Topic: HOUSE BILL No. 4204 - Use of Public Funds for Natural Resource - Pigeon River & Beyond

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Posts: 91

http://legislature.mi.gov/documents/2009-2010/billintroduced/House/pdf/2009-HIB-4204.pdf

This is the bill regarding splitting monies for public recreational lands...

February 5, 2009, Introduced by Reps. Calley, Melton and Dean and referred to the Committee on Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources.

HOUSE BILL No. 4204

February 5, 2009, Introduced by Reps. Calley, Melton and Dean and referred to the

Committee on Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources.

A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled

"Natural resources and environmental protection act,"

by amending section 1903 (MCL 324.1903), as amended by 2002 PA 52.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

Sec. 1903. (1) Subject to the

limitations of this part and of

section 35 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963, the

interest and earnings of the trust fund in any 1 state fiscal year

may be expended in subsequent state fiscal years only for the

following purposes:

(a) The acquisition of land or rights in land for recreational

uses or protection of the land because of its environmental

importance or its scenic beauty.

9 (B) THE MANAGEMENT OF LAND AND WATER RESOURCES FOR

10 RECREATIONAL USES.

01721'09 a JCB

(C)

(b) The development 1 of public recreation facilities.

2 (D)

(c) The administration of the fund, including payments in

lieu of taxes on state owned land purchased through the trust fund.

(2) In addition to the money described in subsection (1), 33-

1/3% 50% of the money, exclusive of interest and earnings, received

by the trust fund in any state fiscal year may be expended in

subsequent state fiscal years for the purposes described in

subsection (1). However, the authorization for the expenditure of

money provided in this subsection does not apply after the state

fiscal year in which the total amount of money in the trust fund,

exclusive of interest and earnings and amounts authorized for

expenditure under this section, exceeds $500,000,000.00.

(3) An expenditure from the trust fund may be made in the form

of a grant to a local unit of government, subject to the following

conditions:

(a) The grant is used for the purposes described in subsection

(1) and meets the requirements of either subdivision (b) or (c).

(b) A grant for the purposes described in subsection (1)(a) is

matched by the local unit of government or public authority with at

least 25% of the total cost of the project.

(c) A grant for the purposes described in subsection (1)(b)

22 (1)(C)

is matched by the local unit of government with 25% or more

of the total cost of the project.

(4) Not less than 25% 50% of the total amounts made available

for expenditure from the trust fund from any state fiscal year

27 GAME AND SPORT FISHERIES, INCLUDING THE STOCKING OF GAME AND FISH;

shall be expended for THE DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF HABITAT FOR

01721'09 a JCB

NOT MORE THAN 25% OF THE TOTAL 1 AMOUNTS MADE AVAILABLE FOR

2 EXPENDITURE FROM THE TRUST FUND FROM ANY STATE FISCAL YEAR SHALL BE

3 EXPENDED FOR THE

acquisition of land and rights in land; , and not

more than 25% of the total amounts made available for expenditure

from the trust fund from any state fiscal year shall be expended

for THE development of public recreation facilities.

(5) If property that was acquired with money from the trust

fund is subsequently sold or transferred by the state to a

nongovernmental entity, the state shall forward to the state

treasurer for deposit into the trust fund an amount of money equal

to the following:

(a) If the property was acquired solely with trust fund money,

the greatest of the following:

(i) The net proceeds of the sale.

(ii) The fair market value of the property at the time of the

sale or transfer.

(iii) The amount of money that was expended from the trust fund

to acquire the property.

(b) If the property was acquired with a combination of trust

fund money and other restricted funding sources governed by federal

or state law, an amount equal to the percentage of the funds

contributed by the trust fund for the acquisition of the property

multiplied by the greatest of subdivision (a)(i), (ii), or (iii).

Enacting section 1. This amendatory act does not take effect

unless Senate Joint Resolution ____ or House Joint Resolution H

(request no. 01721'09) of the 95th Legislature becomes a part of

XII of the state constitution of 1963.

01721'09 a Final Page JCB

the state constitution of 1963 as provided in section 1 of article 4

February 15, 2009 at 8:37 AM

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Kerry

Member
Posts: 2

This is the reply that I received from Rep. Sheltrown in response to the email that I had sent to him on House Bill 4205

"The Trust Fund already caps development funding at 25% of total annual spending. Because my proposal would now allow 50% of total annual revenues to be spent instead of 33.3%, it significantly increases funding for development. For example, if $100 million in total revenue is received in a year:

Currently, $67 million dollars is deposited in the fund, $25 million is used for new acquisition and $8 million is available for project development.

Under my proposal, $50 million would be deposited in the fund, $25 million would be used for hunting and fishing, $12.5 million would be used to purchase land and $12.5 million would be used for development.

So under my proposal, the funds available for development in that hypothetical year would go from $8 million to $12.5 million, an increase of over 50%.

The point of the proposal to increase wildlife and fisheries habitat development and management programs in this state without relying on the need for new license fees. There have already been three hunting and fishing fee increases over the past 12 years and general fund support has been almost eliminated. As a result, there is a $10 million dollar deficit for hunting and fishing related programs. This is problematic because of the overall economic impact hunters and anglers have on the state due to the sheer numbers of people participating in these programs. This does not diminish my support for non-consumptive programs to benefit users such as equestrians, ORVs or snowmobiling. In fact, as I outlined above, my proposal would significantly increase development funds.

Joel"

February 21, 2009 at 9:16 AM

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gabz

Member
Posts: 91

Great Work Kerry!! Thanks for contacting Rep Sheltrown and giving us a clear understanding of what the Bill would do.

Not only does it put more money into rec development; it diminishes the increase that sportsmen / women must pay for licenses.

February 21, 2009 at 10:07 AM

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Dick and Connie

Member
Posts: 104

This Tuesday evening on PBS Central Michigan channel, Joel Sheltrown will be showcased talking about this very issue plus other problems we are facing. 7:30p.m. 2/24.

February 21, 2009 at 12:34 PM

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BCHMI's Webmaster, Nanette White

Limited Member
Posts: 43

FYI: The following is now posted on the Legislation page:

A Citizens Guide to Contacting your Legislators

"The sticks in the bundle are hard to break,

but one by one they snap easily."

bchmi.org@live.com

March 15, 2009 at 10:45 AM

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