FY 2010-11 NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT BUDGET S.B. 1161 (S-1): SENATE APPROPRIATIONS REC.


[Please see the PDF version of this analysis, if available, to view this image.]






Senate Bill 1161 (S-1 as reported) Throughout this document Senate means Appropriations Committee.
Committee: Appropriations

Changes from FY 2009-10 Year-to-Date:
  1. Remove Boilerplate Appropriations. The Governor and Senate included funding for the Historical Program formerly appropriated in boilerplate (Sec. 1602 of 2009 PA 118) in Part 1. 798,800
2. Move Refined Petroleum Fund (RPF) Money Back to LUST. The Senate appropriated additional funds that are being used in the current fiscal year to fund a fuel inspection program in the Department of Agriculture and provide debt service in the Department of Treasury, to the Leaking Underground Storage Tank program. 19,370,900
3. Various Environmental Permitting Program Reductions. The Governor and Senate reduced funding to several permit programs. These programs include the: Water Withdrawal, Groundwater Discharge, Part 41 Wastewater Facility Construction, Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control programs. These reductions could adversely affect permit turn-around times. (899,400)
4. Performance Partnership Grant (PPG) Match Reduction. The Governor and Senate removed some GF/GP support for various Federal match programs in the Water Bureau. (400,000)
5. Aquifer Dispute Resolution Program. The Senate added a placeholder for this program. 100
6. Michigan Historical Program. The Governor and Senate reduced this program. Part of this GF/GP reduction will be made up with the implementation of admission fees to the Michigan Historical Museum. (380,400)
7. Forest Recreation. The Governor and Senate reduced this program. Savings would be realized by keeping the 12 State forest campgrounds closed during FY 2008-09 closed, with other closings possible. Maintenance on hiking and skiing trails would also be reduced. (323,900)
8. Wildlife Division. The Governor and Senate reduced this program. The number of deer check stations throughout the State was reduced from 91 in 2008 to 48 in 2009, and would be reduced again to realize these GF/GP savings. (140,700)
9. Mackinac Island Park Operations. The Governor and Senate reduced funding for this program from $1,588,200 to $1,497,500. Maintenance of State facilities at Mackinac Island State Park would be reduced to realize these savings. (118,400)
10. Economic Adjustments. The Governor included $17,587,900 in Economic Adjustments. This figure included a 3.0% pay increase for represented and nonexclusively represented State employees. The Senate removed the 3.0% pay increase. 8,989,100
11. Other Changes. The Governor and Senate made other changes to the FY 2009-10 budget including: Delaying new equipment purchases, adjustments for new Capital Outlay Projects, a reduction in restricted fund appropriations to reflect lower revenue, an adjustment to reflect one-time appropriations for the Brownfield Grants and Loans program, and savings which have resulted from the consolidation of DNR and DEQ into DNRE. (7,398,100)
Total Changes $19,498,000
  FY 2010-11 Senate Appropriations Committee Gross Appropriation $731,426,100
FY 2010-11 NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT BUDGET BOILERPLATE HIGHLIGHTS

Changes from FY 2009-10 Year to Date:
  1. Historical Program Admission and Fees. The Governor and Senate added this section which would allow the Historical program to charge fees for various services it offers, as well as to charge admission to the Michigan Historical Museum. (Sec. 306)
2. FTE Reports. The Governor and Senate removed two sections that require the Department to submit various FTE reports to the Legislature. (Sec. 222 & 223 of 2009 PA 118)
3. Completion of Outstanding Permits. The Governor removed the section stating that environmental permits outstanding more than two years be considered administratively complete. The Senate restored this language. (Sec. 218)
4. Open Communications. The Governor removed the section which forbade the Department from disciplining employees for communicating truthfully with the Legislature. The Senate restored this language. (Sec. 212)
5. Rules Affecting Small Businesses. The Governor removed the section which forbade the Department from implementing rules which have a disproportionate economic effect on small businesses. The Senate restored this language. (Sec. 213)
6. Various Fund Reports. The Governor removed several sections which require the Department to produce reports on the usage, balances, and other aspects of the restricted funds used by the Department. (Secs. 207, 219, 227, and 501 of 2009 PA 118)
7. Timber Marking. The Governor removed three sections (Secs. 1202, 1203, 1207 of 2009 PA 118) which collectively require the Department to: hire additional foresters to mark timber, prepare 58,000 acres at a rate of 12.5- to 15-cords per acre and offer them for sale in 2010, offer 10.0% more hardwood for sale in 2010, and ensure that the timber bidding process meets State standards and promotes the purchase of State timber. The Senate restored the section which establishes treatment and harvest quotas. (Sec. 802)
8. New ORV Trails. The Governor removed a section which required the Department to spend at least $980,000 on the development of new off-road vehicle (ORV) trails. The Senate restored this language. (Sec. 903)
9. Draft Memoranda. The Governor removed a section which prohibited the Department from imposing regulations or rules using operational memoranda in draft form. The Senate restored this language. (Sec. 406)
10. Indemnification Payments. The Governor removed a section stating the intent of the Legislature to have the Department reimburse the Department of Agriculture for any indemnification payments made for livestock losses caused by wolves, coyotes, or cougars. The Senate restored this language. (Sec. 502)
11. Notification to Reduce Operations. The Governor and Senate removed a section requiring the Department to inform the Legislature of any intent to reduce park operations or recreation opportunities. (Sec. 1002 of 2009 PA 118)
12. Cooperation with Horseback Interests. The Governor removed a section directing the Department to work cooperatively with horseback riding interests. The Senate restored this language. (Sec. 804)
13. BART Reviews. The Governor removed language which required the Department to use proven science and representative data when managing and regulating best available retrofit technologies (BART). The section also required specific scientific methods to be cited when requesting a permit holder to implement a BART review. The Senate restored this language. (Sec. 220)
14. Intent to Repay RPF. The Governor removed language which stated the intent of the Legislature to repay the $70.0 million which was borrowed from the Refined Petroleum Fund as a part of the FY 2006-07 budget resolution. The Senate restored this language. (Sec. 405)
15. Snowmobile Law Enforcement Grants. The Governor removed language requiring the Department to consider the number of enforcement hours and number of trail miles in each county as criteria in allocating these grants. The Senate restored this section. (Sec. 901)

Date Completed: 3-18-10 Fiscal Analyst: Josh Sefton Bill Analysis @ http://www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations. 11hilitednre_fs