§ 24.
Annual report--Violations--Action and enforcement.
Any corporation or syndicate
that owns agricultural land or engages in farming is required to report information necessary for
the enforcement of §§ 21 to 24, inclusive, of Article XVII to the secretary of state on an annual
basis, under rules promulgated by the secretary pursuant to state law. The secretary of state shall
monitor such reports and notify the attorney general of any possible violations, and any resident
of the state may also notify the attorney general of any possible violations. If a corporation or
syndicate violates any provision of §§ 21 to 24, inclusive, of Article XVII, the attorney general
shall commence an action in circuit court to enjoin any pending illegal purchase of land or
livestock, or to force divestiture of land or livestock held in violation of §§ 21 to 24, inclusive, of
Article XVII. The court shall order any land held in violation of §§ 21 to 24, inclusive, of Article
XVII to be divested within two years and any livestock to be divested within six months. If land
so ordered by the court has not been divested within two years, the court shall declare the land
escheated to the state. If the attorney general fails to bring an action in circuit court to enforce
§§ 21 to 24, inclusive, of Article XVII, any resident of the state has standing in circuit court to
sue for enforcement.
History: Section proposed by initiated measure, ch 333, adopted Nov. 3, 1998.