NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST FUND:  CONSIDER

TRAILS INTERSECTING DOWNTOWNS

Senate Bill 978

Sponsor:  Sen. Tony Stamas

House Committee:  Commerce

Senate Committee:  Commerce and Tourism

Complete to 6-16-08

A SUMMARY OF SENATE BILL 978 AS PASSED BY THE SENATE 6-5-08

The bill would require the board of the Natural Resources Trust Fund to give particular consideration to the acquisition of land and rights in land for trails that intersect downtown areas when the board prepares the annual list of lands and public recreation facilities it has prioritized for acquisition or development.

Under Part 19 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, the board of the Natural Resources Trust Fund must determine which land and rights in land within Michigan should be acquired and which public recreation facilities should be developed with money from the Natural Resources Trust Fund.  Each January, the board must submit to the Legislature a list of the land and rights in land and the public recreation facilities that the board has determined should be acquired or developed with Trust Fund money, compiled in order of priority. Under the bill, in preparing that list, the board would have to give particular consideration to the acquisition of land and rights in land for recreational trails that intersect the downtown areas of cities and villages.

MCL 324.1907

FISCAL IMPACT:

This bill would not have a fiscal impact on the state or on local governmental units.  There is the possibility that more urban trail projects could be funded, if funding priorities shifted in the manner required by this bill.  This could increase the amount of grant funding provided to local governments.  A local 50:50 match requirement should be expected.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Chris Couch

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Kirk Lindquist

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.