May 18, 2010, Introduced by Reps. Slezak, McDowell, Denby, Rogers, Marleau, Walsh and Daley and referred to the Committee on Intergovernmental and Regional Affairs.
A bill to amend 1996 PA 376, entitled
"Michigan renaissance zone act,"
by amending section 3 (MCL 125.2683), as amended by 2008 PA 217,
and by adding section 8g.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 3. As used in this act:
(a) "Agricultural processing facility" means 1 or more
facilities or operations that transform, package, sort, or grade
livestock or livestock products, agricultural commodities, or
plants or plant products, excluding forest products, into goods
that are used for intermediate or final consumption including goods
for nonfood use, and surrounding property.
(b) "Board" means the state administrative board created in
1921 PA 2, MCL 17.1 to 17.3.
(c) "Development plan" means a written plan that addresses the
criteria in section 7 and includes all of the following:
(i) A map of the proposed renaissance zone that indicates the
geographic boundaries, the total area, and the present use and
conditions generally of the land and structures within those
boundaries.
(ii) Evidence of community support and commitment from
residential and business interests.
(iii) A description of the methods proposed to increase economic
opportunity and expansion, facilitate infrastructure improvement,
and identify job training opportunities.
(iv) Current social, economic, and demographic characteristics
of the proposed renaissance zone and anticipated improvements in
education, health, human services, public safety, and employment if
the renaissance zone is created.
(v) Any other information required by the board.
(d) "Elected county executive" means the elected county
executive in a county organized under 1966 PA 293, MCL 45.501 to
45.521, or 1973 PA 139, MCL 45.551 to 45.573.
(e) "Forest products processing facility" means 1 or more
facilities or operations that transform, package, sort, recycle, or
grade forest or paper products into goods that are used for
intermediate or final use or consumption or for the creation of
biomass or alternative fuels through the utilization of forest
products or forest residue, and surrounding property. Forest
products processing facility does not include an existing facility
or operation that is located in this state that relocates to a
renaissance zone for a forest products processing facility. Forest
products processing facility does not include a facility or
operation that engages primarily in retail sales.
(f) "Local governmental unit" means a county, city, village,
or township.
(g) "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation,
association, limited liability company, governmental entity, or
other legal entity.
(h) "Qualified local governmental unit" means either of the
following:
(i) A county.
(ii) A city, village, or township that contains an eligible
distressed area as defined in section 11 of the state housing
development authority act of 1966, 1966 PA 346, MCL 125.1411.
(i) "Recovery zone" means a tool and die renaissance recovery
zone created in section 8d.
(j) "Renaissance zone" means a geographic area designated
under this act.
(k) "Renewable energy facility" means a facility that creates
energy directly or fuel from the wind, the sun, trees, grasses,
biosolids, algae, agricultural commodities, processed products from
agricultural commodities, or residues from agricultural processes,
wood or forest processes, food production and processing, or the
paper products industry. Renewable energy facility also includes a
facility that creates energy or fuels from solid biomass, animal
wastes, or landfill gases. Renewable energy facility also includes
a facility that focuses on research, development, or manufacturing
of systems or components of systems used to create energy or fuel
from the items described in this subdivision.
(l) "Residential rental property" means that term as defined in
section 7ff of the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL
211.7ff.
(m) "Review board" means the renaissance zone review board
created in section 5.
(n) "Rural area" means an area that lies outside of the
boundaries of an urban area.
(o) "Underdeveloped special assessment district" means all or
a portion of a special assessment district that meets all of the
following:
(i) The special assessment district was created on or before
December 31, 2007.
(ii) The special assessment district was created to finance
infrastructure for residential development and the residential
development site plan was approved by the city, village, or
township before being designated as a renaissance zone for
underdeveloped special assessment districts by the board of the
Michigan strategic fund.
(iii) The residential development that is subject to the special
assessment district is less than 20% developed.
(iv) The developer or owner of each parcel of property in the
residential development that is part of the special assessment
district shall pay all special assessments before the certificate
of occupancy is granted for that parcel.
(p) (o)
"Urban area" means an
urbanized area as determined by
the economics and statistics administration, United States bureau
of the census according to the 1990 census.
Sec. 8g. (1) The board of the Michigan strategic fund defined
in section 4 of the Michigan strategic fund act, 1984 PA 270, MCL
125.2004, may designate up to 10 additional renaissance zones for
underdeveloped special assessment districts within this state in 1
or more cities, villages, or townships if that city, village, or
township or combination of cities, villages, or townships consents
to the creation of a renaissance zone for an underdeveloped special
assessment district within their boundaries. A renaissance zone for
an underdeveloped special assessment district shall have a duration
of renaissance zone status for a period of years not to exceed the
time in which the special assessment bonds will be paid off or
defeased.
(2) Each renaissance zone designated for an underdeveloped
special assessment district under this section shall be 1
continuous distinct geographic area.