House Bill 5891
Sponsor: Rep. Deborah Cherry
Committee: Regulatory Affairs
Complete to 9-14-98
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILLS 5890 AND 5891 AS INTRODUCED 5-27-98
House Bills 5890 and 5891 would amend the Carnival-Amusement Safety Act of 1966 (MCL 408.652) and the Boiler Act of 1965 (MCL 408.751 et al.), respectively, to clarify state regulations regarding miniature trains, also known as hobby locomotives. The bills are tie-barred to each other. Specifically, the bills would do the following:
House Bill 5890 would amend the Carnival-Amusement Safety Act to exempt from regulation under the act a hobby locomotive operating on narrow gauge tracks less than 24 inches that was powered by steam, electricity, gas, or other fuel, regardless of whether it was operated on the owner's property. "Hobby" would be defined as an interest or activity that a person pursued in his or her leisure time.
House Bill 5891 would amend the Boiler Act to specify that the act would not apply to a miniature hobby locomotive that operated on narrow gauge tracks less than 24 inches in width, whether or not it was operated on the owner's property. However, the Department of Consumer and Industry Services would have to annually inspect a miniature hobby locomotive that was operated in a public display or for public use. The inspection would be done by a deputy or special inspector, and a copy of the inspection would have to be filed with the chief inspector and also given to the miniature train's owner. The department would also have to issue a certificate of inspection to the owner of any locomotive determined to be in compliance with any applicable rules governing miniature hobby locomotives. The inspection fee would be set at $15.
Analyst: S. Stutzky