Act No. 483

Public Acts of 2008

Approved by the Governor

January 9, 2009

Filed with the Secretary of State

January 12, 2009

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 12, 2009

STATE OF MICHIGAN

94TH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2008

Introduced by Reps. Leland, Johnson, Donigan, Clemente and Gaffney

ENROLLED HOUSE BILL No. 6546

AN ACT to amend 1993 PA 354, entitled "An act to revise, consolidate, and codify the laws relating to railroads and their employees; to prescribe powers and duties of certain state and local agencies and officials; to prescribe fees; to create certain funds; to provide for the disposition of certain money; to provide remedies and penalties; and to repeal certain acts and parts of acts," by amending section 109 (MCL 462.109), as amended by 2002 PA 658, and by adding section 450.

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

Sec. 109. (1) "Railroad" means a person, partnership, association, or corporation, their respective lessees, trustees, or receivers, appointed by a court, or other legal entity operating in this state either as a common carrier for hire or for private use as a carrier of persons or property upon cars operated upon stationary rails and includes any person, partnership, association, corporation, trustee, or receiver appointed by a court or any other legal entity owning railroad tracks.

(2) "Road authority" means a governmental agency having jurisdiction over public streets and highways. Road authority includes the department, any other state agency, and county, city, and village governmental agencies responsible for the construction, repair, and maintenance of streets and highways.

(3) "Serious impairment of a body function" means that term as defined in section 58c of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.58c.

(4) "Street railway" means an organization formed under the laws of this state for the purpose of operating a street railway system other than a railroad train for transporting persons or property. A street railway system is operated upon rails principally within a municipality utilizing streetcars, trolleys, and trams for the transportation of persons or property. Such organizations may accumulate, store, manufacture, conduct, use, sell, furnish, and supply electricity and electric power. Street railway does not include a street railway organized under the nonprofit street railway act, 1867 PA 35, MCL 472.1 to 472.31.

(5) "Street railway system" means the facilities, equipment, and personnel required to provide and maintain a public transportation service. Street railway system does not include a street railway system under the nonprofit street railway act, 1867 PA 35, MCL 472.1 to 472.31.

(6) "Traffic control device" means a sign, signal, marking, or other device placed on or adjacent to a street or highway by the road authority having jurisdiction over that street or highway to regulate, warn, or guide traffic.

(7) "Watchperson" means a railroad employee who is stationed at an at-grade crossing to signal to operators of vehicles approaching the crossing of the impending movement of a train or other railroad on-track equipment over the crossing.

Sec. 450. This act does not apply to a street railway organized under the nonprofit street railway act, 1867 PA 35, MCL 472.1 to 472.31.

Enacting section 1. This amendatory act does not take effect unless all of the following bills of the 94th Legislature are enacted into law:

(a) Senate Bill No. 1588.

(b) Senate Bill No. 1589.

(c) Senate Bill No. 1590.

(d) Senate Bill No. 1592.

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Clerk of the House of Representatives

Secretary of the Senate

Approved

Governor