DRUG MANUFACTURING SITE:  DCH

Senate Bill 1112

Sponsor:  Sen. Patricia L. Birkholz

House Committee:  Health Policy

Senate Committee:  Health Policy

Complete to 5-8-06

A SUMMARY OF SENATE BILL 1112 AS PASSED BY THE SENATE 3-30-06

Senate Bill 1112 would amend the Housing Law of Michigan (MCL 125.485a) to require state and local law enforcement agencies to notify the Department of Community Health— rather than the Department of Environmental Quality—and the local health department (if the enforcing agency is not the local health department), about the potential contamination of property where illegal drug manufacturing has occurred.  (The appropriate housing law enforcing agency also must be notified.)  Subsequent duties that now fall to the DEQ in the statute would be imposed on the DCH.

The bill is similar to House Bill 5797, which has been passed by House and is pending action by the Senate.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Senate Bill 1112 (S-1), as passed by the Senate, has fiscal implications for the Department of Community Health (DCH).  The responsibilities transferred to DCH from the Department of Environmental Quality by Senate Bill 1112 will require staff time.  Annual expenses for one additional state level program specialist staff person would be approximately $90,000-$100,000.  Hundreds of methamphetamine laboratories are seized annually.  The Department of State Police indicates that in 2005, 261 methamphetamine laboratories were seized.

The Department of Environmental Quality will continue to receive and assess notifications of other types of environmental contamination; therefore, a reduction of costs is not anticipated for DEQ as a consequence of SB 1112.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Susan Stutzky

                                                                                                                           Chris Couch

                                                                                                   Fiscal Analyst:   Susan Frey

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.