GOLF CART ON STATE TRUNK LINE HWY                                                 H.B. 4945 (H-4):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 4945 (Substitute H-4 as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Representative Aaron Miller

House Committee:  Transportation and Infrastructure

Senate Committee:  Transportation

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to do the following:

-- Permit the legislative body of a local unit of government, or a county on behalf of local governments, to request the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to authorize the local unit or local units to adopt an ordinance allowing the operation of golf carts on a State trunk line highway.

-- Require MDOT to solicit and consider comments on a request before making a decision, and to make a decision within 60 days after the request was received.

-- Allow MDOT to authorize golf cart operation only on State trunk line highways that were not interstate highways, that connected portions of the local unit of government through the highway, and that met other criteria.

-- Allow MDOT to permanently or temporarily close a State trunk line highway to the operation of golf carts otherwise authorized after written notice to the local unit of government.

-- Include references to a State trunk line highway in several existing golf cart operation requirements.

-- Require a person operating a golf cart on a State trunk line highway to ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable.

MCL 257.657a                                                         Legislative Analyst:  Drew Krogulecki

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have a minor, negative impact on the Department of Transportation and no impact on local units of government. The bill would require the Department to receive requests from local units of government for the operation of golf carts on a State trunk line highway, solicit comments for those requests, authorize or deny those requests, and revoke authorization when deemed necessary. It is not known how many of these requests the Department would be likely to receive.

Date Completed:  4-13-18                                               Fiscal Analyst:  Michael Siracuse

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.