FEE SUNSETS - S.B. 567 (S-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 567 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to postpone sunsets on land and water management fees for the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) from October 1, 2003 to October 1, 2008.
Floodplain Permits. Individuals may apply to the DEQ for a permit to alter a floodplain. Currently, the permit fee for a major project category is $500 and the permit fee for minor projects is $100. The bill would continue the existing permit fees, postponing the sunset for five years, until October 1, 2008.
Inland Lakes and Streams Permits. Current law establishes fees ranging from $50 to $2,000 for permits to alter inland lakes and streams. On October 1, 2003, activities under this section will require a permit fee of $25. The bill would postpone the sunset on the current fees until October 1, 2008.
Ordinary High-Water Mark Survey. A riparian owner may request and receive from the DEQ a written agreement on the location of the ordinary high-water mark for his or her property. The riparian owner must submit a written request for the agreement and a service fee of $500. On October 1, 2003, the service fee will decrease to $50. The bill would continue the service fee at $500 until October 1, 2008.
Shorelands Protection and Management. The bill would postpone for five years an October 1, 2003, sunset on permit fees for construction projects in high-risk areas, flood risk areas, and environmental areas. The current application fees are $500 for a commercial or multifamily residential project, $100 for a single-family home construction project, and $50 for an addition to an existing single-family home or other minor project.
Great Lakes Submerged Lands. Depending on the project, an individual may obtain a permit to alter Great Lakes submerged lands with a permit fee between $50 and $2,000. On October 1, 2003, the permit fee will be $50 for any of these activities. The bill would continue the current fees for another five years and set an new sunset date of October 1, 2008.
MCL 324.3104 et al.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approximately $2,106,000 from these land and water management fees is included in the Senate Appropriations Committee, House-passed, and Governor’s proposed budget for FY 2003-04 for the Department of Environmental Quality. The budget assumes that the fee sunsets are eliminated or postponed and the existing fee structure applies for the next fiscal year.
Date Completed: 6-17-03 - Fiscal Analyst: Jessica Runnels
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.