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S.B. 163: FIRST ANALYSIS HOROLOGISTS
Senate Bill 163 (as passed by the Senate) Sponsor: Senator Dale Shugars
Committee: Economic Development, International Trade and Regulatory Affairs Date Completed: 6-22-95
The Occupational Code, enacted in 1980, revised and consolidated into a single uniform code the regulation of 20 professions and occupations in the State. At that time, some people complained that the Code would continue to regulate certain occupations for which theyfelt no justifiable reason for regulation existed. For example, the Code continued to require examination of, and registration for, horologists, i.e., persons who make and repair watches, even though, according to the Department of Commerce, the Ingham County Circuit Court in 1978 declared that the requirement was too stringent a form of regulation for the occupation, and a permanent injunction against enforcing the requirement was issued in 1979. Further, the Department reports that no horology licenses have been issued since 1979 and all regulation of the profession ceased when the 1979 licenses expired in 1980. It has been suggested, therefore, that statutory provisions that regulate horologists be repealed.
The bill would help streamline the Occupational Code by repealing regulatory provisions that are obsolete, unnecessary, and unenforceable. For all practical purposes, horologists have not been licensed or regulated in Michigan for about 15 years.
Legislative Analyst: L. Burghardt
The bill would not have a fiscal impact on or affect the administrative workload of the Department of Commerce or of local governmental units. The Board of Horology has been inactive and there has been no licensing or regulatory activity governing the practice of watchmaking.
Fiscal Analyst: K. Lindquist
The bill would amend the Occupational Code to repeal Article 14, which regulates the practice of horology, i.e., the science of time measurement, watchmaking, and the repair, replacement, rebuilding, or adjustment of the mechanical parts of watches. The bill also would repeal provisions in the State License Fee Act that prescribe registration and examination fees for horologists.
MCL 339.303a
(Please note: The arguments contained in this analysis originate from sources outside the Senate Fiscal Agency. The Senate Fiscal Agency neither supports nor opposes legislation.)
A9596\S163A
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.
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