HISTORIC SITES; NATIVE AMERICAN

HISTORICAL RECOGNITION PROGRAM

Senate Bill 523 (passed by the Senate as Substitute S-2)

Sponsor:  Sen. Wayne Schmidt

House Committee:  Tourism

Senate Committee:  Outdoor Recreation and Tourism

Complete to 1-20-16

SUMMARY:

Senate Bill 523 would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) in the following ways:

o  Allow, in Section 72114, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to provide signage and recognition of place significant to the history of Native Americans, including places significant to that history along trails in the statewide trail network.

o  Add a new Section 72117 to require the DNR to work collaboratively with tribal governments, educators, universities, the state transportation department, the Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs, Travel Michigan, the State Historic Preservation Office, the state archaeologist, the Michigan Historical Commission, and historical societies to do all of the following:

·         Review, plan, and implement a master plan to promote and preserve the history of Native Americans in this state. The master plan would have to include a central compilation of information about places significant to the history of Native Americans in Michigan. The master plan also must provide for the dissemination of such information to the public through websites, brochures, or other means.

·         In conjunction with state and federal authorities, sponsor commemorations, linkages, seminars, and public forums on Native American history in this state and neighboring states.

·         Assist and promote the making of applications for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places and for Michigan historical markers for places significant to the history of Native Americans.

·         Assist and develop partnerships to seek public and private funds to carry out activities to protect, preserve, and promote the awareness of Native American cultural heritage.

·         Promote the signage and recognition of places significant to the history of Native Americans, including places significant to that history along the statewide trail network.

The department also would be required to report annually to the governor and both houses of the legislature on the activities required in this section that were conducted in the prior calendar year.  The bill would take effect 90 days after it is enacted into law.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Senate Bill 523 would increase expenditures for the Department of Natural Resources; the extent of this increase is unknown.  This bill allows DNR to provide signage and create a master plan to promote and commemorate the history of Native Americans in Michigan.  These functions, as well as an annual progress report to the governor, could represent increased costs to the department.  However, department personnel is already engaged in some of these activities so it is unclear what additional expenditures, if any, would be incurred by instituting SB 523.  This bill would not have a fiscal impact on local units of government.

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   Josh Roesner

                                                                                                Fiscal Analyst:   Austin Scott

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