Opinion ID: 849265
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Incompatible Offices Act

Text: The incompatible offices act [3] , at MCL § 15.182; MSA 15.1120(122), contains the general prohibition against holding incompatible offices. It provides that [e]xcept as provided in [MCL 15.183; MSA 15.1120(123)], a public officer or public employee shall not hold 2 or more incompatible offices at the same time. [4] The Legislature defined the phrase incompatible offices for purposes of the act. MCL 15.181(b); MSA 15.1120(121)(b) provides: Incompatible offices means public offices held by a public official which, when the official is performing the duties of any of the public offices held by the official, results in any of the following with respect to those offices held:

The Legislature also created exceptions to the general prohibition on holding incompatible offices. MCL 15.183; MSA 15.1120(123) [5] now generally allows public officers and employees to serve on boards of institutions of higher education and permits a school superintendent to serve as a member of a school board of another district. The statute also allows public officers and employees of local units of government to serve as members of boards of tax increment finance authorities, downtown development authorities, and local development finance authorities. Finally, the statute generally allows public officers and employees of units of local government having small populations to serve as emergency medical services personnel, firefighters, and perform other services for that unit of government. The act does not create a private cause of action. MCL 15.184; MSA 15.1120(124). Rather, it grants the Attorney General and county prosecuting attorneys the authority to apply to the circuit court for injunctive or other appropriate judicial relief or remedy. Id. A violation of the act does not render an action of a public officer or public employee absolutely void. MCL 15.185; MSA 15.1120(125). Instead, the decision to void an action lies within the discretion of the circuit court. Id.