FY 2005-06 MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS BUDGET S.B. 277 (S-1, Draft 1): COMMITTEE SUMMARY






Senate Bill 277 (S-1, Draft 1 as reported)
Committee: Appropriations

Changes from FY 2004-05 Year-to-Date:
  1. Armory Closures. The Governor recommends the closure of the Charlotte, Lansing Maintenance, Manistique, Menominee, Saginaw and Three Rivers Armories. (300,000)
2. Family Relief Fund. The Senate added restricted revenue funding to reflect a new program which assists families of those in military service. 750,000
3. Federal Funds for Training Sites. The Governor recommends the appropriation of additional Federal revenue for Military Training sites ($2.0 million) and for Headquarters and Armories ($200,000). 2,200,000
4. Homeland Security. The Governor provided additional Federal Homeland Security funds for training and equipment to be received via a pass-through grant from the Department of State Police. The Senate added another $400,000. 600,000
5. Military Retirement. The Governor recommends the inclusion of addition GF/GP to pay for anticipated payments to retired Michigan Army and Air National Guard per P.A. 150 of 1967. 131,000
6. Veterans Homes. The Governor recommends additional Medicaid/Medicare revenue ($128,000) for the D.J. Jacobetti Home and additional Private Fund donations ($40,000) for the Grand Rapids Veterans Home. 168,000
7. Starbase Grant. The Governor recommends additional Federal funds available for the 100% Federally-funded educational program for elementary school students. 40,000
8. National Guard Tuition Program Adjustment. The Governor recommends a decrease in necessary GF/GP expenditures for the program due to a new Federal educational program that helps pay for Army Guard tuitions. (200,000)
9. Technology Adjustments. The Governor recommends a reduction of $57,000 Federal to reflect technology cost distribution and a reduction of $13,900 GF/GP to reflect changes in DIT rates to agencies. (71,700)
10. Mackinac Bridge Walk. The Governor recommends increased authorization from the Mackinac Bridge Authority for expenditures of Guard members used for security purposes during the Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk. 15,000
11. HR Optimization. The Governor recommends an additional $14,700 to reflect HR optimization efforts. 14,700
12. Armories. The Senate reduced CSS & M to armories by $642.200. (642,200)
13. Other Adjustments. Adjustment for Executive Order 2005-7 which cut $714,100 and supplemental appropriations contained in P.A. 11 of 2005 which added $3,115,900. (2,400,900)
14. Economic Adjustments. Restores FY 2004-05 employee concessions and applies standard economic adjustments to all but employee-related FY 2005-06 salary increases.. 3,555,900
15. Comparison to Governor's Recommendation. The Senate bill totals $642,200 GF/GP less than the Governor's recommendation.
  Total Changes $4,502,000
  FY 2005-06 Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Gross Appropriation $117,616,300
FY 2005-06 MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS BUDGET BOILERPLATE HIGHLIGHTS

Changes from FY 2004-05 Year to Date:
Amended Boilerplate Sections
  1. National Guard Tuition Program. The Governor changed the maximum amount of permissible expenditure from $1.3 to $1.1 million. (Sec. 213-Gov)
2. Veteran Service Organizations. The Senate added language which would replace current Sec. 501 with a requirement that the Department evaluate the State's veterans benefits counseling efforts and make recommendations to the Legislature for a plan that ensures that every veteran in the State is served. (Sec. 501)
3. Veterans Homes. The Senate added language to current year Section 602, requiring the Department to include a feasibility study in its annual report on how privatization of employees might reduce the home's operating costs. (Sec. 602)
  New Boilerplate Sections
  4. Sale of Property. The Senate added new boilerplate which would require the Department to give 60 days prior notice to the Legislature of the sale of any department property. (Sec. 226)
5. Employee Discipline. The Senate added new language requiring the Department of not to take disciplinary action against an employee for communicating with a member of the Legislature or his or her staff. (Sec. 227)

Date Completed: 5-4-05 Fiscal Analyst: Bruce Baker Bill Analysis @ http://www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa May 5, 2005 This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations. himil_cs.doc