S.B. 352 (S-1): COMMITTEE SUMMARY                       PURCHASE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS

Senate Bill 352 (Substitute S-1)

Sponsor: Senator George A. McManus, Jr. Committee: Agriculture and Forestry

Date Completed: 12-3-96

CONTENT

The bill would amend Part 361 (Farmland and Open Space Preservation) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) to require that proceeds from lien payments made under Part 361 be used by the land use agency within the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to purchase development rights of unique or critical land area that did not necessitate direct purchase of the fee interest in the land for which money had been appropriated under Public Act 128 of 1995, which made appropriations for certain capital outlay projects for fiscal year 1995-96.

Currently, as amended in 1996, the NREPA requires that proceeds from lien payments be used to administer Part 361 for fiscal years 1991-92 through 1999-2000 and to purchase development rights on farmland that do not necessitate direct purchase of the fee interest in the land. The bill would retain this provision.

(Public Act 128 requires that funding for farmland and open space preservation be used to purchase property or development rights as follows: Lake Leelanau shoreland parcel A, up to

$67,500; Lake Leelanau shoreland parcel C1, up to $141,000; Lake Leelanau shoreland parcel C2, up to $52,000; sand point parcel in Huron County, up to $420,000; Mackinac Bay parcel, up to

$50,000; and Wayne County sassafras trail, up to $520,000.)

MCL 324.36111                                                                                 Legislative Analyst: L. Arasim

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would allow the expenditure of funds appropriated for projects in Public Act 128 of 1995 that otherwise will return to the Farmland and Open Space Preservation Fund because they did not comply with 1996 amendments to the NREPA restricting the projects to only farmland. The 1995- 96 appropriation totals $1,250,500 for purchase of development rights; with $780,000 in pending purchases that would be affected by this bill.

Fiscal Analyst: G. Cutler

S9596\S352SA

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.

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