MICHIGAN GET-OUTDOOR FITNESS AWARD S.B. 279 (S-2): FLOOR ANALYSIS




Senate Bill 279 (Substitute S-2 as reported)
Sponsor: Senator Patricia L. Birkholz
Committee: Health Policy

CONTENT
The bill would amend Part 701 (Recreation and Cultural Arts) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to require the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in conjunction with the Department of Community Health (DCH), to create a "Michigan Get-Outdoors Fitness Award Program". The Program would have to be designed to encourage youths and adults to participate in outdoor, resource-based activities that are physical in nature in order to become more physically fit and to discover Michigan's unique and diverse natural resources.


In creating the Program, the DNR and the DCH would have to do all of the following:

-- Establish a system to recognize individuals who participated in outdoor, resource-based activities, attained physical fitness goals while performing those activities, and excelled in the performance of those activities.
-- Seek private-sector sponsors to fund the Program's implementation, and provide recognition to the sponsors commensurate with their level of participation.
-- Seek conservation, fitness, and recreation organizations, local units of government, and other interested people to partner with in the Program's administration.


The DNR and the DCH could not incur costs in implementing the Program in excess of revenue received from sponsorships and partnerships.


The Departments would be required to publicize the Program broadly.


Proposed MCL 324.70107 Legislative Analyst: Julie Cassidy

FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on the State since all costs of the Program would be paid by private sponsorships and partnerships.


Date Completed: 3-9-07 Fiscal Analyst: David Fosdick
Jessica Runnels

Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. sb279/0708