FY 2010-11 NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT BUDGET S.B. 1161 (P.A. 189 of 2010): ENACTED


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Changes from FY 2009-10 Year-to-Date:
  Items Included by the Senate and House
1. Various Environmental Permitting Program Reductions. The Governor, Senate, and House reduced funding to several permit programs including the: Water Withdrawal, Groundwater Discharge, Part 41 Wastewater Facility Construction, Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control programs, and the PPG Match programs. These reductions could adversely affect permit turn-around times. (1,299,400)
2. Wildlife Division. The Governor, House, 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)
3. Michigan Historical Program. The Governor, House, 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)
4. Mackinac Island Park Operations. The Governor, House, and Senate reduced funding for this program. Maintenance of facilities would be reduced to realize these savings. (118,400)
5. Other Changes. Other changes agreed to by the House and Senate include the removal of boilerplate appropriations, technical adjustments for one-time supplemental appropriations, consolidation savings, and new Capital Outlay projects. (6,520,400)
Conference Agreement on Items of Difference
6. Forest Recreation. The Governor and Senate reduced this program. Savings would be realized by keeping 12 forest campgrounds closed, with other closings possible. The House restored some funding to this program. The Conference retained the Senate's reduction, but added a boilerplate section (see boilerplate item 13). (323,900)
7. Economic Adjustments. The Governor included $15,058,400 in economic adjustments. This figure included a 3.0% pay increase for represented State employees. The Senate removed the increase for all employees. The House removed only the GF/GP portion of the NERE employees' increases. The Conference used the Governor's figure. 15,058,400
8. Aquifer Protection and Dispute Resolution. The Senate included a $100 placeholder for this program. The Conference did not include funding, but did include boilerplate for this issue. 0
9. Aquatic Nuisance Control Program. The House included funding and 1.0 additional FTE for this program. The Conference increased this funding and included the FTE. 100,000
10. Cormorant Population Control. The House transferred $50,000 in Game and Fish Fund dollars from the Fisheries Management program to be used for control activities related to the State's cormorant population. The Conference retained this item. 0
Total Changes $8,138,500
  FY 2010-11 Enacted Gross Appropriation $718,968,400
FY 2010-11 NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT BUDGET BOILERPLATE HIGHLIGHTS

Changes from FY 2009-10 Year to Date:
  Conference Agreement on Items of Difference
1. Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART). The Senate restored a requirement to use proven science and representative data when managing and regulating BARTs. The House removed this section. The Conference did not include this section. (Sec. 220 of S-1)
2. Refined Petroleum Fund (RPF) Usage. The Senate included new language stating intent that in the following fiscal year, RPF revenue will only be used for LUST-related activities. The House did not include this language. The Conference retained this section. (Sec. 221)
3. Out-of-State Training. The Governor and Senate removed a section prohibiting more than one employee from attending out-of-state training except in certain circumstances. The House restored this section. The Conference retained this section. (Sec. 225)
4. Museum Admission Fees. The Governor and Senate included language allowing admission fees to be charged at the Historical Museum; the House included this language but required children under age 18 be admitted free. The Conference retained the House language. (Sec. 306)
5. Various Reports. The Governor and Senate eliminated several sections requiring reports from the Department on topics such as: FTEs, restricted funds, uses of bond revenue, fund allocation plans, permitting efficiencies, program comparisons, and land transactions. The House restored all of these reporting requirements (Sec. 222, 223, 224, 227-231, 233[1]&[2], 235, 308 of H-1). The Conference retained several of these sections (Sec. 222, 223, 233[1]&[2], 308).
  6. Restricted Fund Transfer. The House restored a transfer from the Solid Waste Management Fund (SWMF) Perpetual Care Account to the SWMF Staff Account. The amount was increased to $2.0 million from $1.5 million. The Conference included this section. (Sec. 407)
7. Aquatic Nuisance Control (ANC) Program. The House included new language requiring 1.0 FTE and $84,600 from the Surface Water line is used for the ANC program. The Conference included this section and increased the amount to $100,000. (Sec. 651)
8. Porcupine Mountain Ski Hill. The House restored a section requiring that this ski hill not be closed. The Conference retained this section. (Sec. 703)
9. Defibrillators in State Parks. The House restored requirements that defibrillators be kept in State Parks. The Conference did not include this section. (Sec. 704 of H-1)
10. Contract Foresters. The House restored a requirement that the Department hire a sufficient number of contract foresters to mark timber. The Conference retained this section. (Sec. 805)
11. Timber Sale Bidding Process. The House restored a report requiring the Department to review the bidding process. The Conference did not include this item. (Sec. 806 of H-1)
12. Timber Industry Meetings. The House added a new section requiring meetings with the timber industry. The Conference included this section. (Sec. 807)
13. Forest Campgrounds. The House added a new section requiring $240,000 be used to reopen 12 closed State forest campgrounds. The Conference included a modified section that required the Department to engage in a pilot project that would incorporate State forest campgrounds into the State Park system, starting with 6 campgrounds closed by E.O. 2009-22. (Sec. 808)
14. Island Lake Shooting Range. The House restored a public notice requirement for this shooting range. The Conference removed this section. (Sec. 902 of H-1)
15. Scrap Tire Grants. The House restored a $100,000 grant for suppression of scrap tire fires. The Conference did not include this section. (Sec. 1004 of H-1)
16. Aquifer Dispute Resolution. The Conference included language which requires the Department to fund an aquifer dispute resolution program using available resources.

Date Completed: 10-4-10 Fiscal Analyst: Josh Sefton Bill Analysis @ http://www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa hidnr_en.doc