2024 Senate Bill 961

AI Analysis – Experimental

Senate Bill No. 958 mandates specific criteria for public bodies in Michigan regarding the collection and reporting of race and ethnicity data. The legislation, known as the "Race and Ethnicity Data Collection Act," requires public bodies to use a single combined race and ethnicity question in their data collection writings, which must include a minimum set of categories and subcategories for various racial and ethnic groups. These categories encompass a broad range of identities, including but not limited to White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latino, and Middle Eastern or North African, with detailed subcategories for each.

The bill stipulates that public bodies must provide instructions for individuals to select all applicable categories and, if a write-in option is available, to enter additional details. Public bodies are required to comply with these criteria for any relevant writings developed or printed 90 days after the act's effective date. Additionally, within 90 days of the act's effective date, each public body must create and post an action plan on their website detailing their compliance efforts and potential risks associated with the data collection.

The legislation does not specify any direct funding allocations or financial figures but implies that public bodies will need to allocate resources to develop, print, and manage the new data collection processes and action plans. The act modifies existing data collection practices by introducing standardized categories and subcategories, which may necessitate updates to current systems and procedures.

Stakeholders, including state and local governmental entities, educational institutions, and other public bodies, will be impacted by the need to adjust their data collection methods. This could lead to more accurate and comprehensive demographic data, benefiting policy-making and resource allocation. However, the implementation may also pose challenges, such as the need for additional training and potential privacy concerns related to the collection of detailed racial and ethnic information.

The bill sets a clear timeline, with significant deadlines being 90 days post-enactment for the development and implementation of the new data collection criteria and the creation of action plans. This timeline ensures that public bodies have a defined period to transition to the new requirements and publicly communicate their compliance strategies.