SEASONAL VEHICLE GROUP DESIGNATIONS                                             H.B. 4577 (S-1):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                                  ON THIRD READING

House Bill 4577 (Substitute S-1 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)

Sponsor:  Representative Dan Lauwers

House Committee:  Transportation and Infrastructure

Senate Committee:  Transportation

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to allow the Secretary of State to renew a seasonal restricted vehicle group designation one time per calendar year regardless of whether the seasonal restricted vehicle group designation was expired at the time of renewal.

The Code requires a person to obtain the required vehicle group designation before operating a commercial motor vehicle, and regulates the issuance of vehicle group designations or indorsements. The Code includes testing requirements but allows or requires the Secretary of State to waive testing under certain circumstances.

Except for a person who has held an operator's or chauffeur's license for less than one year, the Secretary of State must waive the knowledge test and the driving skills test and issue a one-year seasonal restricted vehicle group designation to an otherwise qualified applicant to operate a group B or group C vehicle for a farm-related service industry if certain requirements are met. The seasonal restricted vehicle group designations may be issued only from April 2 to June 30 and from September 2 to November 30 of a 12-month period or, at the option of the applicant, for up to 180 days from the date of issuance in a 12-month period.

(A group B designation allows the operation of a single vehicle having a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 26,001 pounds or more, whichever is greater, including while towing a vehicle with a GVWR or GVW up to 10,000 pounds. A group C designation allows the operation of a single vehicle or a combination of vehicles that has a GVWR under 26,001 pounds and that either is designed to transport 16 or more passengers including the driver, or is used in the transportation of hazardous materials.)

MCL 257.312f                                                          Legislative Analyst:  Drew Krogulecki

FISCAL IMPACT

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

Date Completed:  3-23-16                                                    Fiscal Analyst:  Joe Carrasco

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.