BOILER INSPECTIONS                                                                        H.B. 5164 (H-3):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                     REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 5164 (Substitute H-3 as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Representative Jim Lilly

House Committee:  Regulatory Reform

                             Judiciary

Senate Committee:  Regulatory Reform

CONTENT

The bill would amend Article 9 (Boiler Inspectors, Installers, Repairers, and Operations and Stationary Engineers) of the Skilled Trades Regulation Act to do the following:

-- Allow the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to amend all or any part of an existing published codification or national standards and any amendments and interpretations of the codification or standards.

-- Require a hot water heating boiler or hot water supply boiler to receive a certificate inspection every three years, instead of every two years.

-- Allow the Board of Boiler Rules to permit longer periods of up to 36 months between certificate inspections on a case-by-case basis.

-- Revise the time periods during which inspection certificates are valid.

-- Prohibit a person from operating under pressure a boiler that was subject to the inspection requirements provided in Article 9 without a valid inspection certificate.

-- Prohibit a person from causing a boiler that was subject to the inspection requirements provided in Article 9 to be operated at a pressure that exceeded the maximum operating pressure specified on the boiler's inspection certificate.

-- Specify that the requirement to obtain a license or permit under Article 9 to repair or replace a boiler with a similar unit would not apply to a public utility or industrial plant that repaired and maintained its own boilers if certain criteria were met.

MCL 339.5907 et al.                                                         Legislative Analyst:  Jeff Mann

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would not have a significant fiscal impact on State or local government. As LARA already operates according to the rules that the bill would codify, the Department does not expect to see increased costs or revenue associated with its provisions. The bill would permit longer periods between certificate inspections, which could result in fewer individuals being penalized for improper certification. As a result, revenue from fines and penalties could decrease, resulting in less revenue for local libraries under the bill's misdemeanor provisions. However, the magnitude of this impact likely would be minimal.

Date Completed:  6-3-20                                         Fiscal Analyst:  Elizabeth Raczkowski 

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.