November 8, 2007, Introduced by Senators JELINEK, BIRKHOLZ, RICHARDVILLE, PAPPAGEORGE, GILBERT, KAHN, BROWN, GLEASON, JANSEN, VAN WOERKOM and HARDIMAN and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs.
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled
"Natural resources and environmental protection act,"
by amending section 74104 (MCL 324.74104), as added by 1995 PA 58.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 74104. (1) The department shall establish an "adopt-a-
park" program that will allow volunteer groups to assist state park
staff in maintaining and enhancing state parks.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), volunteer groups in the adopt-
a-park program may adopt any available state park and may choose
any 1 or more of the following volunteer activities:
(a) Spring cleanups.
(b) Environmental activities.
(c) Accessibility projects.
(d) Special events.
(e) Park maintenance and development.
(f) Public information and assistance.
(g) Training.
(3) The department shall designate the activities to be
performed by a volunteer group in the adopt-a-park program. The
department may provide for more than 1 volunteer group to adopt a
state park.
(4) A volunteer group that wishes to participate in the adopt-
a-park program shall submit an application to the department on a
form
provided by the department. Additionally, the volunteer groups
group shall agree to all of the following:
(a)
Volunteer groups shall To participate in the program for
at least a 2-year period.
(b)
Volunteer groups shall To consist of at least 6 people who
are 18 years of age or older, unless the volunteer group is a
school or scout organization, in which case the volunteers may be
under 18 years of age.
(c)
Volunteer groups shall give To
contribute a total of at
least 400 service hours over a 2-year period.
(d)
Volunteer groups shall To comply with other reasonable
requirements of the department.
(5) A state park manager may issue free camping permits to
volunteers who are actively working on adopt-a-park projects that
last
more than 1 day, free camping permits if campsites are
available. A state park manager may waive state park entry fees for
volunteers entering state parks to work on adopt-a-park projects.
(6) The department shall design and erect near the state park
headquarters of each state park in the adopt-a-park program an
adopt-a-park program sign with the name of the volunteer group's
sponsoring organization listed for each volunteer group that has
contributed at least 100 service hours by volunteers.
(7) The department shall provide each volunteer group
conducting cleanup activity under this section with a method for
the volunteer group to record the types and amount of trash
collected during the group's cleanup activity. The department shall
request that the information be forwarded to the department upon
completion. The department shall provide information it receives
under this subsection to the department of environmental quality.
Enacting section 1. This amendatory act does not take effect
unless Senate Bill No. 901
of the 94th Legislature is enacted into law.