Bill Text: MI HB4480 | 2023-2024 | 102nd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Environmental protection: sewage; onsite wastewater treatment systems; regulate and provide for assessments and evaluations. Amends 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.1101 - 333.25211) by adding secs. 12815, 12817 & 12829. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4479'23
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 38-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2023-05-02 - Bill Electronically Reproduced 04/27/2023 [HB4480 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2023-HB4480-Introduced.html
HOUSE BILL NO. 4480
A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled
"Public health code,"
(MCL 333.1101 to 333.25211) by adding sections 12815, 12817, and 12829.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
Sec. 12815. (1) The technical advisory committee is created in the department to advise the department on all of the following:
(a) Recommended standards and guidance for the management of onsite wastewater treatment systems.
(b) Nonproprietary technologies and recommended standards and guidance for their use.
(c) Testing and design standards used for proprietary product registration and recommended standards and guidance for use of proprietary products.
(d) Recommended standards and guidance for alternative onsite wastewater treatment systems.
(e) Onsite wastewater treatment system inspection elements and reporting.
(f) Registered inspector qualifications.
(g) Documentation required to be submitted to the department for qualifying and registering inspectors under section 12823.
(h) Qualifications of individuals other than registered inspectors involved in the management of onsite wastewater treatment systems.
(i) Continuing education requirements for individuals involved in the management of onsite wastewater treatment systems.
(2) The technical advisory committee must consist of all of the following members who have technical or scientific knowledge applicable to onsite wastewater treatment systems:
(a) Five regional local health department representatives recommended by a state organization representing local health departments. The 5 members appointed under this subsection must be appointed as follows:
(i) One member appointed by the governor.
(ii) One member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(iii) One member appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives.
(iv) One member appointed by the senate majority leader.
(v) One member appointed by the senate minority leader.
(b) All of the following members appointed by the governor:
(i) Two professional engineers.
(ii) One hydrogeologist.
(iii) One university representative.
(iv) One onsite system product manufacturer.
(v) One onsite wastewater system installer.
(vi) One onsite wastewater system service provider.
(vii) Two department representatives.
(viii) One state epidemiologist.
(ix) One individual with knowledge of the use of onsite wastewater treatment systems representing users of onsite wastewater treatment systems.
(x) One representative from a state organization specializing in the protection of public health and the environment through improved water quality.
(3) The members first appointed to the technical advisory committee shall be appointed within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this part.
(4) Members of the technical advisory committee shall serve for terms of 4 years or until a successor is appointed.
(5) If a vacancy occurs on the technical advisory committee, the governor shall make an appointment for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment.
(6) The governor may remove a member of the technical advisory committee for incompetence, dereliction of duty, malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance in office, or any other good cause.
(7) The governor shall call the first meeting of the technical advisory committee. At the first meeting, the technical advisory committee shall elect from among its members a chairperson and other officers as it considers necessary or appropriate. After the first meeting, the technical advisory committee shall meet at least bimonthly, or more frequently at the call of the chairperson, or if requested by the department.
(8) A majority of the members of the technical advisory committee constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of the technical advisory committee. A majority of the members present and serving are required for official action of the technical advisory committee.
(9) The business that the technical advisory committee may perform must be conducted at a public meeting of the technical advisory committee held in compliance with the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275.
(10) A writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by the technical advisory 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.
(11) Members of the technical advisory committee shall serve without compensation. However, members of the technical advisory committee may be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties as members of the technical advisory committee.
(12) The technical advisory committee shall consider the following in its advice to the department:
(a) Sufficient theory and applied research to document efficacy of onsite wastewater treatment systems.
(b) Potential use, local soil conditions, and other factors that may affect the operation of onsite wastewater treatment systems.
(c) Field performance data that confirm the product or technology functions when installed on-site as indicated by submitted documents.
(d) Certification of onsite wastewater treatment systems by NSF International or another recognized certifying agency.
(13) The technical advisory committee may consult with experts in the field of management of onsite wastewater treatment systems and other individuals with knowledge and expertise in the management of onsite wastewater treatment systems, including, but not limited to, environmental organizations, financial organizations, home builders, real estate licensees, local units of government, and conservation districts.
(14) The department shall provide administrative support to the technical advisory committee.
Sec. 12817. Not later than 3 years after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this part, the department shall promulgate rules that establish a statewide code containing performance-based standards for conventional and alternative onsite wastewater treatment systems. Before promulgating these rules, the department shall consult with the technical advisory committee. The rules must provide baseline protection for public health and the environment and must include all of the following:
(a) Minimum standards and criteria for the siting, design, and installation of onsite wastewater treatment systems.
(b) Wastewater effluent standards, if applicable.
(c) Corrective actions necessary to protect public health and the environment for onsite wastewater treatment systems that fail to meet these standards.
(d) Requirements relating to the construction approval process by the department and local health departments for onsite wastewater treatment systems.
(e) Requirements for the operation, inspection, and maintenance of conventional and alternative onsite wastewater treatment systems that define required routine maintenance necessary to ensure continued proper performance of the system to protect public health and the environment.
(f) Requirements for the approval of conventional, alternative, and experimental wastewater treatment system products, components, or devices.
(g) Criteria for requesting and granting appeals by an authorized local health department.
(h) Criteria for allowing the continued use of approved onsite wastewater treatment systems in which a construction permit was issued before the effective date of the statewide code if use of an onsite wastewater treatment system can be managed in a manner that does all of the following:
(i) Ensures an effective level of treatment of sanitary sewage determined to be necessary, based on risk.
(ii) Protects public health and the environment.
(iii) Protects the surface waters of the state.
(iv) Protects groundwater quality.
(i) Qualifications and continuing education requirements for individuals involved in the management of onsite wastewater treatment systems.
(j) A requirement for septic tanks installed or altered after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section to contain a septic tank access riser and secondary safety device.
Sec. 12829. (1) The onsite wastewater treatment system administration fund is created within 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 and 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 the following purposes:
(a) To administer this part.
(b) For grants to local health departments to carry out their responsibilities under this part.
(c) For grants or loans to homeowners who are below 300% of the federal poverty line to update a failure of an onsite wastewater treatment system identified under section 12821. As used in this subdivision, "federal poverty line" means the federal poverty guidelines published annually in the Federal Register by the United States Department of Health and Human Services under its authority to revise the poverty line under 42 USC 9902.
Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days after the date it is enacted into law.
Enacting section 2. This amendatory act does not take effect unless Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 4479 (request no. 01866'23) of the 102nd Legislature is enacted into law.
