S.B. 981 (S-2): COMMITTEE SUMMARY - BURNING OF FORESTS

Senate Bill 981 (Substitute S-2)

Sponsor: Senator George A. McManus, Jr.

Committee: Hunting, Fishing and Forestry

Date Completed: 3-10-98

CONTENT

The bill would amend Part 517 (Prevention of Forest Fires) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to prohibit the State or a department, bureau, board, commission, or other agency of the State or a political subdivision of the State from enacting, adopting, promulgating, enforcing, or practicing any law, rule, policy, or concept that authorized the burning of a forest area unless both of the following conditions were met before the burning:

-- Notice of the time and place of the proposed fire, and of the risk of environmental harm posed by the proposed fire, was provided to the general public by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the proposed fire would be located at least seven and not more than 21 days before the date of the fire.

-- The timber rights of the forest area affected by the proposed fire had first been offered for sale to the general public by public auction, if consistent with management objectives.

MCL 324.51701 & 324.51702 - Legislative Analyst: L. Arasim

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would generate an indeterminate amount of additional timber revenues by requiring the State to offer the sale of timber rights prior to a proposed burn.

- Fiscal Analyst: G. Cutler

S9798\S981SA

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.