HOUSE BILL No. 4577

 

April 17, 2013, Introduced by Rep. Shirkey and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

 

     A bill to amend 1960 PA 2, entitled

 

"An act to levy a specific tax in lieu of weight taxes for public

transportation vehicles and city, intercity, and suburban buses;

and to provide for the expiration of this act,"

 

by amending the title and sections 1 and 2 (MCL 257.971 and

 

257.972), as amended by 1980 PA 106.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

TITLE

 

     An act to levy a specific tax in lieu of weight taxes provide

 

for the taxation of public transportation vehicles and city,

 

intercity, and suburban buses. ; and to provide for the expiration

 

of this act.

 

     Sec. 1. As used in this act:

 

     (a) "Articulated bus" means a vehicle designed for carrying

 

passengers and composed of 2 or more sections permanently joined by

 

a hinge mechanism or articulated joint allowing vertical and


 

horizontal relative movement as well as a weathertight passage for

 

riders moving from 1 section of the bus to another.

 

     (b) "City, intercity, and suburban bus operator" means an

 

individual, firm, or corporation operating 1 or more motor buses in

 

this state having a seating capacity of 10 or more passengers under

 

a franchise from a municipality, under a license granted by a

 

municipality, or pursuant to an agreement entered into between the

 

individual, firm, or corporation and a municipality of this state,

 

or a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the

 

Michigan public service commission under section 5 of article II of

 

the motor carrier act, 1933 PA 254, MCL 476.5, and that is engaged

 

in the transportation of passengers in and between 1 or more cities

 

or villages or engaged in the transportation of passengers over

 

regularly scheduled routes under a certificate of public

 

convenience and necessity. City, intercity, and suburban bus

 

operator does not include a private individual, firm, or

 

corporation operating a vehicle owned by that private person, firm,

 

or corporation.

 

     (c) (a) "Public transportation vehicles" means vehicles having

 

a passenger capacity of 9 or more operating as part of a public

 

transportation system within and not more than 10 miles from the

 

boundaries of a municipality or not beyond the county or

 

transportation regional boundaries when the vehicles are operated

 

by a private person, individual, firm, or corporation. Public

 

transportation vehicles do not include vehicles that are owned by a

 

private individual, firm, or corporation.

 

     (b) "City, intercity, and suburban bus operator" means any


 

person, firm, or corporation operating 1 or more motor buses in

 

this state having a seating capacity of 10 or more passengers under

 

a franchise from a municipality, under a license granted by a

 

municipality, or pursuant to an agreement entered into between the

 

person, firm or corporation and a municipality of this state, or a

 

certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the

 

Michigan public service commission under section 5 or article 2 of

 

Act No. 254 of the Public Acts of 1933, being section 476.5 of the

 

Michigan Compiled Laws, and which is engaged in the transportation

 

of passengers in and between 1 or more cities or villages or

 

engaged in the transportation of passengers over regularly

 

scheduled routes under a certificate of public convenience and

 

necessity.

 

     Sec. 2. (1) From and after January 1, 1960, Except as provided

 

in subsection (2), in lieu of the specific weight taxes authorized

 

by section 801 of Act No. 300 of the Public Acts of 1949, as

 

amended, being section 257.801 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, the

 

Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.801, city, intercity,

 

and suburban bus operators and operators of public transportation

 

operators vehicles shall pay the sum of $25.00 $250.00 per vehicle

 

for each vehicle operated as specified in section 1, which shall

 

exempt the vehicle from all other taxation except the fees and

 

taxes required by Act No. 254 of the Public Acts of 1933, as

 

amended, being sections 475.1 to 479.49 of the Michigan Compiled

 

Laws.the motor carrier act, 1933 PA 254, MCL 475.1 to 479.43.

 

     (2) In addition to the fee prescribed under subsection (1), a

 

city, intercity, or suburban bus operator or an operator of public


 

transportation vehicles shall pay an additional $100.00 per section

 

for the second and each additional section of an articulated bus.