Natural resources: gas and oil; fee for monitoring, administration, and enforcement; increase. Amends sec. 61524 of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.61524).
Impact
If enacted, SB 0140 will modify existing legislation by establishing a more systematic approach to fee assessment, designed to allow the state to preemptively address funding shortfalls in the monitoring and enforcement of oil and gas regulations. Specifically, the bill establishes a threshold of $7 million for fund balance, beyond which fees may be adjusted. The bill clarifies the roles of various state departments in certifying estimates and appropriations, potentially leading to more efficient administration of funds.
Summary
Senate Bill 0140 aims to amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act by adjusting the fee structure for monitoring, surveillance, enforcement, and administration related to oil and gas production in Michigan. The bill proposes to introduce a fee levied on the gross cash market value of oil and gas produced within the state, with this fee not exceeding 2%. This change is intended to ensure that the state can adequately fund its oversight responsibilities associated with natural resource management, which has become increasingly essential given the larger volumes of production and the related environmental concerns.
Contention
Notable points of contention surrounding SB 0140 include concerns about the adequacy of the proposed fees in covering the actual costs of monitoring and enforcement. Critics argue that while increasing fees can contribute to revenue, they might not be enough to meet the growing demands of environmental protection, especially during periods of high production levels. Additionally, stakeholders in the oil and gas industry may express concerns regarding the financial burden of increased fees and the impacts this may have on overall production costs.
Environmental protection: other; general amendments to fees in the natural resources and environmental protection act; modify. Amends secs. 3122, 4112, 5522, 11525a, 17303, 17317, 80130, 80315, 81114 & 82156 of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.3122 et seq.).
Natural resources: mining; regulations for mining of sand and gravel operations; modify. Amends sec. 9115 of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.9115) & adds pt. 639. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4526'23, HB 4527'23
Natural resources: mining; regulations for mining of sand and gravel operations; modify. Amends sec. 9115 of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.9115) & adds pt. 639. TIE BAR WITH: HB 6111'24, HB 6109'24
Establishing the Lifeline Scholarship Program and the Lifeline Scholarship Fund; and conferring powers and imposing duties on the State Treasury and Auditor General.
In preliminary provisions, providing for advertising and sponsorships; in charter schools, further providing for definitions and for funding for charter schools, providing for funding for cyber charter schools, for cyber charter school requirements, for powers and composition of board of trustees and for educational management service providers, further providing for powers and duties of department and for assessment and evaluation, providing for annual reports and public reporting and for fund balance limits, further providing for cyber charter school requirements and prohibitions and for school district and intermediate unit responsibilities, providing for access to other schools' facilities, further providing for establishment of cyber charter school, providing for renewals, for charter amendments and for causes for nonrenewal, revocation or termination, further providing for State Charter School Appeal Board review, for cyber charter school application and for enrollment and notification, providing for enrollment parameters and for enrollee wellness checks and further providing for applicability of other provisions of this act and of other acts and regulations.