S.B. 444: COMMITTEE SUMMARY - ADOPT-A-TRAIL PROGRAM
Senate Bill 444 (as introduced 4-23-97)
Sponsor: Senator Leon Stille
Committee: Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
CONTENT
The bill would amend Part 741 (State Parks System) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to require the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to establish an "adopt-a-trail" program that would allow volunteer groups to assist in maintaining and enhancing Michigan trailways.
Volunteer groups in the program could adopt any available Michigan trailway or trailway segment, and could choose any one or more of the following activities: spring cleanups, environmental activities, accessibility projects, special events, trailway maintenance and development, public information and assistance, and/or training. The DNR would have to designate the activities to be performed by a volunteer group, and could provide for more than one group to adopt a trailway or trailway segment.
A volunteer group that wished to participate in the program would have to apply to the DNR and agree to the following:
-- Volunteer groups would have to participate for at least a two-year period.
-- Volunteer groups would have to consist of at least six people who were 18 years of age or older; if a group were a school or scout organization, however, the volunteers could be under 18.
-- Volunteer groups would have to contribute a total of at least 400 service hours over a two-year period.
-- Volunteer groups would have to comply with other reasonable requirements of the DNR.
If campsites were available, a State park manager could issue free camping permits to volunteers who were actively working on adopt-a-trail projects that lasted more than one day. A State park manager also could waive park entry fees for volunteers entering State parks to work on adopt-a-trail projects.
The DNR would have to design and erect near the entrance of each Michigan trailway in the adopt-a-trail program or along the trailway an adopt-a-trail program sign with the name of the volunteer group's sponsoring organization listed for each group that had contributed at least 100 service hours by volunteers.
Proposed MCL 324.74105a - Legislative Analyst: S. Margules
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have an indeterminate fiscal impact depending upon the amount of volunteer participation.
The Department currently has an Adopt-a-Park program with approximately .5 FTE. This proposal would augment that program, and could result in indeterminate cost savings from volunteer trail improvements. Last year, "Adopt-a-Shoreline" and "Adopt-a-River" programs also were enacted.
- Fiscal Analyst: G. Cutler
S9798\S444SA
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.