Act No. 47

Public Acts of 2019

Approved by the Governor

July 8, 2019

Filed with the Secretary of State

July 8, 2019

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 6, 2019

STATE OF MICHIGAN

100TH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2019

Introduced by Reps. Cambensy, Howell, Chirkun, LaFave, Markkanen, Leutheuser, O’Malley, Sabo, Brixie, Wentworth, Elder, Gay-Dagnogo and Peterson

ENROLLED HOUSE BILL No. 4227

AN ACT to create a committee on Michigan’s mining future; to provide for the powers and duties of certain governmental officers and agencies; and to repeal acts and parts of acts.

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

Sec. 1. As used in this act, “committee” means the committee on Michigan’s mining future created in section 2(1).

Sec. 2. (1) The committee on Michigan’s mining future is created within the department of environment, Great Lakes, and energy.

(2) The committee shall consist of the following members:

(a) Ten members appointed by the governor as follows:

(i) A member of a local chapter of an international steel workers union representing workers at an ongoing ferrous mining operation in this state or workers from an idled ferrous mining operation in this state.

(ii) A member representing a ferrous mining operation in this state.

(iii) A member representing a metallic nonferrous mining operation in this state.

(iv) A member representing an aggregate mining operation in this state.

(v) Two members, each representing an environmental nonprofit organization in this state, with expertise in mining.

(vi) Two current or former research faculty members at a university in this state that hold a master’s or doctorate degree in mining or geology.

(vii) A member representing a municipality in this state where a ferrous, metallic nonferrous, or aggregate mining operation is located.

(viii) A resident of this state who is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe that has trust lands in this state.

(b) The directors of the following, or their designees:

(i) The Michigan economic development corporation, as defined in section 4 of the Michigan strategic fund act, 1984 PA 270, MCL 125.2004.

(ii) The department of natural resources.

(iii) The department of environment, Great Lakes, and energy.

(c) A designee of each of the following:

(i) The state senator for the senate district with the highest production from metallic mineral mines in this state in the calendar year preceding the year in which the appointment is made.

(ii) The state representative for the house district with the highest production from metallic mineral mines in this state in the calendar year preceding the year in which the appointment is made.

(3) The members first appointed to the committee under subsection (2)(a) shall be appointed within 30 days after the effective date of this act.

(4) If a vacancy occurs on the committee for a position under subsection (2)(a) or (c), the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

(5) The governor may remove a member of the committee appointed under subsection (2)(a) or (4) for incompetence, dereliction of duty, malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance in office, or any other good cause.

(6) The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the director of the department of environment, Great Lakes, and energy or his or her designee. At the first meeting, the committee shall elect from among its members a chairperson and other officers as it considers necessary or appropriate. After the first meeting, the committee shall meet at least quarterly, or more frequently at the call of the chairperson or if requested by 3 or more members.

(7) A majority of the members of the committee constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of the committee. A majority of the members present and serving are required for official action of the committee.

(8) The business that the committee may perform shall be conducted at a public meeting of the committee held in compliance with the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275. A writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by the committee in the performance of an official function is subject to the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246.

(9) Members of the committee shall serve without compensation. However, members of the committee may be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties as members of the committee.

Sec. 3. The committee shall do all of the following:

(a) Recommend actions to strengthen and develop a sustainable, more diversified mining and minerals industry in this state while protecting the environment and natural resources of this state.

(b) Evaluate government policies that affect the mining and minerals industry.

(c) Recommend public policy strategies to enhance the growth of the mining and minerals industry, especially for research and development in mining and mineral processing technology, including pellet production, for the next generation of mining.

(d) Advise on the development of partnerships between industries, institutions, environmental groups, funding groups, and state and federal resources and other entities.

Sec. 4. Within 2 years after the effective date of this act, the committee shall submit a report on its work to the governor, the legislature, this state’s United States Senators, and members of this state’s United States congressional delegation.

Sec. 5. (1) The committee is dissolved 60 days after the report is submitted under section 4.

(2) This act is repealed 90 days after the deadline for the report to be submitted under section 4.

Enacting section 1. This act takes effect 90 days after the date it is enacted into law.

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Clerk of the House of Representatives

Secretary of the Senate

Approved

Governor