WHEREAS, Section 1 of Article V of the Michigan Constitution of 1963 vests the executive power of the State of Michigan in the Governor; and

    WHEREAS, Section 2 of Article V of the Michigan Constitution of 1963 empowers the Governor to make changes in the organization of the executive branch or in the assignment of functions among its units that the Governor considers necessary for efficient administration; and

    WHEREAS, Section 8 of Article V of the Michigan Constitution of 1963 provides that each principal department of state government shall be under the supervision of the Governor, unless otherwise provided in the Constitution; and

    WHEREAS, appropriate organization of the Department of Agriculture and the Commission of Agriculture will help assure the protection, promotion, and preservation of the food, agricultural, conservation, and economic interests of the People of the State of Michigan; and

    WHEREAS, rural development is integral to the growth of Michigan's rural housing and infrastructure, the agricultural and food processing industries, and the overall economy of the state; and

    WHEREAS, certain modifications in Executive Order 2009-54 are necessary; and

    WHEREAS, it is necessary in the interests of efficient administration and effectiveness of government to change the organization of the executive branch of state government;

    NOW THEREFORE, I, Richard D. Snyder, Governor of the State of Michigan, by virtue of the power and authority vested in the Governor by the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and Michigan law, order the following:

    I. DEFINITIONS

    As used in this Order:

    A. "Commission of Agriculture" means the commission created under Section 1 of 1921 PA 13, MCL 285.1, and continued under Section 179 of the Executive Organization Act of 1965, 1965 PA 380, MCL 16.279.

    B. "Department of Agriculture" means the principal department of state government created under Section 1 of 1921 PA 13, MCL 285.1, and Section 175 of the Executive Organization Act of 1965, 1965 PA 380, MCL 16.275.

    C. "Department of Natural Resources" means the principal department by that name created by Executive Order 2011-1.

    D. "Natural Resources Commission" means the commission created under Section 1 of 1921 PA 17, MCL 299.1, continued under Section 254 of the Executive Organization Act of 1965, 1965 PA 380, MCL 16.354, transferred to the Department of Natural Resources under Executive Order 1991-22, MCL 299.13, continued under Section 501 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.501, renamed the Natural Resources Commission by Executive Order 2009-45, and transferred to the Department of Natural Resources by Executive Order 2011-1.

    II. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT; and the COMMISSION OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

    A. The Department of Agriculture is renamed the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development; the Commission of Agriculture is renamed the Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development.

    B. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development shall utilize their statutory powers and authority to further the goal of developing the rural areas of this state.

    C. The following parts of Executive Order 2009-54 concerning the Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development are rescinded:

    1. Section II(A)(2);

    2. Section II(A)(5);

    3. Section II(A)(17);

    4. Section I1(B)(7), II(B)(8), and II(B)(9); and

    5. Section II(C)(15).

    III. DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION

    A. The following parts of Executive Order 2009-54 concerning the Department of Natural Resources and the Natural Resources Commission are rescinded:

    1. Section III(A)(2);

    2. Section III(A)(4); and

    3. Section III(B) (The Michigan Snowmobile and Trails Advisory Council having been established by 2010 PA 46).

    This Executive Order shall become effective on March 13, 2011, consistent with Section 2 of Article V of the Michigan Constitution of 1963.