DNRE: SIGNAGE S.B. 1088 (S-1):
ANALYSIS AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE
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Senate Bill 1088 (Substitute S-1 as reported) (as passed by the Senate)
Sponsor: Senator Michelle A. McManus
Committee: Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
Date Completed: 3-12-10
RATIONALE
Executive Reorganization Order 2009-31, which took effect in January 2010, created the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE), abolished the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Environmental Quality, and transferred all of the authority, powers, duties, functions, responsibilities, personnel, equipment, property, and budgetary resources of the two departments to the DNRE. To minimize costs, it has been suggested that the DNRE should be authorized to continue using existing signs, publications, and uniforms bearing the names of the previous departments.
CONTENT
The bill would amend Part 3 (Definitions) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to provide that, for purposes of implementing Executive Reorganization Order 2009-31, the DNRE would not have to make changes to signage and other printed material to reflect the change in the name of the Department. The bill specifies that, for this purpose, a reference to the Department of Natural Resources or the Department of Environmental Quality would be considered to mean the DNRE.
MCL 324.301
ARGUMENTS
(Please note: The arguments contained in this analysis originate from sources outside the Senate Fiscal Agency. The Senate Fiscal Agency neither supports nor opposes legislation.)
Supporting Argument
Replacing items and materials that bear the former departments' names would cost a significant amount of money. Given the State's current budgetary situation, making this effort and spending the money simply to reflect a departmental name change would be superfluous and wasteful.
Legislative Analyst: Julie Cassidy
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would allow the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to continue using the name "Department of Natural Resources" or "Department of Environmental Quality" in signage and other printed materials, depending on which would be appropriate. The Department has hundreds of signs marking trailheads, park entrances, boat launches, office buildings, and other facilities that it operates. In addition, the Department's name and logo appear on many publications as well as on the uniforms of DNRE personnel who are required to wear them. Replacing all of the objects bearing the DNR's or DEQ's name before their respective useful lives end would cost an unknown, but likely very significant amount. Presently, the DNRE has made public no plans to make such a change.
Fiscal Analyst: Josh SeftonAnalysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. sb1088/0910