MOTOR CARRIER EMERGENCY CERTIFICATE S.B. 958:
SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 958 (as introduced 5-11-16)
Sponsor: Senator Wayne Schmidt
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Motor Bus Transportation Act to do the following:
-- Allow the Department of Transportation to waive any or all applicable fees or requirements for an emergency certificate of authority issued to a motor carrier.
-- Delete a provision that limits the validity of an emergency certificate to 90 days.
-- Allow the Department to exempt from the Act a motor carrier that was providing transportation to or from a special event of statewide significance.
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 a filing fee of $300 and a fee of $25 times the number of motor buses to be used by the carrier to provide transportation for hire. Annual renewal fees include a fee equal to $25 times the number of motor buses that are used exclusively by the carrier to transport passengers for hire and that meet annual renewal inspection requirements; $500 for any motor bus not meeting the annual renewal inspection; and $25 for each additional motor bus acquired during the year for the purpose of the current-year inspection.
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. A temporary authority granted by the Department, unless suspended or revoked for good cause, is valid for the time the Department specifies, but not more than 90 days.
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 bill would allow the Department to waive any or all applicable fees or other requirements under the Act for an emergency certificate granted under these provisions.
In addition, the Department could exempt from the Act a motor carrier that was providing transportation to or from a special event of statewide significance.
("Motor carrier of passengers" means a person who, either directly or through any device or arrangement, advertises himself or herself for hire out to the public as willing to transport by
motor bus from place to place over State public highways people who may choose to employ him or her for that purpose or for the purpose of transporting package express, baggage of passengers, newspapers, or U.S. mail in the same vehicle used for transporting passengers.)
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 emergency certificates would be granted under the bill and for how many of those the Department would choose to waive the fee.
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.