To provide a “template” or “place holder” for the Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Department 0f Natural Resources budget. This bill contains no appropriations, but may be amended at a later date to include them.   Official Text and Analysis.

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

To increase spending on a "Michigan Conservation Corps" by $3.5 million, from $4.1 million to $7.6 million. The extra money would be for a summer jobs program.

To cut $2.28 million in spending for a "River Raisin national battlefield park foundation" grant and a Saginaw River dredging project feasibility study.

To prohibit the department from restricting public access to Belle Isle Park for the purpose of holding a conference.

The Senate version of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, 2014. This would appropriate $382.9 million in gross spending, compared to $342.9 million, which was the FY 2012-2013 amount enrolled in 2012. Of this, $67.9 million is federal money, and the rest is from state taxes, fees, fines, royalties, etc. The large spending increase comes after a large hunting and fishing license fee increase was enacted in 2013.

To adopt a version of the budget that contains no appropriations, but is instead intended to launch negotiations to work out the differences between the House and Senate budgets.

To send the bill back to the Senate "stripped" of all actual appropriations. This vote is basically a procedural method of launching negotiations to work out the differences between the House and Senate budgets.