EXECUTIVE ORDER DISAPPROVAL S.C.R. 24:
COMMITTEE SUMMARY
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Senate Concurrent Resolution 24 (as introduced 10-14-09)
Sponsor: Senator Wayne Kuipers
Committee: Appropriations
Date Completed: 10-28-09
CONTENT
Senate Concurrent Resolution 24 would disapprove Executive Order No. 2009-45, which was issued on October 8, 2009.
Article 5, Section 2 of the Michigan Constitution provides that the Governor may make changes in the organization of the executive branch or in the assignment of functions within the executive units. Where these changes require the force of law, they must be set forth in executive orders that are submitted to the Legislature. The Legislature has 60 calendar days of a regular session to disapprove each executive order by a resolution concurred in by a majority of the members elected and serving in each house of the Legislature. Since the Executive Order was submitted to the Legislature on October 8, the Legislature has until December 7 to reject it.
Executive Order 2009-45 does the following:
* Abolishes both the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Environmental Quality and creates a single department from them, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.
* Removes the power from both the Michigan Commission of Agriculture and the Natural Resource Commission to appoint directors of their respective departments.
* Abolishes the following entities: Citizens Committee for Michigan State Parks, Michigan Snowmobile Advisory Committee, Michigan Trailways Advisory Council, Water Resources Conservation Advisory Council, Site Review Board, Agricultural Preservation Fund Board, Michigan Family Farm Development Authority, and Pesticide Advisory Committee.
* Abolishes the Office of Racing Commissioner and transfers its duties and resources from the Michigan Department of Agriculture to the Michigan Gaming Control Board within the Department of Treasury.
FISCAL IMPACT
In the appropriation bill that passed both the House and the Senate, a negative appropriation line item of $350,000 reflecting expected savings from a coming departmental consolidation was included in the DNR portion of the bill. The Governor vetoed this line item, explaining that when such a consolidation occurs, $350,000 or more in savings may be realized. A more accurate savings figure will be unavailable until more specifics regarding the consolidation are made known.
Fiscal Analyst: Josh SeftonAnalysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. scr24/0910