REPEAL REGULATION OF FORESTERS S.B. 481 & 484:
COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Senate Bills 481 and 484 (as introduced 9-11-13)
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.
Senate Bill 484 would repeal Section 29 of the State License Fee Act, which specifies various fees for registration as a forester.
Senate Bill 484 is tie-barred to Senate Bill 481.
Senate Bill 481
Repeal of Forester Regulation
The bill would repeal Article 21 (Foresters) of the Occupational Code. Article 21 defines "forester" as a person who, by reason of his or her knowledge of the natural sciences, mathematics, and the principles of forestry, acquired by forestry education and practical experience, is qualified to engage in the practice of professional forestry. "Practice of professional forestry" means professional forestry services, including consultation, investigation, evaluation, planning, or responsible supervision of forestry interns or forest technicians when the professional service requires the application of forestry principles and techniques.
Article 21 also 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 (LARA) 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 registration requirements.
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).
Board Terms & Registration Issuance Periods
Under the Code, the term of office of a member of the Board of Foresters begins on April 1. The bill would delete that provision.
The Code requires LARA to issue an initial or renewal license or registration within specific time frames. Those requirements do not apply to certain licenses or registrations, including a registration for a forester under Article 21. The bill would delete the reference to foresters in that provision.
Senate Bill 484
The bill would repeal Section 29 of the State License Fee Act. That section sets fees for a person registered or seeking registration as a forester under Article 21 of the Occupational Code, as shown in Table 1.
Table 1
|
Fee Type |
Amount |
|
Application processing fee |
$50 |
|
Registration fee, per year if paid through September 30, 2015 |
$40 |
|
Registration fee, per year if paid after September 30, 2015 |
$25 |
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.
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.