RONALD REAGAN DAY/MONUMENT S.B. 1293 & 1317 (S-1): FIRST ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 1293 (as reported without amendment)
Senate Bill 1317 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
Sponsor: Senator Alan L. Cropsey (S.B. 1293)
Senator Wayne Kuipers (S.B. 1317)
Committee: Local, Urban and State Affairs
Date Completed: 7-14-04
RATIONALE
Following the recent death of former President Ronald Wilson Reagan, many of the 40th President's Michigan admirers believe the State should take measures to ensure that his contributions to the country continue to be recognized in the future. In particular, many believe that Reagan should have a day set aside in his honor and that a memorial monument should be constructed.
CONTENT
Senate Bill 1293 would declare that February 6 of each year be known as "Ronald Wilson Reagan Day" to commemorate "the significant role President Ronald Reagan played in the history of this nation".
Senate Bill 1317 (S-1) would create the "Ronald Wilson Reagan Memorial Monument Fund Commission Act" to create a commission to oversee the financing, design, site location, and construction of a memorial monument dedicated to former President Reagan; solicit designs for the monument; and select its final design.
The bill is tie-barred to House Bill 6033, which proposes the "Ronald Wilson Reagan Memorial Monument Fund Act". Senate Bill 1317 (S-1) is described in more detail below.
The Ronald Wilson Reagan Memorial Monument Fund Commission would be created in the Department of Management and Budget. The Commission would be the governing body of the Ronald Wilson Reagan Memorial Monument Fund (proposed by House Bill 6033) and would consist of all of the following:
-- The State Treasurer or his or her designee.
-- The Attorney General or his or her designee.
-- The Secretary of State or his or her designee.
-- Two members appointed by the Governor; two appointed by the Senate Majority Leader; two appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and one appointed by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation.
Members of the Commission would serve terms of four years or until a successor was appointed, whichever was later. If a vacancy were to occur, it would have to be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
The Commission would have to convene initially within six months after the first deposit of money in the Monument Fund. The Commission would be subject to the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. The Commission would be dissolved after the completion of construction of the monument and payment of all amounts due in connection with it.
The monument would have to be located on land under the jurisdiction of the Michigan Capitol Park Commission but would not be located on the grounds of the State Capitol.
The Commission could accept, on behalf of the Monument Fund, grants and gifts from the Federal government; an individual; a public or private corporation, organization or foundation; or any other source. The acceptance and use of Federal funds by the Commission would not commit State money or obligate the Legislature to continue the purposes for which Federal money was made available.
The Commission would have to transmit money received under the proposed Act to the State Treasurer for deposit in the Monument Fund.
The bill would prohibit the following:
-- Soliciting or collecting money for the Monument Fund through the use of telemarketing.
-- Conducting fund-raising activities in the name of the Monument Fund without the prior written approval of the Commission.
-- Using the name and logo of the Fund or the Commission in any fund-raising activity without the Commission's prior written approval.
A person who violated these restrictions would be guilty of a misdemeanor for each separate violation, punishable by imprisonment for up to one year or a maximum fine of $1,000, or both.
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
Following Ronald Wilson Reagan's recent death, it is only fitting that the State honor the man whom some believe to be among the 20th Century's greatest U.S. Presidents and one of this country's most popular leaders. Setting aside Reagan's February 6 birthday as "Ronald Wilson Reagan Day" would be an appropriate way of remembering the man. Recently enacted legislation, Public Act 225 of 2003, set aside days each year to recognize President Gerald Ford, Cesar Chavez, and Henry Ford; President Reagan similarly deserves such recognition. Providing for the establishment of a Ronald Wilson Reagan Memorial Monument would help ensure that future generations remembered President Reagan. The Commission would be the governing body of the Monument Fund and the State would be under no obligation to contribute funding toward the monument's design or construction.
Legislative Analyst: J.P. Finet
FISCAL IMPACT
Senate Bill 1293
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Senate Bill 1317 (S-1)
The bill would have a minimal fiscal impact regarding Commission expenses and creation of the Monument Fund. The bill does not commit State funds for the Monument Fund. No estimate is available regarding the type, cost, and location of the monument.
There are no data to indicate how many offenders would be convicted of the proposed misdemeanor. Local units of government incur the costs of misdemeanor probation and incarceration in local facilities, both of which vary by county. Public libraries would benefit from any additional penal fine revenue.
Fiscal Analyst: Bill Bowerman
Bethany WicksallAnalysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. sb1293&1317/0304