SB-0648, As Passed House, December 18, 2003

HOUSE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE BILL NO. 648

                                                                             A bill to amend 1917 PA 167, entitled                                             

"Housing law of Michigan,"                                                  

(MCL 125.401 to 125.543) by adding section 85a.                             

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

1   Sec. 85a.  (1) A state or local law enforcement agency shall                

2   notify the enforcing agency and the department of environmental             

3   quality regarding the potential contamination of any property or            

4   dwelling that is or has been the site of illegal drug                       

5   manufacturing.  The state or local law enforcement agency shall             

6   post a written warning on the premises stating that potential               

7   contamination exists and may constitute a hazard to the health or           

8   safety of those who may occupy the premises.                                

9   (2) Within 14 days after receipt of the notification under                  

10  subsection (1) or as soon thereafter as practically possible, the           

11  department of environmental quality, in cooperation with the                

1   enforcing agency, shall review the information received from the            

2   state or local law enforcement agency, emergency first                      

3   responders, or hazardous materials team that was called to the              

4   site and make a determination regarding whether the premises are            

5   likely to be contaminated and whether that contamination may                

6   constitute a hazard to the health or safety of those who may                

7   occupy the premises.  The fact that property or a dwelling has              

8   been used as a site for illegal drug manufacturing shall be                 

9   treated by the department of environmental quality as prima facie           

10  evidence of likely contamination that may constitute a hazard to            

11  the health or safety of those who may occupy those premises.                

12      (3) If the property or dwelling, or both, is determined                     

13  likely to be contaminated under subsection (2), the enforcing               

14  agency shall issue an order requiring the property or dwelling to           

15  be vacated until the property owner establishes that the property           

16  is decontaminated or the risk of likely contamination ceases to             

17  exist.                                                                      

18      (4) The department of environmental quality shall promulgate                

19  rules and procedures necessary to implement this section.                   

20      (5) Nothing in this section precludes a local health                        

21  department from exercising its powers or duties under this act or           

22  the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.1101 to 333.25211.             

23  However, if there is a determination under subsection (2) that is           

24  contrary to an order made by a local health department, then the            

25  determination made under subsection (2) takes precedence.

26      Enacting section 1.  This amendatory act takes effect April                 

27  1, 2004.