HOUSE BILL No. 5028

 

August 13, 2003, Introduced by Rep. Bieda and referred to the Committee on Regulatory Reform.

        

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                 A bill to amend 1972 PA 230, entitled                                             

                                                                                

    "Stille-DeRossett-Hale single state construction code act,"                 

                                                                                

    by amending sections 4 and 10 (MCL 125.1504 and 125.1510), as               

                                                                                

    amended by 1999 PA 245.                                                     

                                                                                

                THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:                      

                                                                                

1       Sec. 4.  (1) The director shall prepare and promulgate the                  

                                                                                

2   state construction code consisting of rules governing the                   

                                                                                

3   construction, use, and occupation of buildings and structures,              

                                                                                

4   including land area incidental to the buildings and structures,             

                                                                                

5   the manufacture and installation of building components and                 

                                                                                

6   equipment, the construction and installation of premanufactured             

                                                                                

7   units, the standards and requirements for materials to be used in           

                                                                                

8   connection with the units, and other requirements relating to the           

                                                                                

9   safety, including safety from fire, and sanitation facilities of            

                                                                                

10  the buildings and structures.                                               

                                                                                


                                                                                

1       (2)  Until the date sections 2a, 3a, 8a, 8b, and 9b apply,                  

                                                                                

2   the code shall consist of nationally recognized model building              

                                                                                

3   codes, other nationally recognized model codes and standards, and           

                                                                                

4   amendments, additions, or deletions to the building code or other           

                                                                                

5   codes and standards as the director determines appropriate.                 

                                                                                

6   After the date sections 2, 3, 8, 9, and 9a are repealed, the  The           

                                                                                

7   code shall consist of the international residential code, the               

                                                                                

8   international building code, the international mechanical code,             

                                                                                

9   the international plumbing code published by the international              

                                                                                

10  code council, the national electrical code published by the                 

                                                                                

11  national fire prevention association, and the Michigan uniform              

                                                                                

12  energy code with amendments, additions, or deletions as the                 

                                                                                

13  director determines appropriate.                                            

                                                                                

14      (3) The code shall be designed to effectuate the general                    

                                                                                

15  purposes of this act and the following objectives and standards:            

                                                                                

16      (a) To provide standards and requirements for construction                  

                                                                                

17  and construction materials consistent with nationally recognized            

                                                                                

18  standards and requirements.                                                 

                                                                                

19      (b) To formulate standards and requirements, to the extent                  

                                                                                

20  practicable in terms of performance objectives, so as to make               

                                                                                

21  adequate performance for the use intended the test of                       

                                                                                

22  acceptability.                                                              

                                                                                

23      (c) To permit to the fullest extent feasible the use of                     

                                                                                

24  modern technical methods, devices, and improvements, including              

                                                                                

25  premanufactured units, consistent with reasonable requirements              

                                                                                

26  for the health, safety, and welfare of the occupants and users of           

                                                                                

27  buildings and structures.                                                   


                                                                                

1       (d) To eliminate restrictive, obsolete, conflicting, and                    

                                                                                

2   unnecessary construction regulations that tend to increase                  

                                                                                

3   construction costs unnecessarily or restrict the use of new                 

                                                                                

4   materials, products, or methods of construction, or provide                 

                                                                                

5   preferential treatment to types or classes of materials or                  

                                                                                

6   products or methods of construction.                                        

                                                                                

7       (e) To insure adequate maintenance of buildings and                         

                                                                                

8   structures throughout this state and to adequately protect the              

                                                                                

9   health, safety, and welfare of the people.                                  

                                                                                

10      (f) To provide standards and requirements for cost-effective                

                                                                                

11  energy efficiency.  that will be effective April 1, 1997.                   

                                                                                

12      (g) Upon periodic review, to continue to seek ever-improving,               

                                                                                

13  cost-effective energy efficiencies.                                         

                                                                                

14      (h) The development of a voluntary consumer information                     

                                                                                

15  system relating to energy efficiencies.                                     

                                                                                

16      (i) To provide standards and requirements for a temporary                   

                                                                                

17  building or structure that ensure the public health, safety, and            

                                                                                

18  general welfare and take into account the temporary nature of the           

                                                                                

19  building or structure.  Unless a building official grants an                

                                                                                

20  extension for demonstrated cause, a temporary building or                   

                                                                                

21  structure shall be removed within 180 days of its installation.             

                                                                                

22      (4) The code shall be divided into sections as the director                 

                                                                                

23  considers appropriate including, without limitation, building,              

                                                                                

24  plumbing, electrical, and mechanical sections.  The boards shall            

                                                                                

25  participate in and work with the staff of the director in the               

                                                                                

26  preparation of parts relating to their functions.  Before the               

                                                                                

27  promulgation of an amendment to the code, the boards whose                  


                                                                                

1   functions relate to that code shall be permitted to draft and               

                                                                                

2   recommend to the director proposed language.  The director shall            

                                                                                

3   give consideration to all submissions by the boards.  However,              

                                                                                

4   the director has final responsibility for the promulgation of the           

                                                                                

5   code.                                                                       

                                                                                

6       (5) The code may incorporate the provisions of a code,                      

                                                                                

7   standard, or other material by reference.  The director shall               

                                                                                

8   add, amend, and rescind rules to update the code not less than              

                                                                                

9   once every 3 years to coincide with the national code change                

                                                                                

10  cycle.                                                                      

                                                                                

11      Sec. 10.  (1) Except as otherwise provided in the code,                     

                                                                                

12  before construction of a building or structure, the owner, or the           

                                                                                

13  owner's builder, architect, engineer, or agent, shall submit an             

                                                                                

14  application in writing to the appropriate enforcing agency for a            

                                                                                

15  building permit.  The application shall be on a form prescribed             

                                                                                

16  by the commission and, except as provided in subsection (9),                

                                                                                

17  shall be accompanied by payment of the fee established by the               

                                                                                

18  enforcing agency.  The application shall contain a detailed                 

                                                                                

19  statement in writing  , verified by affidavit of the person                 

                                                                                

20  making it,  of the specifications for the building or structure,            

                                                                                

21  and full and complete copies of the plans drawn to scale of the             

                                                                                

22  proposed work.  Except as provided in subsection (10), the                  

                                                                                

23  application shall be verified by affidavit of the person                    

                                                                                

24  submitting it. A site plan showing the dimensions, and the                  

                                                                                

25  location of the proposed building or structure and other                    

                                                                                

26  buildings or structures on the same premises, shall be submitted            

                                                                                

27  with the application.  The application shall state in full the              


                                                                                

1   name and residence, by street and number, of the owner in fee of            

                                                                                

2   the premises on which the building or structure will be                     

                                                                                

3   constructed, and the purposes for which it will be used.                    

                                                                                

4       (2) If construction is proposed to be undertaken by a person                

                                                                                

5   other than the owner of the land in fee, the statement shall                

                                                                                

6   contain the full name and residence, by street and number, of the           

                                                                                

7   owner and also of the person proposing the construction.  The               

                                                                                

8   affidavit shall state that the specifications and plans are true            

                                                                                

9   and complete and contain a correct description of the building or           

                                                                                

10  structure, lot, and proposed work.   The statements and                     

                                                                                

11  affidavits  A statement and affidavit may be made by an owner, or           

                                                                                

12  the owner's attorney, agent, engineer, architect, or builder, by            

                                                                                

13  the person who proposes to make the construction or alteration,             

                                                                                

14  or by that person's agent, engineer, architect, or builder.   A             

                                                                                

15  An enforcing agency shall not reocognize a person  shall not be             

                                                                                

16  recognized  as the agent, attorney, engineer, architect, or                 

                                                                                

17  builder of another person unless the person files with the                  

                                                                                

18  enforcing agency a written  instrument, which shall be an                   

                                                                                

19  architectural, engineering, or construction contract, power of              

                                                                                

20  attorney, or letter of authorization, signed by that other                  

                                                                                

21  person, designating the person as the agent, attorney, architect,           

                                                                                

22  engineer, or builder and, in case of a residential builder or               

                                                                                

23  maintenance and alteration contractor, architect, or engineer,              

                                                                                

24  and setting forth the person's license number and the expiration            

                                                                                

25  date of the license.                                                        

                                                                                

26      (3) A person licensed or required to be licensed as a                       

                                                                                

27  residential builder or residential maintenance and alteration               


                                                                                

1   contractor under the occupational code, 1980 PA 299, MCL 339.101            

                                                                                

2   to 339.2721, a master or  journeyman  journey plumber  pursuant             

                                                                                

3   to 1929 PA 266, MCL 338.901 to 338.917  under the state plumbing            

                                                                                

4   act, 2002 PA 733, MCL 338.3511 to 338.3569, an electrical                   

                                                                                

5   contractor or master or journeyman electrician  pursuant to                 

                                                                                

6   under the electrical administrative act, 1956 PA 217, MCL 338.881           

                                                                                

7   to 338.892, or  pursuant to  under a local ordinance, or as a               

                                                                                

8   mechanical contractor  pursuant to  under the  forbes  Forbes               

                                                                                

9   mechanical contractors act, 1984 PA 192, MCL 338.971 to 338.988,            

                                                                                

10  who applies for a building permit to perform work on a                      

                                                                                

11  residential building or a residential structure shall, in                   

                                                                                

12  addition to any other information required  pursuant to  under              

                                                                                

13  this act, provide on the building permit application all of the             

                                                                                

14  following information:                                                      

                                                                                

15      (a) The occupational license number of the applicant and the                

                                                                                

16  expiration date of the occupational license.                                

                                                                                

17      (b) One of the following:                                                   

                                                                                

18                                                                               (i) The name of each carrier providing worker's disability                          

                                                                                

19  compensation insurance to the applicant if the applicant is                 

                                                                                

20  required to be insured  pursuant to  under the worker's                     

                                                                                

21  disability compensation act of 1969, 1969 PA 317, MCL 418.101 to            

                                                                                

22  418.941.                                                                    

                                                                                

23      (ii) The reasons for exemption from the requirement to be                    

                                                                                

24  insured if the applicant is not required to be insured under the            

                                                                                

25  worker's disability compensation act of 1969, 1969 PA 317,                  

                                                                                

26  MCL 418.101 to 418.941.                                                     

                                                                                

27      (c) One of the following:                                                   


                                                                                

1                                                                                (i) The employer identification number, if the applicant is                         

                                                                                

2   required to have an employer identification number  pursuant to             

                                                                                

3   under section 6109 of the internal revenue code of 1986.                    

                                                                                

4       (ii) The reasons for exemption from the requirement to have                  

                                                                                

5   an employer identification number  pursuant to  under section               

                                                                                

6   6109 of the internal revenue code of 1986 if the applicant is not           

                                                                                

7   required to have an employer identification number  pursuant to             

                                                                                

8   under section 6109 of the internal revenue code of 1986.                    

                                                                                

9       (d) One of the following:                                                   

                                                                                

10                                                                               (i) The Michigan employment security commission employer                            

                                                                                

11  number, if the applicant is required to make contributions                  

                                                                                

12  pursuant to  under the Michigan employment security act, 1936              

                                                                                

13  (Ex Sess) PA 1, MCL 421.1 to 421.75.                                        

                                                                                

14      (ii) If the applicant is not required to make contributions,                 

                                                                                

15  the reasons for exemptions from the requirement to make                     

                                                                                

16  contributions under the Michigan employment security act, 1936              

                                                                                

17  (Ex Sess) PA 1, MCL 421.1 to 421.75.                                        

                                                                                

18      (4) The building permit application form shall contain the                  

                                                                                

19  following statement in 8-point boldfaced type immediately above             

                                                                                

20  the location for the applicant's signature:                                 

                                                                                

21              "Section 23a of the Stille-DeRossett-Hale                       

                                                                                

22           single state construction code act,  of 1972,                      

                                                                                

23           1972 PA 230, MCL 125.1523a, prohibits a person                     

                                                                                

24           from conspiring to circumvent the licensing                        

                                                                                

25           requirements of this state relating to persons                     

                                                                                

26           who are to perform work on a residential                           

                                                                                

27           building or a residential structure.  Violators                    


                                                                                

1            of section 23a are subjected to civil fines."                      

                                                                                

2       (5) The application for a building permit shall be filed with               

                                                                                

3   the enforcing agency and the application and any other writing              

                                                                                

4   prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by the             

                                                                                

5   enforcing agency in the performance of an official function shall           

                                                                                

6   be made available to the public in compliance with the freedom of           

                                                                                

7   information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246.  An                     

                                                                                

8   application shall not be removed from the custody of the                    

                                                                                

9   enforcing agency after a building permit has been issued.                   

                                                                                

10      (6) This section shall be construed to allow the imposition                 

                                                                                

11  of requirements in the code, or in other laws or ordinances, for            

                                                                                

12  additional permits for particular kinds of work, including                  

                                                                                

13  plumbing and electrical, or in other specified situations.  The             

                                                                                

14  requirements of the code may provide for issuance of construction           

                                                                                

15  permits for certain of the systems of a structure and allow                 

                                                                                

16  construction to commence on those systems approved under that               

                                                                                

17  permit even though the design and approval of all the systems of            

                                                                                

18  the structure have not been completed and subsequent construction           

                                                                                

19  permits have not been issued.                                               

                                                                                

20      (7) Notwithstanding this section, a building permit is not                  

                                                                                

21  required for ordinary repairs of a building and structure.                  

                                                                                

22      (8) Notwithstanding this section, a building permit is not                  

                                                                                

23  required for a building incidental to the use for agricultural              

                                                                                

24  purposes of the land on which the building is located if it is              

                                                                                

25  not used in the business of retail trade.                                   

                                                                                

26      (9) An enforcing agency shall not charge a fee for the review               

                                                                                

27  or approval of plans for the construction or use of a residential           


                                                                                

1   ramp if the residential ramp is a temporary structure and if the            

                                                                                

2   residential ramp complies with all of the following:                        

                                                                                

3       (a) Unless a building official grants an extension for                      

                                                                                

4   demonstrated cause, the residential ramp is removed within 180              

                                                                                

5   days of its installation.                                                   

                                                                                

6       (b) It is not attached to a building or structure.                          

                                                                                

7       (c) No part of the ramp or a footing for the ramp is below                  

                                                                                

8   the adjacent grade, as that term is used in the code.                       

                                                                                

9       (d) The ramp is contiguous to a residence.                                  

                                                                                

10      (10) An enforcing agency shall not require verification by                  

                                                                                

11  affidavit of an application submitted under subsection (1) for              

                                                                                

12  the construction or use of a residential ramp if the residential            

                                                                                

13  ramp qualifies for the fee exemption under subsection (9) and if            

                                                                                

14  the applicant meets all of the following:                                   

                                                                                

15      (a) Is the owner of the residence.                                          

                                                                                

16      (b) Is a person with disabilities.                                          

                                                                                

17      (c) At the time of the application, resides in a facility                   

                                                                                

18  that provides organized nursing care and medical treatment to 7             

                                                                                

19  or more unrelated individuals who are suffering or recovering               

                                                                                

20  from illness, injury, or infirmity.                                         

                                                                                

21      (d) Intends to reside in the residence when no longer                       

                                                                                

22  residing in the facility described in subdivision (c).