Bill Text: MI SB0747 | 2021-2022 | 101st Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Environmental protection: other; climate resiliency corps; create. Creates new act.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-11-30 - Referred To Committee On Environmental Quality [SB0747 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2021-SB0747-Introduced.html
SENATE BILL NO. 747
A bill to provide for the powers and duties of certain state and local agencies and officials; to create a climate resiliency program; to create the climate resiliency corps advisory board and prescribe its powers and duties; and to create a fund.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
Sec. 1. This act may be cited as the "Michigan climate resiliency corps act".
(a) "Climate resiliency project" means any of the following:
(i) The creation of bioswales, wetlands, planting of trees, or other vegetative efforts to address stormwater runoff.
(ii) Community education about rain gardens and rain barrels.
(iii) Community education about flooding and high water.
(iv) Projects that increase energy efficiency.
(v) Projects designed to combat high temperatures, flooding, or power outages caused by climate change.
(vi) Other projects as determined by the department that are related to improving communities' resilience to climate change.
(b) "Corps member" means an individual hired under section 3(1)(a).
(c) "Department" means the department of environment, Great Lakes, and energy.
(d) "Director" means the director of the department.
(e) "Environmental protection community" means a geographic area that the department, using tools such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency's EJSCREEN, has identified as a community facing a disproportionate environmental burden using indicators such as sensitive populations, socioeconomic factors, exposures, and environmental effects.
(f) "Resident" means an individual who has in this state the individual's true, fixed, and permanent home and principal establishment to which the individual intends to return whenever absent. An individual is a resident until the individual establishes a permanent establishment outside of this state.
Sec. 3. (1) The department shall create a climate resiliency corps program that does all of the following:
(a) Partners with local governments, nonprofit organizations, universities, colleges, and tribes to employ individuals to design or implement climate resiliency projects.
(b) Provides monthly training and professional development to corps members on climate resiliency topics.
(c) Provides grants to pay half the salary of corps members.
(d) Requires that participating local governments, nonprofit organizations, universities, colleges, or tribes pay half the salary of corps members.
(e) Requires that participating local governments, nonprofit organizations, universities, colleges, or tribes pay corps members at least $15.00 per hour.
(f) Provides scholarships for undergraduate or graduate school for corps members.
(g) Requires that corps members are residents of this state and are at least 17 years of age at the time of application.
(h) Requires corps members participate in the climate resiliency corps program for a period of not less than 1 year.
(i) Requires an individual to submit an application, in the manner determined by the department.
(2) The department shall set a goal that at least 40% of corps members will work in environmental protection communities.
(3) The department shall promulgate rules to implement this act pursuant to the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328.
(4) The department is responsible for recruitment and employment of the program and to the extent practicable, shall ensure that corps members are provided opportunities to perform service in their communities of origin, if requested.
(5) The department shall execute employment contracts containing terms and conditions considered necessary and desirable for the employment of corps members.
(6) In the initial application, the department shall not inquire about or require an applicant to disclose the applicant's criminal history.
Sec. 4. (1) The climate resiliency corps fund is created in the state treasury.
(2) The state treasurer may receive money or other assets from any source for deposit into the fund. The state treasurer shall direct the investment of the fund. The state treasurer shall credit to the fund interest and earnings from fund investments.
(3) Money in the fund at the close of the fiscal year remains in the fund and does not lapse to the general fund.
(4) The department is the administrator of the fund for auditing purposes.
(5) The department shall expend money from the fund, upon appropriation, only for 1 or more of the following purposes:
(a) Providing grants under section 3.
(b) Providing scholarships under section 3.
(c) Administration of the climate resiliency corps program.
(d) Data collection and evaluation of the climate resiliency corps program.
Sec. 5. (1) The climate resiliency corps advisory board is created as an advisory body within the department.
(2) The board is composed of all of the following:
(a) Three representatives from environmental justice organizations appointed by the director.
(b) A representative from a tribe appointed by the director.
(c) A representative from a nonprofit organization appointed by the director.
(d) A representative from a university appointed by the director.
(3) The board shall do all of the following:
(a) Review and make recommendations to the department regarding the policies and procedures used by the department in implementing this act.
(b) Monitor implementation of the climate resiliency corps program and the program's prioritization of environmental justice communities.
(4) The board must meet at least 2 times per year.
Enacting section 1. This act takes effect 1 year after it is enacted into law.
