SENATE BILL No. 1231

May 2, 2000, Introduced by Senators A. SMITH, PETERS, CHERRY and DE BEAUSSAERT

and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs.

A bill to establish state goals to guide policies, programs,

and rules of state agencies that impact natural resource and com-

munity development; and to prescribe the powers and duties of

certain state agencies and officials.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

1 Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the

2 "Michigan strategic resource and community development act".

3 Sec. 2. The legislature finds all of the following:

4 (a) In accordance with article IV, section 52 of the state

5 constitution of 1963, it is in the best interest of the citizens

6 of the state that all state departments make judicious use of the

7 natural resources of the state.

8 (b) That the report entitled "Michigan's Environment and

9 Relative Risk", dated July 1992, listed the absence of land use

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1 planning that considers resources and the integrity of ecosystems

2 in the highest category of relative environmental concerns.

3 (c) That the integrated land use task force report to the

4 Michigan natural resources commission entitled "Toward Integrated

5 Land Use Planning" dated August 1996 stated at page 18:

6 "The state should have an overall land use policy mission that

7 expresses a strong commitment to integrated planning and growth

8 which protects the functioning of ecosystems and is focused on

9 the development of sustainable communities. This mission and

10 goals statement then would be used by all agencies and units of

11 government as they develop their strategies for managed growth

12 within their areas of jurisdiction.".

13 Sec. 3. As used in this act:

14 (a) "State goals" means the state goals established in sec-

15 tion 4.

16 (b) "Rule" means a rule promulgated pursuant to the adminis-

17 trative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to

18 24.328.

19 Sec. 4. The following are established as state goals:

20 (a) To protect the natural resources of the state from pol-

21 lution, impairment, and destruction; to conserve scenic and his-

22 toric areas and open spaces; to preserve and maintain agricul-

23 tural lands; and to provide for the protection of private prop-

24 erty rights.

25 (b) To conserve forestlands by maintaining the forestland

26 base and to protect the state's forest economy by making possible

27 economically efficient forest practices consistent with sound

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1 management of soil, air, water, and fish and wildlife resources;

2 and to provide for recreational opportunities and agriculture

3 within those forestlands.

4 (c) To maintain and improve the quality of the air, water,

5 and land resources of the state; to protect life and property

6 from natural disasters and hazards; to satisfy the recreational

7 needs of the citizens of the state and visitors; and, where

8 appropriate, to provide for the siting of necessary recreational

9 facilities.

10 (d) To provide adequate opportunities throughout the state

11 for a variety of economic activities vital to the health, wel-

12 fare, and prosperity of Michigan's citizens; to provide for the

13 housing needs of citizens of this state; to provide for an effi-

14 cient arrangement of public facilities and services to serve as a

15 framework for continued urban and rural development; to provide

16 and encourage a safe, convenient, and economic multimodel trans-

17 portation system; to conserve energy in all appropriate pursuits;

18 and to continue to provide appropriate incentives to encourage

19 redevelopment of brownfields.

20 (e) To recognize and protect the unique environmental, eco-

21 nomic, and social values of wetlands, rivers, inland lakes and

22 streams, sand dunes, and coastal shorelands, recognizing their

23 value for protection and maintenance of water quality, fish and

24 wildlife habitat, water-dependent uses, economic resources, rec-

25 reation, and aesthetics. The management of these shoreland areas

26 shall be compatible with the characteristics of the adjacent

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1 coastal waters to conserve the long-term values, benefits, and

2 natural resources of the Great Lakes.

3 Sec. 5. Each state department shall do all of the follow-

4 ing, as applicable:

5 (a) Establish or revise, as appropriate, a mission statement

6 consistent with the state goals.

7 (b) Evaluate whether current policies, programs, and rules

8 implement the state goals.

9 (c) Establish policies, programs, and rules related to that

10 department's mission that implement the state goals.

11 (d) Coordinate the department's policies, programs, and

12 rules that impact the state goals with other state department's

13 policies, programs, and rules that also impact the state goals.

14 (e) Comply with all relevant and applicable federal, state,

15 and local environmental laws and rules and regulations.

16 (f) Every other year, make recommendations to the legisla-

17 ture and the governor on all of the following:

18 (i) Statutory changes that would remove impediments to or

19 assist the department in implementing the state goals.

20 (ii) Methods of improving interdepartmental cooperation

21 related to implementing the state goals.

22 (iii) Changes to the state goals that would assist the

23 department and the state in promoting sound natural resource and

24 community development.

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