Public Act 125 of 2004

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• Introduced by Rep. Tom Casperson (R) on February 17, 2004, to require the Department of Natural Resources to establish a forestry development, conservation, and recreation management plan for state forests based on sustainable forestry principles, and taking into consideration the needs and desires of various interested parties. The bill also requires the state to seek forest certification from an independent third party organization that develops specific standards to measure whether forest management practices are consistent with principles of sustainable forestry. Note: There are two non-profit organizations that do forest certification; one is associated with environmental groups and the other with forest products industry groups. The bill is part of a legislative package comprised of House Bills 5552 to 5554.
  • Referred to the House Agriculture and Resource Management Committee on February 17, 2004.
    • Reported in the House on March 9, 2004, without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill pass.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Dale Sheltrown (D) on March 10, 2004, to narrow the definition of state forest covered by the bill from all state land owned or controlled by the Department of Natural Resources to just state land designated as state forest. The amendment failed in the House by voice vote on March 10, 2004.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Joseph Rivet (D) on March 10, 2004, to eliminate a provision requiring the Department of Natural Resources to establish a forestry development, conservation, and recreation management plan for the state forest and to harvest timber from in compliance with the plan. The governor contends that this need not be in statute because it would conflict with similar programs the department is undertaking. The amendment failed in the House by voice vote on March 10, 2004.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Joseph Rivet (D) on March 10, 2004, to eliminate a provision that would place in statute detailed requirements for implementing the principles of sustainable forestry in state forests. The Department of Natural Resources contends that this would conflict with similar programs the department is undertaking. The amendment failed in the House by voice vote on March 10, 2004.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Howard Walker (R) on March 10, 2004, to correct a drafting error in the language of the bill. The amendment passed in the House by voice vote on March 10, 2004.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Howard Walker (R) on March 10, 2004, to require the state forest plan to identify the annual capability of state forestlands, rather than the annual productivity. The amendment passed in the House by voice vote on March 10, 2004.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Rich Brown (D) on March 10, 2004, to add a requirement that not only must the state forest plan protect the water quality in streams, lakes, and other waterbodies, it must do so in a manner consistent with the Department of Natural Resources’ best management practices for water quality. Also, to require that the department seek and maintain at least one third-party certification that the management of the state forest, rather than just “seek and maintain third-party certification.” There are two non-profit organizations that do forest certification; one is associated with environmental groups and the other with forest products industry groups.. The amendment passed in the House by voice vote on March 10, 2004.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Tom Casperson (R) on March 10, 2004, to require the state forest plan to identify all environmentally sensitive areas, not just those specified in the statute governing wilderness, wild, and natural areas. The amendment passed in the House by voice vote on March 10, 2004.
• Passed in the House (63 to 37) on March 10, 2004, to require the Department of Natural Resources to establish a forestry development, conservation, and recreation management plan for state lands based on sustainable forestry principles, and taking into consideration the needs and desires of various interested parties. The bill also requires the state to seek forest certification from an independent third party organization that develops specific standards to measure whether forest management practices are consistent with principles of sustainable forestry. Note: There are two non-profit organizations that do forest certification; one is associated with environmental groups and the other with forest products industry groups. The bill is part of a legislative package comprised of House Bills 5552 to 5554. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Received in the Senate on March 11, 2004.
  • Referred to the Senate Agriculture, Forestry and Tourism Committee on March 11, 2004.
  • Reported in the Senate on May 4, 2004, with the recommendation that the substitute (S-3) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
  • Substitute offered in the Senate on May 5, 2004, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that limits the scope of the bill to only lands designated as state forests by the DNR, not all state lands, including state parks, game areas, etc. Also, to broaden the requirements for reporting by the DNR so that recreation and wildlife management activities must be monitored, as well as timber production . The substitute passed in the Senate by voice vote on May 5, 2004.
  • Amendment offered by Sen. Liz Brater (D) on May 6, 2004, to eliminate the tie-bar to Senate Bill 1023, which would establish four private management forest pilot project areas. The amendment failed in the Senate by voice vote on May 6, 2004.
• Passed in the Senate (29 to 9) on May 6, 2004, to require the Department of Natural Resources to establish a forestry development, conservation, and recreation management plan for state forests based on sustainable forestry principles, and taking into consideration the needs and desires of various interested parties. The bill also requires the state to seek forest certification from an independent third party organization that develops specific standards to measure whether forest management practices are consistent with principles of sustainable forestry. Note: There are two non-profit organizations that do forest certification; one is associated with environmental groups and the other with forest products industry groups. See also Senate Bills 1023 and 1024. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Received in the House on May 6, 2004.
• Passed in the House (78 to 30) on May 12, 2004, to concur with the Senate-passed version of the bill. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm on May 28, 2004.