June 30, 2011, Introduced by Reps. Shaughnessy, Glardon, Rendon, Johnson, Daley, Hughes, Kurtz, Nesbitt, Lori, Lyons, Zorn, Brunner, Horn, Wayne Schmidt, Goike and Oakes and referred to the Committee on Transportation.
A bill to amend 1996 PA 299, entitled
"An act to regulate tourist-oriented directional signs on certain
rural roads; and to impose certain duties upon the state
transportation department,"
by amending section 1 (MCL 247.401), as amended by 2004 PA 528, and
by adding section 2a.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. As used in this act:
(a) "Department" means the state transportation department.
(b) "Eligible attraction" means a tourist-oriented activity
that is all of the following:
(i) Within 10 miles of the rural road for which a tourist-
oriented directional sign is sought, unless otherwise restricted or
permitted by the department.
(ii) Not visible from the rural road for which a tourist-
oriented directional sign is sought.
(iii) In compliance with section 131 of title 23 of
the United
States
Code, 23 USC 131, and the national
standards, criteria, and
rules established under that act, if the activity is advertised by
rural road signs.
(c)
"Rural road" means a highway as that term is defined in
section 20 of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.20,
but does not include either of the following:
(i) A freeway as that term is defined in
section 18a of the
Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.18a.
(ii) A road that is part of the national system of interstate
and defense highways.
(d) "Tourist-oriented activity" means a lawful cultural,
historical, recreational, educational, or commercial activity that
is annually attended by 2,000 or more people and for which a major
portion
of the activity's income or visitors are is derived during
the normal business season from motorists not residing in the
immediate area of the activity. Tourist-oriented activity includes
a farm market and a farmers market as defined in section 2a.
(e) "Tourist-oriented directional sign" means a sign used to
provide
motorists with advanced advance
notice of a tourist-
oriented activity.
Sec. 2a. (1) The department shall allow the categories of farm
markets and farmers markets in the tourist-oriented directional
sign program authorized under section 2 and shall establish
qualification criteria for facilities, activities, and locations
designated as farm markets or farmers markets not in conflict with
this section.
(2) As used in this section:
(a) "Agricultural product" means an agricultural commodity or
product, whether raw or processed, including a commodity or product
derived from livestock that is marketed for human or livestock use
or consumption.
(b) "Crop" means a plant or part of a plant marketed or
intended to be marketed as an agricultural product or fed or
intended to be fed to livestock.
(c) "Farm market" means a location, whether or not enclosed in
a temporary or permanent structure, where agricultural products are
sold to consumers. All of the following apply to a farm market:
(i) It is part of a farm operation.
(ii) Not less than 50% of the products offered for sale are
produced on and by the affiliated farm. This calculation may be an
average over not more than 5 seasons.
(iii) It may sell agricultural products in their natural state
or in a value-added form for direct customer sales as otherwise
provided by law.
(iv) It may operate seasonally or year-round.
(v) It may include marketing activities and services to
attract and entertain customers, unless otherwise prohibited by
law.
(d) "Farmers market" means a farmers market established under
2009 PA 158, MCL 46.191 to 46.193.
(e) "Value-added" means the enhancement or improvement of the
overall value of an agricultural commodity or of an animal or plant
product into a product of higher value. An enhancement or
improvement includes, but is not limited to, marketing,
agricultural processing, transforming, or packaging.