FY 2005-06 NATURAL RESOURCES BUDGET S.B. 278 (CR-1): CONFERENCE REPORT







Amount Over/(Under) GF/GP Target: ($600)
FY 2004-05 Year-to-Date Gross Appropriation $267,546,100
Changes from FY 2004-05 Year-to-Date:
  Items Included by the Senate and House
1. Economic Adjustments. The budget includes economic adjustments for salaries and wages, insurance, retirement, worker's compensations, building occupancy charges, and rent. The proposed budget also restores amounts for concessions from FY 2004-05. 10,477,600
2. General Fund Reductions. The budget reduces General Fund appropriations for a number of activities, including aerial digital imagery, mapping services, state fair and outdoor shows, fire outreach and assistance, and information technology. (398,200)
3. Other Changes. The budget includes adjustments to restricted and Federal funds to reflect actual revenue available, statutory provisions for payments in lieu of taxes, and the removal of one-time items for FY 2004-05. (4,318,200)
Conference Agreement on Items of Difference
4. General Law Enforcement Reduction. The Conference Committee concurs with the Governor to reduce the appropriation for conservation officers and other law enforcement activities by $1,000,000 GF/GP. The net change reflects a reduction of $1,600,000 GF/GP and the appropriation of $300,000 from each of the Snowmobile Registration Fee Fund and the ORV Trail Improvement Fund. (1,000,000)
5. Snowmobile Law Enforcement Grants. In order to make the additional Snowmobile Registration Fee revenue available for general law enforcement expenses, the Governor would reduce the appropriation for grants to local law enforcement agencies. The Senate and Conference Committee restore the current funding level for the grants. 0
6. ORV Grant Funding. To maintain the current statutory formula for distribution of the ORV Trail Improvement Fund and support the additional money for law enforcement, the Senate and Conference Committee increase the appropriation for ORV trail development, restoration, and law enforcement grants. 982,900
7. Captive Cervidae Licensing and Inspection Fees. The Governor recommends a fee increase of $251,000 for the licensing and inspection of captive cervidae facilities to offset a General Fund reduction of $129,100 and also enhance the program. The Conference Committee funds the program at the Governor's proposed level, but uses General Fund, of which $115,800 comes from the information technology unit. 0
8. General Fund Reductions. To meet the Target agreement, the Conference Committee removes General Fund of $350,000 from purchased land payments in lieu of taxes and shifts $350,000 from General Fund to the Forest Development Fund for forest fire protection. (350,000)
9. Other Changes. The Conference Committee does not include restricted funding included by the Senate for activities at 3 dams on the Kalamazoo River and removes General Fund related to economic savings. It increases restricted funds for timber marking. 2,900
Total Changes $5,397,000
  FY 2005-06 Conference Report Gross Appropriation $272,943,100
FY 2005-06 NATURAL RESOURCES BUDGET BOILERPLATE HIGHLIGHTS



















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































Changes from FY 2004-05 Year to Date:
  Items Included by the Senate and House
1. Sections Removed. Neither the Conference Committee nor the Governor include sections related to quarterly travel reports, water trails, a boating access pilot project, and a watercraft noise study. (1,300,000)
2. Sections Retained. The Conference Committee concurs with the Senate and House to retain sections related to a grant and loan catalog, quarterly land transactions, construction in State parks, Game and Fish Protection Fund appropriations, an administrative cost plan, fish advisory information, wolf and coyote indemnification payments, a prohibition to impede water control structures, defibrillators in State parks, misuse of free day passes, Porcupine Mountains State Park operations, adopt-a-forest program, and snowmobile law enforcement grants. 0
3. Restricted Funds Report. The Governor revises the due date for this report from February 15 to 14 days after introduction of the executive budget recommendation. The Conference Committee concurs. (Sec. 209) 982,900
4. Deprived and Depressed. The Governor includes language directing the Department to ensure companies in deprived and depressed communities compete for State contracts. The Conference Committee removes the section. 0
5. Contingency Funds. The Governor includes authorization for contingency fund appropriations of $3.0 million Federal, $5.0 million restricted, $100,000 local, and $500,000 private. The Conference Report removes the section. (2,400,000)
6. Cooperative Resource Programs. The Senate and House retain the due date of October 15 for an interdepartmental grant of $1.0 million to the Department of Agriculture for a forest management initiative. (Sec. 803)  
Conference Agreement on Items of Difference
7. Section Retained. The Conference Committee includes sections requiring a privatization project plan, a report from the MI State Waterways Commission, Federal conservation grants, and staff for timber marking.
8. Sections Removed. The Conference Committee removes sections regarding forest certification, rural fire protection grants, a bovine TB report, a report on habitat improvement and treatment projects, retention of reports, the Harbor Development Fund appropriation, and the Island Lake shooting range.
9. Prohibit Disciplinary Action. The Conference Committee concurs with the Senate to add a section prohibiting the Department from taking disciplinary action against an employee for communicating with the Legislature. (Sec. 220)
10. Turkey Hunting Licenses. The Conference Committee revises House language directing the Department to sell licenses not allotted before the beginning of the season. (Sec. 406)
11. Bobcat Study. The Conference Report requires the Department to complete a report on the bobcat population in the Lower Peninsula and urges a prohibition on bobcat trapping until the report in submitted. (Sec.502)
12. Cormorant Action Plan. The Conference Committee revises House language to require a regional action plan and report to manage the cormorant population in the State. (Sec. 503)
13. Kalamazoo River Dam Removal. The Conference Committee does not include Senate language directing $250,000 to the preparation and removal of the Otsego, Plainwell and Trowbridge dams on the Kalamazoo River.
14. State Park Sponsorship. The Conference Report requires the Department to make recommendations for corporate sponsorship in selected areas of State parks, consulting with the State Park Advisory Committee. (Sec. 705)
15. Timber Marking Targets. The Conference Committee revises the House language to make annual timber marking targets subject to the forest certification process and require sale of the timber in the same year. (Sec. 804)
16. Gaylord-Cheboygan Snowmobile Trail. The Conference Committee concurs with the Senate to add a section directing the Department to develop a motorized snowmobile trail connecting these cities. (Sec. 806)
17. ORV Trail Development. The Conference Committee revises Senate language requiring the Department to submit a plan to increase the mileage of ORV trails by 25% over 4 years. (Sec. 807)

Date Completed: 9-15-05 Fiscal Analyst: Jessica Runnels Bill Analysis @ http://www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa September 15, 2005 This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations. hidnr_conf.doc