GREAT LAKES STATE PARK PACKAGE

House Bill 4638

Sponsor:  Rep. Steven Lindberg

House Bill 4639

Sponsor:  Rep. Daniel Acciavatti

House Bill 4640

Sponsor:  Rep.  Joel Sheltrown

Committee:  Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources

Complete to 5-18-07

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILLS 4638-4640 AS INTRODUCED 4-24-07

In general, House Bills 4638-4640 are part of a six-bill package that, among other things, would designate the submerged bottomlands of the Great Lakes owned or controlled by the state of Michigan as the "Great Lakes State Park," and would establish a voluntary $15 annual pass fee for the park to be credited to a new "Great Lakes State Park Preservation Fund."  

·                    House Bill 4638 would expand the membership and duties of the current "Underwater Salvage and Preserve Committee" and rename it the "Great Lakes State Park and Salvage Advisory Committee."

·                    House Bill 4638 would amend the definition section of Part 761 to reflect the new name of the advisory committee.

·                    House Bill 4639 would require that the Great Lakes State Park be managed to protect and preserve its natural features and to enhance recreational opportunities, including boating, fishing, swimming, and scuba diving. 

These House bills are all tie-barred to each other and to Senate Bills 429-431. 

·                    Senate Bill 429 would create the Great Lakes State Park.

·                    Senate Bill 430 would establish the Great Lakes State Park Preservation Fund.

·                    Senate Bill 431 would create a voluntary annual $15 Great Lakes State Park pass fee. 

More detail on the House bills is provided below. 

House Bill 4638

The bill would amend Section 761 (Aboriginal Records and Antiquities) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) to replace the current "Underwater Salvage and Preserve Committee" with the "Great Lakes State Park and Salvage Advisory Committee."  The Committee would provide technical and other advice to state agencies—the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Department of History, Arts, and Libraries (HAL)—with respect to their responsibilities (1) under Part 761 (Aboriginal Records and Antiquities), (2) Part 325 (Great Lakes Submerged Lands), and (3) relating to the Great Lakes State Park.

Composition and appointment of the advisory committee.  The committee would be expanded from nine to eleven members, and would be composed of:

·                                The person within the DNR with principal responsibility for park and recreation planning and enhancement of recreation opportunities on state land (appointed by DNR director).

·                                The person within the DNR with principal responsibility for law enforcement on Great Lakes surface waters and bottomlands (appointed by DNR director).

·                                The person within Travel Michigan with principal responsibility for tourism research and marketing (appointed by Travel Michigan director).

·                                The person within the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) with principal responsibility for administering Parts 761 and 325 (appointed by the DEQ director).

·                                The person within the Department of History, Arts, and Libraries (HAL) with principal responsibility for administering Part 761 (appointed by HAL director).

·                                Six persons from the general public (appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate), representing:

o                                                       Marine salvage and construction companies.

o                                                       Retail dive shops.

o                                                       Dive charter boat operators.

o                                                       Maritime Museum organizations.

o                                                       Academic researchers.

o                                           Statewide organizations with an interest in Great Lakes bottomlands preserves. 

Permissible subjects for committee recommendations.  The current advisory committee is authorized to make recommendations on the following subjects:

·                    Creation and boundaries of Great Lakes Underwater preserves.

·                    Issuance of underwater salvage permits.

·                    Permit fees and appropriate use of the revenue generated by fees.

·                    Need for, content of, and promulgation of rules under Part 761.

·                    Appropriate legislation.

·                    Program operation. 

The bill would allow the committee to make recommendations on the following subjects in addition to those listed above:

·                    Voluntary guidelines for the discovery of shipwrecks.

·                    Criteria for permit applications for underwater archaeological recovery, underwater salvage, and any other activities that might alter or destroy abandoned shipwrecks.

·                    Use of the Great Lakes State Park Preservation Fund and whether that Fund should be administered as an endowment fund.

·                    Promotion of the Great Lakes State Park.

·                    Funding of the Great Lakes State Park.

·                    Fee for a Great Lakes State Park pass. 

MCL 324.76103

House Bill 4639

 

This bill would amend the definition section of Part 761 to reflect the new name of the advisory committee.

MCL 324.76101(c)

House Bill 4640

This bill would require the DNR and the Natural Resources Commission to manage the Great Lakes State Park "to protect and preserve its natural features and to enhance recreational activities within its boundaries, including, but not limited to boating, fishing, swimming, and scuba diving." 

MCL 324.74108

FISCAL IMPACT:

A fiscal analysis is in process.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Shannan Kane

                                                                                                  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.