INCANDESCENT LIGHTBULB BAN S.B. 578: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
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Senate Bill 578 (as introduced 6-12-07)
Sponsor: Senator John J. Gleason
Committee: Energy Policy and Public Utilities
Date Completed: 9-11-07
CONTENT
The bill would add Part 173 (Incandescent Lightbulbs) to the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to prohibit a person from selling, offering for sale, or offering for promotional purposes an incandescent lightbulb in this State or for use in this State, beginning January 1, 2012. The Department of Environmental Quality would be required to enforce Part 173.
A person who violated Part 173 would be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for a maximum of 90 days, a maximum fine of $1,000, or both, plus the costs of prosecution.
Proposed MCL 324.17301 & 324.17303 Legislative Analyst: Craig Laurie
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on State and local government. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs are one alternative to incandescent lightbulbs, although alternatives to incandescent lightbulbs may not be available for oven bulbs. According to EnergyStar, fluorescent lightbulbs use 75% less energy than incandescent lightbulbs use. According to the Department of Management and Budget, most State buildings have converted to using fluorescent bulbs. However, certain older buildings have built-in lighting fixtures that take incandescent bulbs only. The cost of replacing these fixtures would likely be more than the energy savings. Local governments also would incur costs associated with replacing fixtures.
The Department of Environmental Quality would incur indeterminate enforcement costs.
There are no data to indicate how many offenders would be convicted of selling incandescent bulbs or offering them for sale or promotion. Local governments would incur the costs of misdemeanor probation and incarceration in local facilities, which vary by county. Additional penal fine revenue would benefit public libraries.
Fiscal Analyst: Joe Carrasco
Lindsay Hollander
Jessica Runnels
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. sb578/0708