Bill
HB 6001
Allows cities to create administrative hearings bureaus to civilly adjudicate blight violations, with hearings, fines up to 10,000, and specific enforcement rules.
Status / Timeline
- Electronically reproduced: 09/26/2024. Introduced (first reading): 09/26/2024 (Rep. Stephanie A. Young listed as introducer). House introduction recorded 01/22/2025. Referred to committee(s) for consideration. (Multiple committee referrals and related docket activity occur in 2024–2025.)
Purpose
- Authorize and set procedures for certain Michigan cities to create administrative hearings bureaus to adjudicate and sanction designated "blight violations" under the Home Rule City Act (amending section 4q of 1909 PA 279, MCL 117.4q). The bill clarifies jurisdiction, service requirements, procedural protections, landlord inspection rules, and limits on penalties.
Key provisions
- Eligibility: Cities with population ≥7,500 (any county), or ≥3,300 when located in a county with population ≥1,500,000, may establish an administrative hearings bureau for blight violations.
- Scope: Bureau handles civil adjudication of blight-designated charter/ordinance violations only — explicitly excludes criminal offenses, traffic civil infractions, municipal civil infractions, and state civil infractions. No authority to impose jail. Maximum civil fine: $10,000.
- Types of ordinances that can be designated as blight violations (city ordinance must specify): zoning; building/property maintenance; solid waste/illegal dumping; disease/sanitation; noxious weeds; vehicle abandonment/inoperative/impoundment/licensing; right-of-way signage (placement without proper permit); and ordinances substantially similar to specified housing law sections (MCL 125.538–125.542).
- Enforcement mechanics:
- Cities must issue a written violation notice to initiate a proceeding. Service must be personal or by first-class mail; email or website posting is optional. If emailed, the city must request a read receipt.
- A violation notice may be treated as made under oath when it contains a perjury declaration above the official’s signature.
- An authorized local official may issue a notice where there is reasonable cause and the city attorney (or assistant) has approved issuance in writing.
- Admissions, hearings, defaults:
- Alleged violators may admit responsibility (in person, by representative, or by mail) — bureau may accept admissions and impose sanctions per schedule.
- If denying responsibility, the person may appear for an adjudicatory hearing. Failures to appear can result in default orders and collection of civil fines and costs.
- Cities must create rules to permit alleged violators to seek to set aside default orders.
- Landlord/rental inspection limits:
- If a city requires landlord registration in a rental inspection program and the landlord is registered, the city shall not issue a blight violation at inspection unless: (a) the landlord first receives a written correction notice with a reasonable time to correct, or (b) the violation is caused by the landlord’s act/inaction and creates an emergency (immediate risk of harm or property damage).
- Similar limits apply in cities without a registration program: written correction notice or emergency exception required before issuing a blight notice during inspection.
- Fiscal/administrative: Operating expenses of the bureau are borne by the establishing city.
Who is affected
- Eligible cities (population thresholds), property owners, landlords and tenants, municipal code enforcement officials, municipal attorneys, and parties subject to blight enforcement. Foreclosing governmental units and certain land bank authorities are excluded from proceedings.
Potential impacts
- Provides a streamlined civil administrative route for municipal enforcement of certain property/health/safety ordinances (potentially faster and less costly than criminal prosecution).
- Preserves procedural protections (right to hearing, ability to admit/contest, rules to set aside defaults).
- Balances enforcement with protections for landlords by generally requiring correction notices and cure periods except for landlord-caused emergencies.
- Financial impact: cities bear operating costs for bureaus; potential revenue from civil fines (capped at $10,000 per violation).
Bill sponsor(s)
- Introduced by Rep. Stephanie A. Young (document lists additional House members as initial introducers); primary sponsorship also referenced for Rep. Skidmore in docket notes.
Note: Text provided above is the House introduced version of the bill (some sections truncated). For final legislative status, committee reports, and any amendments, consult the legislative history and enacted law resources.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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