GEN'L INDUSTRY SAFETY STANDARDS COMM.                                                 H.B. 5922:

                                                                                                      FLOOR SUMMARY

House Bill 5922 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Representative Jon Bumstead

House Committee:  Regulatory Reform

Senate Committee:  Reforms, Restructuring and Reinvention

CONTENT

The bill would repeal the section of the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act that creates the General Industry Safety Standards Commission, and would amend the Act to transfer the Commission's responsibilities to the Director of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

Under current law, the Commission is responsible for promulgating rules regarding personal protective equipment, as well as promulgating standards to prevent accidents in places of employment and to protect the life and safety of employees. 

In addition to eliminating the Commission, the bill would strike "any other criteria deemed applicable by the standards safety promulgating commission" from the list of criteria the Director may use to determine whether an employee or employer should pay for safety equipment.

The bill also would strike from the definition of "standard" provisions under which, except as specifically prescribed in the Act, only this Commission may promulgate a standard relative to occupational safety, only the Construction Safety Standards Commission may promulgate a standard relative to construction safety, and only the Occupational Health Standards Commission may promulgate a standard relative to occupational health.

The bill is tie-barred to Senate Bills 1335 and 1336 and House Bill 5917.

MCL 408.1004 et al                                                                                                  

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have a small, but likely positive, fiscal impact on the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.  Current law requires that Commission members be paid a per-diem as established by the Legislature, as well as have their costs reimbursed according to a schedule established by the Legislature.  In recent years, however, the Legislature has not established these schedules, so the Commission has been inexpensive to operate.

Date Completed:  12-6-12                                                     Fiscal Analyst:  Josh Sefton

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.