FUELS OF THE FUTURE COMMISSION ACT S.B. 1077: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Senate Bill 1077 (as introduced 2-23-06)
Sponsor: Senator Jim Barcia
Committee: Technology and Energy
Date Completed: 2-27-06
CONTENT
The bill would create the "Fuels of the Future Commission Act" to establish the Fuels of the Future Commission within the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA); and require the Commission to investigate and make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature regarding alternative fuels. The proposed Act would be repealed on January 1, 2010.
The Commission would have to investigate and recommend strategies that the Governor and the Legislature could implement to promote the use of alternative fuels and encourage the use of vehicles that used alternative fuels. The Commission also would have to identify mechanisms that promoted alternative fuel research.
Additionally, the Commission would have to identify mechanisms that promoted effective communication and coordination of efforts between the State and local governments, private industry, and institutes of higher education concerning the investigation of, research into, and promotion of alternative fuels.
The Commission could review any State regulation that could hinder the use, research, and development of alternative fuels and vehicles that were able to use them and recommend changes to the Governor.
The Commission would have to consist of the following members:
-- The MDA Director or his or her designee.
-- On member representing the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
-- One member representing the Department of Labor and Economic Growth.
-- At least one member from the largest organization in the State that represented corn producers exclusively.
-- At least one member from the largest organization in the State that represented soybean producers exclusively.
-- One representative of automotive fuel blenders in Michigan.
-- One representative of retail petroleum sellers in Michigan.
-- One representative of biodiesel producers.
-- One representative of ethanol producers.
-- One representative of environmental organizations.
-- Three representatives of the automotive manufacturing industry.
-- Three representatives of Michigan colleges and universities that were engaged in alternative fuel research.
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-- Any other member whom the Governor concluded was necessary to further the Commission's purposes.
The MDA Director would have to serve as the chair of the Commission.
Within one year after the bill's effective date, the Commission would have to issue to the Legislature and the Governor a written report on its investigation and recommendations. Follow-up reports would have to be issued at leased annually, and could be issued more frequently if the Commission deemed it advisable.
Legislative Analyst: Julie Koval
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Fiscal Analyst: Craig Thiel
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. sb1077/0506