A STUDY REPORT TO THE MICHIGAN LAW REVISION COMMISSION
The Michigan Law Revision Commission is currently studying and
reviewing government ethics legislation in the State of Michigan. In 1998, the
Commission retained the services of Professor Michael Lawrence, Detroit College
of Law at Michigan State University, who prepared a report that proposes
amending current Michigan legislation on government ethics. His final report to
the Commission follows.
The Commission will be studying this proposed legislation in 1999. This
project is in its preliminary phase, and the Commission has not taken a position on
any of Professor Lawrence's proposals. Some of the issues to be resolved include
(1) the type of financial disclosure that should be required, e.g., transactional only
or a broader type of disclosure; (2) whether local government civil service
employees should be included or excluded from the proposed legislation; (3)
whether certain language in the draft Act is so vague that persons might not have
reasonable notice that their conduct is proscribed; and (4) whether a "one-size-fits-
all" government ethics statute should be enacted akin to the Open Meetings Act
and the Freedom of Information Act.
The Commission will not make any recommendations to the Legislature
until after interested persons have
had an opportunity to review and
comment on Professor
Lawrence's proposal. Public
comments on Professor
Lawrence's report are welcome.
Interested persons may submit
written comments to Professor
Kevin Kennedy, the
Commission's Executive
Secretary.