MI SB0744

Department must approve or deny permit applications by the processing deadline, with optional extensions up to 120 days at applicant request and additional extensions beyond 120 days, but no later than 1 year after the application period ends.

Department must pay applicants 15% of the greater of either the application fee or the first periodic charge/assessment if it fails to meet processing requirements.

Permits for sections 11509, 11512, 30304, or 32603 are automatically approved if the department fails to meet processing deadlines.

Department cannot discriminate against applicants for missing deadlines and must process applications in sequence by date received unless the director determines a different order serves the public interest.

If the department misses deadlines on 10% or more of permit applications in a quarter, it must immediately allocate resources to eliminate backlogs and meet deadlines for new applications in the next fiscal quarter.