MDOT LITTERING HOTLINE - S.B. 860 (S-2): FLOOR ANALYSIS

sans-serif">Senate Bill 860 (Substitute S-2 as reported)

Sponsor: Senator Wayne Kuipers

Committee: Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs

CONTENT

The bill would amend Part 89 (Littering) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to require the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to establish and maintain a statewide toll-free telephone number to receive information on violations of that part. The Department would have to take steps to inform the public of the existence and purpose of the toll-free number, including publicizing it on the MDOT website.

The bill is tie-barred to Senate Bill 721, which would impose a surcharge on land-filled solid waste, and Senate Bill 790, which would establish the Recycling Advisory Council within the Department of Environmental Quality.

Proposed MCL 324.8905f - Legislative Analyst: Claire Layman

FISCAL IMPACT

The requirement to establish and maintain a statewide toll-free telephone number would increase the administrative costs of the Michigan Department of Transportation. Currently, there are no estimates of the costs associated with this new responsibility. Some of the costs of this function could be covered by the revenue generated under the surcharge proposed by Senate Bill 721.

Article IX, Section 9 of the Michigan Constitution restricts Michigan Transportation Fund (MTF) money credited to MDOT for “the transportation purposes of planning, administering, constructing, reconstructing, financing, and maintaining state, county, city, and village roads, streets, and bridges...”. It is unclear whether MDOT’s new responsibility under the bill would be eligible for funding from MTF revenue, in light of the constitutional restriction. Revenue that is not constitutionally restricted also is available to MDOT. Presumably, a portion of that funding could be used to support the new administrative activities necessitated by the bill.

Date Completed: 12-15-03 - Fiscal Analyst: Jessica Runnels

 - Craig ThielFloor\sb860 - Bill Analysis @ www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa

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.