FOREST LAND USER FUND - H.B. 5278 (S-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS

House Bill 5278 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Sponsor: Representative Beverly Bodem

House Committee: Conservation, Environment and Recreation

Senate Committee: Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to revise provisions concerning State forest fees and create the "Forest Land User Fund".

The bill is tie-barred to House Bill 5254, which would authorize the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to grant concessions on DNR-owned or -controlled land, expand the DNR's authority to lease land, and specify the funds that would receive money from a concession or a lease; and Senate Bill 728, which would establish the "Forest Recreation Fund", require the DNR to develop an integrated recreation system, and allow the DNR to establish fees for camping in State forest campgrounds.

Currently, the DNR may require a person to obtain a permit for the use of a State park or a State forest campground, and may establish and collect fees for permits to use State parks, State forest campgrounds, and specific State forest areas. House Bill 5278 (S-2) would delete references to State forest campgrounds and forest areas in those provisions. The bill also would delete a requirement that the permit fees for State forest campgrounds be used for the operation, maintenance, and development of those campgrounds.

The Act also provides that the DNR may establish and collect fees for the processing of applications for the use of State forests that require extensive review. The fees must cover the Department's cost for processing the applications. The bill provides, instead, that the DNR could establish and collect fees to cover the costs to the Department for processing applications and for monitoring permits for the use of State forests that required extensive review. This fee revenue would have to be credited to the Forest Land User Fund, which the bill would create in the State Treasury. Money in the Fund could be appropriated to the DNR to cover the costs of reviewing applications and monitoring permits for the use of State forests. Money in the Fund at the end of a fiscal year would have to be carried over in the Fund to the next fiscal year.

MCL 324.509 - Legislative Analyst: N. Nagata

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

Date Completed: 11-12-98 - Fiscal Analyst: G. Cutler

floor\hb5278 (S-1) - Analysis available @ http://www.michiganlegislature.org

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.