US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

Sec. 4a.

(1) A citizen advisory committee is advisory only. Once established, the citizen advisory committee shall do all of the following:

(a) Meet not less than 6 times annually. The citizen advisory committee shall keep minutes of each meeting and submit a copy to the county board.

(b) Review and investigate grievances concerning the friend of the court as provided in section 26.

(c) Advise the court and the county board on the office of the friend of the court's and the friend of the court's duties and performance, and on the community's needs relating to the office's services.

(d) At the end of each calendar year, submit an annual report of its activities to the county board, court, state court administrative office, governor's office, and standing senate and house committees and appropriations subcommittees that are responsible for legislation concerning the judicial branch.

(2) A citizen advisory committee chairperson may appoint subcommittees comprised of 3 committee members to review, investigate, and hold hearings on grievances submitted to the citizen advisory committee as provided in section 26. The chairperson may serve on a grievance subcommittee and shall attempt to appoint members so that each member has an equal opportunity for subcommittee participation.

(3) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a citizen advisory committee meeting is open to the public. A member of the public attending a meeting shall be given a reasonable opportunity to address the committee on an issue under consideration by the committee. If a vote is to be taken by the citizen advisory committee, the opportunity to address the committee shall be given before the vote is taken. A citizen advisory committee meeting, including a meeting of a subcommittee appointed under subsection (2), is not open to the public while the committee or subcommittee is reviewing, investigating, or holding a hearing on a grievance as provided in section 26.