CONSTRUCTION CODE REVISIONS                                                         H.B. 4561 (S-1):

                                                                                                      FLOOR SUMMARY

House Bill 4561 (Substitute S-1 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)

Sponsor:  Representative Joe Haveman

House Committee:  Regulatory Reform

Senate Committee:  Regulatory Reform

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Single State Construction Code Act to do the following:

-- Include the International Existing Building Code and the International Energy Conservation Code in the State Construction Code.

-- Remove the Michigan Uniform Energy Code from the State Construction Code.

-- Require the Director of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), within 90 days after the bill's effective date, to begin the process to add, amend, and rescind rules to update the Michigan Residential Code, including the residential energy code chapter. 

-- Beginning with the 2015 national code change cycle, require the Director to add, amend, and rescind rules to update the Michigan residential code every three to six years, as the Director determined appropriate.

-- Require the LARA Director to hold a public meeting and give people an opportunity to present data and comments before issuing a written determination as to whether to update the Michigan Residential Code.

-- If the LARA Director decided not to update the Michigan Residential Code, allow a person to request the Director to promulgate a rule to amend a section or sections of that code.

-- Require the Director to initiate a rule or give the principal reasons for denying a request to amend the Residential Code, within 90 days after the request was filed, and provide that a denial would not be subject to judicial review.

The bill also specifies that if the Michigan Residential Code were updated on a six-year cycle, use of a material, product, method of manufacture, or method or manner of construction or installation provided for in an interim edition of the International Residential Code would be authorized throughout Michigan and would have to be permitted, but could not be mandated, by an enforcing agency or its building official or inspectors.  If a material, product, or method in the interim edition were used, however, the enforcing agency, official, or inspectors could require the use to comply with all applicable requirements in the interim edition.

MCL 125.1504                                                         Legislative Analyst:  Patrick Affholter

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

Date Completed:  12-12-12                                                    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.