ADOPT-A-FOREST - H.B. 6013 (H-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS
House Bill 6013 (Substitute H-1 as reported without amendment)
Sponsor: Representative Scott Shackleton
House Committee: Great Lakes and Tourism
Senate Committee: Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
CONTENT
The bill would add Part 360 to the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to require the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to administer an "adopt-a-forest" program, which would have to be designed to remove illegally dumped waste (solid waste, hazardous waste, and other recyclable materials) from public forestlands. The program would have to include public informational activities, but be directed primarily toward encouraging and retaining the participation of volunteers in cleaning up public forestland in the State.
The DNR could enter into three-year agreements with participants to implement the program. An agreement would have to identify a parcel of public forestland, and specify the responsibilities of the participant. In implementing Part 360 and the program, the DNR would have to adopt program guidelines; create a recognition program to acknowledge the efforts of participants; provide safety information and assistance to participants; provide participants with natural resource information and educational materials; assist in coordinating cleanups and identifying locations of wastes on public forestlands; and develop a data tracking system related to cleanup activities.
The DNR could provide up to 100% of preapproved waste disposal fees upon request by a participant in any fiscal year as long as funds were available and the participant provided in-kind services equaling or exceeding 25% of the amount of the fees. Any money received by a participant from the sale of recyclable materials could be retained by the participant to be used for miscellaneous expenses related to the cleanup activities.
The DNR would have to report annually to the standing committees of the Legislature and the Senate and House Appropriations subcommittees on natural resources. The DNR also would have to compile information gathered from the data tracking system for inclusion in the annual report prepared under the bill.
MCL 324.36001-324.36005 - Legislative Analyst: N. Nagata
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would result in an indeterminate increase in Department of Natural Resources administrative costs. The magnitude of the increase and the extent to which these costs could be absorbed within current staff resources would depend on the number of program participants, and cleanup projects undertaken. The size of the program would depend on the annual appropriations made available for it. In FY 2000-01, there is $50,000 appropriated from the State's General Fund for an Adopt-A-Forest Program.
Date Completed: 11-30-00 - Fiscal Analyst: P. Graham
floor\hb6013 (H-1) - Analysis available @ http://www.michiganlegislature.org
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.