2006 House Bill 5650

Limit authority of state board of canvassers

Introduced in the House

Feb. 8, 2006

Introduced by Rep. Chris Ward (R-66)

To eliminate the authority of the state board of canvassers to determine whether sufficient signatures have been turned in on a statewide ballot question or initiative, and whether its form meets certain technical requirements specified in the law. This authority would be transferred to the director of the elections bureau in the Secretary of State office. House Bills 5648 to 5650 and Senate Bills 973 to 976 transfer authority in matters related to statewide ballot initiatives from the canvassers to the elections bureau director.

Referred to the Committee on Oversight, Elections, and Ethics

March 1, 2006

Reported without amendment

Without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill pass.

March 7, 2006

Amendment offered by Rep. Chris Ward (R-66)

To give the authority to the director of the Secretary of State's elections bureau.

The amendment passed 57 to 49 (details)

March 8, 2006

Passed in the House 57 to 49 (details)

To eliminate the authority of the state board of canvassers to determine whether sufficient petition signatures have been turned in to place a statewide ballot question or initiative on the ballot, and whether its form meets certain technical requirements specified in the law. This authority would be transferred to the fourth district of the state appeals court. The court could hand the authority over to the director of the state Elections Bureau at its discretion, however. Also, to require a fiscal analysis of the cost of each ballot proposal, should it be adopted, to be prepared by state budget authorities, and placed on the ballot with the proposal.

Received in the Senate

March 9, 2006

Referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Reform

March 23, 2006

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the amendments be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Amendment offered

To give the authority to the director of the Secretary of State's elections bureau.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 21 to 15 (details)

To eliminate the authority of the state board of canvassers to determine whether sufficient signatures have been turned in on a statewide ballot question or initiative, and whether its form meets certain technical requirements specified in the law. This authority would be transferred to the director of the elections bureau in the Secretary of State office. House Bills 5648 to 5650 and Senate Bills 973 to 976 transfer authority in matters related to statewide ballot initiatives from the canvassers to the elections bureau director.

Received in the House

March 23, 2006

April 26, 2006

Passed in the House 58 to 48 (details)

To concur with the Senate-passed version of the bill, which transfers the authority of the state board of canvassers to determine whether sufficient signatures have been turned in on a statewide ballot question or initiative to the director of the elections bureau in the Secretary of State office.

Motion

To give the bill immediate effect.

The motion failed 58 to 48 (details)

Vetoed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm

May 12, 2006