Environmental protection: permits; refund of permit fees in the case of delayed decisions; provide for. Amends sec. 1307 of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.1307).

This bill amends Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to establish a refund system for permit applicants if the state department fails to approve or deny their applications within the statutory deadline. Under the new provisions, the department must pay applicants 15% of the application fee or the first periodic charge if processing delays occur, except in specific cases where the application is automatically treated as approved. The legislation also clarifies rules for extending processing times, requires written decisions based on specific evidence and scientific principles, and mandates that the department notify legislative committees if it repeatedly misses processing deadlines. Additionally, the bill ensures that applicants facing delays due to departmental inaction cannot be discriminated against and must have their applications processed in the correct sequence.