Bill Text: MI SJRA | 2023-2024 | 102nd Legislature | Introduced

Michigan Senate Joint Resolution 0

Introduced

Bill Title: Public employees and officers: other; certain state employee communications with members of the legislature; protect under certain circumstances. Amends the state constitution by adding sec. 9 to art. XI.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 8-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-01-17 - Referred To Committee On Labor [SJRA Detail]

Download: Michigan-2023-SJRA-Introduced.html

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION A

January 17, 2023, Introduced by Senators THEIS, BELLINO, VICTORY, MCBROOM, WEBBER, LAUWERS, HOITENGA and NESBITT and referred to the Committee on Labor.

A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the state constitution of 1963, by adding section 9 to article XI, to protect certain communications with members of the legislature.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the state of Michigan, That the following amendment to the state constitution of 1963, to protect certain communications with members of the legislature, is proposed, agreed to, and submitted

to the people of the state:

article XI

Sec. 9. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this constitution, and except as provided in subsection (3), a department or agency of this state shall not take disciplinary action against an employee of the department or agency who is in the classified state civil service because the employee communicates with a member of the senate or house of representatives or a member's staff.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this constitution, and except as provided in subsection (3), a member or office of the senate or house of representatives shall not take disciplinary action against a nonpartisan employee of the senate or house of representatives because the employee communicates with a member of the senate or house of representatives or a member's staff.

(3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply if either of the following conditions is met:

(a) The communication is prohibited by law and the department or agency or the member or office of the senate or house of representatives taking the disciplinary action is exercising its authority as provided by law.

(b) The employee knowingly makes a false statement in his or her communication.

Resolved further, That the foregoing amendment shall be submitted to the people of the state at the next general election in the manner provided by law.