April 4, 2003

1. Bill Number and Sponsor:

House Bill No. 4351

Introduced by Representative Scott A. Shackleton, et. al.

2. Purpose:

House Bill No. 4351 requires the Department to administer the Adopt-A-Forest Program. This program promotes working with volunteers to clean-up illegally dumped trash from public forest lands. The Bill also requires public information and volunteer recognition programs.

3. How Does this Legislation Impact Current Programs in the Department?

The Adopt-A-Forest Program in Michigan has operated for 14 years as a cooperative program between public, private and non-profit agencies and volunteer groups. This Bill implies and assigns specific ownership of the program to the Department that may be contrary to the mission and goals of the program. Some current partner groups have expressed concern that this administrative change will alter the broad focus of the program to one more oriented to State-owned land, instead of public land (federal, municipal, and township). This legislation would codify and require the Department to administer the program.

4. Introduced at Agency Request?

No.

5. Agency Support?

The Department supports the concept of the Bill. However, without an appropriated funding source for this required initiative, the agency could not manage it.

6. Arguments Against the Bill:

There is no funding source identified for this required initiative. Section 36005 requires the Department to report on the number of tons of wastes removed each year. There is no reliable mechanism for calculating the weight of waste removed in clean-ups. The industry standard for tracking and charging tipping fees is cubic yards. The Adopt-A-Forest Program currently tracks waste removal by cubic yards.

7. Arguments For the Bill:

The Bill elevates understanding of the significance, importance, and costs of illegal dumping, clean-up and volunteer efforts. It includes education and information activities that dovetail well with the Department’s goal of increasing public awareness of natural resources. Programmatically, Adopt-A-Forest provides an excellent opportunity to highlight natural resource values. It provides a vehicle for harnessing community support and involvement. Also, it demonstrates the Department’s commitment to our public trust responsibility for long-term forest land health.

The Bill assigns program responsibility to the Department, which may insure more consistent follow-through at the State level.

8. State Revenue/Budgetary Implications?

House Bill 4351 has no funding source identified. A required initiative must have a funding base to implement and maintain the program. The Department will need to provide significant Administrative support for this program, including developing and adopting program guidelines, creating a volunteer recognition program, providing assistance and information, coordinating clean-ups, and developing a data tracking and reporting system.

9. Implications to Local Units of Government:

None at this time.

10. Administrative Rules Implications:

The substitute bill directs that the Department adopt guidelines for the program, not administrative rules.

11. Other Pertinent Information:

The Department Fiscal Year 2003 budget includes $50,000 for Adopt-A-Forest Program. The Forest Development Fund dollars may only be used for clean-up on State-owned land. Since Adopt-A-Forest covers all public lands, using this funding source requires prioritizing clean-ups based on land ownership, not need.

12. User Groups/Customers that Support this Legislation (if known):

Unknown.

K. L. COOL

DIRECTOR

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

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