LIMOUSINE TRANSPORTATION ACT

Senate Bill 561 without amendments

Sponsor:  Sen. Jack Brandenburg

House Committee:  Transportation

Senate Committee:  Transportation

Complete to 11-29-11

A SUMMARY OF SENATE BILL 561 AS PASSED BY THE SENATE 11-13-11

The bill would amend the Limousine Transportation Act to eliminate local licensing authority.  Briefly, the bill would do all of the following:

-- Provide that the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Department of State would have exclusive authority to license limousines, limo carriers of passengers, and limo operators.

-- Prohibit local units of government from licensing limousines, limo carriers of passengers, or chauffeurs, or adopting ordinances to do so.

-- Eliminate a provision exempting from regulation a limo carrier of passengers operating only within the boundaries of a local unit that has its own safety inspection and insurance requirements.

-- Delete a provision under which a limo carrier that operates Class B limousines within a city with a population of at least 750,000 also must comply with that city's vehicle-for-hire ordinance.

The bill also would repeal sections allowing a local unit that has an ordinance regulating limousines to perform required annual safety inspections, and requiring a limo carrier of passengers who has the inspections done by a local unit to pay MDOT a fee for each limousine inspected.

FISCAL IMPACT:

There would be no fiscal impact to the Secretary of State under the provisions of the bill.  The Secretary of State would not realize any new responsibilities under the bill.  Under current law, the Secretary of State already provides chauffeur license endorsements and limousine license plates.  These functions would not change.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   E. Best

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Ben Gielczyk

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.