Bill Text: MI HB4549 | 2013-2014 | 97th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Local government; public services; public entities competing against private competition; prohibit under certain circumstances. Creates new act.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 6-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-04-17 - Printed Bill Filed 04/17/2013 [HB4549 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2013-HB4549-Introduced.html
HOUSE BILL No. 4549
April 16, 2013, Introduced by Reps. MacMaster, McMillin, Yonker, Kelly, Bumstead and MacGregor and referred to the Committee on Oversight.
A bill to prohibit governmental entities from commercially
competing against the private sector; and to provide for remedies
and penalties.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the
"government competition against private enterprise act".
Sec. 2. The legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
(a) Private enterprise is necessary to the health, welfare,
and prosperity of this state.
(b) Government competes with private enterprise when it
provides goods and services to the public beyond its government
function.
(c) This act is intended to protect economic opportunities for
private enterprise against unfair competition by government
agencies and to enhance the efficient provision of goods and
services to the public.
Sec. 3. As used in this act:
(a) "Commercial activity" means performing services or
providing goods that can normally be obtained from private
enterprise.
(b) "Essential services" means those services that are
essential for the public, including, but not limited to, water
supply, sewers, garbage and trash removal, recycling, utilities,
streets and roads, and public transportation.
(c) "Government agency" or "agency" means the state, a county,
city, village, township, educational institution, or a department,
agency, or subdivision thereof.
(d) "Government competition" means the provision of goods or
services to the public by a government agency that are or can be
offered by private enterprise.
(e) "Government functions" means those functions that are
exclusively the prerogative of government, including, but not
limited to, operation of the agency or department, fulfillment of
the legal obligations of the agency, law enforcement, and the
judicial system.
(f) "Necessary services" means those services that are
critical for human safety and health, including, but not limited
to, fire departments, emergency services, and medical services.
(g) "Private enterprise" means an individual, firm,
partnership, corporation, association, or any other legal entity
engaging in the manufacturing, processing, sale, offering for sale,
rental, leasing, delivery, dispensing, distributing, or advertising
of goods or services for profit.
(h) "Vital services" means those services that are normally
available in a community, including, but not limited to, food
stores, drugstores, child care, elder care, and telecommunications
services.
Sec. 4. A government agency is prohibited from competing
against private enterprise, including by intergovernmental or
interagency agreement, and is prohibited from funding,
capitalizing, securing the indebtedness of, or leasing the
obligations of, or subsidizing, any charitable or not-for-profit
institution which would use the support to compete against private
enterprise.
Sec. 5. The following functions or services are excepted from
this act:
(a) Government functions.
(b) Necessary services. Nothing in this act shall preclude a
government agency from utilizing private enterprise to provide
necessary services.
(c) The development, management, and operation of state parks,
historical monuments, and hiking or equestrian trails.
(d) Essential services, except that, if private industry can
provide essential services, government agencies shall entertain
bids from private enterprise and, if practicable, contract with
private enterprise to provide essential services.
(e) Vital services, but only to the extent they are not
available from private enterprise.
(f) Provisions of goods and services to students and invited
guests of universities, community colleges, and public school
districts.
Sec. 6. In cases of government competition against private
enterprise that exist on the effective date of this act, the
government agency may continue to engage in the competition but
shall not exceed the scope of the competition. Nothing in this act
precludes a government agency from contracting with private
enterprise to provide goods or services to the public.
Sec. 7. (1) A cause of action may be initiated under this act
to enjoin a government agency from participating in commercial
activity resulting in competition against private enterprise.
(2) A civil action for injunctive relief under this act may
request preliminary injunctive relief by alleging that a government
agency is participating in commercial activity resulting in
competition with private enterprise. Upon receipt of the complaint,
the court shall order a preliminary hearing not later than 30 days
from the date of the complaint.
(3) The court shall issue appropriate preliminary injunctive
relief if at the preliminary hearing the plaintiff makes a prima
facie showing of all of the following:
(a) The government agency is or is planning to participate in
commercial activity.
(b) That commercial activity results or will result in
competition with private enterprise.
(c) The threat to private enterprise or public money is
imminent.
(4) The plaintiff is not required to show that they have no
adequate remedy at law or will suffer irreparable harm nor any
other common law element applicable to obtaining preliminary
injunctive relief.
(5) If after a final hearing on the merits, the court finds
that a government agency is participating in commercial activity
resulting in competition with private enterprise, the court shall
grant permanent injunctive relief and shall issue orders as
necessary to abate the government competition with private
enterprise.
(6) The court may award actual damages including, but not
limited to, costs, reasonable attorney fees, and all expenses and
disbursements made by the plaintiff in bringing the action.
