Bill Text: MI HB5521 | 2023-2024 | 102nd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Public utilities: other; use of revenues as donation to a 501(c)(4) that engages in campaign or lobbying activities; prohibit. Amends 1939 PA 3 (MCL 460.1 - 460.11) by adding sec. 6aa.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 15-1)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-27 - Bill Electronically Reproduced 02/22/2024 [HB5521 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2023-HB5521-Introduced.html
HOUSE BILL NO. 5521
A bill to amend 1939 PA 3, entitled
"An act to provide for the regulation and control of public and certain private utilities and other services affected with a public interest within this state; to provide for alternative energy suppliers; to provide for licensing; to include municipally owned utilities and other providers of energy under certain provisions of this act; to create a public service commission and to prescribe and define its powers and duties; to abolish the Michigan public utilities commission and to confer the powers and duties vested by law on the public service commission; to provide for the powers and duties of certain state governmental officers and entities; to provide for the continuance, transfer, and completion of certain matters and proceedings; to abolish automatic adjustment clauses; to prohibit certain rate increases without notice and hearing; to qualify residential energy conservation programs permitted under state law for certain federal exemption; to create a fund; to encourage the utilization of resource recovery facilities; to prohibit certain acts and practices of providers of energy; to allow for the securitization of stranded costs; to reduce rates; to provide for appeals; to provide appropriations; to declare the effect and purpose of this act; to prescribe remedies and penalties; and to repeal acts and parts of acts,"
(MCL 460.1 to 460.11) by adding section 6aa.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
Sec. 6aa. (1) An electric utility or natural gas utility shall not make a donation or contribution to any of the following:
(a) A 501(c)(4) organization or a 527 organization that is controlled or directed by any of the following:
(i) A candidate for state office.
(ii) An elected state official.
(iii) A former elected state official.
(iv) An appointed state official.
(v) A state or local party committee.
(vi) A 501(c)(4) organization or a 527 organization in which a state or local candidate, appointed official, or elected official established, controls, or sits on the board of that organization.
(b) A 501(c)(4) organization or a 527 organization in which a candidate for state office, appointed state official, elected state official, former elected state official, or an affiliate is employed by or sits on the board of that organization.
(c) A candidate committee.
(d) A political party committee.
(e) A political committee.
(f) An independent committee.
(g) A separate segregated fund.
(2) An electric utility, natural gas utility, or affiliated person that violates this section is subject to a fine of not less than 5 times and not greater than 10 times the amount of the donation or contribution.
(3) As used in this section:
(a) "Affiliate" means any family member, employee, contract employee, or staff member of any of the following:
(i) An elected state official.
(ii) A candidate for state office.
(iii) A former elected state official.
(iv) An appointed state official.
(b) "Candidate" means that term as defined in section 3 of the Michigan campaign finance act, 1976 PA 388, MCL 169.203.
(d) "Elected state official" means an individual who holds an elective state office in this state.
(e) "Family member" means any of the following:
(i) A spouse or ex-spouse.
(ii) A child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, sibling, niece, or nephew.
(iii) The spouse of a child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, sibling, niece, or nephew.
(f) "501(c)(4) organization" means an organization that claims tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(4) of the internal revenue code of 1986, 26 USC 501.
(g) "527 organization" means an organization that claims tax-exempt status under section 527 of the internal revenue code of 1986, 26 USC 527.
(h) "Former elected state official" means an individual who no longer holds elective state office but held elective state office in this state during the previous 2 years.
(i) "Independent committee" means that term as defined in section 8 of the Michigan campaign finance act, 1976 PA 388, MCL 169.208.
(j) "Political committee" means that term as defined in section 11 of the Michigan campaign finance act, 1976 PA 388, MCL 169.211.
(k) "Political party committee" means that term as defined in section 11 of the Michigan campaign finance act, 1976 PA 388, MCL 169.211.
