October 15, 2009, Introduced by Senators GARCIA, CLARKE and JACOBS 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 2511 (MCL 324.2511), as added by 2006 PA 146.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 2511. (1) A public or private school in this state may
apply to be designated as a "green school" by submitting an
application
to the entity designated under subsection (2) (4) by
the county in which the school is located. A school is eligible to
receive
a designation under this section if the school meets 10 of
the
following criteria:
(a)
The school recycles paper.
(b)
The school reuses its magazines and newspapers for other
projects.
(c)
The school has adopted an endangered species animal from 1
of
several organizations and posted a picture of the animal in a
main
traffic area.
(d)
The school media center updates its print and nonprint
ecological
materials regularly.
(e)
An energy savings program has been instituted at the
school.
(f)
Students at the school participate in a planned program of
energy
savings, including dusting coils on cafeteria refrigerators,
placing
film on windows, setting hot water heaters 1 degree lower,
seeing
how plants and trees strategically placed can save energy
for
the school, and checking proper inflation on bus tires and
other
school vehicles once a month.
(g)
The school has hosted a visit by an ecological
spokesperson,
a representative of the sierra club, an endangered
animals
species show, or a similar presentation.
(h)
The school has a birdhouse habitat project.
(i)
The school has established a natural Michigan garden
project
with native plants.
(j)
The school has solar power presentations or experiments,
such
as a solar cookout.
(k)
Classes do energy audits of their classrooms and make
improvements,
such as placing film on windows, caulking windows, or
using
kits to make windows more energy efficient.
(l) The school has a printer cartridge recycling
program
through
which the school earns money by selling the cartridges to 1
or
more companies that buy cartridges from schools.
(m)
The school recycles batteries and has designated a
representative
to return them to an appropriate recycling program.
(n)
The school recycles cellular telephones and receives money
for
the telephones from recycling companies that work with schools.
(o)
The school observes earth day in some way in April.
(p)
Art classes at the school have a poster contest to support
ecology
concerns and a schoolwide display in conjunction with earth
day
activities.
(q)
The school has science class projects in which students do
several
home energy improvements, such as turn down hot water
heaters,
install home window insulation kits, clean coils on home
refrigerators,
and install draft guards for doors.
(r)
The school has an ecology club, whose activities include
such
activities as helping senior citizens make their homes more
energy
efficient, putting in new furnace filters, caulking windows,
cleaning
refrigerator coils in homes, and setting water heaters 1
degree
lower.
(s)
The school's classes visit internet sites where clicking
saves
rainforest habitat and teachers document the students'
efforts.
(t)
The school sets a goal of 5% less energy usage in the
school
and works with local power utilities to see progress toward
the
goal. green school, emerald
school, or
evergreen school
environmental stewardship designation under this section if the
school or students perform the required number of activities, with
a minimum of 2 activities from each of the categories described in
subsection (2), as follows:
(a) Green school - 10.
(b) Emerald school – 15.
(c) Evergreen school – 20.
(2) The activities in the following 4 categories qualify
toward an environmental stewardship designation under this section:
(a) Recycling category, which includes the following
activities:
(i) Coordinating a program for recycling at least 2 of the
following: office paper, plastic water bottles, metal cans, printer
cartridges, newspapers and magazines, computers and electronic
waste, batteries, cellular telephones, cardboard, fabric and
clothing, compact discs and digital video discs, or glass.
(ii) Composting food and organic wastes.
(iii) Conducting a waste-free lunch program.
(iv) Implementing a policy to buy recycled, biodegradable,
locally produced, or less toxic food and school supplies.
(b) Energy category, which includes the following activities:
(i) Offering at least 1 teaching unit on alternative energy.
(ii) Using alternative energy, renewable fuels, or specialized
energy-efficient technology in school operations.
(iii) Implementing a school energy-saving program.
(iv) Performing energy audits at student homes and educating
student families and the community.
(v) Taking part in a project or event to promote improved
vehicle fuel efficiency.
(vi) Sponsoring an alternative energy presentation, project, or
event.
(c) Environmental protection category, which includes the
following activities:
(i) Participating in activities promoting the health of the
Great Lakes watershed.
(ii) Offering a teaching unit on environmental issues facing
this state.
(iii) Establishing or maintaining a natural Michigan garden
project with native plants.
(iv) Establishing or maintaining an animal habitat project.
(v) Participating in a local community environmental issue by
activities such as letter-writing, attending public hearings,
raising funds, or community outreach.
(d) Miscellaneous category, which includes the following
activities:
(i) Adopting an endangered or threatened species and
publicizing the activity.
(ii) Hosting an environmental or energy speaker, event, or
field trip.
(iii) Establishing a student organization that participates in
environmental activities.
(iv) Observing earth day by participating in an earth day event
in April.
(v) Maintaining an updated bulletin board or kiosk with
information on environmental concerns and the school's actions in
addressing those concerns.
(vi) Establishing an eco-reading program.
(vii) Updating the school's media center environmental
materials.
(viii) Visiting internet sites that educate about the
environment and support endangered ecosystems.
(3) In addition to the activities described in subsection (2),
a school may design and propose another activity, which may qualify
toward an environmental stewardship designation under this section
if the entity designated under subsection (4) approves the activity
by December 1 of the applicable school year.
(4) (2)
A county shall designate a
department of the county or
the
intermediate school district of the county to accept, and
consider, the
approval of and approve or
reject an application
under subsection (1).