HOUSE BILL No. 5848

 

 

September 8, 2016, Introduced by Rep. Miller, A. and referred to the Committee on Regulatory Reform.

 

     A bill to provide for the regulation and registration of auto

 

glass facilities; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain

 

public officers and agencies; to provide for the promulgation of

 

rules; and to prescribe remedies and penalties.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 1. As used in this act:

 

     (a) "Administrator" means the secretary of state or his or her

 

designee.

 

     (b) "Auto glass facility" or "facility" means a person that is

 

engaged in the business of performing, or employs individuals who

 

perform, glass installation, repair, or replacement in motor

 

vehicles. The term does not include any of the following:

 


     (i) An individual who engages only in the business of

 

installing, repairing, or replacing auto glass for a single

 

commercial or industrial establishment or governmental agency.

 

     (ii) An individual who is installing, repairing, or replacing

 

auto glass in his or her own motor vehicle or a family member's

 

motor vehicle.

 

     (iii) A facility that is subject to the motor vehicle service

 

and repair act, 1974 PA 300, MCL 257.1302 to 257.1340.

 

     (iv) A motor vehicle dealer that performs maintenance, body

 

work, repairs, or other service or repair work on motor vehicles.

 

     (c) "Motor vehicle" means that term as defined in section 33

 

of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.33.

 

     Sec. 3. Unless the act or practice is otherwise exempt under

 

this act, a person shall not engage in the business or activity of

 

an auto glass facility unless the person registers the auto glass

 

facility with the administrator under this act.

 

     Sec. 5. (1) The secretary of state or his or her designee

 

shall administer this act. The secretary of state shall not

 

designate an individual to act in his or her place under this

 

section who is affiliated with an auto glass facility.

 

     (2) The administrator shall do all of the following:

 

     (a) Register auto glass facilities that are subject to this

 

act.

 

     (b) Keep a complete register of auto glass facilities and make

 

the registry available for public inspection at the office of the

 

secretary of state.

 

     (c) Engage in a public information program to inform public


members of their rights and remedies under this act.

 

     (3) The administrator may promulgate any rules under the

 

administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to

 

24.328, that he or she considers necessary to implement,

 

administer, and enforce this act.

 

     Sec. 7. (1) An auto glass facility shall register the facility

 

by providing all of the following information to the administrator

 

concerning the facility and the owner of the facility, on a

 

registration form provided by the administrator, accompanied by a

 

registration fee in an amount determined under section 9:

 

     (a) The name, address, and form of ownership of the owner of

 

the facility, and if the owner is a corporation, the date and place

 

of incorporation.

 

     (b) The name and address of each of the owner's resident

 

agents, officers, directors, or partners in this state.

 

     (c) The principal occupation for the past 5 years of all of

 

the following, as applicable:

 

     (i) Each person that owns 10% or more of the facility.

 

     (ii) For each owner described in subparagraph (i), every

 

officer and director if the owner is a corporation; every partner

 

if the owner is a partnership; or any individual who occupies a

 

similar status or performs similar functions if the owner is

 

another form of legal entity.

 

     (d) A description of the repair facility, that includes any

 

information required by the administrator by rule.

 

     (e) An irrevocable appointment of the secretary of state as

 

the agent for the facility for service of process.


     (f) A copy of each instrument, form, contract, or other

 

document used by the applicant in dealing with the public in the

 

installation, repair, or replacement of auto glass, including, but

 

not limited to, all of the following:

 

     (i) Any document on which the facility routinely requires the

 

customer's signature.

 

     (ii) Any document used by the facility in connection with

 

providing estimates, diagnoses, or repairs.

 

     (iii) Any invoices, warranties, or waivers.

 

     (iv) Any other document used by the facility to comply with

 

this act or rules promulgated under this act.

 

     (g) Other relevant information as the administrator shall

 

require.

 

     (2) A person that owns more than 1 auto glass facility shall

 

file a single registration form annually, that includes all of the

 

information described in subsection (1) and also clearly indicates

 

the location of and the individual in charge of each facility. An

 

owner described in this section shall pay a separate registration

 

fee for each facility.

 

     (3) The administrator shall issue a certificate of

 

registration to an applicant that is registered under this act. If

 

a certificate of registration is lost, destroyed, or mutilated, the

 

registrant may obtain a duplicate copy by providing proof that is

 

satisfactory to the administrator of the loss, destruction, or

 

mutilation and paying the fee under section 9.

 

     Sec. 9. (1) The department shall establish fees for

 

registering an auto glass facility, renewing a registration, and


obtaining a replacement certificate of registration for an auto

 

glass facility.

 

     (2) Any fees collected under this act shall be credited to the

 

general fund of the state.

 

     Sec. 11. If there is a change in ownership of a motor vehicle

 

repair facility, a new registration, and payment of a new

 

registration fee, is required and the facility shall not operate

 

until its registration application is approved by the administrator

 

and the fee is paid. If a name or address of the auto glass

 

facility changes, and there is not a change of ownership, the

 

facility shall notify the administrator in writing of the change

 

and shall make the appropriate changes on the next renewal

 

registration when due.

 

     Sec. 13. (1) The owner of an auto glass facility that is

 

registered or is required to register under this act shall ensure

 

that the facility is open to inspection by the administrator and

 

other law enforcement officials during reasonable business hours.

 

During reasonable business hours, the administrator and other law

 

enforcement officials may make periodic unannounced inspections of

 

the premises, parts records, and parts inventories of a facility.

 

     (2) The owner of an auto glass facility shall maintain

 

reasonable business records, as required by the administrator by

 

rule, and ensure that those records are open for reasonable

 

inspection by the administrator or other law enforcement officials

 

and are retained for at least 5 years.

 

     (3) An owner of a facility, an employee, or any other person

 

shall not hinder, obstruct, or otherwise prevent an inspection


under this section.

 

     Sec. 15. (1) If the administrator determines after notice and

 

a hearing that a person has violated this act or a rule promulgated

 

under this act, directly or through an agent or employee, he or she

 

may issue an order that requires the person to cease and desist

 

from the violation or to take any affirmative action that the

 

administrator determines is appropriate to carry out the purposes

 

of this act.

 

     (2) If the administrator makes a finding of fact in writing

 

that the public interest will be irreparably harmed by delay in

 

issuing an order, he or she may issue a temporary cease and desist

 

order. Before issuing the temporary cease and desist order, the

 

administrator when possible by telephone or otherwise shall give

 

notice of the proposal to issue a temporary cease and desist order

 

to the facility. A temporary cease and desist order shall provide

 

that the administrator on request shall hold a hearing within 30

 

days to determine whether or not the order shall become permanent.

 

     Sec. 17. (1) The administrator may order a summary suspension

 

of a registration under this act pursuant to the administrative

 

procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328, if he or

 

she obtains an affidavit from an individual who is familiar with

 

the facts included in the affidavit and determines based on the

 

affidavit that a facility or an owner of a facility has violated

 

section 13 of this act or section 2 of 1986 PA 119, MCL 257.1352.

 

     (2) The facility or owner of a facility to which an order of

 

summary suspension under this section is directed may submit an

 

application to the administrator for a hearing concerning the


order. If he or she receives an application under this subsection,

 

the administrator shall hold a hearing within 30 days after the

 

date of the application pursuant to the administrative procedures

 

act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328.

 

     (3) At a hearing under subsection (2), the administrator may

 

set aside, continue, or modify the order of summary suspension.

 

     Sec. 19. (1) The administrator may take any administrative

 

action described in subsection (2) if the administrator determines

 

that a facility, the owner of a facility, or a stockholder,

 

officer, director, or partner of the owner of a facility that is a

 

corporation or partnership does 1 or more of the following:

 

     (a) Makes an untrue statement of a material fact.

 

     (b) Violates this act or a rule promulgated under this act.

 

     (c) Violates a condition of probation.

 

     (d) Makes unnecessary repairs or replacement of auto glass or

 

repairs or replacement of auto glass that is not authorized by the

 

customer.

 

     (e) Refuses to honor warranties made by the facility.

 

     (f) Causes or allows a customer to sign a document in blank

 

relating to the installation, repair, or replacement of auto glass.

 

     (g) Is enjoined by a court of competent jurisdiction from

 

engaging in the business of installing, repairing, or replacing

 

auto glass or from a violation of this act or a rule promulgated

 

under this act.

 

     (h) Fails to comply with the terms of a final cease and desist

 

order.

 

     (i) Is convicted of a violation of this act.


     (j) Uses a waiver of liability provision in an attempt to

 

evade this act.

 

     (k) Is convicted of a violation of 1986 PA 119, MCL 257.1351

 

to 257.1355.

 

     (l) Is convicted under section 413, 415, 535, 535a, or 536a of

 

the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.413, 750.415,

 

750.535, 750.535a, and 750.536a, or is convicted in another state

 

of a violation of a law substantially corresponding to 1 of those

 

sections of the Michigan penal code.

 

     (2) After notice and opportunity for a hearing, the

 

administrator may do 1 or more of the following if he or she

 

determines that a facility, an owner of the facility, or a

 

stockholder, officer, director, or partner of an owner of the

 

facility that is a corporation or partnership commits a violation

 

described in subsection (1):

 

     (a) Place a limitation on a registration.

 

     (b) Suspend a registration.

 

     (c) Deny a registration or renewal of a registration.

 

     (d) Revoke a registration.

 

     (e) Censure the person that holds a registration.

 

     (3) As an alternative or in addition to administrative action

 

under subsection (2) for a violation or alleged violation of

 

subsection (1), the administrator may, by written agreement with a

 

person that holds a registration, place the registration on

 

probation and include conditions of probation in the agreement.

 

     (4) The remedies and sanctions under this act are independent

 

and cumulative. The use of a remedy or sanction under this act,


including, but not limited to, administrative action by the

 

administrator under subsection (2) or an agreement for probation

 

under subsection (3), does not bar other lawful remedies and

 

sanctions against a person and does not limit a person's criminal

 

or civil liability under law.

 

     Sec. 21. A registrant under this act, an owner, agent, or

 

employee of a registrant under this act, or any other person that

 

knowingly violates this act is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable

 

by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a fine of not more

 

than $1,000.00, or both, for the first conviction under this

 

section, and by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or a fine of

 

not more than $5,000.00, or both, for any subsequent conviction.

 

     Enacting section 1. This act takes effect 90 days after the

 

date it is enacted into law.