January 24, 2006, Introduced by Senators BROWN, BIRKHOLZ, GARCIA, BASHAM, PATTERSON, BISHOP, PRUSI, HARDIMAN, GEORGE, KUIPERS, McMANUS and OLSHOVE and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs.
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled
"Natural resources and environmental protection act,"
by amending section 74102a (MCL 324.74102a), as added by 2004 PA
392, and by adding section 74102b.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 74102a. (1) The citizens committee for Michigan state
parks is created within the department.
(2) The committee shall consist of 17 individuals appointed by
the director with the advice of the commission.
(3) The members first appointed to the committee shall be
appointed within 60 days after the effective date of the amendatory
act that added this section.
(4) Members of the committee shall serve for terms of 4 years
or until a successor is appointed, whichever is later, except that
of the members first appointed 6 shall serve for 4 years, 6 shall
serve for 3 years, and 5 shall serve for 2 years.
(5) If a vacancy occurs on the committee, the director shall
make an appointment for the unexpired term in the same manner as
the original appointment.
(6) The committee may remove a member of the committee for
incompetency, dereliction of duty, malfeasance, misfeasance, or
nonfeasance in office, or any other good cause upon a majority vote
of the members. An individual shall be removed from the committee
if he or she does not attend 4 consecutive meetings of the
committee.
(7) The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the
director. At the first meeting, the committee shall elect from
among its members a chairperson and other officers as it considers
necessary or appropriate. After the first meeting, the committee
shall meet at least twice each year, or more frequently at the call
of the chairperson or if requested by 9 or more members.
(8) Nine members of the committee constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business at a meeting of the committee. A majority
of the members present and serving are required for official action
of the committee.
(9) The business that the committee may perform shall be
conducted at a public meeting of the committee held in compliance
with the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275.
(10) A writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or
retained by the committee in the performance of an official
function is subject to the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442,
MCL 15.231 to 15.246.
(11) Members of the committee shall serve without
compensation. However, members of the committee may be reimbursed
for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance
of their official duties as members of the committee.
(12) The committee shall do all of the following:
(a) Advise and make recommendations to the governor, the
commission, and the legislature on state parks policy and provide
guidance on state parks development, management, and planning
issues.
(b) Seek the development of a broad variety of programs,
facilities, and services for our citizens utilizing the state
parks.
(c) Inform and educate the public about the importance of and
need for state parks.
(d) Strive to involve citizens in the planning and development
of state parks and to ensure that the facilities, programs, and
projects are barrier-free and accessible to all citizens.
(e) Establish and maintain effective public relations
regarding state parks, utilizing all appropriate communications
media.
(f) Advise on financial planning and pursue adequate budget
support for state parks.
(g) Serve as a liaison and coordinate with other agencies to
ensure a cooperative effort to provide the most effective and
economical services possible at state parks.
(h) Evaluate the state parks programs, facilities, services,
and relationships periodically to assure that the committee's goals
and objectives are being achieved.
(i) Advise and make recommendations to the department on the
gem of the parks award, the state parks volunteer of the year
award, and the state parks employee of the year award established
under section 74124.
(j) Upon request of the department or if the department is
considering a final recommendation to sell any land within a state
park, review and make recommendations to the department on whether
any land within a state park should be sold.
(13) The chairperson of the committee shall ensure that all
proposed policy positions of the committee are sent to the
committee members at least 1 week in advance of the meeting at
which the policy position will be acted upon. The committee may
adopt an emergency resolution that has not been sent to committee
members at least 1 week prior to a meeting of the committee, but
only upon the approval of 3/4 of those present at the meeting.
Sec. 74102b. (1) If 3/4 of the members of the committee
recommend that land within a state park should be sold, the
department may recommend to the legislature that the land be sold.
The department shall not recommend to the legislature that land
within a state park be sold unless the committee has reviewed the
proposed sale and 3/4 of the members of the committee recommended
the sale.
(2) Land within a state park shall not be sold unless
authorized by law.
Enacting section 1. This amendatory act does not take effect
unless Senate Bill No. 972
of the 93rd Legislature is enacted into law.