HB 5859 Summary

• Allows Huron and Sanilac counties to consolidate their probate courts into a single thirty-second-a probate court district if both county boards of commissioners approve the consolidation, effective January 1, 2021.

• Creates a three-judge consolidated probate court divided into three election divisions: one judge for Sanilac County, one judge for Huron County, and one judge for the consolidated district.

• Eliminates the April 1, 2012 sunset provision that would have reduced Huron County from two probate judges to one, contingent on the consolidation approval.

• Allows incumbent probate judges from the former thirty-second and seventy-sixth probate courts to continue serving through the balance of their elected terms in the new consolidated district.

• Takes effect 90 days after enactment.