PRESECRIBED BURNS NOTIFICATION                                                      H.B. 4082 (H-2):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 4082 (Substitute H-2 as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Representative Mary Whiteford

House Committee:  Natural Resources

Senate Committee:  Natural Resources

CONTENT

The bill would amend Part 515 (Prevention and Suppression of Forest Fires) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to require the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to attempt to notify the township supervisor and 9-1-1 call center of each township where a prescribed burn was to take place; and provide that the DNR would be liable for costs a township incurred if the Department violated this requirement. 

Specifically, the bill would add Section 51503c to require the DNR to attempt to notify by telephone and electronic mail the township supervisor and the primary public safety answering point (9-1-1 call center) of each township where a prescribed burn was to take place before conducting the prescribed burn. The DNR would be required to maintain a record of the notification attempts. The notice would have to include all of the following:

-- The location, expected date, and estimated number of acres of the prescribed burn.

-- The name, electronic mail address, and telephone number of the person in charge of the prescribed burn.

If the DNR violated Section 51503c, the Department would be liable for any costs incurred by a township as a result of the prescribed burn.

MCL 324.51501 et al.                                                 Legislative Analyst:  Nathan Leaman

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would not have a significant fiscal impact on the Department of Natural Resources or local units of government.  Under the bill, the DNR would have to notify a township where it intended to perform a prescribed burn.  If the DNR failed to do so, the bill would hold the DNR liable for any costs incurred by the township related to the prescribed burn.  It is not known how often this type of situation occurs, but it is anticipated that the bill would not have a significant impact on the DNR's finances.  

Date Completed:  5-24-17                                                     Fiscal Analyst:  Josh Sefton

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.