FY 2011-12 NATURAL RESOURCES BUDGET S.B. 182 (S-1): SENATE-PASSED


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Senate Bill 182 (S-1 as passed by the Senate)
Committee: Appropriations

FY 2010-11 Year-to-Date Gross Appropriation $323,302,700
Changes from FY 2010-11 Year-to-Date:
  1. Historical Programs. The Governor and Senate rolled these programs into a single "schedule of programs" line as well as reducing GF/GP funding and 2.0 FTEs. (253,100)
2. Mackinac Island State Park. The Governor and Senate removed GF/GP support for this program and replaced it with Park Endowment Fund revenue, which would save $1,561,900 GF/GP. Park Endowment Funds for this program would be appropriated in the same line as the other State parks. 0
3. Increase Captive Cervid Fees. The Governor recommended increasing license fees for captive cervidae (deer, elk, etc.) facilities. This increase would allow the program to fund itself and no longer require $115,000 GF/GP appropriation. The Senate did not include revenue from these fees, but did make the GF/GP reduction. (115,000)
4. Wildfire Equipment Purchases. The Governor and Senate reduced GF/GP support for Wildfire Protection and Forest Fire Equipment. Savings would result from decreased equipment purchases. (68,500)
5. Natural Resources Heritage. The Governor and Senate eliminated GF/GP support for the endangered species studies conducted by the MSU Extension. (124,400)
6. General Law Enforcement. The Governor and Senate reduced GF/GP support for law enforcement activities on State land. (92,400)
7. Administrative Reductions. The Governor and Senate included GF/GP reductions to various administrative programs. (184,700)
8. Recreation Passport Revenue. The Governor and Senate included increases in spending to various recreation programs due to expected new revenue from the Recreation Passport. These programs include: State Parks, Forest Recreation, and local grants. New revenue estimates are based on an assumed 30% participation rate in the Passport program. 3,114,000
9. Excess Spending Authorization. The Governor and Senate included reductions to various programs in an effort to match those appropriations with available restricted revenue. (8,039,200)
10. Capital Outlay. The Governor and Senate increased funding for capital outlay projects. Revenue is available from the large amount of revenue collected from mineral auctions last year. The Senate allocated $2.5 million for a breakwall at Grand Marais. 6,101,400
11. Early Retirement Savings. Savings from retirement incentive in FY 2009-10. (283,900)
12. Economic Adjustments. DIT Economics: $216,900 Gross, $26,000 GF/GP. 6,723,900
13. Comparison to Governor's Recommendation. The Senate is $115,000 under the Governor's recommendation for Gross funds and even with it for GF/GP.
Total Changes $6,778,100
  FY 2011-12 Senate-Passed Gross Appropriation $330,080,800
FY 2011-12 NATURAL RESOURCES BUDGET BOILERPLATE HIGHLIGHTS

Changes from FY 2010-11 Year to Date:
  1. Out-of-State Travel. Sections restricting out-of-state travel, as well as attendance to conferences and training seminars were eliminated by the Governor and Senate. (Sec. 209 & 225)
2. Purchasing Guidelines. Sections favoring purchasing of domestic and Michigan-made goods (Sec. 210) as well as those from depressed and deprived communities (Sec. 211) were eliminated by the Governor. Both sections were restored by the Senate.
3. Communication with the Legislature. A section prohibiting disciplinary procedures against employees who communicate truthfully with the Legislature was eliminated by the Governor and restored by the Senate. (Sec. 212)
4. Restricted Fund and FTE Reports. Sections requiring various reports on State restricted fund balances as well as FTE reports were eliminated by the Governor and Senate. (Sec. 222 & 233)
5. Expenditure Posting. Sections requiring expenditure posting were eliminated by the Governor and Senate. (Sec. 233 & 234)
6. Historical Program Fees. The Governor modified this section to allow the program to charge fees to those under 18. The Senate added language to discourage this practice if sufficient revenue was available to do so. (Sec. 306.)
7. Freedom Trail Commission. A section requiring the Department to allocate $22,500 for the operation of the Freedom Trail Commission was eliminated by the Governor and Senate. (Sec. 307)
8. Land Transactions Report. A section requiring an annual report on all land transactions approved by the Natural Resources Commission in the previous year was eliminated by the Governor and restored by the Senate. (Sec. 308)
9. Bovine TB Report. Language requiring an annual report on Department activities related to bovine tuberculosis was eliminated by the Governor and Senate. (Sec. 501)
10. Indemnification Payments. Language stating the intent of the Legislature that the DNR reimburse the Department of Agriculture for indemnification payments for livestock losses caused by wolves, coyotes, and cougars, was eliminated by the Governor and restored by the Senate. (Sec. 502)
11. Timber Marking Quotas. Language establishing quotas for the minimum acreage of State land to be treated and marked in preparation for timber auctions was eliminated by the Governor and restored by the Senate. (Sec. 802)
12. Oil and Gas Lease Inventory. The Senate added a new section requiring the Department to compile an inventory of oil and gas leases where few acres are under production. (Sec. 309)
13. Grand Marais Harbor Capital Outlay. The Senate added a new section establishing a capital outlay project for the replacement of the breakwater at Grand Marais Harbor. (Sec. 1104)
14. Horseback Riding Opportunities. A section requiring the Department to work with horseback riding interests was eliminated by the Governor and restored by the Senate. (Sec. 804)
15. Timber Marking Contractors. Language requiring the Department to contract a sufficient number of foresters to mark timber per section 802 was eliminated by the Governor and restored by the Senate. (Sec. 805)
16. Timber Industry Meetings. A section requiring the director to meet semiannually with timber industry representatives was eliminated by both the Governor and Senate. (Sec. 807)
17. Reopen State Forest Campgrounds. A section requiring the Department to establish a plan to reopen closed State forest campgrounds as miniature State parks was eliminated by the Governor and modified by the Senate to state the intent of the Legislature that the Department keeps proposed for closure campgrounds open. (Sec. 808)
18. Snowmobile Law Enforcement Grants. Language requiring the Department to use appropriations for snowmobile law enforcement grants for those purposes was eliminated by the Governor and restored by the Senate. (Sec. 901)
19. ORV Trail Improvement Grant Restrictions. Language requiring the Department to spend $980,000 of appropriations made for these grants on the development of new trails was eliminated by the Governor and restored by the Senate. (Sec. 1003)

Date Completed: 4-28-11 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. hidnr_sp.doc