State capitol designated historic site

Gov. Rick Snyder recently signed four bills that establish the Michigan Capitol building and its grounds as a state historic site. "The future of Michigan's 135-year-old Capitol building is as important as its storied past," Snyder said. "Designating the Capitol as a historic site and creating a commission to ensure its maintenance and upkeep will give the treasured building the protection and preservation that it and future generations of Michiganders deserve." Michigan's State Capitol is one of fewer than 2,500 National Historic Landmarks recognized by the National Park Service. It is also listed on the State Register of Historic Places. Senate Bill 665, sponsored by state Sen. Roger Kahn, establishes the Michigan State Capitol Historic Site, which includes the Capitol building, its grounds and parking lot, and the Michigan State Capitol Commission. It is now Public Act 240 of 2013. The six-member commission will be comprised of the secretary of the Senate; clerk of the House of Representatives; two individuals who have experience in operations, maintenance, or restoration of historic structures jointly appointed by the clerk and secretary; one individual appointed by the governor; and one individual appointed by the governor with expertise and experience in historic preservation. The commission will be charged with: * Operating and managing the historic site. * Maintaining and restoring the state capitol building. * Maintaining and improving the grounds of the historic site. * Appointing staff to manage the day-to-day operations. * Employing staff to carry out the commission's responsibilities. * Contracting with any person for purposes of procuring goods or services to carry out the commission's responsibilities. * Making recommendations to the governor and legislative leadership regarding funding for the site. Senate Bill 666, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, transfers governing authority of the Capitol building from the current Capitol Committee to the newly created commission. The former committee will remain as an advisory body making non-binding recommendations to the new commission. It is PA 241. Also signed were the companion House Bills 5134 and 5135, sponsored by state Reps. Sam Singh and Jim Stamas, respectively. HB 5134 updates the existing Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Act, which includes a memorial monument dedicated to law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty, to reflect the newly created commission in SB 665. HB 5135 gives the new commission the authority to manage the capitol building and grounds. The bills are PAs 242 and 243. The governor also signed the following 15 bills: House Bill 4327, sponsored by state Rep. Jeff Farrington, allows a Corridor Improvement Authority to modify its initial assessed value one time during its duration. The initial assessed value could only be modified if the authority fails to capture the projected assessed value for three consecutive years due to declines in assessed value. It is now PA 232. HB 5041, also sponsored by Farrington, clarifies details of the application of state business tax breaks authorized under the repealed Michigan Business Tax to a flow-through entity and unitary business group. It is PA 233. SB 90, sponsored by state Sen. Dave Robertson, exempts the value of a trade-in from sales tax when buying a motor vehicle, titled watercraft or recreational vehicle. The tax break will be phased-in over 24 years. It is PA 234. HB 5046, sponsored by Stamas, allows customers to bring their own bottles of wine to a restaurant that has a liquor license, and lets the restaurant set and charge a fee for the convenience. It is PA 235. HB 4277, sponsored by state Rep. Ray Franz, requires the Michigan Liquor Control Commission to issue a conditional license to certain applicants within 20 business days after the applicant files a completed application and a completed conditional license request form and documentation for a fee of $300. The conditional license will expire when the commission issues a final order approving or denying the license application, the licensee or applicant requests cancellation of the initial application, or one year after the date the conditional license was issued, whichever occurs first. It is PA 236. HB 5140, sponsored by state Rep. John Walsh, allows for the intra-county transfer of specially designated distributor licenses, which allow for the retail sale of spirits and mixed spirit drinks to consumers for consumption off store premises. It is now PA 237. SB 397, sponsored by state Sen. Tom Casperson, and HB 4782, sponsored by state Rep. John Kivela, designate a sixth Next Michigan Development Corporation (NMDC) in Marquette and Delta counties and the cities of Marquette and Escanaba. NMDCs provide incentives that encourage economic development and investment, job creation and job retention, and ancillary economic growth. The bills are now PAs 238 and 239. HB 4204, sponsored by state Rep. Ben Glardon, designates a portion of M-71 in the village of Vernon in Shiawassee County as the Graham Barlow Jr. WWII Memorial Highway Memorial Highway. It is now PA 244. HB 4208, sponsored by state Rep. Dale Zorn, revises details of an existing law that lets local governments create "resort districts" in a waterfront area, to require two members of a district be residents of the area. It is now PA 245. HB 4993, sponsored by state Rep. Jon Bumstead, creates the Michigan Wildlife Council within the state Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Wildlife Management Public Education fund. The fund will use $1 from state hunting and fishing license fees for advertisements promoting hunting and fishing in the state. It is now PA 246. HB 5073, sponsored by state Rep. Pete Pettalia, allows a local authority to permit angle parking on a state trunk line highway if it receives authorization from the Michigan Department of Transportation. It is now PA 247. HB 5103, sponsored by state Rep. Bruce Rendon, revises membership requirements to the state Snowmobile and Trails Advisory Council by staggering the terms of service so no more than three members will be appointed or reappointed annually. It is now PA 248. SB 68, sponsored by state Sen. Goeff Hansen, allows off-road vehicles wider than 50 inches to operate on state forest trails. It is now PA 249. SB 404, sponsored by state Sen. Jack Brandenburg, revises details of the financial instruments that may be used by a landfill operator to satisfy the performance bond-like perpetual care fund requirements. It is PA 250. Visit legislature.michigan.gov for additional information. Published: Wed, Jan 1, 2014

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