2005 Senate Bill 354: Authorize “clean corporate citizen” program

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Introduced by Sen. Laura Toy (R) on March 24, 2005, to authorize a “clean corporate citizen” ("C3")designation for companies that apply for it, that can document a history of stringent compliance with environmental regulations, and that undertake additional actions and meet certain goals, objectives and targets specified in the bill. A “clean corporate citizen” would be eligible for discounts on certain permit, license or other fees. This places in statute a program that is already operated by the Department of Environmental Quality.
- Referred to the Senate Economic Development, Small Business and Regulatory Reform Committee on March 24, 2005.
  - Reported in the Senate on May 3, 2005, with the recommendation that the substitute (S-2) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
- Substitute offered in the Senate on May 4, 2005, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises many details but does not change the substance of the bill as previously described. The substitute passed by voice vote in the Senate on May 4, 2005.
- Amendment offered by Sen. Gilda Jacobs (D) on May 5, 2005, to revoke the "C3" designation for a firm that is assessed any court-ordered damages for environmental violations (rather than assessed more than $10,000 worth), or which must pay any adminstrative fine for such violations. The amendment failed by voice vote in the Senate on May 5, 2005.
Passed 23 to 15 in the Senate on May 5, 2005.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
Received in the House on May 10, 2005.
- Referred to the House Natural Resources, Great Lakes, Land Use, and Environment Committee on May 10, 2005.

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1) Sen. Jacobs’ "no vote explanation" by Admin003 on May 6, 2005
Senator Jacobs, under her constitutional right of protest (Art. 4, Sec. 18), protested against the passage of Senate Bill
Nos. 354 and 355.
Senator Jacobs’ statement is as follows:
I voted “no” on Senate Bill No. 354 and the companion bill, Senate Bill No. 355, because I believe that the Clean Corporate Citizen program does not belong in statute and does not require the financial incentives included in this bill to attract and maintain participants. As several members from across the aisle indicated, this program that has worked well as it presently functions, and that has occurred without being elevated to the level of, statutory program. The DEQ invests a great deal of time and energy ensuring that C3 applicants are in compliance with environmental laws to earn their C3 designation. Placing the C3 program into statute and offering a $500 rebate in permit fees for a C3 company increases the burden on the department and formalizes an informal program that should remain flexible and informal. The bill simultaneously cuts the resources of the DEQ, which already has suffered serious cuts in its overall funding and currently seeks several fee increase proposals to protect human health and ensure clean air and water. In short, the bills chip away at agency funding while proposing to reward companies for simply complying with the law. Senate Bill No. 354, as proposed, appears to be fixing a problem that does not exist. Further, it tampers with legitimate executive branch authority by placing DEQ rules into statute and then directly prohibits the administration from promulgating any further rules for this program. This legislation is both unnecessary and inappropriately meddles with the authority of the executive branch.
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2) 2005 Senate Bill 354 (Authorize “clean corporate citizen” program ) by admin on January 1, 2001
Introduced in the Senate on March 24, 2005, to authorize a “clean corporate citizen” ("C3")designation for companies that apply for it, that can document a history of stringent compliance with environmental regulations, and that undertake additional actions and meet certain goals, objectives and targets specified in the bill. A “clean corporate citizen” would be eligible for discounts on certain permit, license or other fees. This places in statute a program that is already operated by the Department of Environmental Quality

The vote was 23 in favor, 15 opposed and 0 not voting

(Senate Roll Call 104 at Senate Journal 40)

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