HOUSE BILL No. 4991 October 13, 1999, Introduced by Reps. Green, Sheltrown, Jelinek, Neumann, Spade, Birkholz, Bovin, Jellema, Kukuk, Rick Johnson, Julian, Cameron Brown, Gosselin, Ehardt, Garcia, Law and Koetje and referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Resource Management. A bill to amend 1893 PA 206, entitled "The general property tax act," (MCL 211.1 to 211.157) by adding section 7gg. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT: 1 SEC. 7GG. (1) A VEGETATIVE FILTER STRIP 16 FEET OR MORE IN 2 WIDTH THAT IS IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT AND PARALLEL TO A DRAIN, 3 RIVER, OR STREAM IS EXEMPT FROM THE COLLECTION OF TAXES UNDER 4 THIS ACT. 5 (2) THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SHALL ANNUALLY SUBMIT TO 6 THE SENATE AND HOUSE COMMITTEES THAT HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR 7 AGRICULTURAL MATTERS A REPORT CONCERNING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE 8 EXEMPTION UNDER THIS SECTION. 9 (3) AS USED IN THIS SECTION: 10 (A) "DRAIN" MEANS A COUNTY DRAIN AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN 11 SECTION 461 OF THE DRAIN CODE OF 1956, 1956 PA 40, MCL 280.461, 02998'99 FDD 2 1 OR AN INTERCOUNTY DRAIN AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN SECTION 511 OF 2 THE DRAIN CODE OF 1956, 1956 PA 40, MCL 280.511. 3 (B) "VEGETATIVE FILTER STRIP" MEANS A PARCEL OF REAL PROP- 4 ERTY 16 FEET OR MORE IN WIDTH IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT AND PARALLEL 5 TO A DRAIN, RIVER, OR STREAM THAT IS NOT CULTIVATED, MAINTAINED, 6 OR GROOMED AND THAT FILTERS THE SURFACE WATER RUNOFF FLOWING INTO 7 THAT DRAIN, RIVER, OR STREAM AS DETERMINED BY THE SOIL CONSERVA- 8 TION DISTRICT AGENCY WITH JURISDICTION OVER THAT REAL PROPERTY. 9 VEGETATION IN A VEGETATIVE FILTER STRIP SHALL HAVE ALL OF THE 10 FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS: 11 (A) A DENSE TOP GROWTH. 12 (B) A HEAVY, FIBROUS ROOT SYSTEM. 13 (C) FORMS A UNIFORM GROUND COVER. 14 (D) TOLERATES PESTICIDES USED IN FARMING. 02998'99 Final page. FDD