MEC Capitol Update
October 1, 2004

Governor signed the MDEQ budget, and made the following line item vetoes:

Section 903: $800,000 for a dioxin bioavailability study.

Section 702: $250,000 for real-time water quality monitoring grant in Algonac County.

Section 603: Requires the department to complete the entire wetland inventory by August 30, 2005.

Section 210: Requires notification to the legislature and a public hearing before any decision regarding diversion of Great lakes water.

Conference Reports
Passed Both Senate and House:

HB 5313 - A bill to allow school districts to sell property deeded to them for school forest programs - the state and the school district would split the proceeds. The conference report retained most of the restrictions placed on sales by the Senate (i.e 80 acres or less, public hearing, etc) and added a four year sunset.

Senate

Passed:

SB 1148 - Authorizes military personnel to obtain from Department of Natural Resources licensing agents free hunting and fishing licenses.

HB 5771 – A bill to increase and revise regulation of land disposal of septage.

HB 5772 – Amend sentencing guidelines for crime of knowingly making false report in domestic septage licensing application.

HB 6074 - Legislation to remove the sunset on Underground Storage Tank Fee creating the new refined petroleum fund. A work group will be formed to determine future use of the funds.

On the Calendar:

SB 757 - This bill places penalties on landlords that fail to remediate known lead paint hazards in rental units. (Waiting for Senate to concur in House amendments)

SB 1329 – A bill to allow the operation of snowmobiles on the right-of-way of limited access highways.

HB 5055 – A bill to restrict fees under certain circumstances under the soil erosion and sedimentation control.

HB 6047 – Clarifies certain compliance provisions with the joint planning process.

In committee:

Natural Resources & Environmental Affairs will meet on Wednesday (10/06) at 12:00 PM to take up bills including

SB 925 – A bill to revise regulation of and provide immunity from liability for prescribed burning.

SB 1181 – A bill to modify the term of submerged log removal permits.

SB 1432 – A bill to regulate the formation of watershed agencies.

SB 1416 - A bill to provide county level approval for subdivisions and require at board meeting comprised of each department involved.

Appropriation will meet Tuesday (10/5) at 12:00 PM to take up a number of bills including

HB 4703 - A bill to require campgrounds and public swimming pools to meet health codes.

HB 5529 - A bill provide for conveyance of certain state owned property in Ingham county.

Commerce and Labor will meet Tuesday (10/5) at 3:00 PM to take up:

HB 6127 - Creation of tax increment financing for historical neighborhoods.

Transportation will meet Tuesday (10/6) at 1:00 PM to take up:

SB 735 - A bill to allow posting of tourism directional signs on highways with certain local government approval.

HB 5364 - A bill to prohibit reinstatement of driving privileges to owners of abandoned vehicles who fail to pay fines.

House

Passed:

HB 6127- A bill to create a historical neighborhood tax increment finance authority.

HB 6164, 6166, 6206- Bills to allow a local units of governments to enter into contracts with a private developers and place restrictions on the rezoning of property.

SB 1279 - Provide for a check-off option on income taxes for the Michigan state park endowment fund.
SB 1280 – Create a citizens committee for Michigan state parks.

SB 1281 – Create a gem of the parks award and a state park volunteer of the year award.

HB 6074 - Legislation to remove the sunset on Underground Storage Tank Fee creating the new refined petroleum fund. A work group will be formed to determine future use of the funds.
SB 953 - State; funds; loans to certain farmers for qualified agricultural energy production; provide for.

SB 955 - Property tax; exemptions; methane digester and methane digester electric generating system; exempt.

SB 1206 – A bill to revise the housing inspection ordinance provision with enterprise zones.

HB 4358 -- To increase the length limit for trucks to 65 feet.

On the calendar:

HB 5441 – a bill to clarify when "feasible and prudent" alternatives should be considered to a project that will impact wetlands. An amendment was added in committee regarding when the MDEQ must issue a permit that may jeopardize Michigan's delegation of the Clean Water Act - section 404 program.

HB 4106 -- Provide for state real estate transfer tax on transfer of certain manufactured homes.

HB 4879 -- Provide for exemption from sales tax on used manufactured homes.

HB 4882 -- Eliminate use tax on manufactured home sales.

HB 5034 -- a bill to access mobile homes as real property (vote taken, insufficient votes, vote reconsidered and passed for the day - 8/4/04)

SB 510 -- a bill to establish stormwater fees.

HB 5312 -- allows hunters to donate an additional $1.00 when purchasing hunting or fishing licensing to support the sportsmen against hunger program

SB 193 -- Provides for a specialty license plates for ducks unlimited

HB 5942 - a bill to require that diesel fuel sold in Michigan should include 2% biodiesel.

In committee:

No meetings are scheduled this week.