MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE

HB 4479 (Barnett)

The bill would amend the General Property Tax Act to require a county board of commissioners to hold its annual session to ascertain and determine the amount of money to be raised for county purposes not later than October 31 in each year, rather than in October. Under the Act, a board must examine all certificates, statements, papers, and records submitted to it, showing the money to be raised in the townships for school, highway, drain, township, and other purposes. Under the bill, the examination also would have to be made at a session held by October 31 in each year. The bill also would allow a township clerk to give the county clerk a certification regarding taxes levied in the township, notwithstanding requirements for the county board to determine and apportion amounts to be raised for county purposes. If a certification were provided, the board would have to meet and direct or amend its direction for the spread of millages by local units in the county pursuant to the certification.

• The House concurred with the Senate substitute [RC 278: 108 yes, 0 no]

HB 4579 (Warren)

The bill would amend Part 413 (Transgenic and Nonnative Species) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to do the following:
-- Authorize the Natural Resources Commission (NRC), after consulting with the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA), by order to add to or delete from the list of prohibited or restricted species any species other than an insect or plant.
-- Authorize the Agriculture Commission, after consulting with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), by order to add to or delete from the list of prohibited or restricted species any insect or plant species.
-- Require the DNR or MDA, at least 30 days before a proposed order was issued, to post the order on the Department's website and submit a copy of it to the Legislature.
-- Prescribe criteria for listing an organism as a prohibited or restricted species.
-- Require the DNR or MDA, as applicable, in determining whether to grant or deny a permit application for introduction of a genetically engineered organism, to consider whether any application for a Federal permit or approval for the organism had been granted or denied.
-- Extend criminal penalties to the illegal possession or introduction of a prohibited or restricted species with intent to harm human health.
-- Authorize the MDA to administer and enforce Part 413 with respect to insect and plant species, and authorize the DNR to administer and enforce Part 413 regarding all other species.
-- Replace references to the Invasive Species Advisory Council with references to the DNR.
-- Delete a sunset date on annual reporting requirements.

• The House concurred with the Senate substitute [RC 279: 106 yes, 1 no]

FINAL PASSAGE

SB 349 (Barcia)

The bill (S-3) would amend Part 435 (Hunting and Fishing Licensing) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (1) to remove certain restrictions on discounts for hunting and fishing licenses; and (2) to encourage the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to establish discounts for members of hunting and fishing organizations. 

Discounts.  Currently, theDNR may offer the following discounts on hunting or fishing licenses: 

·A marketing discount of up to 15 percent to increase participation in hunting and fishing activities.

·A discounted fee or no fee for an antlerless deer license in a specific area as needed to increase the harvest of antlerless deer.

·A sportsperson discount of 15 percent when someone buys four or more licenses at the same time for the same person.  (Waterfowl hunting and limited fishing licenses are not eligible for the sportsperson discount.)

Under Senate Bill 349, theDNR could (1) provide a marketing discount of any amount to increase participation in hunting and fishing activities; and (2) provide a discounted fee or no fee for any license or application (not just antlerless deer) to achieve a harvest or management objective for that species. (Specific provisions for sportsperson and antlerless deer discounts would be eliminated.)

• Committee substitute S-1 adopted
• SB 349 advanced to 3 rd Reading
• SB 349 was passed [RC 280: 105 yes, 1 no]
• IE was ordered

HB 4520 (Barnett)

Following a merger, the bill would allow a newly consolidated government to levy a property tax millage for local services in only a portion of the community, if authorized by the new charter and approved by a majority of voters.

• Committee substitute H-3 adopted
• HB 4520 advanced to 3 rd Reading
• HB 4520 was passed [RC 281: 108 yes, 0 no]
• IE was ordered

HB 4887 (Mayes)

The bill would amend Part 361 (Farmland and Open Space Preservation) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to allow specified wind, solar, and biomass renewable energy systems to qualify as a "permitted use" of farmland covered by an easement or agreement designed to preserve it as farmland or open space under Part 361.  This would allow an eligible system to be placed on the land as a permitted use without losing eligibility for farmland preservation programs.  

• Committee substitute H-1 adopted
• HB 4887 advanced to 3 rd Reading
• HB 4887 was passed [RC 282: 104 yes, 4 no]
• IE was ordered

HB 5033 (Scripps)

The bill would amend the Revised Judicature Act to apply the tolling of the statute of limitations pertaining to actions involving minor children or the "insane" to actions arising under any statute and not just to those arising under provisions of the RJA. The term "insane" as used in the RJA refers to "a condition of mental derangement such as to prevent the sufferer from comprehending rights he or she is otherwise bound to know and is not dependent on whether or not the person has been judicially declared to be insane."

• Schuitmaker substitute H-1 not adopted
• HB 5033 advanced to 3 rd Reading
• HB 5033 was passed [RC 283: 107 yes, 1 no]
• IE was ordered