MOTOR CARRIER EXEMPTION & WAIVERS                                                         S.B. 958:

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 958 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Senator Wayne Schmidt

Committee:  Transportation

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Motor Bus Transportation Act to do the following:

-- Allow the Department of Transportation to exempt from the Act a motor carrier that was providing transportation to or from a special event of statewide significance.

-- Permit the Department to issue to a motor carrier an emergency certificate of authority, rather than temporary authority, under certain circumstances.

-- Allow the Department to waive fees or requirements for an emergency certificate.

The Act prohibits a motor carrier of passengers from operating on a public highway in Michigan without first obtaining a certificate of authority from the Department. The Act prescribes the process of acquiring a certificate, and requires applicants for an original certificate of authority to pay certain fees.

If there is an immediate and urgent need for the transportation of passengers to a point or between points within Michigan, the Department may grant on a proper application temporary authority for that service by a person having a certificate of authority or by an applicant for a certificate of authority. Temporary authority may not exceed 90 days. The bill would delete these provisions.

Under the bill, the Department could grant an emergency certificate of authority to a motor carrier if there were an immediate and urgent need for the transportation of passengers to a point or between points within Michigan. An emergency certificate of authority granted by the Department, unless suspended or revoked for good cause, would be valid for the time specified by the Department.

The Department could waive any or all applicable fees or other requirements under the Act for an emergency certificate granted under these provisions.

MCL 474.123                                                           Legislative Analyst:  Drew Krogulecki

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would reduce fee revenue to the Department of Transportation by an unknown and likely negligible amount. It is unknown how many exemptions the Department would grant for events of statewide significance.  It also is not known how many emergency certificates would be granted under the bill and for how many of those the Department would choose to waive the fee.

Date Completed:  6-7-16                                                          Fiscal Analyst:  David Zin

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.