interested in forming a nonprofit corporation. The nonprofit corporation could issue bonds for the construction of the project at the lowest interest rate without putting any city funds at risk. There have been some questions, however, as to whether a city may legally form a nonprofit corporation. According to a 1986 Opinion of the Attorney General (No. 6614), no constitutional or statutory provision grants counties the power to form private, nonprofit corporations to operate hospitals, and counties may not do so without authority. Similarly, cities do not presently have specific statutory authority to form nonprofit corporations. By supplying this authority, the bill would make it clear that Bay City, and other interested cities, could legally form a nonprofit corporation.
- Legislative Analyst: N. Nagata
FISCAL IMPACT
Senate Bill 360 (S-2)
The bill would have no fiscal impact on the State.
The bill would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on local units. Creation and operation of a nonprofit corporation would not necessitate a change in a local unit's revenues or expenditures, although a local unit could choose, due to the existence of the nonprofit corporation, to make budgeting or policy changes that could alter expenditures and/or revenues.
Senate Bill 361 (S-2)
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
- Fiscal Analyst: D. ZinA0102\s360a
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.