GREAT LAKES WATERCRAFT DECAL - H.B. 4914 (S-2): FLOOR ANALYSIS

sans-serif">House Bill 4914 (Substitute S-2 as reported)

Sponsor: Representative David Palsrok

House Committee: Great Lakes and Tourism

Senate Committee: Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs

CONTENT

The bill would amend Part 801 (Marine Safety) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to require the Secretary of State (SOS) to forward $25 from the sale of each Great Lakes Protection speciality watercraft decal to the State Treasurer for aquatic nuisance species research, public education, and eradication efforts. The bill is tie-barred to Senate Bills 535 and 536, which would require the Secretary of State to design a Great Lakes Protection speciality watercraft decal and make it available for purchase when a person paid for a vessel’s certificate of number and decal.

Under House Bill 4914 (S-2), the SOS would retain $10 from the sale of each decal as reimbursement for the cost of creating and distributing the decals. The SOS would have to forward the remainder to the Treasurer for deposit into the Michigan Great Lakes Protection Fund to be used for used for research on aquatic nuisance species, public education on the threat of aquatic nuisance species, and efforts to eradicate aquatic nuisance species from the Great Lakes and other waters of the State.

(The Act defines “aquatic nuisance species” as a nonindigenous species that threatens the diversity or abundance of native species or the ecological stability of infested waters, or commercial, agricultural, aquacultural, or recreational activities dependent on such waters.)

Proposed MCL 324.80124b - Legislative Analyst: Claire Layman

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill, together with Senate Bills 535 and 536, would have an indeterminate fiscal impact depending on the number of Great Lakes Protection specialty watercraft decals issued. There are approximately 915,000 registered watercraft in Michigan.

Senate Bill 536, as passed by the Senate, would result in costs to the Department of State related to the design and production of Great Lakes Protection specialty watercraft decals. No cost estimate is available from the Department. The extent to which the Department’s costs would be offset by revenue, and the amount of revenue generated for the Michigan Great Lakes Protection Fund, would depend on the number of decals sold.

Date Completed: 12-15-03 - Fiscal Analyst: Bill BowermanFloor\hb4914 - Bill Analysis @ www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa

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.