WOOD HARVESTER DEFINITION

House Bill 5641

Sponsor:  Rep. Tom Casperson

Committee:  Transportation

Complete to 2-27-06

A REVISED SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5641 AS INTRODUCED 2-7-06

House Bill 5641 would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code (MCL 257.801) to revise the definition of "wood harvester" to include a person hauling or transporting wood harvesting equipment.

Currently under the vehicle code, a "harvester" includes the person or persons hauling and transporting raw materials in the form produced at the harvest site.  The code specifies that the term "wood harvesting operations" does not include the transportation of processed lumber, Christmas trees, or processed firewood for a profit-making venture.

Under House Bill 5641, "wood harvester" would be defined to include the person or person hauling and transporting raw materials in the form produced at the harvest site or hauling and transporting wood harvesting equipment.

Under the bill, "wood harvesting equipment" would be defined to include all of the following:

·                    A vehicle that directly harvests logs or timber, including a processor or a feller buncher; 

·                    A vehicle that directly processes harvested logs or timber, including a slasher, delimber, processor, chipper, or saw table;   

·                    A vehicle that directly processes harvested logs or timber, including a forwarder, grapple, skidder, or cable skidder;           

·                    A vehicle that directly loads harvested logs or timber, including a knuckle-boom loader, front-end loader, or forklift; and,     

·                    A vehicle that directly builds or maintains harvest site roads, including a bulldozer or road grader.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would have an indeterminate fiscal impact.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Robin Risko

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.