2023 House Bill 4289

Appropriations: department of agriculture and rural development; appropriations for fiscal year 2023-2024; provide for.

A bill to make appropriations for the department of agriculture and rural development for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.

Introduced in the House

March 15, 2023

Introduced by Rep. Julie Brixie (D-73)

Referred to the Committee on Appropriations

April 26, 2023

Reported with substitute H-1

May 10, 2023

Substitute H-1 concurred in by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Jerry Neyer (R-92)

1. Amend page 12, line 22, after “than” by striking out “December 15” and inserting “November 30”.

2. Amend page 14, following line 20, by inserting:

“Sec. 214. Total authorized appropriations from all sources under part 1 for legacy costs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024 is $10,765,700.00. From this amount, total agency appropriations for pension-related legacy costs are estimated at $7,083,600.00. Total agency appropriations for retiree health care legacy costs are estimated at $3,682,100.00.”.

3. Amend page 14, line 28, by striking all of Sec. 216 and inserting:

“Sec. 216. (1) On a quarterly basis, the department shall report to the senate and house appropriations committees, the senate and house appropriations subcommittees on the department budget, and the senate and house fiscal agencies the following information:

(a) The number of FTEs in pay status by type of staff and civil service classification.

(b) A comparison by line item of the number of FTEs authorized from funds appropriated in part 1 to the actual number of FTEs employed by the department at the end of the reporting period.

(2) By March 1 of the current fiscal year and annually thereafter, the department shall report to the senate and house appropriations committees, the senate and house appropriations subcommittees on the department budget, and the senate and house fiscal agencies the following information:

(a) Number of employees that were engaged in remote work in 2022.

(b) Number of employees authorized to work remotely and the actual number of those working remotely in the current reporting period.

(c) Estimated net cost savings achieved by remote work.

(d) Reduced use of office space associated with remote work.”.

4. Amend page 15, following line 8, by inserting:

“Sec. 218. If the state administrative board, acting under section 3 of 1921 PA 2, MCL 17.3, transfers funds from an amount appropriated under this act, the legislature may, by a concurrent resolution adopted by a majority of the members elected to and serving in each house, intertransfer funds within this act for the particular department, board, commission, officer, or institution.”.

5. Amend page 17, following line 1, by inserting:

“Sec. 241. When the department activates the incident management team to protect life or property, within 12 hours the department shall notify the senate and house members within whose district the site is located.”.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Gregory Alexander (R-98)

1. Amend page 9, line 4, by striking out all of line 4.

2. Amend page 9, line 7, by striking out all of lines 7 and 8 and adjusting the subtotals, totals, and section 201 accordingly.

3. Amend page 18, line 26, by striking out all of Sec. 303.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Jerry Neyer (R-92)

1. Amend page 16, line 22, by striking out all of section 225 and inserting:

“Sec. 225. Money appropriated in part 1 must not be used to require actions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion to restrict or impede any community’s access to government resources, programs, or facilities; or to diminish, interfere with, or restrict an individual’s ability to exercise rights as outlined under the State Constitution.”.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Cameron Cavitt (R-106)

1. Amend page 6, line 1, after “districts” by striking out “2,000,000” and inserting “4,000,000”.

2. Amend page 9, line 6, after “management” by striking out “100” and inserting “5,000,000”.

3. Amend page 9, following line 10, by inserting:

“Michigan meat processing grant program

15,000,000”

and adjusting the subtotals, totals, and section 201 accordingly.

4. Amend page 33, following line 28, by inserting:

“Sec. 905 (1) From the funds appropriated in part 1, for the Michigan meat processing grant program, the department shall establish and administer a Michigan meat processing grant program. The department shall award grants from appropriated program funds for construction, expansion, and/or improvement upgrades of Michigan-based livestock harvest, slaughter, and meat processing facilities.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, projects selected for grant funding must be for capital construction including physical construction, facility or equipment upgrades, new equipment, wastewater treatment infrastructure, or harvest and slaughter facility expansion. Program grants may not be used for feasibility studies.

(3) Grant applications must include a business plan that includes project budget, financial ability for cost share, and projected outcomes from expansion, including increased harvest capacity or throughput.

(4) Up to 2% of funds appropriated for the Michigan meat processing grant program may be used for workforce development and training for those employed in the meat processing industry.

(5) Grants awarded under the Michigan meat processing grant program may provide up to 50% of project cost. A grant may not exceed $750,000.00 for any one project or grantee.

(6) Grant applications must be evaluated by a grant review team appointed by the department director. The grant review team must consist of persons that have expertise in animal agriculture, meat processing, argi-business, and economic development. All projects recommended for grant awards must receive final approval from the Michigan commission of agriculture and rural development.

(7) All projects approved for funding under the Michigan meat processing grant program must be established under a grant agreement that outlines milestones and activities that must be met in order to receive a disbursement of funds. Projects must also identify measurable project outcomes.”.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Passed in the House 56 to 52 (details)

Motion to give immediate effect by Rep. Abraham Aiyash (D-9)

The motion prevailed by voice vote

Received in the Senate

May 11, 2023

Referred to the Committee of the Whole

May 17, 2023

Reported with substitute S-1

Substitute S-1 concurred in by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 20 to 18 (details)

Received in the House

May 17, 2023

June 6, 2023

Substitute S-1 not concurred in 52 to 54 (details)

June 8, 2023

Referred to the Committee of Conference