BIENNIAL DEQ REPORT - S.B. 462: ENROLLED SUMMARY



Senate Bill 462 (as enrolled) - PUBLIC ACT 196 of 1999

Sponsor: Senator Ken Sikkema

Senate Committee: Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs

House Committee: Conservation and Outdoor Recreation


Date Completed: 1-11-00


CONTENT


The bill amended the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to require the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in conjunction with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) biennially to prepare a report that assesses the status of and trends related to the overall state of the environment in Michigan. The bill will be repealed December 31, 2005.


The report must be based on environmental indicators identified by the DEQ and the DNR and data obtained through sound scientific methodologies and processes. ("Environmental indicator" means a measure of the state of the natural environment that can be derived from empirical data available. If relevant data are not available, the DEQ must include in the report recommendations for gathering data in the future.)


The report must be submitted to the Governor, the legislative standing committees with jurisdiction over issues primarily related to natural resources and the environment, and the Senate and House Appropriations subcommittees on environmental quality and natural resources. The first report must be submitted by October 1, 2001, and subsequent reports by October 1 every other year. The reports also must be made available to the public electronically and, upon request, in paper format.


The DEQ and DNR must monitor efforts underway in other states and nationally to establish uniformity among environmental indicators that might be included within the report. All State agencies must cooperate with the DEQ and DNR in carrying out their responsibilities under the bill.


MCL 324.2521 -


- Legislative Analyst: N. Nagata


FISCAL IMPACT


The bill will result in an indeterminate increase in the DEQ's administrative costs. The increase will probably be absorbed within existing Department resources.


- Fiscal Analyst: P. GrahamS9900\s462es

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.