MEC Capitol
Update
May 16, 2003
House of Representatives
HB
4393 - Michigan Department of Environmental Quality budget
- FY 03-04 - The House passed HB 4393 on Wednesday. As announced,
Rep. John Pastor, chair of the Appropriation Subcommittee
proceeded with removing all proposed fees and cut general
fund support for the department’s environmental protection
programs by 15 percent and its administration by 30 percent.
If upheld
by the Senate, the cuts will result in the layoff of as many
120 employees at the Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)
and the loss of over $15 million in federal matching funds.
Rep. Pastor is trying to minimize the impacts, but given the
inadequate nature of current program, these cuts will result
in serious threats to public health in Michigan. General Fund
support for the department has dropped from $101 million in
2001 to $51 million under the budget passed by the House.
HB
4400 - Michigan Department of Natural Resources budget
FY 03-04
The House
passed HB 4400 reducing administrative general fund support
by 40%. Provisions recommended by the Governor to increase
Motor Vehicle permits into State Parks were removed. The state
is also exploring reducing the amount of taxes paid on state-owner
land.
In
committee:
House
Land Use & Environment Committee will hold joint hearing
with the Senate Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
Committee on the issue of out-of-state waste.
Wednesday,
May 21st at 6:30 pm at Oakland University, 242 Elliot Hall
Auditorium, Business Information Technical Bldg., Rochester
Wednesday,
May 28st at 6:30 pm at Meads Mill Middle School, Rondel Media
Center, 16700 Franklin Rd., Northville
Tuesday,
June 3, at 8:00 am in the Senate Hearing Room, Ground Floor,
Boji Tower (formerly Michigan National Tower), Lansing
Rep. Johnson
introduced HBs
4686 - HB
4692 on this issue. They are available at: www.michiganlegislature.org
Senators
introduced SB
489, 497-500,
502.
Conservation
and Outdoor Recreation
Hearing
is scheduled for Wednesday, May 21 at 10:30 am to take up:
HB
4492 - A bill to allow disabled individuals to operate
ORV in nondesignated areas for the purpose of accessing designated
trails.
House
Appropriation Subcommittee - Agriculture - SB
288 - Thursday, May 22th at 8:00 am .
House
Appropriation Subcommittee - Transportation - SB
265 - Tuesday, May 20th at 9:00 pm -
Senate
HB
4087 - The Senate Natural Resources and Environmental
Affairs Committee reported this bill to regulate disputes
where conflicts occur between groundwater users. Although
many groups, including MEC support the concept, the legislation
does not include any funding for the MDEQ to take on this
substantial new commitment.
Committee
Action:
Natural
Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee
Tuesday,
May 20th at 3:00 pm
HB
4257 and SB
244 - Bills to regulate Coastal Wetlands - These bills
allows the destruction of emergent coastal wetland by lake
front property owners without a permit. The EPA that stated
that passage of the bill could result in the loss of up to
$3 million in coastal zone management funds from the federal
government. Testimony was taken from supporters and opponents
of this legislation.
Joint
hearings with House Land Use & Environment Committee -
see above.
Natural
Resources & Environmental Affairs and Appropriations Subcommittee
-
HB 4393
- MDNR Budget - May 20th at 12 noon
HB 4400 - MDEQ Budget - May 21th at 3 pm
Task Force
/ Town Hall hearings:
Senate
Republican Task Force on Expansion of the Bottle Bill and
Recycling
May 19th
- Gaylord - 7-9 pm
