Signed by Governor Rick Snyder

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that establishes an environmental science review board.

Highlights:

• Establishes an Environmental Science Advisory Board in the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget (Sec. 2603).

• Specifies that the board shall consist of 9 individual members, that are appointed by the Governor and have expertise in 1 or more of the following areas, including, but not limited to (Sec. 2603):

• Engineering, economics, or environmental science;

• Chemistry, biology, geology, or physics; and

• Human medicine, statistics, or risk assessment.

• Prohibits a current legislator or employee of any office, department, or agency in the state or federal government from being eligible to serve as a member of this board (Sec. 2603).

• Specifies that a member of this board shall serve for a period of not more than 3 years, and establishes that members first appointed 3 shall serve a period of 2 years and 3 shall serve for a period of 1 year (Sec. 2605).

• Authorizes the Governor to remove and fill any vacancies to a member of this board at any time, with or without cause, and with or without prior notice (Sec. 2605).

• Specifies that members of this board shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed by the state for any actual and necessary expenses incurred during the performance of their duties as members (Sec. 2605).

• Authorizes the board to advise the Governor, state office, agency, or department specified on issues affecting the protection of the environment or the management of natural resources in the state (Sec. 2609).

• Requires that advice provided by the board shall be based on the following factors, including, but not limited to (Sec. 2609):

• Objective reasoning; and

• Sound science.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass with amendment a bill that establishes an environmental science review board.

Highlights:

• Establishes an Environmental Science Advisory Board in the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget (Sec. 2603).

• Specifies that the board shall consist of 9 individual members, that are appointed by the Governor and have expertise in 1 or more of the following areas, including, but not limited to (Sec. 2603):

• Engineering, economics, or environmental science;

• Chemistry, biology, geology, or physics; and

• Human medicine, statistics, or risk assessment.

• Prohibits a current legislator or employee of any office, department, or agency in the state or federal government from being eligible to serve as a member of this board (Sec. 2603).

• Specifies that a member of this board shall serve for a period of not more than 3 years, and establishes that members first appointed 3 shall serve a period of 2 years and 3 shall serve for a period of 1 year (Sec. 2605).

• Authorizes the Governor to remove and fill any vacancies to a member of this board at any time, with or without cause, and with or without prior notice (Sec. 2605).

• Specifies that members of this board shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed by the state for any actual and necessary expenses incurred during the performance of their duties as members (Sec. 2605).

• Authorizes the board to advise the Governor, state office, agency, or department specified on issues affecting the protection of the environment or the management of natural resources in the state (Sec. 2609).

• Requires that advice provided by the board shall be based on the following factors, including, but not limited to (Sec. 2609):

• Objective reasoning; and

• Sound science.

Full Bill Text