SENATE BILL No. 769

 

 

September 21, 2005, Introduced by Senator GILBERT 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 74104 (MCL 324.74104), as added by 1995 PA 58.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 74104. (1) The department shall establish an "adopt-a-

 

park" program that will allow volunteer groups to assist state park

 

staff in maintaining and enhancing state parks.

 

     (2) Subject to subsection (3), volunteer groups in the adopt-

 

a-park program may adopt any available state park and may choose

 

any 1 or more of the following volunteer activities:

 

     (a) Spring cleanups.

 

     (b) Environmental activities.

 


     (c) Accessibility projects.

 

     (d) Special events.

 

     (e) Park maintenance and development.

 

     (f) Public information and assistance.

 

     (g) Training.

 

     (3) The department shall designate the activities to be

 

performed by a volunteer group in the adopt-a-park program. The

 

department may provide for more than 1 volunteer group to adopt a

 

state park.

 

     (4) A volunteer group that wishes to participate in the adopt-

 

a-park program shall submit an application to the department on a

 

form provided by the department. Additionally, volunteer groups

 

shall agree to the following:

 

     (a) Volunteer groups shall participate in the program for at

 

least a 2-year period.

 

     (b) Volunteer groups shall consist of at least 6 people who

 

are 18 years of age or older, unless the volunteer group is a

 

school or scout organization, in which case the volunteers may be

 

under 18 years of age.

 

     (c) Volunteer groups shall give a total of 400 hours over a 2-

 

year period.

 

     (d) Volunteer groups shall comply with other reasonable

 

requirements of the department.

 

     (5) A state park manager may issue to volunteers who are

 

actively working on adopt-a-park projects that last more than 1 day

 

free camping permits if campsites are available. A state park

 

manager may waive state park entry fees for volunteers entering

 


state parks to work on adopt-a-park projects.

 

     (6) The department shall design and erect near the state park

 

headquarters of each state park in the adopt-a-park program an

 

adopt-a-park program sign with the name of the volunteer group's

 

sponsoring organization listed for each volunteer group that has

 

contributed at least 100 service hours by volunteers.

 

     (7) The department shall provide a volunteer group conducting

 

litter cleanup under the adopt-a-park program with a method for the

 

volunteer group to record a general characterization of the types

 

and amount of trash collected during the group's cleanup effort.

 

The department shall request the group to forward the information

 

recorded to the department of environmental quality on completion.

 

     Enacting section 1.  This amendatory act does not take effect

 

unless Senate Bill No. 767                                    

 

            of the 93rd Legislature is enacted into law.