REPEAL REGULATION OF FORESTERS S.B. 481 & 484:
FLOOR SUMMARY
Senate Bills 481 and 484 (as reported without amendment)
Sponsor: Senator Mark C. Jansen
CONTENT
Senate Bill 481 would repeal Article 21 of the Occupational Code, which regulates and provides for the registration of foresters. The bill also would rescind administrative rules and delete provisions of the Code related to foresters.
Article 21 created a Board of Foresters, provides for a person to receive a certificate of registration as a forester if he or she meets certain educational and experience requirements, and requires the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to register an applicant who is a legally authorized forester in another state or country if the Board considers that jurisdiction's requirements to be equivalent to Michigan's requirements.
In addition to repealing Article 21, the bill would rescind administrative rules related to the Board of Foresters and the educational, experience, and standards of practice requirements for foresters (R 339.18001-339.18035 of the Michigan Administrative Code).
The bill would delete a provision of the Occupational Code stating that the term of office of a member of the Board of Foresters begins on April 1. The bill also would delete a reference to foresters in a provision under which certain licenses or registrations are not subject to time frames for LARA to issue an initial or renewal license or registration.
Senate Bill 484 would repeal Section 29 of the State License Fee Act, which sets the following fees for a person registered or seeking registration as a forester under Article 21 of the Occupational Code: an application processing fee of $50; and a yearly registration fee of $40 through September 30, 2015, or $25 after that date.
MCL 339.303a et al. (S.B. 481) Legislative Analyst: Patrick Affholter
338.2229 (S.B. 484)
FISCAL IMPACT
The bills would cost the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs approximately $3,700 annually, and have no fiscal impact on local units of government. The bills would eliminate the licensure of foresters, who currently pay a registration fee of $80 every two years. The Department has indicated that the fees paid by foresters are sufficient to cover the costs of doing the work associated with regulating the profession, and that the revenue generated by licensing the profession exceeds costs by $3,700 annually.
Date Completed: 10-14-13 Fiscal Analyst: Josh Sefton
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.