2005-PA-0047

Act No. 47

Public Acts of 2005

Approved by the Governor

June 16, 2005

Filed with the Secretary of State

June 16, 2005

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 16, 2005

STATE OF MICHIGAN

93RD LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2005

Introduced by Senators Gilbert, Van Woerkom, Birkholz, Sanborn, Cropsey, Goschka, Allen, Stamas, Hardiman, Garcia, Brown, Jelinek and Barcia

ENROLLED SENATE BILL No. 226

AN ACT to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "An act to protect the environment and natural resources of the state; to codify, revise, consolidate, and classify laws relating to the environment and natural resources of the state; to regulate the discharge of certain substances into the environment; to regulate the use of certain lands, waters, and other natural resources of the state; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state and local agencies and officials; to provide for certain charges, fees, and assessments; to provide certain appropriations; to prescribe penalties and provide remedies; to repeal certain parts of this act on a specific date; and to repeal certain acts and parts of acts," (MCL 324.101 to 324.90106) by adding part 23.

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

PART 23. AGRICULTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Sec. 2301. As used in this part:

(a) "Department" means the department of environmental quality.

(b) "Director" means the director of the department.

(d) "Rural county" means a county with a population of less than 70,000.

(e) "Standing committees" means the committees of the senate and house of representatives with primary responsibility for agriculture.

Sec. 2303. (1) The director shall convene an agriculture and rural communities roundtable to discuss how the laws, rules and policies administered by the department affect farmers, food processors, agribusiness, rural counties, and cities, villages, and townships in rural counties.

(2) The director shall invite at least all of the following to participate in the roundtable:

(a) Two individuals from an association representing farmers.

(b) Two individuals from an association representing food processors.

(d) One individual representing a township in a rural county.

(e) One individual representing a city or village in a rural county.

(f) One individual representing a rural county.

(3) Before extending invitations to participate in the roundtable, the director shall consult with the chairpersons of standing committees.

Sec. 2305. (1) The first meeting of the roundtable shall be convened by the director within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section.

(2) The director shall convene the roundtable at least twice each calendar year, except that if the amendatory act that added this section takes effect after September 30, the roundtable shall convene at least once the first calendar year. The roundtable may advise the director on the need for a more frequent meeting schedule.

(3) The meetings of the roundtable shall be open to the general public and shall be held in a place available to the general public.

(4) The department shall provide notice of each meeting of the roundtable by posting on the department website and such other means as the department determines appropriate.

(5) At least 1 meeting of the roundtable each year shall be held in a rural community. At such a meeting, the public shall be provided an opportunity to address the roundtable on issues within its purview.

(6) The department shall prepare a summary of each meeting of the roundtable including a department response to issues raised during the roundtable meeting. The department shall do both of the following:

(a) Post the summary on its website.

(b) Provide a copy of the summary to the members of the roundtable, any member of the public requesting a copy, and to the standing committees.

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Secretary of the Senate

Clerk of the House of Representatives

Approved

Governor