SB-0778, As Passed Senate, November 3, 2005
September 27, 2005, Introduced by Senators BIRKHOLZ, BRATER, JACOBS, HARDIMAN and ALLEN and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs.
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled
"Natural resources and environmental protection act,"
by amending section 2521 (MCL 324.2521), as added by 1999 PA 195.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 2521. (1) The department of environmental quality, in
conjunction with the department of natural resources, shall
biennially prepare a report that assesses the status of and trends
related to the overall state of the natural environment in
Michigan. The report shall be based upon environmental indicators
identified by the departments of environmental quality and natural
resources and upon data obtained through sound scientific
methodologies and processes. The report shall be submitted to the
governor, to the standing committees of the legislature with
jurisdiction over issues primarily related to natural resources and
the environment, and to the senate and house appropriations
subcommittees on environmental quality and natural resources. The
first report shall be submitted not later than October 1, 2001, and
subsequent reports shall be submitted not later than October 1
every other year. The reports shall also be made available to the
public electronically and, upon request, in paper format.
(2) The departments of environmental quality and natural
resources shall monitor efforts undergoing in other states and
nationally to establish uniformity among environmental indicators
that might be included within the report.
(3) All state agencies shall cooperate with the departments of
environmental quality and natural resources in carrying out their
responsibilities under this section.
(4) As used in this section, "environmental indicator" means a
measure of the state of the natural environment that can be derived
from empirical data. The department shall use the most recent data
available. If relevant data is not available, the department shall
include in the report recommendations for gathering data in the
future.
(5)
This section is repealed effective December 31, 2005.