Introduced by Sen. Patricia Birkholz (R) on February 27, 2007, to require the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Community Health to create a "Michigan Outdoor Fitness Award" program, with an award given to individuals who complete outdoor activities such as camping in a state forest campground, completing a successful hunt of designated game species, catching designated species of fish, hiking on designated trails, completing designated bike trips, riding designated snowmobile trails, canoeing or kayaking designated water trails, and undertaking other designated outdoor recreational activities. The departments would be required to establish a point system, a procedure for documenting completion of the designated activities, a process for making the awards, a certificate and other recognition, and a broad publicity campaign for the program.
Referred to the Senate Health Policy Committee on February 27, 2007.
Reported in the Senate on March 13, 2007, with the recommendation that the substitute (S-2) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
Substitute offered in the Senate on March 14, 2007, to replace the previous version of the bill with one which clarifies that only private money, not tax or fee revenue, be used to support the state. The substitute passed by voice vote in the Senate on March 14, 2007.
Amendment offered by Sen. Patricia Birkholz (R) on March 15, 2007, to establish when the program would go into effect, and require annual reports to the legislature about it. The amendment passed by voice vote in the Senate on March 15, 2007.
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on March 15, 2007, to require the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Community Health to create a "Michigan Outdoor Fitness Award" program, with an award given to individuals who complete outdoor activities such as camping in a state forest campground, completing a successful hunt of designated game species, catching designated species of fish, hiking on designated trails, completing designated bike trips, riding designated snowmobile trails, canoeing or kayaking designated water trails, and undertaking other designated outdoor recreational activities. The departments would be required to establish a point system, a procedure for documenting completion of the designated activities, a process for making the awards, a certificate and other recognition, and a broad publicity campaign for the program. The requirements would only apply if private money were found for the program, however. Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
Received in the House on March 15, 2007.
Referred to the House Natural Resources, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Committee on March 15, 2007.
1) More good for the people bills, I like it. by Anonymous Citizen on March 18, 2007 :) Reply
2) More of the same by CRWCARL on March 18, 2007 And we pay these people to do this ? Why don't you you legislators try earning your keep and knock off this petty crap ? Why do people need awards for participating in Michigan's plethora of outdoor activities ? The participation should be it's own reward, for cryin' out loud ! Reply
3) Carried away by Anonymous Citizen on March 6, 2007 you are really getting carried away with award programs. Does everything have to be under some program...even the trail we walk on? Paperwork,paperwork, paperwork...and people to run it or track it. Simplify don't complicate