HOUSE BILL No. 6194


     September 24, 1998, Introduced by Reps. Basham, DeHart, Stallworth, Hale, Kilpatrick, Birkholz, Scranton, Anthony and Thomas and referred to the Committee on Conservation, Environment and Recreation.


        A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled

   "Natural resources and environmental protection act,"

   by amending section 2503 (MCL 324.2503), as added by 1995 PA 60.

               THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 1         Sec. 2503.  The department shall appoint a coordinator of

 2    environmental education within the department of natural

 3    resources.  The coordinator's primary responsibilities shall be

 4    to do the following:

 5         (a) Coordinate the efforts of the department related to

 6    environmental education.

 7         (b) Work with the department of education and with local

 8    education institutions, not-for-profit educational and environ-

 9    mental organizations, broadcasting entities, and private sector

10    interests to support development of curricula, special projects,




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 1    and other activities to increase understanding of the basic

 2    sciences and of natural resources and the environment.

 3         (c) Provide technical assistance to school districts,

 4    schools, and educators wishing to undertake projects including,

 5    but not limited to, water quality, air quality monitoring, or

 6    habitat protection.

 7         (d) If an environmental education advisory committee is

 8    established pursuant to section 2504, coordinate with the depart-

 9    ment in staffing the advisory committee.

10         (e) Provide assistance to the commission in implementing

11    statewide environmental education strategies developed by the

12    department and the department of education.

13         (f) Assist in identifying grants or other sources of funding

14    for innovative educators and students of environmental

15    education.

16         (g) Recommend the appropriate mechanism for establishment of

17    a clearinghouse of environmental education materials, which would

18    make environmental education materials available to educators

19    throughout the state.

20         (h) Provide or support existing training and professional

21    development programs for educators.

22         (i) Assist in the incorporation of environmental education

23    into curriculum objectives for the state's elementary and second-

24    ary schools and develop appropriate assessment mechanisms.

25         (j)  Promote awareness of section 1171a of the school code

26     of 1976, Act No. 451 of the Public Acts of 1976, being section

27     380.1171a of the Michigan Compiled Laws.  PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO



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 1    SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SCHOOLS, AND EDUCATORS IN DEVELOPING AND

 2    IMPLEMENTING LAND STEWARDSHIP EDUCATION INITIATIVES.  THE COORDI-

 3    NATOR SHALL DEVELOP STANDARDIZED MATERIALS TO PROMOTE THE USE OF

 4    SCHOOL GROUNDS OR OTHER COMMUNITY PUBLIC LANDS IN TEACHING LAND

 5    STEWARDSHIP.














































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